Being a solopreneur means wearing all the hats in your business, from marketing to customer service to finance—without the support of a traditional team. While rewarding, growing a business as a solopreneur can be challenging, requiring immense discipline, resilience, and resourcefulness. With so many responsibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or stuck. That’s where books come in as an invaluable resource. The right business books can offer proven strategies, mindset shifts, and actionable insights that can help solopreneurs navigate your unique journey and achieve success. Let’s highlight four must-read books that I deem essential for solopreneurs looking to grow your business and reach your goals.

• Profit First: Transform Your Business From A Cash-Eating Monster To A Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz. A game-changing book for solopreneurs, particularly when it comes to managing finances and ensuring long-term profitability. In a world where business owners often focus on revenue growth without keeping an eye on profitability, Michalowicz flips the script by introducing a cash management system that puts profit at the forefront.

Key Insights For Solopreneurs:

1. Profit Comes First:

One of the most powerful concepts in Profit First is its core principle—take your profit first, then allocate the remaining funds to expenses. For solopreneurs, this is a crucial shift in mindset. Instead of the typical formula (Revenue – Expenses = Profit), Michalowicz encourages solopreneurs to prioritize profit by using the formula (Revenue – Profit = Expenses). This ensures that you are consistently profitable, regardless of how much your business grows.

2. Simplified Financial Management:

Solopreneurs often juggle multiple roles, and financial management can quickly become overwhelming. Profit First breaks down financial management into a simple, easy-to-follow system. By dividing your revenue into specific accounts (Profit, Owner’s Pay, Taxes, Operating Expenses), solopreneurs can gain clarity and control over their finances without the need for complex accounting knowledge.

3. Financial Discipline and Control:

For solopreneurs, cash flow is one of the biggest challenges. Michalowicz’s system forces you to live within your means, using your operating expenses account to run your business. This fosters financial discipline and keeps you from overspending, which is a common pitfall for many solopreneurs looking to grow their business quickly. This approach ensures that even if revenue fluctuates, you’re always taking care of your profit, taxes, and personal compensation.

4. Built-in Profitability:

Solopreneurs often focus on growing their top-line revenue, but without careful attention to profit margins, that revenue can disappear quickly. Profit First helps solopreneurs build profitability into their business from day one. By consistently taking profit first, solopreneurs can create a sustainable business that grows responsibly. This reduces the risk of burnout or financial stress caused by constantly chasing revenue without a solid financial foundation.

5. Mindset Shift:

One of the most important takeaways for solopreneurs is the mindset shift that Michalowicz introduces. Profit First teaches that profit is not a “leftover” after expenses; it should be a regular, non-negotiable part of running your business. This change in thinking can help solopreneurs build more sustainable, healthier businesses by ensuring profitability is a priority, not an afterthought.

6. Actionable Steps for Immediate Change:

Michalowicz doesn’t just present a theory—he provides solopreneurs with a step-by-step plan to implement the Profit First system. Solopreneurs can begin making changes immediately by setting up multiple bank accounts and allocating their income into categories that ensure profit, owner’s pay, taxes, and expenses are all accounted for. This approach empowers solopreneurs to take control of their financial future with confidence.

• Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman. A comprehensive system for building and growing a business using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). While it’s commonly applied to larger businesses, the principles of EOS are incredibly valuable for solopreneurs who want to create structure, clarity, and focus in their business.

Key Insights For Solopreneurs:

1.  The Importance of Systems and Processes

Wickman’s core message is that to achieve lasting success, a business must operate within a structured framework of systems and processes. Solopreneurs, who often wear many hats, can benefit immensely from creating such systems. The book’s detailed guidance on how to set up standard operating procedures (SOPs) can free up time and mental space, allowing solopreneurs to focus on strategic growth rather than getting bogged down in day-to-day tasks.

2. Vision and Long-Term Planning

One of the major takeaways for solopreneurs is the importance of having a clear vision for the future. Traction emphasizes creating a Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO), a tool that helps solopreneurs clarify their vision, set long-term goals, and create a roadmap for achieving them. Solopreneurs often struggle with aligning their daily work with their larger vision, and this tool helps them stay on course.

3. Prioritization and Focus with Rocks

The concept of “Rocks” in Traction is about setting specific, quarterly priorities. For solopreneurs who tend to get overwhelmed by endless to-do lists, this system helps create clarity by identifying 3-7 key priorities (rocks) for each quarter. By focusing on fewer, more important goals, solopreneurs can make significant progress and avoid the chaos of juggling too many things at once.

4. Data-Driven Decisions

Wickman introduces the idea of using Scorecards—key performance indicators (KPIs) that help solopreneurs make informed, data-driven decisions. Often, solopreneurs rely on intuition rather than metrics, which can lead to ineffective decisions. By tracking measurable data, solopreneurs can have a clearer picture of their business’s health and make adjustments to improve performance.

5. Accountability and Discipline

One of the biggest challenges for solopreneurs is staying accountable to themselves, as they don’t have a team to answer to. Traction highlights the importance of creating an accountability structure within your business, even if you are a solopreneur. Setting clear roles, expectations, and regular review processes can foster discipline and ensure progress is being made consistently.

• Company of One: Why Staying Small Is The Next Big Thing For Business by Paul Jarvis. A unique and refreshing perspective on business growth, making it an essential read for solopreneurs. Unlike traditional business books that push for constant scaling and expansion, Jarvis argues that staying small can be the most sustainable, profitable, and fulfilling approach for many entrepreneurs.

Key Insights For Solopreneurs:

1. Redefining Success Through Staying Small

Jarvis challenges the notion that business success is tied to constant growth in size and revenue. For solopreneurs, this message is empowering because it highlights that growth doesn’t always mean adding employees or increasing operational complexity. Instead, success can come from optimizing and perfecting a manageable, lean business that provides freedom and sustainability. Solopreneurs often don’t have the desire or resources to build massive companies, and Jarvis shows that staying small is not only okay—it can be a significant advantage.

2. Focus on Efficiency Over Expansion

One of the core messages of Company of One is the idea that efficiency should be prioritized over growth. Solopreneurs, by nature, have limited time and resources. Jarvis provides actionable insights on how to streamline processes, improve client relations, and make smarter decisions about where to allocate energy and resources. This allows solopreneurs to focus on doing less but doing it better, leading to a more efficient and profitable business model.

3. The Power of Long-Term Relationships

Solopreneurs often rely on a few key clients or customers for their revenue, and Company of One emphasizes the importance of nurturing these relationships. Instead of chasing new business constantly, Jarvis advocates for building stronger, longer-lasting connections with a select group of clients. This approach allows solopreneurs to provide higher-quality service while avoiding the burnout that comes from endlessly seeking new leads.

4. Sustainability as a Success Metric

For solopreneurs, sustainability in business is critical. Jarvis argues that a business doesn’t have to be big to be sustainable. By focusing on profitability, work-life balance, and efficient operations, solopreneurs can build a long-lasting business that doesn’t drain them physically or financially. This concept of sustainability extends beyond environmental concerns and includes personal well-being, which is often neglected when entrepreneurs pursue aggressive growth.

5. Leveraging Technology and Automation

Jarvis also discusses how technology can enable solopreneurs to run highly efficient businesses without the need for a large team. By using tools to automate repetitive tasks, solopreneurs can free up their time to focus on the high-value work that only they can do. This allows for maintaining a lean operation while still offering professional-level service.

• Who Not How: The Formula To Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. An excellent business book, particularly for solopreneurs, because it introduces a powerful mindset shift. The book challenges the typical approach solopreneurs often take—focusing on how to accomplish everything themselves—and instead encourages them to focus on “who” can help them achieve their goals.

Key Insights For Solopreneurs:

1. Delegation and Outsourcing:

Many solopreneurs struggle with trying to do everything on their own. “Who Not How” emphasizes the importance of finding the right people to collaborate with, outsource to, or hire. This is crucial for solopreneurs who want to scale their business without burning out.

2. Focusing on Strengths:

The book teaches solopreneurs to focus on their unique abilities and zone of genius rather than trying to master every task. By identifying the right “whos” to handle tasks outside their expertise, solopreneurs can become more productive and accelerate their business growth.

3. Leveraging Networks:

It encourages solopreneurs to tap into their network and build relationships with individuals who can contribute skills, knowledge, and resources they may not have. This not only saves time but also allows solopreneurs to make faster, more impactful progress.

4. Mindset Shift:

One of the biggest benefits of the book is the mindset shift it promotes. Instead of asking, “How can I get this done?” it shifts the focus to “Who can help me get this done?” This reduces the overwhelming feeling that solopreneurs often face and opens up new avenues for creative solutions.

5. Scaling with Ease:

For solopreneurs looking to grow, the book offers a clear pathway to scale by building a team of collaborators, freelancers, or partners, instead of being bogged down by tasks that slow growth.

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If technology is a game changer for small businesses to close the digital divide with big businesses in terms of growth and revenue potential, then within this year, artificial intelligence (A.I.) is leading the tech value race. At the forefront of A.I. for small businesses right now is ChatGPT. ChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI, designed to understand and generate human-like text based on given prompts.

“GPT” stands for “Generative Pre-trained Transformer.” This name breaks down into three key components:

1. Generative: This indicates that the model is designed to generate text. It can produce coherent and contextually relevant text based on the input it receives.
2. Pre-trained: Before being used for specific tasks, the model undergoes an extensive training phase. During this phase, it learns language patterns, structures, and nuances from a vast corpus of text data. This pre-training enables the model to have a broad understanding of language and context before it is fine-tuned for specific applications.
3. Transformer: This refers to the type of neural network architecture used by the model. The Transformer architecture allows the model to weigh the importance of different words in a sentence or paragraph, enabling it to generate more coherent and contextually relevant responses.

ChatGPT can help small businesses improve marketing and sales, as well as make more informed decisions for sustainability and innovation, all of which are crucial for growth and competitiveness in the market.

Marketing is creating and nurturing relationships to build connections that result in the like, know, and trust needed as a foundation for making sales.

         First, train ChatGPT by giving it this information about your business:

• Brand Identity and Values: What your brand represents and its core values
• Target Audience: Specific details about your target market and customer personas
• Current Marketing Efforts: What marketing strategies you are currently using
• Budget for Marketing: How much you can allocate towards marketing activities
• Digital Footprint: Your current online presence, including website, social media, and online reviews
• Market Trends and Competitor Strategies: What trends are influencing your market and what strategies competitors are using

Now, use these categories to ask the included questions of ChatGPT to get custom information to create a marketing plan:

1. Develop a Strong Brand Identity:
   • What are the core values and unique selling propositions of our business?
   • How can we visually and verbally communicate these through our brand?
2. Create a Comprehensive Digital Marketing Strategy:
   • Which digital marketing channels (social media, email, content marketing) are most effective for our target audience?
   • How do we allocate resources across these channels for optimal impact?
3. Leverage Social Media Marketing:
   • What content strategy will engage our audience on different social media platforms?
   • How can we use social media analytics to refine our marketing approach?
4. Implement Effective Email Marketing Campaigns:
   • How can we grow and segment our email list for targeted marketing?
   • What type of content and email frequency will drive engagement and conversions?
5. Utilize Content Marketing to Establish Authority:
   • What kind of content (blogs, videos, infographics) will resonate with our audience and showcase our expertise?
   • How can we optimize our content for SEO to increase visibility?
6. Track and Analyze Marketing Results:
   • What metrics and KPIs should we track to measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns?
   • How can we use this data to continuously improve our marketing efforts?

Sales is the process of converting marketing relationships into paying clients.

First, train ChatGPT by giving it this information about your business:

• Sales History and Performance: Data on past sales performance and existing sales processes.
• Client Relationship Management: How you currently manage client relationships.
• Sales Team Structure: The composition and functioning of your sales team.
• Customer Journey Map: A breakdown of the customer journey from discovery to sale.
• Networking and Partnership Opportunities: Existing and potential networking channels and partnerships.
• Sales Goals and Targets: Specific sales goals and targets you aim to achieve.

Now, use these categories to ask the included questions of ChatGPT to get custom information to create a sales plan:

1. Enhance Sales Strategies and Techniques:
   • What sales strategies can we implement that align with our business model and customer preferences?
   • How can we train our sales team in these strategies and monitor their performance?
2. Build and Maintain Customer Relationships:
   • What tactics can we use to build long-term relationships with clients?
   • How can we use CRM tools to manage and enhance these relationships?
3. Develop a Client Retention Plan:
   • What strategies can we employ to increase customer loyalty and retention?
   • How can we use feedback and client interactions to improve our services?
4. Expand Business Network and Partnerships:
   • What networking events and platforms can we leverage to build new business relationships?
   • How do we identify and approach potential partners that align with our business goals?
5. Create Value-Oriented Sales Proposals:
   • How can we tailor our sales proposals to highlight the value and benefits of our services?
   • What are the best practices for effectively communicating these proposals to potential clients?
6. Implement Performance Metrics for Sales:
   • What are the key performance indicators for our sales team?
   • How do we track and incentivize high performance in sales?

Sustainability is the survival of a business through practices, processes, and systems that support the continuance of the business.

First, train ChatGPT by giving it this information about your business:

• Business Nature and Services Offered: What services do you provide, and what is the nature of your business operations?
• Current Environmental Impact: Are there any known environmental impacts of your business activities?
• Supply Chain Details: Information about your suppliers and the materials or services you procure.
• Operational Practices: Details on how your business operates daily, including energy use, waste management, etc.
• Stakeholder Expectations: Insights into what your customers, employees, and partners expect in terms of sustainability.
• Current Sustainability Initiatives: Any ongoing efforts or past attempts at sustainability.

Now, use these categories to ask the included questions of ChatGPT to get custom information to create a sustainability plan:

1. Assess Current Environmental Impact:
   • What are the current environmental footprints of our business operations?
   • How can we conduct a comprehensive sustainability audit?
2. Identify Sustainable Practices Relevant to Our Industry:
   • What are the best sustainable practices adopted by similar service-based businesses?
   • How can these practices be adapted to our specific business model?
3. Set Clear Sustainability Goals:
   • What specific, measurable sustainability goals should we set for the short, medium, and long term?
   • How do these goals align with our overall business objectives?
4. Develop a Green Procurement Policy:
   • How can we source environmentally friendly supplies and services?
   • What criteria should we use to select eco-friendly vendors?
5. Implement Energy-Efficient Practices:
   • What steps can we take to reduce energy consumption in our office or operational spaces?
   • Are there any incentives or programs available for small businesses to become more energy-efficient?
6. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle:
   • How can we minimize waste in our daily operations?
   • What opportunities exist for recycling or reusing materials?
7. Optimize Digital Operations for Sustainability:
   • Can we leverage digital tools to reduce our environmental impact (e.g., cloud computing, paperless systems)?
   • How can we ensure our digital infrastructure is energy-efficient?
8. Engage Employees in Sustainability Efforts:
   • How can we encourage and train our team to adopt sustainable practices?
   • Can we create incentive programs to motivate sustainable behavior in the workplace?
9. Communicate Sustainability Efforts to Stakeholders:
   • How can we effectively communicate our sustainability initiatives to customers, partners, and the community?
   • Can we use our sustainability efforts as a differentiator in our marketing and branding?
10. Monitor, Review, and Report Progress:
    • What metrics should we use to track our sustainability progress?
    • How often should we review our sustainability goals and strategies?
11. Explore Partnerships for Sustainable Development:
    • Are there local businesses, non-profits, or government programs we can partner with to enhance our sustainability efforts?
    • How can these partnerships be mutually beneficial?

Innovation is all about bringing new life into your business by doing things in new and exciting ways for your clients, as well as being new to your industry or business in general.

First, train ChatGPT by giving it this information about your business:

• Market Position and Competitors: Your position in the market and information about your main competitors.
• Customer Demographics and Preferences: Who your customers are and what they value in your services.
• Past and Current Service Offerings: Details of your service portfolio, including any changes over time.
• Feedback and Market Research: Any existing customer feedback or market research data.
• Resource Availability for R&D: Information about resources (time, money, manpower) available for research and development.
• Technology Adaptation: How quickly and effectively your business can adopt new technologies.

Now, use these categories to ask the included questions of ChatGPT to get custom information to create an innovation plan:

1. Conduct Market and Industry Analysis:
   • How can we regularly gather and analyze information about current trends in our industry?
   • What are the best sources of insight for emerging trends and customer preferences?
2. Identify Emerging Opportunities:
   • What new or underserved market needs can we identify?
   • How can we use our unique strengths to address these opportunities?
3. Foster a Culture of Innovation:
   • How can we create a workplace environment that encourages creativity and experimentation?
   • What initiatives can we implement to regularly generate and discuss new ideas?
4. Engage with Customers for Feedback and Ideas:
   • How can we effectively gather feedback from our customers to guide our innovation efforts?
   • Can we create platforms or forums where customers can share their ideas and needs?
5. Implement Agile Methodologies:
   • How can we adopt agile methodologies in our project management to enhance flexibility and responsiveness?
   • What training or resources are needed to successfully implement these methodologies?
6. Invest in Research and Development:
   • What percentage of our resources can we allocate to R&D to drive innovation?
   • How can we balance short-term business needs with long-term innovation investments?
7. Explore Collaborations and Partnerships:
   • Are there potential partnerships with other businesses or institutions that could foster innovation?
   • How can we leverage these partnerships to access new technologies, skills, or markets?
8. Leverage Technology to Innovate:
   • What emerging technologies can be integrated into our services to create new value for customers?
   • How do we stay updated about technological advancements relevant to our business?
9. Train Team in Adaptability and Innovative Thinking:
   • What training programs can we provide to enhance our team’s adaptability and innovative capabilities?
   • How can we encourage continuous learning and staying abreast of industry trends?
10. Monitor and Adapt to Regulatory Changes:
    • How do we stay informed about regulatory changes that might affect our industry?
    • What systems do we have in place to quickly adapt to these changes?
11. Evaluate and Adapt Business Model:
    • How often should we review and potentially adapt our business model to stay relevant?
    • What criteria should we use to determine if a change in our business model is necessary?
12. Measure and Evaluate Innovation Efforts:
    • What metrics can we use to assess the success of our innovation efforts?
    • How can we use these metrics to guide future innovation strategies?

Needs support infusing these new strategies into your business planning, let’s talk. It’s FREE. ShaCannon.info/talk

Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is changing the landscape of so many industries. Chris L. Davis of Automation Bridge always says, “You don’t buy technology. You hire it.” Once I understood that concept, I recognized that in small businesses, entrepreneurs don’t just hire technology they hire it before they hire people. A.I. is giving entrepreneurs even more power to close the digital divide and have the success of larger companies. The question I am asked most is, “Where do I start with using a.i. in my small business?” To incorporate most things into your business where they will have the most impact, I always recommend starting with your client journey. Those 6 basic phases (awareness, inquiry, purchase, onboard, service, and offboard) are the heart of your business. So let’s start there.
**This is not an exhaustive list and instead just the beginning of how a.i. can help your small business in different categories with different tools. Research and find even more categories and tools.

1. Awareness Phase. How does someone come into awareness of your business (marketing)? Here are some categories of marketing and the a.i. that can help and a list of tools for each:

Creatives
Art
• Dall-E – text to art
• MidJourney – text to art
• Images.ai
• Designs.ai – logos, video, speech, etc… maker
• Stable Diffusion
• Spline AI
• 3EFY.ai
• Meshcapade

Photo
• StarryAI creates avatar images
• Remini – edit pictures and video
• Hitpaw – edits pictures

Video
• Create Videos
   o HeyGen – AI version of you for videos, ads, etc… (face swap)
   o Synthesia – text to voiceover and video (create talking avatar)
   o Pictory – text to video
   o Descript
   o Filmora
   o Runway
• Video Editors
o Magisto
o Vidyo.ai
• Video transcription
o Type Studio

Audio
• Text to speech
o Murf
o Lovo.ai
o Speechify
o Play.ht
• Soundraw – generates music
• Wondercraft AI – turn written content into engaging podcast episodes

PowerPoint Decks
• Tome
• SlidesAI.io
• Beautiful.ai
• Decktopus
• Slidesgo
• Plus AI
• Gamma

Misc
• Fronty – turns an image/mockup into html code for a website

Social Media
• Repurpose IO (autopost)
• Flick
• Content Studio
• Heyday
• Cortex
• Taplio
• Tweethunter

Marketing Specific Writers
• NeuralText
• Anyword
• AdCreative AI
• MarketMuse
• Scalenut
• Cohere Generate
• HyperWrite
• Copy.ai

2. Inquiry Phase. After finding out that your brand exists, how do they inquire about your service? This phase is ruled by a.i.’s most common tool: chat bots. Here are a list of tools:

Chatbots
• Chatbot Live
• Hugging Chat
• Lyro by Tidio
• Tawk.to
• Chatbase
• Chatling
• Revechat
• Botsify
• Mobile Monkey
• EBI AI
• Chatfuel
• AgentGPT

3. Purchase Phase. After inquiring about your service, how do they purchase (sales)? Most of the payment processing systems we already use have added an a.i. component: PayPal: Uses AI for fraud detection and risk management, Shopify: Employs AI for personalized shopping experiences, Stripe: Integrates AI for payment fraud detection, Square: Utilizes AI for sales predictions and customer insights, and Klarna: AI-driven insights for smoother payment processes. So let’s talk about the a.i. that solves a huge problem for most service-based businesses, getting from proposal to contract to payment. Try these a.i. tools and platforms:

AI Proposal Creation and Management Tools
• PandaDoc:
• AI Features: Uses AI for creating personalized proposals, analyzing proposal performance, and optimizing templates.
• Use Case: Streamlines the process of drafting and managing proposals, enhancing personalization and engagement.
• Proposify:
• AI Features: Offers AI-driven insights on proposal interactions, automated workflows, and version control.
• Use Case: Helps in tracking proposal engagement and streamlines the approval process.
• Qwilr:
• AI Features: AI-assisted design and content suggestions, analytics for tracking proposal engagement.
• Use Case: Enhances proposal aesthetics and provides insights into client interactions.

AI Contract Management Tools
• Icertis:
• AI Features: AI for contract lifecycle management, risk assessment, and compliance tracking.
• Use Case: Automates contract processes and helps in identifying and mitigating risks.
• DocuSign:
• AI Features: AI-powered analytics for contract insights, automated workflows, and digital signatures.
• Use Case: Streamlines contract signing processes and offers insights into contract data.
• Kira Systems:
• AI Features: Uses machine learning for extracting relevant information from contracts and documents.
• Use Case: Speeds up due diligence and contract analysis processes.

4. Onboarding Phase. After the purchase, how are they onboarded to your service? Here are a few a.i. categories and tools that can help:

Calendar/Scheduling
• Calendar.ai – intuitive company, team, and client calendar
• Reclaim
• Clockwise

Automation
• Zapier
• Paddly
• IFTTT
• Make
• Bardeen

Notetaking/Assistants
• Fireflies
• Mem
• Otter.ai
• Airgram
• Krisp

5. Service Phase. It’s time to get to work. How are your services carried out and supported? Here are a few a.i. categories and tools that can help:

Productivity
• Notion – notebook, task management, project creation, collaboration
• AI Agent – workflow

Research
• ChatGPT – solves anything
• SlideSpeak – summarizes and answers questions about powerpoints and docs
• SummarizingTool – summarizes notes
• Feedly – news, research trends and round ups
• Genei
• Aomni
• Poe.com

Writers
• Jasper.ai
• WriteSonic
• Jenni AI

Grammar & Content Checkers
• Grammarly
• WordTune
• ProWriting Aid
• QuillBot
• ZeroGPT

Email Inbox Management
• SaneBox
• EmailTree
• Reply.io
• Lavendar.ai
• Superhuman

Misc
• Feathery – build customizable forms with no code

6. Offboarding Phase. Many forget this final phase, but it is very important because without it there is no clear end to the service. How is your offboarding process supported? Besides an offboarding meeting, an important element is to get client feedback.

Client feedback
• Qualtrics: AI for experience management and feedback analysis
• SurveyMonkey: Uses AI for survey analysis
• Medallia: AI-powered experience management
• Clarabridge: AI for customer feedback and sentiment analysis
• ChurnZero: AI for churn prediction and customer retention
• BombBomb: Specializes in video email marketing, allowing users to record and send video messages directly through email
• Bonjoro: personalized video messaging service, primarily used for customer engagement, onboarding, and relationship building

 

Needs support infusing these new strategies into your business planning, let’s talk. It’s FREE. ShaCannon.info/talk

I’ve loved her from watching her HBO series Insecure and from her answer to the question referring to the 2017 Emmy Awards, “Who are you rooting for tonight?” when she responded, “I’m rooting for everybody Black.”  I have had the pleasure of seeing Issa Rae speak at a live, business conference, and was reinforced in my love of her personality, way of thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit. At that event, she said that she attributes her success to being “very much about reading and watching others’ blueprints.” Recently, I discovered her sessions on the Masterclass platform called Issa Rae Teaches Creating Outside The Lines. Again, she talked about following and creating blueprints for success.

In this day and age, more than a few of the small businesses that do well are led by people of influence. Either they had influence first and went into business successfully OR they went into business and became influencers to transfer that success to their business. I did a round-up of top influencers on the most popular platforms and why they are successful.

Facebook is an excellent platform for service-based businesses because of its vast user base and powerful advertising tools. It allows businesses to build a loyal community through pages, groups, and live streaming, while also offering targeted ad campaigns to reach potential clients. Additionally, Facebook’s Insights provide valuable data to refine marketing strategies. Here are 4 Top Influencers and what’s working for them:

1. Amy Porterfield is a social media strategist and online marketing expert. Her Facebook page offers webinars, courses, and insights into building and scaling online businesses, making it a valuable resource for service-based entrepreneurs.
2. Brian Tracy is a renowned author and motivational speaker who offers personal and professional development advice. His Facebook page shares inspirational content, success strategies, and practical tips for individuals and businesses, establishing him as a top influencer in personal growth.
3. Mari Smith is a leading Facebook marketing expert and social media strategist. Her Facebook page provides up-to-date insights and strategies for businesses looking to improve their social media presence, especially on Facebook. Mari is considered a top influencer in social media marketing.
4. Frank Kern is a marketing and advertising expert known for his digital marketing insights. His Facebook page offers valuable content on online marketing strategies, funnels, and business growth, making him a top influencer in the digital marketing space.

BONUS: Charlamagne Tha God is a prominent radio host, author, and media personality. His Facebook page provides a platform for insightful discussions on social issues, interviews with influential figures, and personal development content. He is known for his thought-provoking commentary and interviews, making him a top influencer.

Instagram is visually oriented, making it ideal for showcasing the work and expertise of service-based businesses. With its Stories, Reels, and IGTV, you can engage with your audience in creative ways. The platform’s visual appeal and hashtag use allow businesses to reach a broader audience and build a strong brand identity.

1. Marie Forleo is a renowned entrepreneur, author, and business coach. She provides valuable insights into building a meaningful and profitable business, making her a top influencer for service-based businesses on Instagram.
2. Jasmine Star is a photographer and business strategist who shares branding and photography tips on Instagram. Her content is relevant for service-based businesses looking to enhance their visual presence.
3. Nikki Elledge Brown is a communication stylist and branding expert. She helps entrepreneurs and businesses improve their communication skills and brand messaging. Her Instagram account features valuable tips and insights on effective communication and brand development, making her a top influencer in the field.
4. Jenn Herman is a social media strategist and Instagram expert. She shares up-to-date trends, strategies, and best practices for businesses and individuals looking to grow their presence on Instagram. Her Instagram account is a valuable resource for those seeking to excel on the platform.

BONUS: Patricia Bright is a British-Nigerian fashion and lifestyle influencer. Her Instagram showcases fashion trends, beauty tips, and lifestyle content. She’s known for her authentic and relatable approach, making her a top influencer among those seeking fashion and beauty inspiration.

TikTok is a rising star for service-based businesses due to its short-form video content format. It offers the opportunity to go viral quickly, making it suitable for showcasing skills, sharing tips, or providing behind-the-scenes glimpses. The algorithmic nature of TikTok helps content reach a wider, engaged audience.

1. Charli D’Amelio is one of the most-followed TikTok creators, known primarily for her dancing and lifestyle content. While her main focus isn’t service-based business, she has massive reach and influence, making her appealing for brand partnerships and promotions.
2. Bryant Eslava is a renowned photographer and videographer known for capturing the essence of his subjects. He shares behind-the-scenes content, photography tips, and creative insights, making him a top influencer in the photography and visual arts space.
3. Remi Bader is a body-positive advocate and fashion influencer. She empowers her followers to embrace their bodies and feel confident, making her a top influencer for body positivity, fashion, and self-love.
4. Donte Colley creates uplifting and motivational dance videos paired with positive messages. His content is all about spreading positivity and inspiring others, earning him a top spot among influencers promoting mental health and positivity.

BONUS: Jasmine is popular due to her unique content, creativity, and ability to connect with and entertain her audience in a way that resonates with them on woo-woo topics and more.

YouTube is a powerful platform for service-based businesses to establish expertise through long-form video content. It’s an excellent platform for tutorials, educational content, and demonstrating value. YouTube also offers monetization options, allowing businesses to generate income directly from their videos.

1. Marie Forleo is a renowned entrepreneur and business coach who hosts “Marie TV.” Her channel provides valuable insights into personal development, entrepreneurship, and building a successful service-based business. Marie’s engaging style and practical advice make her a top influencer in the field.
2. Sunny Lenarduzzi is a social media strategist and online business expert. Her YouTube channel offers tips on video marketing, social media, and personal branding, making her a go-to resource for service-based businesses looking to leverage online platforms for growth.
3. Derral Eves is an expert in YouTube marketing and video strategy. He offers in-depth tutorials and advice on growing a YouTube channel and using video marketing for businesses. His YouTube channel is a valuable resource for service-based businesses looking to leverage video content.
4. Roberto Blake is a creative entrepreneur and online business coach. He focuses on helping creators, freelancers, and service providers succeed in the digital space. His YouTube channel covers topics like content creation, personal branding, and entrepreneurship.

BONUS: Franchesca Ramsey is a comedian, writer, and social commentator. Her YouTube channel covers a wide range of topics, including social justice, pop culture, and personal development. She’s known for her thought-provoking videos and discussions, making her a top influencer for insightful content.

If you need support with creating influence for your business, let’s talk. It’s FREE. ShaCannon.info/talk

For most of us, success in entrepreneurship comes with consistency, and that consistency demands focus. The human experience includes being inconsistent and distracted. We literally have to fight the inclinations to stop or take breaks from the very things that define success for our business. My business besties and mentees point to my focus as something they admire about me. To fight my human inclinations, I reinforce my focus with mindset, tools, and tips from some of my favorite gurus and I want to share them and four tips from each with you.

Simon Sinek. He is a New York Times Bestselling Author renowned for his insights on leadership, purpose, and organizational culture. He has the #1 Ted Talk of all time called How Great Leaders Inspire Action. Here are four tips I learned from him:

1. Start With Why: Central to Simon’s philosophy is the idea that individuals and organizations should understand their “Why” — their purpose or reason for being. By understanding and focusing on your “Why,” you can drive motivation, find clarity, and inspire others.
2. Clear Vision: Leaders and organizations must have a clear vision of where they are going. This vision acts as a North Star, providing focus amidst the many distractions and challenges they might face.
3. Dangers of Short-Termism: Simon has often spoken about the perils of short-term thinking, particularly in the business world. True focus means looking beyond the immediate quarter or year and thinking about the organization’s impact in the longer term.
4. Consistency: Just as he talks about trust being a result of consistency over time, focus can be seen similarly. It’s not about intense short bursts but consistent, aligned effort over time that yields results.

Dr. Joe Dispenza. He is a well-known researcher, chiropractor, and speaker who delves into the intersections of neuroscience, epigenetics, and quantum physics, particularly in relation to personal transformation. Here are four tips I learned from him:

1. The Power of Thought: Joe often emphasizes the power of our thoughts in shaping our reality. By focusing our thoughts on positive and transformative ideas, we can potentially influence the material world and our health.
2. Meditation and Focus: One of the main techniques Dr. Joe advocates for is meditation. Meditation, in essence, is a focused exercise. Through meditation, individuals can train their minds to cultivate deeper levels of focus and awareness, moving beyond automatic responses and patterns.
3. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: This is the title of one of his books, and it underscores the idea that by shifting our focus, we can change our habits, our thoughts, and ultimately our identities. To change our reality, we need to change our focus from being victims of our environment to being creators of our reality.
4. Being Present: For true transformation to occur, one needs to be completely present in the moment, moving beyond past traumas or anxieties about the future. Focus, in this context, means being deeply engaged in the now.

Mel Robbins. She is not just a motivational speaker, but she is the most booked female motivational speaker in the world and an international best-selling author whose work has been translated into 36 languages. She is also a television host and coach best known for her bestselling book “5 Second Rule.”

1. The 5 Second Rule: Mel’s cornerstone concept is that motivation is bullshit because you’ll never “feel” like doing what you need to do. So count down from five (5-4-3-2-1), keep your butt in gear, and take the action you need to take. This rule can be applied to sharpen the focus by breaking the cycle of procrastination and overthinking. By acting immediately, you shift your focus from hesitation to action.
2. Break the Habit Loop: Mel often speaks about the neurological patterns that lead to habits. By recognizing these patterns, one can interrupt and replace them with more productive behaviors. This is essential in refining one’s focus towards beneficial actions and away from distractions.
3. Environment Matters: The surroundings and environment play a significant role in determining one’s focus. Robbins emphasizes designing an environment that minimizes distractions and aligns with your goals.
4. Decision Fatigue: Mel acknowledges the concept of decision fatigue, which can dilute focus. She suggests simplifying daily routines and reducing trivial decisions to conserve mental energy for more important tasks.

Alex Hormozi. He is an entrepreneur known for his expertise in business scaling, sales strategies, and marketing, especially in the fitness industry which has net him a worth of $100 Million dollars. He shares his philosophies and methods for getting to such amazing net worth in his books $100M Offers and $100M Leads (what to focus on).

1. 80/20 Principle: Similar to many business experts, Hormozi references the Pareto Principle, suggesting that entrepreneurs focus on the 20% of tasks that generate 80% of the results.
2. Simplicity Over Complexity: Hormozi often speaks about the power of simplifying processes in business. A focused approach often means removing unnecessary complexities to streamline tasks and get to the results.
3. Consistent Action: Consistency in efforts, whether it’s in marketing campaigns or service delivery, is vital. Focusing on consistent action can lead to predictable results.
4. Value-driven Approach: Alex often emphasizes delivering immense value to customers. By focusing on value creation, businesses can cultivate loyalty and drive organic growth.

Bonus… MY tips on focus from my signature training and planner CEOLifeDesign™:

1. Project VS Task: Know the difference between a project and tasks. Some of us make a list of things to focus on and more times than not, a single item takes a series of items to complete it. That makes it more of a project, than a task. Pay attention to listing something as a single item and having the expectation that it be a single item and it is really a series of items that could take more time than you have allotted. If it is a project, reevaluate how to focus on everything on a task-by-task basis.
2. Prioritization: When there is a long list of tasks to get done, it’s hard to know which tasks to focus on doing first. Rank their priority using these four questions (listed in priority order): 1] What is the time constraint/urgency? 2] Do I need to pass it to someone else that will be waiting on me to do my part? 3] Do I need to do any preparation before I can focus on the task at hand? 4] Is it a high-value task that moves the needle?
3. Optimization: Consider what type of focus works best for you to get more tasks done. Here are two questions to help you to determine how and when to tackle tasks: 1] Does it work best for you to complete the quick & easy tasks first or to work on the more complex tasks first (eat the frog)? 2] What time of day is your focus and energy levels best for completing tasks timely and excellently?
4. Routine: To support your success with focus, give yourself routine time blocks to focus on production (tasks needed to meet deadlines). Make it routine to end the day with what tasks are important for tomorrow and start the day by reviewing the list from the day before to be sure they are still the priority focus. Routinely, check in throughout the day with your list to see what you have done in case you need to refocus on what is important. That will prevent your day from ending with you finding out you didn’t stick to your intended focus.

If you need support with planning your focus, let’s talk. It’s FREE. ShaCannon.info/talk

The words that you use in your marketing messaging matter because they have to connect and resonate with your ideal client. I once gave you a lot of resources for things to help you with your marketing messaging; check it out HERE. There are some amazing resources in that article BUT I want to wow you with specific words you can use in your marketing. In today’s ChatGPT world, it seems everyone is using the same words. I myself am a little dismayed at the popular use of “unlock” after naming my online group, morning show, and coaching program with the word. LOL I want to share 4 prime marketing word categories and a list of word options you can use for each.

Scarcity Words. Words that create a sense of urgency so that ideal clients take action sooner than later is important in marketing.

Here’s your list: bargain, before it’s gone, best review, bogo, bonus expires, buy now, clearance, close-out, countdown timer, disappearing bonuses, don’t delay, don’t miss out, early bird, ends soon, exclusive, expires, fast, fast selling, few minutes left to end the season sale, final, final call, final days, going out of business, hurry, hurry up, instant, instantly, invitation only, last but not least, last call, last chance, last chance, limited edition, limited selection, limited slots/seats, limited time offer, low stock availability, must-have, never again, now, now or never, offer ends, offer ends soon, offer expires, offer valid till 5 january, one day only, one time only, order before it’s too late, prices go up in 4hrs 27mins 6secs, quick, rare, run flash sale, rush, sale ends soon, save today, saving trigger, seasonal sale, shelf-life, special limited discount, the deal expiration, today only, ultimate, and while they last.

Money/Value Words. Need words to express the value of the offer?

Here’s your list: bargain, best, big, billion, bonanza, bonus, cash, cheap, discount, dollar, double, economical, exclusive, explode, extra, feast, first, free, freebie, fortune, frenzy, frugal, gift, giveaway, greatest, guilt-free, inexpensive, jackpot, limited edition, luxurious, marked down, massive, monetize, money, more, nest egg, new, pay zero, premiere, price break, prize, profit, pay zero, quadruple, reduced, rich, save, savings, six-figure, skyrocket, soaring, special, surge, treasure, triple, ultimate, up-sell, value, and whopping.

Vanity Words. Do you need words so that you stand out from the crowd?

Here’s your list: ahead of the game, amazing, amplify, at the top, attractive, awe-inspiring, beautiful, bold, booming, boost, boss, brassy, bravery, brazen, bright, brilliant, cheer, clever, conquer, courage, crowned, daring, dazzling, defiance, drop-dead, effective, elegant, elite, enchant, epic, fearless, fortunate, foxy, genius, good-looking, gorgeous, guts, handsome, hero, jaw-dropping, jubilant, kick-ass, knockout, legendary, lucky, magic, mind-blowing, moneymaking, notable, noteworthy, optimal, prosperous, quick-witted, remarkable, sassy, saucy, sensational, smart, spectacular, spine, staggering, strong, stunning, successful, super-human, triumph, turbocharged, ultimate, unbeaten, undefeated, valor, vanquish, victory, wealthy, wonderful, and wondrous.

Trust Words. Need words to create or show credibility or create trust?

Here’s your list: according to, accredited, anonymous, approved, authentic, authoritative, authority, backed, because, best, best selling, bona fide, cancel anytime, case study, certified, dependable, don’t worry, endorsed, ensured, expert, fully refundable, genuine, guaranteed, improved, ironclad, lifetime, money back, no obligation, no questions asked, no risk, no strings attached, official, privacy, professional, protected, proven, recession-proof, recognized, refund, reliable, research, results, safety, scientifically proven, secure, studies show, tested, track record, try before you buy, unconditional, verify, well respected, and worldwide.

Before the words come the clarity and the strategy. If you need your business repositioned for both, let’s talk. It’s FREE. ShaCannon.info/talk

I know you’ve heard the phrase “it takes money to make money”. Whether you agree with that or not, more often than not limited capital is a huge obstacle to growing a small business. It takes more money to hire the team to service the clients you are investing on marketing to bring in. It takes more money to scale your technology and be more efficient at some of the support your business needs. It takes more money to play the numbers game that is paid traffic. When you aren’t bringing in enough revenue to fund expansion where do you get the funds? Here are 5 ways bring in more money to make more money.

Grants. There is free money for your business out there in the form of non-repayable fund grants.

The usual criteria can include your business type, your business’ purpose or impact, geographic location, business size, financial need, your industry, or even your business’ certification status.

Places you can find grants for small businesses are government agencies on the federal, state, and local levels. Check https://www.grants.gov/ and the SBA at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs. Also, check the local store of national chains like Walmart.

Venture Capital Investments. Funds from firms that invest in up and coming businesses to make a return on investment.

The usual criteria can include whether your business is in a growing market, what makes your business stand out from others, what traction in revenue and growth your business is already experiencing, and an exit strategy for the investment.

For venture capital investors go to places like CrunchBase, and CBInsights.com.

Angel Investments. Similar to venture capital investments, angel investments but usually only one person who is using their personal funds to invest.

The usual criteria can include investment size needed, risk tolerance of the investment, involvement with the investor, and any preferential criteria they wish.

For angel investors go to places like AngelCaptialAssociation.org, AngelList.com, and SeedInvest.com.

Peer-to-Peer Lending. With the word peer commonly referring to friends or people similarly situated, this type of lending usually comes from a group of individuals rather than professional investors.

The usual criteria can be much like a bank loan and include credit rating and the ability for repayment.

Places to find peer-to-peer lenders include LendingClub.com, FundingCircle.com, Kiva.org, and Upstart.com.

Crowdfunding. Very popular in recent years, it is small individual investments from a large number of everyday people (the crowd) mostly through online platforms.

The usual criteria is a compelling story, great vision for success, positive impact, community support, great communication (updates), proof of concept, and incentives or rewards.

Platforms to find crowd funders are IndiGoGo.com, CrowdFundr.com, WeFunder.com, CrowdCube.com, and KickStarter.com

If you support with a roadmap to show where strategically are the best areas to invest in your business so that funding gives a return on investment, let’s talk. It’s FREE. ShaCannon.info/talk

Did you know that business operations and business management frequently include business development -especially in small business? A huge part of business development is marketing and a large part of marketing is the messaging.

Keywords. Once you are clear about the problem you support with your purposeful solution, you should get in the know of the plain language that your client avatar uses to search for the help that you provide. You then use those words to optimize your website, your sales pages, your social media posts, and everywhere you talk about your offering.

Having problems crafting your messaging because you don’t know how your target audience is talking about your service/product? Use these websites to see what’s being said around it and what keywords/phrases do they self-identify with:

• AnswerSocrates.com
• JustAnswer.com
• https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest/
• Reddit.com
• Quora.com
• AnswerThePublic.com
• https://www.infinitesuggest.com/
• https://trends.google.com/trends/
• https://www.semrush.com/
• BuzzSumo.com
• Viralfindr.com what’s viral now?

Marketing Words. Now that you know exactly what keywords to use in your marketing message, the next obstacle is to build trust when sharing the expertise of your offer. There are certain marketing words that infuse trust into your messaging. Choose from this vast list:

• According to (quote the source)
• Accredited
• Approved
• Authentic
• Authoritative
• Authority
• Backed
• Best
• Best selling
• Bona fide
• Cancel anytime
• Case study
• Certified
• Dependable
• Don’t worry
• Endorsed
• Ensured
• Expert
• Fully refundable
• Genuine
• Guaranteed
• Improved
• Ironclad
• Lifetime
• Moneyback
• No obligation
• No questions asked
• No risk
• No strings attached
• Official
• Pay zero
• Privacy
• Professional
• Protected
• Proven
• Recession-proof
• Recognized
• Refund
• Reliable
• Research
• Results
• Safety
• Scientifically proven
• Secure
• Studies show
• Tested
• Track record
• Try before you buy
• Unconditional
• Verified
• Well respected
• Worldwide

The Content. You have your keywords and you have your marketing trust words, now let’s craft your full copy. Copywriters can be expensive these days. What if you could purchase affordable written messaging to use to support, refer to, and even make up the content of your offer? Well, it’s possible. It’s called PLR or private label rights content. You can purchase anything from templated emails, sales page copy, ebooks, courses, etc… Here’s a list of sources for such content:

• unstoppableplr.com
• https://coachglue.com/
• https://timefreedombusiness.com/
• https://www.plr.me/
• https://my.hqplrstore.com/
• https://www.jvzoo.com/
• https://contentsparks.com/
• https://www.plr.me/content
• https://www.buyqualityplr.com/
• https://www.idplr.com/content-marketing-plr
• https://www.theplrstore.com/
• https://www.plrcontentsource.com/
• http://plrcontentproject.com/
• https://www.plrdatabase.net/
• https://www.plrcontentstudio.com/
• https://freeplrdownloads.com/
• https://plrplr.com/
• https://uthena.com/courses/uthena-plr
• https://www.bigproductstore.com/
• https://bestdealplr.com/
• https://www.plrmines.com/
• http://www.videosplr.com/
• https://freeplrdownloads.com/
• https://www.plrdatabase.net/
• https://www.exclusiveniches.com/
• https://master-resale-rights.com/
• https://lowcontentplrprintables.com/
• https://en.calameo.com/books/004312291f8d2b05773f2

Rewrites. PLR templates and content should be “spruced up” before use. Just as you were able to purchase the writings, so were many others. To help your version to standout, it should be rewritten. Just like copywriters, developmental editors aren’t cheap either. Try these A.I. or artificial intelligent writers:

• https://www.lightkey.io/
• https://quillbot.com/
• https://www.essaybot.com/
• https://writier.io/
• https://www.wordtune.com/
• https://snazzy.ai/
• https://simplified.co/
• https://www.upword.ai/
• https://rytr.me/
• https://ai-writer.com/
• https://sassbook.com/
• https://www.articleforge.com/
• https://www.jarvis.ai/
• https://writesonic.com/
• https://kafkai.com/
• https://articlebuilder.net/
• https://copysmith.ai/
• https://seocontentmachine.com/
• https://www.peppertype.ai/
• https://www.outranking.io/
• https://prowritingaid.com/
• https://wordai.com/
• https://inkforall.com/
• https://www.scalenut.com/ai-copywriter
• https://www.trylavender.com/
• https://contentdrips.com/

Titles/Subject Lines. To finalize your marketing messages, you need a hook better known as a title (if blogs, articles, and other titles) or subject lines (if emails). You could have the best message and content ever, but if the title or subject line to that awesomeness doesn’t catch the attention of who is meant to read it… it’s possibly useless. Use these resources to generate a compelling hook:

• https://www.contentrow.com/tools/headline-generator
• https://sumo.com/kickass-headline-generator/
• https://www.portent.com/tools/title-maker/
• https://www.title-generator.com/
• https://seopressor.com/blog-title-generator/
• https://fatjoe.com/blog-title-generator/
• https://tweakyourbiz.com/title-generator
• https://smallbiztrends.com/tools/title-generator/
• https://www.weshare.net/headline-generator/

Your marketing messages stems from being clear on your offer. If you need help getting clear on your marketing messaging based on your offer, let’s talk. ShaCannon.info/talk