How to become an influencer in business

Pat Flynn, founder of Smart Passive Income, is now a widely respected podcaster and international keynote speaker. However, he has not always had it easy: a decade ago, he was out of work and decided to start building his own business from scratch. He chose counselling services in the field of online business. In an interview at entrepreneur.com, he offers some advice based on his own experience to anyone who is just setting up in business or is maybe in a bit of a rut.

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Be patient

You can’t become a large-scale influencer overnight; you should first concentrate on a smaller area, then gradually expand. Attempting to do too much too soon is counter-productive. New entrepreneurs sometimes try to experiment too much before they have mastered the basics.

Systematic planning

Writing blogs and producing podcasts on a regular basis can be very time-consuming. It is wise to narrow the focus in advance by deciding on a series of articles / podcasts / videos based around themes which will probably become topical.

Collect e-mail addresses

Start compiling an e-list even before day one. You will thus save yourself an awful lot of time and energy later when you want to promote a new product.

Use a calendar

You can’t keep everything in your head. Calendars are essential for noting what needs doing and when. Be sure to reserve adequate space in the calendar for yourself and your family.

Understanding yourself

Don’t lose track of why you initially decided to do what you are doing. Flynn has always tried to remain true to himself, focusing more on helping other people than self-enrichment. He is rewarded by the thought that his work is influencing people across the globe.

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Article source Entrepreneur.com - website of a leading U.S. magazine for entrepreneurs
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