The First 5 Steps To Become An Entrepreneur And Change Your Life
I Can Remember Being Fresh Out of College…
I can remember being fresh out of college and landing my first corporate job. (That’s me smack dab in the middle 90’s big hair and all!)
I thought this is what I've been working towards my entire life and I couldn't wait to see how my career unfolded.
One morning I went into work at 7 AM. We had a super busy day ahead and I knew it was going to be a long day. Little did I know that I would still be at my job that day until 2 AM! That's a 19-hour day.
But here's the kicker. I had to be back to work the next day at 6 AM! That literally meant I'd get home, shower, get 2 hours of sleep and then have to wake up and do it all over again. This was a normal reoccurrence.
I quickly learned that the corporate job that I had wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
Finding Little Joy In The life I Created For Myself
After working five years in my corporate job, I came to the realization that something had to change.
I wasn't living the life I had envisioned for myself and frankly I was so stressed out that I found little joy in the life I had created for myself.
I knew I wanted more from my life but wasn’t quite sure what “more” really looked like for me.
Certainly, there had to be something better. So, I set out to discover a more meaningful life for myself and this led me down a path that had a profounding impact on my life.
20+ Years of Entrepreneurship Defined
Truth be told, I’m not sure working for myself was ever on my radar.
When I started to explore my passions, I knew I wanted to create a job around them so that it didn’t feel like I was “working”, but rather just doing something that I loved doing.
I’m not going to lie, taking such a leap of faith to become an entrepreneur was the biggest risk that I had ever taken at that time.
But often, big risks lead to great rewards and this risk has allowed me to work for myself for the past 2+ decades.
Business # 1 - Savannah Bagel Cafe LLC
This was our cafe that we opened up in 2001. We had a full breakfast and lunch, a wholesale business, and a fully operating commercial kitchen that specialized in making authentic bagels.
Business #2 - Whole Lifestyle Nutrition LLC
In addition to owning and selling a successful restaurant, I’ve owned a health and wellness coaching and blogging business where I’ve had the privilege to serve over 30 million people (and counting) with my message.
Business #3 - Halle Cottis Photography LLC
I also have a photography business that feeds my soul. This is a side hustle for me as I get my fourth and final life’s purpose business off the ground and I call that the Women’s Startup Academy.
Business #4 - Women’s Startup Academy
The Women’s Startup Academy has been a dream of mine for 3 years. I started writing the book pre-pandemic and pre-launched the course in 2022. I have BIG plans for this fourth and final business. This is my end game…what I will do until I retire.
All of my businesses have provided me with enough income to sustain myself financially and has allowed me to continue to grow and work for myself.
Maybe You’re Feeling…
I often hear, “Yay, but Halle I wouldn’t even know where to begin…I couldn’t possibly take on something like this.
I get it, the uncertainty of a different path might feel a bit scary.
Right now you might be tired of doing what you think is expected of you rather than doing what you really want in life.
You might feel like you’ve put others' needs before your own so much so that you’re not even sure how to start showing up for yourself again.
You might want more from your life, but you aren’t quite sure what “more” really looks like. I bet that leaves you feeling frustrated, anxious, confused, overwhelmed, and unhappy.
Maybe you’re struggling with the mountain of information out there and aren’t sure which direction you need to take to start your own business.
These feelings are real, but I assure you…it can be done! My passion is to help other women start their own business with confidence and conviction.
The First 5 Steps To Become An Entrepreneur & Change Your Life
It is surprisingly easy to start the process to become an entrepreneur and change your life.
First step is to explore ways that you can take control of your life. That included your time commitment, the amount of money you want to make, and exploring what it is that you love that doesn’t feel like work (in other words, what’s your passion)?
Next, research what you need to do to accomplish what it was that you are after.
Created a rough outline/timeline on taking steps forward to take the leap into entrepreneurship.
Reflect on this until you’re 100% sure that this is the path that you want for your future.
Find a mentor who can help you with your endeavors.
Give yourself unconditional permission to live your life the way that you want so that you can have the freedom to be and do what you want, and more importantly have the courage to follow your dreams.
The Women’s Startup Academy Was Built With You In Mind
The Women’s Startup Academy is a jumping off point. It’s a step-by-step program to start your business, it’s a place where you can get continuous support not only now but in the future too. It’s a place where you can make your dream of starting a business a reality.
When someone asks me what I do, I tell them that it’s not what I can do, it’s what my clients can do:
My clients are able to start their own business with little to no experience by using my never-before shared process for turning their skills or passions into a profitable business in less than 60 days.
And that’s exactly what we deliver at the Women’s Startup Academy.
I Invite You To Watch My Free Workshop
If you’d like to learn more about how to transform your life by starting a business, I invite you to watch my free workshop.
We take an in depth look on how you can turn your skills and services, that you already have, into a profitable business and increase your income, create time flexibility, and give you the freedom to live the life of your dreams
I also show you exactly how I was able to start my last 2 businesses in 60 days , for hundreds - not thousands.
