Assessing Your Values & Strengths As An Entrepreneur
How much do you really know about yourself? Scary thought sometimes, right? As personality tests such as Myers-Briggs, and recently the Enneagram, have taken the world by storm – do you take the time to take them? Are you *mildly* obsessed with personality assessments like we are? Here’s something slightly controversial: We don’t think we really have weaknesses.
From here on out, we’re hereby calling them: ‘lesser strengths’.
Rather than looking at something as a weakness that will always be, why not have a growth mindset and look at it as a muscle that can be strengthened and that we can get better at if we put the work in?
And trust us, we doubt you’ve heard about it.
This tool differs from some of the other personality tests out there like Myers-Briggs and Enneagram in that instead of placing a label on your type and putting you into a box, this tool gives a list of universal human values and shows you which ones are your greatest strengths and which ones could use some improvement.
Here is a quick breakdown of our results from our work-cation a few months ago.
Did you start your business to get paid for doing that thing that really lights you up, only to discover that running the actual business doesn’t light you up at all?
It’s inevitable. There are going to be parts of running your business that
A. You aren’t very good at,
or B. You don’t enjoy.
So what can you do in this scenario?
You can form a partnership!
Wait, wait, wait. Hear us out.
We KNOW they often get a bad rap and can be scary, BUT ….
Partnerships are really amazing opportunities that allow you to play to your strengths instead of having to focus on your weaknesses.
On this week’s podcast, we’re sharing the many pros (and the cons) that come with forming a business partnership and giving our best tips on how to find the best possible partner for you and your business.
Plus, some things you definitely want to consider in the process… because we’ve had experience with awesome (and not awesome) partnerships, and how they can make or break your business.
Have you ever thought about the role that your fur baby plays in your life as an entrepreneur?
Whether it’s a puppy running through the house like a toddler without a diaper, or a cat that simply must lay right on top of the computer while you’re trying to work, our pets are there with us as our constant companions as we work every day in this virtual world.
Our pets are also a great way to connect with others. They’re so much a part of our family and what’s more relatable than swapping stories about your snoring dog or how you came up with your pet’s name?
We love sharing pet photos and pet stories so come on over to our Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/rebelonthego) to introduce yourself and drop a picture of your fur baby.
Is there a difference between coaching and consulting?
YES – and it’s a big one. In this episode, we dig into the key differences between the two.
Have you noticed the latest phenomenon happening in the online space these days?
A lot of people in the online space are using the words coach and consultant interchangeably…. And we’re just gonna come right out and say it.
We. Don’t. Like. It.
Why? Mostly because it’s misleading and disingenuous.
So what’s the difference between a consultant and a coach? And which one do I really need?
We get this question a lot so we recorded a short episode to clear up some common misconceptions.
This week on our podcast we’re talking about the difference between coaches and consultants and why it makes a big difference to you.
If you’re thinking about hiring a coach or consultant in your personal life or your business, we have some great tips that will help you make a more informed decision on hiring the right person for you.
P-I-V-O-T … The entrepreneur’s 5-letter swear word.
But does it have to be?
We all know the word pivot ultimately means to change, so why does it bring up so much shame for us who are in this entrepreneurial space, when we tell others we’re pivoting?
One of the core foundations of Serendipitous Rebel is Purposeful Pivoting – but what does that even mean?
Let’s start with our definition of Purposeful Pivoting:
Connecting with what matters and taking committed action in order to make a bigger impact in the world.
So what does that mean?
Let’s start with “Connecting with what matters”
What is your purpose? What gets you out of bed in the morning? It is the most important part of a businesses foundations, and often the most overlooked. Defining this is the first step to success. With defined purpose you can work harder, you can work longer – you have the grit and resilience needed to push through the tough times.
Next, “taking committed action”
It’s not enough to just want the thing. You have to take actionable steps in order to get there. You have goals you want to achieve. Then you initiate systems to get there. We love the phrase committed action because it’s being very intentional with what you do and how you do it.
Finally, “make a bigger impact in the world.”
It’s not that we want a $4 million company. It’s that we want to make enough of an impact with enough people to create ripple effects in the world. And we want to work with entrepreneurs that want to make a difference in the world.
At Serendipitous Rebel we’ve had multiple pivots in a short period of time. When we found ourselves disconnected from the businesses we’d created, we had to really dig in and ask ourselves hard questions. Now we help entrepreneurs ask the same hard questions so that they, too, can become a profitable business.
Change can be reallly difficult. Believe me, WE KNOW! But sometimes that change is necessary if you want to achieve the results you’re looking for.
Grab your free guide now to see if the universe is giving you signs that it’s time to pivot!
And the goal has to have the commitment to push through hard things and do it over a long period of time to achieve it. You don’t just wake up to run a marathon or wake up to a million dollar business. You have to move beyond the ideation stage and into the implementation stage if you want to achieve the end goal.
2. Each will have obstacles that you have to work around
You have to schedule in your events and training. You have to plan. If you want to be successful it really takes planning. Same in business. You can just launch something, but if you launch with a plan you’ll see much more success. Having systems in place will make you more successful
3. The prep is more fun than the actual execution
It’s a ton of fun to buy new running shoes and to buy the tutu we are going to wear. Likewise, it’s fun to shop for a new computer and new pens for my office. None of that will result in any kinds of success. You need to do the thing. Even if you aren’t perfectly polished and put together doing it.
4. You need a support system
Both personal and professional – you need a support system in place. We are tremendously lucky that we have each other. But you need to have other business colleagues that you can bounce things off of – a professional network you can collaborate with. You need your cheer squad from your friends and family. Finally, you need people to be accountable to.
5. You need to have a purpose.
And it can’t be rooted in a vanity metric. If you are training for a marathon to lose weight, chances are you will fail. If you are doing it to achieve a goal and become a healthier version of you so that you can be there for your children – that’s a different kind of motivation. If you are going into online business for the sole purpose to make a lot of money, chances are you will fail. But if you go in so that you can make more money to provide more security for your family, or pay for college, suddenly the motivation is very different.
6. Everyone is an expert (even though they have never done it before)
Pay no attention to the commentary of those that are not in the arena, whether it’s running your business or running a marathon. There is more than one way to skin a cat, and there is certainly more than one way to run your business or train for a marathon. And not everyone’s advice will be relevant. Be sure to only take into account the opinions and advice from people who are where you want to be.
In the end, it’s not the intense things you do every day that will help you cross the finish line. It’s the small consistent things that you do between now and then that make a difference in the long run.
Can you think of anymore similarities in running an endurance race and running a business? Join us in Rebel On The Go Facebook Group and let us know!
In this Bonus Episode of the Serendipitous Rebel Podcast, we are taking on the dreaded “R” Word: Recession.
Should you be worried about a recession? How can you insulate your business?
We tackle these questions head-on in this special episode. What can an entrepreneur do to prepare themselves for a recession?
We believe that these are tips and tactics that entrepreneurs can use at any time, not just now. It’s about being laser-focused and intentional about your business and your mission and not letting the external noise of economics steer your ship.
Should you be worried about a pending recession?
The short answer is that it’s important to be a savvy business owner, no matter what the economic times are. At the end of the day you need a few things: a solid offer, a solid runway, and a solid message. If you can combine these three things, then we believe you can weather any economic storm.
So what can an entrepreneur do during these times?
Stay up to date on industry education and certifications
The world of online business is forever changing at a breakneck pace. Investing in coaching or certification programs that help you level up and stay up to date on changes really is key.
But we encourage entrepreneurs to not just invest anywhere. Courses that are vague and leave you with more questions than answered should be avoided. Certifications or courses that leave you with solid “ahas” or an extra boost of credibility upon completion are always good investments. Likewise, coaching that helps to push you beyond your comfort zone and gives you clarity can often be a better investment than a course that you will probably never complete anyway.
Take a good hard look at your expenses.
Again – this is a smart thing to do no matter what the economic climate is doing. Take a look at recurring expenses and subscriptions and really ask yourself – is this moving the needle? Was this a tactic that I just thought I needed? Am I actually using this tool?
Finally, ask if now is good time to pivot.
Now may be exactly the time to make a pivot in your business. It’s a perfect opportunity to take stock on your purpose and values and ask yourself if you find yourself in alignment with what you are doing. If the answer is “No” now may be the time to lean into some certifications or programs that allow you to make some shifts in your business.
No matter where you find yourself, remember this – economic climates are only seasons. If you are a smart business owner you are learning to navigate the storm rather than ignore or steer away from it.
Running an endurance race was high on each of our bucket lists. So why the heck to people do this in the first place?
Each of us have a different answer.
For Krystal, running this felt like a crazy thing to take on. Upon signing up she couldn’t even run a full mile straight (and training in the Texas heat is kicking her a$$).
So why, indeed…
Krystal’s family motto for years has been “We can do hard things.” And for her she wanted to do something hard and challenging and that was a self-inflicted challenge. These last few years there have been a lot of hard things both personally and professionally that she has had to endure:
The dissolution of a partnership
Ups and downs with a special needs child
Still enduring a never ending pandemic
For this she just needed something that was her choice, a challenge that pushed her that she had control over. So she went for it and just asked:
What is the worst that could happen?
There are very few negative consequences to this. We get to cross something off our list, enjoy a fun weekend with friends at Disney World, push ourselves beyond our comfort zone, and accomplish something really difficult.
For Wendy it was a little different. She rows half marathons on a regular basis, so besides peer pressure, she had other motivating factors.
She wanted to push her body, but also can ignore the attraction that running around Disney in a cute pink tutu really has.
But at the end of the day, Wendy is in love with the process. The motivation of training for an endurance event. She finds it exhilarating and fun.
Being a goal driven entrepreneur, having milestones and something to strive towards is incredibly motivating.
When it comes to training there are a lot of parallels to setting goals to run a marathon and being one entrepreneur:
You have to honor the season of life that you are in.
Our training schedules are very different. Wendy works out early in the morning, and Krystal opts for late at night. The big difference? Krystal has small children and Wendy’s kids are older. The age of your kids and the season you find yourself in really effects how you show up in entrepreneurship, and in training.
You have to schedule your priorities.
For both of us, if it isn’t in the calendar, it simply does not get done. You have to set the calendar and set up your priorities for work or training ahead of time. Otherwise it simply will not get done.
You need to incorporate hard things and self care into your routine.
Whether it’s an endurance race or entrepreneurship, you need to set goals that push you beyond what you think your limits are. You need to work incrementally to get there, and you need to build in self care and rest along the way. And we cannot stress enough the importance of incorporating physical activity into your self care routine.
Mindset Matters.
You have to set goals. You have to train to meet the goals. You have to do it if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Or even on days you don’t feel like it. That’s where you build resilience. That’s where you get the grit to keep going. Even when it sucks.
What you do today, matters significantly tomorrow.
Neither of us can wake up today and run a marathon. We have to do small things each day between now and race day to prepare. The same goes for your business. The small things you do today, pays off in dividends down the road, if you are intentional and strategic enough.
Have you set any lofty goals? Share them with us in our Facebook Group – Rebel On The Go!
It’s hard to ignore the tumultuous political landscape that we seem to live in today. Whether it is Black Lives Matter, stances on abortion, climate change, January 6 or anything in between, a lot of business owners are wondering when and how to speak up and take a stance.
So Wendy and Krystal attempt to tackle this complicated question as it pertains to entrepreneurs.
When should an entrepreneur get political and speak out publicly about the controversial events of today?
At the end of the day, as an entrepreneur you are your brand. No matter where you stand on a variety of issues, you need to drill into what your core values are as a brand.
When it comes to should you, or shouldn’t you, do what feels good to you.
No matter what you do, there will be consequences. Your silence can always be interpreted, whether you like it or not. But wouldn’t you rather give people the option to self select out of the process before they become a paid client? Wouldn’t you rather work with people that have aligned values?
Overwhelmingly, our answer is YES! We want to work with clients who are in alignment with us and our values. We don’t want to work with people that we wouldn’t want to have a drink with them.
Will you alienate people? Yes. Will you offend someone? Maybe.
And good riddance.
The goal of any solid marketing strategy is not to attract every client – we want to attract ideal clients. And believe us – you can feel the difference!
It’s hard to work with someone or for someone if you don’t like them. Can we disagree politically? Yes. Can we disagree about core human rights? Nope.
And that’s the difference.
Our beliefs and values are what distinguish us from the next guy. One of the perks of entrepreneurship is that you get to choose. Don’t be afraid to make your choice.
Grab your free guide now to see if the universe is giving you signs that it’s time to pivot! 
