In his twenties, he quit his job after one too many drinks but that was the start of huge entrepreneurially success. Author, Mike Michalowicz shares how he launched 3 multimillion dollar companies before the age of 35.
Mike Michalowicz is the entrepreneur behind three multi-million dollar companies and is the author of Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan and what BusinessWeek deemed the entrepreneurs cult classic, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur. Mike is a former small business columnist for The Wall Street Journal, and regularly travels the globe as an entrepreneurial advocate. Mike is also the host of The Profit First Podcast.
Think Like A Journalist Quote
“Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself.” Oprah Winfrey
Success (Affirmation) Quote
“I am the most prolific business author of the century, but the world just doesn’t realize it yet.”
Career Highlight
Mike accidentally became an entrepreneur when he was in his early twenties, married and with a kid. Find out how he left his first job and then launched three multimillion dollar companies before the age of 35.
When It Didn’t Work
Hear how Mike’s lowest moment also became his greatest moment. Find out what he learned from losing everything.
Highlights From How To Make Your Startup A Huge Success.
Mike Michalowicz shares how he launched three multimillion dollar companies before the age of 35. He starts by sharing with the Brand Journalism community a vital tip that has an interesting twist to it.
Failing at hyper speed provides opportunities but it doesn’t necessarily mean you should pivot. Mike contests the terminology “pivot” for entrepreneurs.
“Pivoting is adjusting to what customers want,” explains Mike. But he says it’s only half the solution.
I was intrigued because I must admit I reference “pivoting” a lot in the episodes of The Brand Journalism Advantage Podcast. Mike shared his thoughts.
“Of course, we have to deliver what the consumer needs otherwise we’d have no business but what I see happening with millennials (and this is true with all stages and ages of business owners) is we are losing focus on what we want,” says Mike.
He says ignoring what we want is a big mistake and one that can cost you your business. “I see more business owners who are going after the money but hate their business.”
Mike says don’t “pivot” instead align. “Figure out what the customer wants and adjust to them…but also be true to what you feel called or desired to do…what you feel passionate for…what you feel purpose for and always be in alignment with that. When you get those two dots on the same path, now you have a business that’s going to grow explosively and you’re going to love the journey.
Mike also says the key to make your startup a huge success is to have balance in your life. He says it can’t be the end game, instead “it’s gotta happen every single day”.
But I asked Mike how do you do this when you’re juggling so many personal and professional responsibilities?
Mike says, ask yourself what you really want. If the answer is: money. You have to dig deeper and ask why you want money. What will that money bring? How will you enjoy that money? What will you spend it on? Go deep to discover what is really driving you…what your purpose is.
So, what’s Mike’s purpose? “To teach others that business is a platform for expression.”
“When you don’t know your life’s purpose, your life purpose is to discover your life’s purpose,” says Mike.
He says once you discover your life purpose and then begin to teach other’s about it, the real person who needs to learn it, “is ourselves.”
“So, while I’m trying to teach the world that our business is our platform for expression, I’m really trying to teach myself,” says Mike.
Hear more from Mike Michalowicz in this episode of The Brand Journalism Advantage Podcast.
Multimedia Resource
Book
The Miracle Morning, Hal Elrod
Contact
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz
