Breaking Through - Video

Dec 11, 2020

Here is a recap of the Paparelli Zoom Chat for Entrepreneurs #30

The theme was “Breaking Through.”

Special thanks to my guest Louise Wasilewski, founder and CEO of Acivilate.

Quote of the call: “The key to breaking through is sticking around long enough so people believe you will stick around long enough.” Louise Wasilewski

7 key takeaways from this call:

Understand your market: Read, read, read about your market. Learn the vocabulary, the ecosystem, how the market works. Attend industry conferences. Meet people. Share your ideas with whoever will listen. And then listen, listen, listen.
If you define the problem, you aim to solve at too high a level, you are setting yourself up for failure. Break into the market with a narrow problem definition. Your first objective is to break through and then solve the broader market problem.
You can overcome an investor’s market prejudice by advancing the business and showing market acceptance. Show people are buying and you’ll find an investor.
Your early adopters are gold. You must find them and nourish them to success and future involvement. You need at least three great references to advance to the next stage of business development.
The key to sales success is to follow the money. You need to understand who will pay, why they will pay, and how they pay.
Breaking into a mature market with a new product is hard because it is easier for a buyer to buy an established inferior product through an easier procurement pathway.
Stay healthy. Plug into and stay involved in a startup community that will continue to help and encourage you as you aim to break through.

Books and a movie Louise recommended.

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Slavery by Another Name by Douglas A. Blackmon

The film: "Slavery by Another Name"

Review the video of my conversation with Louise to become an even better entrepreneur.

Every Paparelli Zoom Chat for Entrepreneurs will help you be a better entrepreneur. We are all about entrepreneurs helping other entrepreneurs.

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