Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Evan Shank, Marketing Specialist, based in Sarasota, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I run a small email marketing agency while producing content that helps new and aspiring solopreneurs get started on their journey to the top of their personal mountain of success.
Tell us about yourself
Truthfully, I've always felt like I couldn't pick one thing to stick with career-wise. Real Estate, Fitness, Music Performance, etc... And most recently, Marketing. One day in 2019, I realized what these all had in common - a heavy bend toward the one-person business. I've always enjoyed the concept of business and continually crave the pursuit of living my dream life by way of self-employment. I've been a freelance email marketer for several years and have built a small little agency centered around email marketing specifically.
My main and long-term focus, however, is building my personal brand, to not only share my journey but to teach all preneurs (whether solo or other) the fundamentals of marketing while challenging them with exercises in self-development. The fact is, a fulfilled life is one that marries the aspirations of your career with your personal pursuits as well.
Current Projects:
- I just launched a course called Simple Email Marketing.
- I run an email newsletter and podcast called Marketing & Mindset Mondays (aka M&M).
- I have another podcast for entrepreneurs called, "Which Way Now?"
- Plus, the email marketing agency
Working primarily from home as a husband and dad of two little boys located in Sarasota, FL, my ultimate goal is to be present in my family's lives while demonstrating that with enough grit and determination, it's possible for anyone to build a fulfilling life on their own terms.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Oh, let's see... Lately, I've been surrounding myself with people who can help me build my own little empire—from skilled contract workers to business coaches. So the big win happening a lot right now has been building out a content production system that allows me to put out the good stuff for people consistently without letting other areas of my business slip. I'm working hard on that machine right now.
Zooming out, my biggest accomplishment has simply been that fact that I dove into marketing as an email freelancer headfirst, learned the skills while I earned money from the gigs, and have been able to provide for my family all along the way. As a family man, this is my ultimate purpose in life.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things, especially in the beginning, is sticking to your guns and not giving up. Too often, people either throw in the towel way too early or bounce around from one idea to the next without ever giving any one thing a solid, dedicated effort. I know this all too well from personal experience. If you want to build something, you need to be able to fully focus over a consistent course of time without letting the doubts creep in and derail you.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Prioritize people, just in general.
- Be a decent human being.
- Share your story, even if you haven't gotten to the good parts yet.
Regardless of what you aim to accomplish, these things are the underpinning of a life well lived. Time is either your ally or your enemy. It's your job to determine what it will be for you. Get started if you haven't already. Step 1 - Join the Marketing & Mindset Monday's Newsletter. 🙂I'll see you out there.✌️
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://evanshank.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_evanshank/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_evanshank
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theevanshank/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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