Nerd Startup Incubator: Recent Episodes
Dr. Chantel Nicolas
Downloadable podcasts in the field of business, mindset, personal development, professional development, and entrepreneurship for mid-career technical experts.
Hello and welcome to the Nerd Startup Incubator Podcast. I am your host Dr. Chantel Nicolas and in this episode we are going to break down into further detail the critical steps to business Idea generation. During the last episode I introduced how to create a business idea that SLAPS.
SLAPS is an acronym for: statement, lasting, attracts, package, and systems. And today, we are going to talk about systems. This episode is for you if 1) you are a dope professional and subject matter expert looking to create or advance your business and 2) you have not yet created reproducible aspects of your business as of yet.
Now, as a scientist, you can appreciate that I love reproducibility. As a coder, reproducibility is encoded in my various R and Python scripts. Otherwise, every time I would try to analyze a new dataset, I would have to customize every single step... and ahhh! Look! To all my nerd friends out there, please repeat after me: ain't nobody got time fo' dat! Reproducibility can sometimes be as good as predictability.
So can you imagine, then not having a workable process for doing things that need to happen over and over and over again in your side-business? Knowing that you live a very full and busy life? I feel like you’re getting the picture.
Then listen in and see whether you are positioned to have in place the reproducible systems that you can depend on for keeping your business going for as long as you would like. Because the last thing you need is to start an incredible business, and then stop due to burn out -- burn out from either not delegating or not implementing systems and tools that can help you see it through.
Here are 4 operations that at a minimum constitute a business that is governed by systems.
Taking payments
It’s not cool for you, or your client, for you not to have something official or concrete in place before you start working together. Ever hear the phrase: people pay to pay attention. Having an official process ensures that 1) you are compensated for your solutions and precious time and that 2) your clients have buy-in both literally and emotionally in their transformation process. This is to ensure that they actually implement your strategies or use your tools for getting them from their point of pain to their point of pleasure.
Scheduling calls
Being a busy professional and wearing several hats on any given day in your life - all while looking to create a business - is tough no matter how you look at it. So let’s get you some peace of mind, that your clients will be well taken care of and that they will likely keep coming back because you’ve made it so seamless for them to reach you and get their transformations going.
Creating marketing content
I know, I know… you hate social media! And even if you are warming up to it, you may not know what to actually say and you are struggling to make it work for you so you can get your name out there in a way that does not confuse your ideal clients.
There are so many ways to get feedback from your clients. You can use tools like Google Forms or Typeform to capture sentiments or record one-on-one interviews after your client has undergone their full process of transformation.
Getting feedback
You literally get to build yourself a system for operating in excellence while developing client-based talking points for future marketing.
ConclusionIn conclusion, it is super important that as you look to develop or cultivate a business idea that SLAPS - that yours is one that can be governed by systems. At the very least, you can create systems around mundane or routine aspects of your business and in this episode we covered 1) Taking payments, 2) Scheduling Calls, 3) Creating marketing content, and 4) Getting feedback. Yep, because reproducibility is your ticket to being a CEO. Compassionate, Excellent, and Optimized. So tell me, are
Hello and welcome to the Nerd Startup Incubator Podcast. I am your host Dr. Chantel Nicolas and in this episode we are talking about business Idea generation - Creating a business that SLAPS.
This past weekend I gave a talk called Business Idea Generation, to an incredible audience of people who are looking to create additional income streams in a meaningful way. I got so much good feedback on it, that I just had to get this information to you in the quickest way possible.
One person testified that as someone who had just lost his job, that he had lost hope about his financial future. And after my presentation, he started getting hope that he could create his own non-traditional business successfully. Now that's dope!
If you have a business or product idea that you are working on developing, then you may have wondered whether it was going to be a hit or miss for your intended audience. Believe, me I've been there!
When I was in the process of overthinking starting my business, I sat on my idea for entirely too long and I wish I had a way to determine whether it was going to be something to which I could commit and that would be a hit.
Look you guys, you may not know this, but I am from Brooklyn baby, that's riiight! But please don't get it twisted, I am not trying to have you out here in these streets hitting people upside their heads with your business ideas.
Rather than being violent, I am looking to help you create an idea that is more likely to be a big hit, rather than a miss for your ideal clients - the people you plan to market and sell your products to.
So if you're what I call a dope professional working on growing your side-business, while you live a very full and professional life, then please listen on.
Alright, let's break it down. A business idea that SLAPS.
SLAPS is an acronym for: statement, lasting, attracts, package, systems. I am going to describe each of these briefly, because this is a short episode, but I promise it will be enough for you to be dangerous.
This is your formula for interrogating whether you ought to move forward with your big idea so you can profit from what I've learned, and collapse time as you take the leap.
An idea that makes a statement
An idea that creates a lasting impact
An idea that attracts the right people
An idea that has a great package
An idea that can be governed by systems
In conclusion, it is super important that within the realm of business idea generation, that you create a business idea that SLAPS. One that makes a statement, creates a lasting impact, attracts the right people, has a great package, and is governed by systems. Are you looking generate a business idea that can make you go from hidden to hitting, because it slaps. Let us know what step you might be stuck on by emailing us at hello@nerdstartupincubator.com so we can help you make it a hit.
Heyyy!! Welcome to the Nerd Startup Incubator Podcast. I am your host Dr. Chantel Nicolas and in this episode we'll cover 3 opinions that actually matter in your business.
Here is the thing. Even with 99 reasons to be confident, sometimes it can be that one person, one perspective, or one setback that can cause an amazing person like you to forget what you are capable of. Please let me remind you.
You are an accomplished, purpose-driven professional and you are always looking for ways to maximize your impact. This means that you care about having the right connections and making the right moves. You know that you can bet on yourself to show up and get it done.
Am I lying though?
So I want to encourage you to keep on going and I want to you to know whose opinions matter the most when you find yourself second-guessing yourself or feeling like you need to fall back or reconfigure things. So I will be discussing 3 opinions here:
Clients
Colleagues
Coaches
Your Clients
Your Colleagues
Your Coaches
In conclusion, you know that as incredible as you are, there might be some blindspots or areas where you feel not so confident. The last thing you and this world needs is for you to forget who you are and to fall back. If you want to always be growing, then stop getting input from the wrong people, and start engaging with the three Cs that matter in your business. Clients, Colleagues, and Coaches. Are you struggling to build a community of the three C's around you? Send us an email at hello@nerdstartupincubator.com and we will point you in the right direction. Alrighty - that's our show. Until next time!
Heyyy! Welcome to the Nerd Startup Incubator Podcast. I am your host Dr. Chantel Nicolas and this episode is called: PSA: Jump in! The water's fine... So this is a public service announcement to encourage all of you dope subject matter experts out there that might be delaying the launch of your new business or new product or service. I am here to tell you with specificity, not just to get in, but to jump in! Uh Here me out!
I have had the pleasure of getting to know hundreds of you out there personally, especially STEM professionals who are strategizing their 9-to-5 getaway plans. However, there are some of you are are feeling stuck and not quite ready to jump in wholeheartedly into experimenting with a strategy that can really work for you.
Hence this P.S.A - Purpose, Substance, and Accountability - your catalyst. So let's jump in!
Let's clarify your purpose
Let's create your substance
Let's commit to your accountability
It all comes down to P.S.A. - Purpose, Substance, and Accountability. If you are having trouble jumping in for whatever reason, then go ahead and do these three things 1) use creative visualization to help you set goals 2) experiment with what it would take to realize your vision 3) and get help so you can see your vision all the way through. If you are having a hard time with P.S.A., then send us an email at hello@nerdstartupincubator.com. What are two things you feel are holding you back?
Heyyy! Welcome to the Nerd Startup Incubator Podcast. I am your host Dr. Chantel Nicolas. To all of my dope nerds out there, yes, you read that right. We are discussing the KISSME Method. Now please don't be startled by this acronym...its fairly easy and safe to do. KISSME stands for Keep it Simple Subject Matter Expert.
If you're tuning in, then I would bet good money that you are an incredibly brilliant professional who has struggled with or who is currently struggling with getting the most out of your available time and budget to advance your business dreams. And for you, although time and funds may be limited, you still have dreams of building yourself an empire - which is what I'm in the business of building so I want to help you do exactly that.
So I am going to show you how to apply the KISSME method when it comes to dealing with limited time and money as you start and grow your business. If you know me, then you know that I am a PhD scientist and I am a coder, so I like to use an evidence-based approach for most things that I do. So let's define your ideal strategy using information that is unique to you.
First - let's apply the KISSME method to funding your business idea
Second - lets apply the KISSME method to getting your name out there
That's right, you can Keep it Simple Subject Matter Expert! All you have to do is 1) Find your skillset, purpose, ideal client combination so you can develop a digital product that excites you and 2) Create language that helps you to brand yourself as far as who and how you serve and what your goals are. Are you ready to apply these strategies to finally fund and brand your exciting new business idea? Send an email to hello@nerdstartupincubator.com and we'll show you customizable strategies.
This topic is a continuation of one of our previous episodes where we talked about how to stop thinking like you're 9 to 5 and overworked expert so can start thinking like a compassionate, excellent and optimized entrepreneur.
This is when you go from an having an NFO mindset to a having CEO mindset. In this episode we'll talk more about how to achieve the big O in several areas of your life and business by implementing some go-to systems. And you guessed it 'O' stands for optimized.
If you are looking to develop a business that has staying power and that can change your life as it changes the world, then stay tuned. I am going to talk about how to think through your systems for finding and serving your ideal clients. If you feel you are destined for cultivating a vision for yourself and your business that goes beyond mundane day to day activities then do these three things:
**1) Determine the amount of time you intend to spend working on your business daily and weekly,
2) Fill your calendar with specific assignments related to client attraction or activities that benefit you and your business, and
3) Invest in systems that suitable for helping you to consistently attract, serve and retain your ideal clients.**
Welcome to the Nerd Startup Incubator Podcast. This is season 2 episode 1...
I’m pleased to say that I’m now the proud mom of a beautiful boy that has filled me with so much love and happiness. But even though I’ve had a lot going on, I’ve missed you, and I hope that life is treating you good!!!
If you are listening to this podcast, then I am going to assume that you are a dope professional and you likely have a business or you are working towards building one.
If this is your first episode, then you ought to know that I love helping brilliant people convert their brilliance into businesses and I am thrilled to be getting back to that important work. I've coached dozens of nerds just like me, particular those who are experts in various fields and especially in STEM.
How does it feel to know that you can build something that can really serve others and yet really work for you? This is built into the Nerd Startup Incubator mantra, which is, 'it is your time to create your own formula for your life and business', Amen?!
You get to create your own formula
Wanna go from being an NFO to a CEO? I know you're probably thinking: what is an NFO and do I need another degree to achieve that status?! No, no, no. Simmer down, I promise you wont need another degree or certificate for this one, because chances are that you are an NFO already...but that's not necessarily a good thing. You see, NFO stands for Nine to Five and Overworked. Chances are that if you are listening to this podcast episode, then you know exactly what it feels like to be an NFO...and to be an NFO is to have an NFO mindset. This mindset has three overarching tell tail signs
Once I discovered that I needed a CEO mindset in order to ensure my continued growth and commitment to my business, I never looked back. Cultivating and sustaining a CEO mindset has its challenges, especially if you are currently sporting an NFO (Nine to Five Overworked) mindset.
Are you ready to cultivate and sustain a CEO - compassionate, excellent, and optimized mindset. Attend my Expert to Entrepreneur Masterclass, and start living out your true potential ASAP.
Just saying the word cookie, makes my mouth water. How I miss the days when my friends and I would get together and bake holiday cookies once a year or do a cookie exchange to show off our skills. Cookie cutters are crucial for the holidays from making spritz cookies to chocolate snowmen. So why are we ditching cookie cutters in this episode? Here's the deal: Oftentimes, when we launch new businesses, we tend to follow cookie-cutter recipes for various processes...from how to create a social media post to how we manage our newsletters.
After coming up with my business idea, I was so very excited and overwhelmed at the same time. Ultimately, my vision for my business idea, clients, and life, dictated the design of everything from my products to marketing strategy to my systems.
Here are three steps to take as you discover what works for you, rather than settling for cookie cutter solutions: 1) Let your unique business vision guide the systems you adopt , 2) Create products and solutions that fit with the lifestyle you wish to maintain, 3) Spend time getting to know your market so that you can attract your ideal clients.
Are you ready to ditch cookie cutter business ideas and strategies so you can develop something that is perfect for you. Register for my Expert to Entrepreneur Masterclass, and learn how to do it for yourself.
As we grow up we learn new ways to legitimize our growth through #adulting. If you're reading this post then chances are, you are a full-time professional and by default, you've been OG #adulting since college. Here are a few examples of how you know you're doing it right 1) you have a full-time job, 2) you're responsible for other people, or 3) you actively invest in your retirement and/or the stock market. Although our responsibilities may vary, we can all agree that financial security is usually at the top of the list. This is why I love celebrating financial milestones of my family and friends whether its homeownership, paying off student loan debt, or paying cash for major expenses - you name it.
However, our achievements often come after a steep learning curve. If we're not careful we tend to keep ourselves from making progress either by procrastinating, not staying informed, or not doing enough. Have you ever delayed your progress personally or professionally because you weren't sure of that the outcome would favor you?
1. Sometimes, it seems like the closer we are to achieving a goal, the further away it moves
**2. Sometimes, we manage to sabotage our progress due to unbelief
- Sometimes, we're better off focusing on things within our control**
Remember to do these three things as you invest in your vision as an entrepreneur:
1) Trust that you are taking the right actions to achieve your goals,
2) Do not sabotage your success by delaying your progress,
3) Be accountable for what's in your control and nothing more
**Have you been meaning to invest your vision as an entrepreneur so you can achieve new #adulting milestones?
Join me for my free Expert to Entrepreneur Masterclass so you can take practical steps for betting on yourself.
Visit coaching.nerdstartupincubator.com/free-webinar-registration.**
Are you old enough to remember Now & Later candies? I remember the those tart yet sweet chewy candies. As I think of those fondly, I also remember my first podcast feature very fondly. However, I totally failed to celebrate that sweet experience in the moment. Well, I didn't so much forget, as I simply didn't do or say anything about it. Sometimes, when we're on a path to accomplishing major goals, its so easy for us to downplay the small yet really sweet milestones. If you are a fellow dope multi-degree holding professional, then you know what its like to celebrate big achievements. Perhaps you don't always celebrate the smaller ones in between i.e., an 'A' on your midterm, an acknowledgement in a publication, or an award nomination. Our huge goals tend to overshadow the smaller ones we achieve along the way and so our important efforts along the way tend go unnoticed. However, it really serves us to live in the moment as often as we can and to celebrate what we are doing in the present to help take us into our desired future.
Its no different when you are starting a business and you're super focused on major milestones, like witnessing a small fortune get deposited into your bank account or getting your 1000th client! There are so many good reasons celebrate small wins along the way and I want to finally share this podcast feature with you.
1. The first glimpse of your vision for your life and business is intangible
**2. In order to see your vision through, you have to set SMART goals
- There are hidden and unhidden rewards - people are watching**
If you're anything like me, then you like to shake things up in your life every now and then. If you are looking to get started or restarted on seeing your vision through, then try doing these few things:
1) Use your vision as your guide for setting milestones,
2) Take SMART action steps towards achieving your life and business goals,
3) Commit to your vision and watch others take notice
**Are you looking to reimagine or recommit to your vision of yourself as an entrepreneur?
Join me for a free Expert to Entrepreneur Masterclass to help you take actions with a lot more clarity.
Visit coaching.nerdstartupincubator.com/free-webinar-registration.**
We all know that in order to validate your business idea you have to do some form of market research and at some point, you have to pitch to your potential clients. If you are a subject matter expert with a degree or career related to STEM or technical fields, then you know that its important to be vetted before you get the job. Its no different when you are starting a business.
That said...have you ever been in a secluded room with complete strangers that you just met on the internet. No? Well I have...and all in the name of business. Let me explain.
**1. It's risky to launch a business without knowing whose interested in it
-
You have to be willing to set up your experiment and then run it
-
Commit to learning from your past so you can plan a better future**If you want to create a product or service that really works for people who really wants it then do these three things:
1) Embark on low-tech market research so you can find and narrow down your ideal clients,
2) Vet your products or services by talking to real people,
3) Set up your experiments and commit to learning from them until you get the results you want for yourself and your clients.
**Have you been struggling to set up your market research so you can further define and design your product or service?
Join me for a free Expert to Entrepreneur Masterclass to help you get started on your low-tech market research.
Visit coaching.nerdstartupincubator.com/free-webinar-registration.**
Have you ever gone back and re-read your journal entries from years ago? If not, then I highly recommend it. At some point, perhaps while finishing school or after locking in your first job, you decided to make a declaration or promise to yourself that you would do something big.
Regardless of how that looked for you, it could be a real bummer to realize that so much time has passed and yet you still haven't hit your milestone.
For some of us, that promise was to start a business or side-hustle to achieve an additional income stream so you can retire early or pay off a house early or be your own boss. These are great reasons to start a business, believe me. Recently, I was reminded of how many times I promised myself that I would start my business. If you've ever set out to create a business and then eventually found yourself indefinitely stalled in your progress, where either you found a shiny new idea, object, job, hobby, hubby, etc... to take its place, then this episode is definitely for you.
As a well-trained professional, you have tons of marketable skills
Its so hard to settle on a biz idea when you have tons to choose from
Your level of commitment sets the tone for which idea will flourish
So moving forward, if you still really want to keep your promise to yourself, then be sure to do these three things:
1) Use any or all of your hidden and unhidden assets to come up with your business idea,
2) Work on one major business idea at a time, and
3) Be 110% committed to seeing your big idea through.
**Are you wanting to reclaim your goal to create and commit to growing your own business?
Join me for a free Expert to Entrepreneur Masterclass so help you get started (or restarted) right away even if you don’t know where to start.
Visit coaching.nerdstartupincubator.com/free-webinar-registration.**
One concept you will frequently come away with from this blog is 'you gotta start somewhere.' No one becomes a master before crawling and if you're reading this post then you are likely a master at a number of things professionally. This blog is for you if you are subject matter expert in any field and especially if you are a STEM or STEM-adjacent professional. So if you have a degree in biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering etc...and perhaps have a career as a staff scientist, IT professional, project manager, college professor, then you came to the right place. Oftentimes we seek these professions because we love math and science and we want to do something meaningful with our knowledge.
This blog focuses on one of the lesser common professions for STEM enthusiasts - entrepreneurship.
I have a theory that most of us are not trained to consider entrepreneurship as a viable profession early in our academic careers. For most of us, by the time we are curious enough to look into entrepreneurship, we are pretty set in our ways and it simply seems like its too late to try so we don't. This is a classic example of how we may have hit our upper limit. Let me explain...
Its scary launching something when your success is not predictable.
You have what it takes to launch and learn.
You gotta have the right mindset to stay the course
So if you are a nerd like me and you want a shot at launching a business that you’re really excited about then here are three take aways for you:
1. Launch and then learn by doing so you might have a shot at predicting your success
2. Leverage all of your transferable career skills so you can endure this iterative process.
3. Commit to operating inside of your genius zone so you can have meaningful experiences as you transition from expert to entrepreneur.
**Are you hesitating to take the leap into entrepreneurship?
Join me for a free Expert to Entrepreneur Masterclass if you want to take the leap but you don’t know where to start.
Visit coaching.nerdstartupincubator.com/free-webinar-registration.**
This is an introduction to the Nerd Startup Incubator Podcast! Welcome! :)
I am your host Dr. Chantel Nicolas and as a busy 9-to-5 STEM professional, I have had to learn the hard way about how to launch a business on the side and get it right.
If you're a full-time professional and you're looking for motivation, insight, or stories to help you shake things up and to create your business, then you have come to the right place.
You are going to hear stories and experiences...basically you'll profit from my pain and all of the lessons I learned throughout my side-hustle experiments.
This podcast is perfect for experts who want to transition into entrepreneurs by creating side-businesses that may eventually take over as their 'forever work'.
Get in, the water's fine! Want to learn more, then head to our website to access some freebies and to attend our masterclass: nerdstartupincubator.com