Entrepreneur You - Online course

I've been self-employed since 2006. I'd had a 16 year career in banking and reached a point where I wanted to do things my way. My final 7 years in banking were as an in-house financial planner, and whilst I was grateful for the things I'd learned, there were conflicts and compromises that I was ready to leave behind.

I started as a one-man-band with zero clients and zero income. My focus was therefore on organic growth. Several of my old banking clients tracked me down and came aboard, most of whom are still clients (and friends) today. That was a huge help in my first year.

In late 2007 an opportunity arose to buy a business from a financial planning practice owner who was retiring. It was a small investment-focused business, consisting of the owner and one staff member. The deal took some time to complete, with settlement ultimately occurring in mid-2008.

Cue the GFC.

Saddled with by far the biggest debt I'd ever had, and a business environment that saw many similar businesses close their doors, I worked hard, made some tough decisions, and ground away - I didn't have a lot of choices, I was fully committed, I had to make it work. There was plenty of stress and worry and I certainly don't think I would have gotten to where we are today without the support of my amazing wife and some key friends.

Today my team and I manage over $90million for a wonderful group of clients who are at various stages of achieving Financial Autonomy - gaining choice in life.

Growth has enabled me to build a great team so that I can focus on the things I enjoy and love. In recent years I 've been able to put time into the Financial Autonomy project - an idea born out of my experience helping people as a financial planner. I've created over 150 podcast episodes, written a book, been invited into the ABC studios as an occasional guest on the Life Matters program, contributed to the Money section of The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, and created online courses to help more people achieve Financial Autonomy.

Being self-employed is wonderful. It's a constant challenge. You drive the agenda and reap the rewards. But the transition to self-employment is not an easy one - strategy, execution, marketing, pricing, financial management, mindset - they all need to be right.

Self-employment is not the pathway for everyone. I know how to successfully transition to self-employment. I've done it myself, and I've helped others do the same.

Will you be the next person I help?

You're working as an employee and it's not making you happy. You want to have a go doing things your way.
You're on maternity leave or looking after young children and the role you used to have just doesn't suit anymore.
You're working in an industry or profession and see a great opportunity to branch out and start something of your own.
You've been made redundant and want to start your own business.
You feel like you've got more to give, more that you could be doing, but your current job isn't providing the room for you to be your best.
You're not being sufficiently rewarded in your current job and want to set up your own operation to earn what you deserve.

Entrepreneur You - transition to self-employment without going broke

Introduction

Module 1 - Why - Nail down clear goals to build your personal strategy

Module 2 - Pathways - Learn about the 5 pathways to self-employment and choose the one that's a fit for you.

Module 3 - Side Hustles - Could you use a Side Hustle approach to experiment and learn?

Module 4 - Business Plan + Coaching call 1 - Time to start developing your personalised strategy to self-employment

Module 5 - Marketing - Develop your plan to get your idea in front of the right people

Module 6 - Buying a business - Learn how to evaluate an existing business

Module 7 - Financial Management - Plenty of great businesses fail due to poor financial management. The longest module in the course, we cover everything you will need to succeed.

Module 8 - Mindset + Coaching call 2 - Improve your chances of success by planning ahead of time for the inevitable ups and downs of self-employed life.

Coaching call 3 - 3 months after coaching call 2. You will have rolled out your strategy - what has worked, what hasn't, what next?

Here's some of the most common questions that we get from prospective participants:

Q: How much time will it take me to finish the program?

A: This is a self-directed course so you decide how long you will take. We suggest you aim to complete the course over a 4-6 week period. This provides a good amount of time for you to develop your self-employment plan, whilst also maintaining momentum.

Q: How do the coaching calls work?

A: This course includes 3 half-hour coaching calls conducted via web conference at the conclusions of module 4, module 8, and then 3 months after the second call. The purpose of these calls is to ensure you are on track, resolve any obstacles that are preventing you from making progress, and providing support and encouragement.

Q: How is the course delivered?

There are 8 modules and an introduction. Each module has a key video presentation. Longer videos have been broken up so that videos typically only run to around 15 minutes each (there are over 3 hours of video tutorials in total). You have a companion Workbook that you will download at the beginning of the course and work through as you complete the course. This will form your transition to self-employment strategy.

Each module has a Quick Quiz to cement key learnings. And there are various examples, case studies, and interviews to help deepen your understanding.

As mentioned in the previous question, your progress through the course is supported by the 3 coaching calls at key milestones along your journey.

Q: What if my business idea doesn't work

Not all business ideas succeed, indeed many do not. Through the Entrepreneur You course we help you develop your self-employment strategy to maximise your likelihood of success through business planning, marketing, side hustle experiments, understanding of key financial controller functions, getting your pricing right, and plenty more. And our coaching calls provide a sounding board so you're not developing your plan in a vacuum.

Of course, we cannot guarantee your success. But we can guarantee that your chances of success are vastly greater by following the playbook provided in this program.

Q: When do the coaching calls happen? I need to fit around my job commitments

Coaching calls are available Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. We will provide you with a booking link so that you can schedule in a time to suit you. We have some flexibility to provide coaching calls outside standard hours where required.

Q: At the and of this program is the expectation that I will immediately quit my job and become self-employed? What if I want to take a more gradual approach?

This program is all about reducing your risk as you make the move to self-employment. We encourage gradual moves where that's viable. The plan you develop will be customised to your needs. Also, module 3 specifically explores Side Hustle strategies as a way to experiment with your business idea whilst still in your current role.

Take the risk out of moving to self-employment

Transition to self-employment

without going broke

What you get from the

Entrepreneur You - transition to self-employment without going broke

program:

1) 3 x one on one coaching calls at key points in your journey

2) Over 3 hours of video tutorials covering each essential step in your journey to success

3) A workbook to build your customised strategy

4) Examples, case studies, interviews, and quizzes to support your learning

Program price:

4 monthly payments of $375

Hi, I’m Paul Benson, I'll be your guide and coach through this program.

Do any of these describe you?:

If the answer is yes, Entrepreneur You is your pathway forward

Program content

FAQ's

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."

Walt Disney