When should you startup?
Taking all about taking the first steps to building, overcoming that fear of starting, how to not overthink and just focusing on doing.
Utilizing the theme of the conference, we will dive into capturing your idea, refining what problem you plan to solve with your idea, defining your customer base, discovering your niche in the market, and then developing simple pricing structures that are fair to you and your customers. All of this will be done by oversimplifying your ideas to then use as a framework for what will become your detailed business plans for investors, partners, or even just yourself! These principles are meant to be a guiding light for you to stay true to your goals, and how you can help the world be a better place to live.
My company Path Unbound, a boutique UI/UX design school, is a challenger brand in a saturated market with many big named schools. We experienced a long slump in revenue in the first couple of years in business because we couldn’t find our product positioning. We offered products similar to our big competitors and tried to beat them with lower price only to have the opposite effect. People start doubting if we are bad because we were so much cheaper.
Last year, we discovered the magic formula to growth for us as a small challenger brand without big budget for advertising. We started to repackage our big product offerings into smaller ones that are ultra flexible serving mini segments of user personas. We started to see results within weeks of launching our new offerings, attracting more customers than we’ve ever have. In this talk, I’ll how we structured our product offerings according to customer personas and how other small businesses that are challenger brands to big competitors can thrive doing the same.
Too many creatives move through their careers taking whatever the industry gives them—climbing corporate ladders, following expected paths, and losing sight of what truly makes them different. In this raw and insightful keynote, we’ll explore the power of betting on yourself, the fears that hold us back, and how to reconnect with your creative identity. Whether you’re questioning your next move, considering going solo, or simply seeking more fulfillment, this talk will challenge you to stop playing it safe and start building a career on your own terms.
Key Takeaways:
- The Real Roadblock: It’s not your logo, brand colors, or pitch deck—it’s you. Why self-doubt is the biggest challenge to launching your next big move.
- Defining What Makes You Different: How to stop blending in and start embracing what sets you apart.
- Breaking Free from Industry Expectations: Why waiting for the “perfect moment” is a myth and how to create your own opportunities.
- Reframing Fear & Failure: Lessons from making the leap—what I learned about risk, rejection, and real success.
- Taking Control of Your Career: Whether you’re starting your own thing or rethinking your next role, learn how to move with intention instead of just taking what’s given.
