Yiqi Wu’s Post

If you really want to build a business, get ready for this... Embarrassing yourself...because that's where every single founder starts. Growing up I always hated being the person who looked the fool and the person who went wrong the most. But now I want the opposite, I want to be the fool. The most successful people thrive in this situation. They want to be the first to embarrass themselves and make mistakes because this allows them to find out why and move forward even quicker. You see, embarrassment is where success lies. People will look at you and think you're going wrong, but the thing is, these aren't the people who are willing to push themselves to see their full potential. - The people who outwork the rest. - The people who challenge themselves. - The people who understand the process. These are the people who are willing to go all in. They don't care about being judged because they know this is what it takes to come out the other side. Remember, embracing embarrassment can transform it from a negative experience into a powerful tool for growth and success in the business world. Have you ever felt embarrassed?

3 things I've learned about starting a business: 1. There are a million reasons that make you think you can't do it. Ex-colleagues, maybe even family members and friends... there will always be people ready to tell you that it's not a good decision. You'll scroll social media and see people that look like they've got it all sorted out (they haven't), and it makes you feel like you can't. There will ALWAYS be less reasons making you think you can. Deciding whether or not to try your own thing will mean you need to balance these inputs sensibly, and appreciate that your brain is probably looking for reasons to say "no, it's a bad idea"! 2. It can be lonely! It turns out that not everyone in your family/friends will be as excited about your new venture as you are 😆. This means you can spend a lot of time in your own head, which is not always a great place for ideas/worries/reflection to live. Mentoring was one of the best decisions I've made in the 18 months I've been doing this. I also have some wonderful solopreneurs that I talk to regularly and catch up on the reality of being a business of one! 3. How to price. This has been one of the HARDEST parts of starting a company. How do you price yourself? What is your value? I'm a work in progress here, but there are some principles I've learned which have served me well (and many mistakes along the way that have helped to shape these!!) - Set a price that means you'll be excited to deliver the work. If you price too low you might resent doing it, and the customer experience will be poor. - Money isn't the only value you might get from an engagement. Does this offer a chance of experience/learning/exposure that provides value to you? - If you start too low with a customer it's very hard to move to a price you feel is fair. It might be tempting to go lower at the start to win business, but that sets a precedent. Your delivery will suffer eventually as you prioritise other customers who are paying a fair rate. I've made MANY mistakes so far, but I've done some things right too (which is probably why Craft Your Culture is here 18 months later!).

Sold a company for $40M by pretending. (And it’s easily the best life hack I recommend) Over the years, many have asked: ↳ What’s the no.1 tip for finding success? But they’re often shocked when I tell them: ↳ You need to start pretending. Yet that’s the reality of how most CEOs become successful. If you want to run a $10MM biz. ↳ You need to think like a $10MM biz owner. If you want to make $30k/month. ↳ You need to think like someone making $30k/mo. If you want to be on the Forbes cover. ↳ You need to think like someone on the Forbes cover. And that all starts with pretending. - Pretending you’re that person. - Like you belong in that position. - Like you know what you’re doing. So if you want to run a $10mm biz… Ask yourself: "What would the CEO of a $10 million business do?" Because that’s the mindset that will get you there. ★ P.S. Answer: A $10 million business CEO would delegate tasks like creating marketing materials, have well defined processes, and 1 clear vision.

As a founder it’s easy to get seduced by the idea that you are a visionary. Thinking of yourself as someone that sees opportunités where others see dead ends is intoxicating. And it’s usually bullshit. There are only so many Steve Jobs and Zuckerbergs. The critical thing to remember as a founder is that what makes you restless and inventive is also what makes you, often, not representative of the market. Never stop questioning if what is interesting and of value to YOU will be interesting and valuable enough to others to make it a viable business. Faking it until you’re making it is cool and all but being honest with yourself is better if you want to succeed.

5 WAYS TO SCALE 🚀 Scaling a company rapidly is actually a very simple thing that people often over complicate. ✔️ You have to first believe that anything is possible. Your creativity is infinite, and you can achieve your goals with the right mindset. Too many people can't articulate what they want or can't dream big out of fear. ✔️ Second, make decisions frequently and quickly. Many people are paralyzed by indecision. You make the best decision you can with the facts and circumstances you know at the moment. The decision is not wrong, but the outcome may not be what you hoped for. There is a clear difference. You pivot and make the next decision. ✔️ Third, hire well, pay well, and invest. Many people don't understand that investing in your own company can often beat the stock market average. Invest in your growth. If you reinvest the first 2-3 years in the right people, pay them well, and provide training and advancement opportunities, you will be YEARS ahead of others that didn't do it. ✔️ Fourth, give up control of daily operations. The highest and best use of an entrepreneurs time is rainmaking. Delegate responsibility and control of the company to a COO. Hold them accountable but let them do their job. ✔️ Fifth, invest in an executive assistant that you can trust. An executive assist that you allow to help you with both your personal and professional life may turn out to be your most valuable return on investment. Allow them to filter emails, schedule, and manage your life and home. You have only 24 hours in a day. An executive assistant can make you have the most of your time for what matters. If you need help scaling your business, consider these five tips and let me know if it moves the needle or breaks it off the scale!

"Solopreneurship" is a sham. I didn't know this when I was 25. It's literally impossible to do great work without other humans. Here's the thing: You aren't meant to work alone. Friends, mentors, kids, spouses... ...even (gasp!) a boss! Sure, I own a 1-person business. But if there's anything I've learned as a stubborn, male, introvert... It's that good work isn't created in a vacuum. Which is why today, I work with a "2nd half' coach. Every month, for 90 minutes, I get: • Tough love questions that make me squirm • A kick in the pants when I need it • Crystal clear direction You might be a one-person show, but you're not meant to be a one-person team. Wisdom comes from others. Whether it's a coach, a mentor, or your neighbor's kid – let them in. Your work will be better for it. Your business will thrive because of it. And you? You'll grow in ways you never expected. Don't wait until you're 50 to figure this out. And if you need help. I know a guy.

For me, Running a business is always emotional. I deeply love what we do. I work super hard. My team feels that. They often get pings late at night or early in the morning. Speaking to customers, building good relationships, and helping them beyond our business is my nature. It may sound foolish at the start. People try to get the juice out of each relationship. But in the long term, it pays well. You build strong bonds and trust, which come with time. This impacts more. Many early-stage customers we left, saying honestly, come back with 5-10X budgets. Employees who left refer others or become customers. Seniors become investors. Here are a few things I believe in: → Building strong bonds Invest time in relationships. They pay off in ways you can’t imagine. Trust grows and so does your business. → Helping beyond business Go the extra mile for your customers and employees. They remember it and come back with more. → Staying true to your core Life is a roller coaster. Don’t let hard times change your heart. Stay true to who you are. Don’t change your heart. Life is a roller coaster. Don’t let hard times touch your core. Pic: Oct 2014 Parveen Singhal Co-founder STAGE

Are you the best person to run your business? when you start a business, you don't have a choice but to assume the role of CEO and run it either as a solopreneur building up, or simply finding people to help you at the beginning as you grow. You literally can't afford to hire anyone else to do the job. But, as the company grows in size and value, you need to look in the mirror and ask yourself a tough question: Am I the best CEO to run my company? So, if your business is growing and scaling or stuck. Maybe it's time to look into that mirror and ask yourself some tough questions. Your ego might not like the answers, but in the long run you might build more sustainable company and have more impact as a result. So do you think you are the best person to run your business?

Trigger warning: This might make some people uncomfortable but… Are you actually enjoying the journey of running your business, or has it become a constant uphill battle? 🏔️ So many business owners I talk to are caught up in the grind. It’s all about hitting targets, managing crises, and pushing for tomorrow. But let me tell you something: If you're not having fun along the way, what's the point? I get it – there's pressure from every direction. From meeting payroll to scaling operations, there’s always another fire to put out. However, focusing solely on these stress points can blind us to what made us start this journey in the first place. Reframe your challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles. Celebrate those successes with your team – no matter how small they seem. I’m curious – what strategies have you implemented to bring joy back into your daily grind? Share them below! Let's foster a conversation that inspires more entrepreneurs to find happiness in their journeys 🎉