Peeling Back The Layers

Do you think you’ll never have your own business because you’ll never be able to afford to leave the job you have?

Are you afraid that you’ll have to work other jobs to survive financially if you try to start your own business?

Have you started your own business and now find you have to work another job to pay the bills?

Do you feel like you are cheating yourself or that you’re not a real business person? Or can’t become one?

Then listen up.

The Underdog Marketing Challenge is in full swing and I have been delighted with the response from interested people both those with a business and those who wish to start a business. However, I have been most delighted with our ‘underdog’ himself, Shaun McCowat. For a guy with no money, no experience, no business but plenty of ideas, Shaun has really stepped up to the plate. Shaun has been religiously doing everything Alex, Terry and myself have been teaching him. He went out and did 40 surveys to market research people’s thoughts on health and fitness, even though he had never done anything like that before. And that would have to be daunting for an 18 year old.

You might have seen one of the videos in which Alex berated Shaun for missing our sessions or being late. Well since that time, Shaun has been right on time and has never missed a mentoring session. He has been really applying himself and peeling back the layers of his business – researching, developing ideas and marketing messages, understanding what his target market wants, and working through each of the steps designed for the 12-step Underdog Marketing Challenge.

So imagine my utter surprise when I found out yesterday that Shaun is also holding down two jobs! He’s working in a pizza place AND a hardware store. At first I was a bit concerned by that but then, when I thought about it, I realised that lots of ‘underdogs’ seeking to start or build their own business will probably also be working one or two extra jobs to keep the cash coming in.

I discussed this with my colleagues, Alex and Terry, because the Underdog Marketing Challenge is very real – it’s a real young man with real feelings and dreams and the realities of life to contend with. We are not manufacturing this Underdog Marketing Challenge simply for Shaun to ‘win’ and make us look good. No, this is real life – and who are we to play around with Shaun’s deams.

So through the Underdog Marketing Challenge we are also acknowledging that many of you will also have second jobs, maybe even a third.

Does that mean you don’t have the passion to one day own your own business? No.

Does that mean you are taking your eye off the ball and aren’t serious about being financially independent? No.

Does that mean that we here at the Underdog Marketing Challenge are going to help you any less than someone who is further down the successful business track than you. NO!

What is DOES mean is that the 12-Step Underdog Marketing Challenge is for ANYONE who has a dream of owning their own small business. It means that we will be here for you and with you every step of the way. One Step for one person could be one day, for another it could be one month. It doesn’t matter, we will be here, and the underdog Marketing Challenge resources will be here – for you, when you need us.

I didn’t start writing this blog with the aim of lecturing you. I am a passionate business owner and I know the great sense of accomplishment and security that comes with running your own business. Believe me, I’ve had some tough times – no silver spoon in mouth here. Which is why Alex, Terry and I started the Underdog Marketing Challenge – to help YOU, because we know what it’s like to be helped and we know how good it feels to accomplish a dream.

That’s it from me for now. We’re here for you (including staff who are right behind it). If you haven’t signed up for the free up-dates on the challenge and Shaun’s progress then please do. We’d love to welcome you and your dreams.

The Underdog Challenge Begins

Incredible! Exciting! Challenging! Just a day in the life of underdog marketers - me (Penelope) - a public relations & media professional, magazine editor, and author; Terry Reeves, a marketing and brand salience expert; and Dr Alex Davidovic; PLUS a very keen and very broke 18-year old who wants to start his own fitness business. My cohorts (Terry and Alex) and I are about to embark on an incredible journey that will put our reputations on the line.

Five hours ago, Shaun McCowat contacted Alex. Shaun is 18 years old, has never had a business, knows nothing about marketing, has never created a website, has no money to spare, yet he asked Alex to help him out. Shaun knows Alex is a highly respected internet marketing guru so you have to admire his guts (or gaul) in contacting him in the first place. But Alex is a pretty decent guy and he thought the challenge of helping such an 'underdog' would be worthwhile.

Alex knew we also loved a good challenge and that this was a BIG one. The challenge in helping Shaun grow from zero to hero was so energizing that Alex sped over to see us - in fact, he forgot about the speed limit and was promptly caught by a policeman with a hand-held camera - he got a fine of $196! Great start to the Underdog Marketing Challenge.

We rarely exceed the speed limit - between the three of us we have only ever had four speeding tickets. We don't take unreasonable chances in business and when it comes to driving we don't put other people's lives at risk by speeding or breaking the road rules. But Alex says just thinking about the challenge ahead caused him to put his pedal to the metal right in to the hands of a waiting policeman.

But Terry and I could understand his excitement; so because we already have more than enough clients we discussed the customer service elements. Could we help Shaun and still provide excellent time and services to our current (paying) clients? Well, Terry and I were pretty excited about wanting to help an underdog so we decided we would just have to lose even MORE spare time to help people who badly needed quality marketing information but who couldn't afford to pay for top consultants.

Now this is where the fun begins - we will be documenting Shaun's progress every step of the way so we can share the information with YOU. You'll know what we do, when we do it, why we do it, and how what we do for Shaun can impact YOUR business.

So keep an eye on this blog and the Underdog Marketing Challenge for regular up-dates on Shaun's story. Plus that crazy girl who works here will probably want to keep her wild friends up-dated on her own party-crazy-high-speed blog too.

AND, if you have had hurdles in business that you've overcome, then share them with us. Post a comment here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers - Hot Pepper Head Honcho