Straight Talk About Small Business Success

Ep 26 - Building a Compelling Personal Brand Through Thought Leadership with Nicky Billou

Episode Summary

In this episode, we delve into the intersection of entrepreneurship and service. Listen as we talk about the importance of escaping your comfort zone and owning your value as an entrepreneur.

Episode Notes

For the past two decades, Nicky Billou has been dedicated to unraveling the mindset of victors. He has collaborated with elite athletes and entrepreneurs, ranging from Olympic Gold medalists to billionaires. Nicky's expertise is guaranteed to fuel your enthusiasm and motivate you to surpass your perceived limits. After collaborating with Olympic Gold medalists Donovan Bailey and Mark McKoy, as well as assisting Theresa Dugwell in setting 3 ultra-distance athletic Guinness World Records, Nicky has gained a reputation as a trusted advisor to CEOs, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals seeking to optimize their personal health and achieve peak business performance. This is all the more impressive given his background as an ex-corporate executive.

In this episode, we delve into the intersection of entrepreneurship and service. Listen as we talk about the importance of escaping your comfort zone and owning your value as an entrepreneur.

[00:01 - 07:30] Entrepreneurship and Service: Why Caring is Key

• As an Iranian Christian immigrant to Canada, Nicky discusses the importance of freedom and entrepreneurship as an expression of it.
• Many entrepreneurs struggle to show their caring nature for fear of appearing salesy, but reframing sales as a service can make all the difference.
• A clear and compelling message that speaks to people's pain and the solutions you offer is key to gaining trust and winning business.

[07:31 - 14:31] How Entrepreneurs Can Escape Their Comfort Zone and Own Their Value

• The key to serving others is to focus your attention on them and their needs and away from yourself
• Understand your "why" and use it as a driving force to create momentum in your entrepreneurial journey
• Own your value and charge based on the solution you provide, not just what the market trends dictate
• The consequences of undercharging – If you don't get what you should get, you won't give what you should give

[14:32 - 22:55] The Difference Between an Expert and a Thought Leader: Why Small Business Owners Should Pay Attention

• Nicky pinpoints two reasons why entrepreneurs undercharge and how they can come back to their value 
• To determine the value of a service, consider the cost to the client of not solving the problem
• How to create a compelling personal brand through thought leadership: The difference between a ‘thought leader’ and an ‘expert’
  • Thought leaders are authorities in their space and attract people to seek them out

Connect with Nicky Billou by visiting his websites:

https://ecircleacademy.com

https://www.thethoughtleaderrevolution.com  

You can also find him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook

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Tweetable Quotes

“When people are paying, they value it. Now, obviously, you gotta have something that's worth it… But if you do have something that's valuable if you do have something that solves a problem and you charge properly, they will show up ready to work and that means they get results.”  – Nicky Billou

“You should be getting paid, not based on what the market is doing, but based on the value of the solution you provide to people.” – Nicky Billou 

“People are afraid of being seen as salesy. Reframe that from ‘salesy’ to ‘service.’ No one wants to be sold, but everybody wants a caring person to serve them.”  – Nicky Billou