Are you struggling to figure out how to start a business while working full-time?
Well, you’re in luck! Amy Balliett is going to share the step-by-step process she used to transition from her job to working for herself including:
- Building her financial runway.
- Triggers for knowing when to quit her job.
- Pivoting her business to pursue a more lucrative opportunity than her original idea.
Amy is the co-founder of Killer Infographics (definitely check out their website–it’s beautiful!), a visual communications firm based in Seattle. They have an impressive client list of Fortune 500 companies like Boeing, Adidas, Comcast-NBC, and Starbucks.
They do more than just infographics, but the firm was born out of an infographic made for her previous business, ZippyCart, which she says is a great example of how not to do an infographic! We’ll also discuss why 99% of infographics aren’t true infographics at all!
Life Skills That Matter In This Episode
- Planning and budgeting.
- Embracing discomfort.
- Self-awareness.
- Start a business while working full time.
How Amy Works and Thinks
- Core work habits: Public speaking, coaching, and a willingness to take criticism.
- Work purpose: Using visual communication as an agent for social change.
- Book recommendations:
- Mastering the Rockefeller Habits: What You Must Do to Increase the Value of Your Growing Firm by Verne Harnish
- Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
- Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You by John Warrillow
- The Automatic Customer: Creating a Subscription Business in Any Industry by John Warrillow
- 90-day goal: Closing out the year and hitting their “stretch goal” (a higher revenue goal they set for the year); working on her book; preparing for SXSW.
Inspirational Quotes
“When you quit your job and go all in, you quit after a couple of weeks.”
“I prepare for almost every single outcome, but I also stress like crazy.”
“You need to reserve an hour for yourself every day.”
Coaching Advice
Here is Amy’s advice for using more effective visual communication in your work:
1) Your infographic should still work even with all the text hidden.
2) Avoid using stock graphics and imagery. Instead, opt for graphics custom-designed for your specific information.
Resources + Bonus Materials
Visual Campaigns for Beginners
First infographic Amy produced at ZippyCart