#55 | How To Land a 10K Client With Ellen Yin

This week’s CWK guest decided to be her own catalyst for change when she quit her job in 2017 without a backup plan. Ellen Yin, Founder of Cubicle to CEO has blazed a trail of success scaling her business from $300 to six figures in her first 12 months! She’s since expanded to helping entrepreneurs – 8,000 and counting! – have their first $10k month. 

During our conversation this “accidental entrepreneur” turned expert teaches us how to land clients, price our services, and build business relationships.

Leaning Into Curiosity and Change (07:07)

Ellen began her own #CubicleToCEO journey in 2017, and like many new entrepreneurs she wasn’t sure which path to take next. If you’re feeling this way too, she advises to lean into your curiosities as a first step. 

“Just start. Clarity comes from action. Whether the move was a failure or not it’ll create clarity for the next step.”

Remember, it’s impossible to make a wrong turn from the parking lot. 

How To Land Clients (11:30)

Though she didn’t have a master plan after quitting her job, Ellen was able to land her first client quickly and scale her business to six figures in the first 12 months. That’s because she followed the golden rule of business: build relationships. 

“Oftentimes as entrepreneurs our immediate concern is learning the tactical things, but I believe in investing in your relationships first, then your mindset, then your skillset –  in that order. Your relationship with others should be a priority because your network is a huge part of building momentum early on.”

Why Transparency Matters In Finances (13:50)

Many would be surprised to know that Ellen shares her quarterly business income reports publicly. Her decision to do so stems from wanting to dispel common myths around money and success, especially for women. 

“The more women come together to share information, the more we are empowered to elevate our own finances. Few female-run businesses reach financial milestones, so when you see someone accomplishing what you want to do it makes it feel more tangible and realistic.” 

We agreed that sharing the good, bad, and ugly of business gives others confidence to negotiate higher rates, a metric to measure goals by, and a guide on their journey.

Creating Content (23:10)

I recently shared my 7-day content kickstart to help make diving into the content game a little easier. I was glad to hear that, despite popular belief, Ellen says there are no rules to follow when posting on social media. What a relief for myself and anyone else who’s been inconsistent recently. According to her, it is more important that your content reaches the right people. 

She’ll be giving the inside scoop on content creation as a business owner in her live masterclass on July 21. I’ll definitely be there!

3 Factors To Consider When Pricing Your Service (31:23)

Getting clear on the transformation you achieve for your clients is key to feeling confident about your pricing. What clients are willing to pay is dependent on three factors: the amount of money, time, and energy that you add back into their life with your service. If you give high quality service, you can charge high prices.

Investing In Yourself (44:36)

The CWK community has heard me talk about investing in yourself with learning opportunities in almost every podcast. I was glad to hear Ellen felt the same way! 

“With my first check I invested back into my business. Investing in new skills, communities of like minded people, mentors, etc. made all the difference in my growth.”

Homework (46:40)

Connect two people who don’t know each other but should in your existing network. 

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Want To Learn 1 on 1 with Me?: I’m passionate about making YOU stand out at work. After a 45 minute training, Avery (aka my newest shining star) implemented my tactics and got a new job making $60k MORE than the last. Want some of that secret sauce for yourself? Check out more here. 

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