174: Lost in the Woods

Hey, this is Barbara Corker and you are now tuned in to Business Unusual and everything you ever learned about business, throw it out the window. I'm going to tell you the real deal. Listen in. Today, I'm going to answer all your burning questions about work, life, starting a company, getting on track and much, much more.

Be sure to call in to the Business Unusual hotline with your question at 888-BARBARA. That's 888-B-A-R-B-A-R-A. This episode is presented by LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Hey, if you're like me, at times you feel lost, you feel scared you might make the wrong choice, or you feel confused about making the wrong step even.

That's crazy. Listen to these two people where I tell them exactly what to do. Hey, Barbara. I'm new to your podcast and I'm curious.

I am thinking about pursuing an MBA degree. I have no idea what I want to do with my life. My current career is unsatisfying. I just want to know your thoughts.

Wondering, is this the right choice? How do I know what the right choice even is if I don't even know what I want to be when I grow up and I'm almost 30? Yeah, I appreciate you. Well, I'm happy you're listening.

I'm happy you found me. What really took you so long? Here's my spin on that question that you ask. And it's a question that I'm asked a lot.

Going for an MBA, in my opinion, should be a means to an end, to accomplish something specific after you get your MBA. If you don't have that clearly in your mind, save the money, keep it in your pocket, don't spend it on an MBA. It's never an answer. It's a means to an answer or an answer to where you're going to find your fulfillment.

So wait a bit on that. What you need to do instead is get out in the real life not hide out in the classroom Get out there and see what you made Try this on try that on I like to say and see what really appeals to you Heck you 30 30 is enough of a fence where most women say my God, let me size up my life. And by 30, if you haven't tried a lot of stuff on, you ought to be doing it now so that you can have a trajectory from 30 on. You'll feel a lot better about yourself.

Don't spend your money on the NBA. It's Barbara. 888-CALLER-888-BARBARA Hello, this is Barbara. Hi, Barbara.

I am a young business owner. I've had my business for about two years and primarily launched it off of social media, a platform that I had built. And I feel like I have kind of maximized my marketing efforts on social media. I've been very successful in the past two years of my business, doubling my income over that time.

but now I'm feeling somewhat of a paralysis. I don't know what to do next, whether I should hire an employee, whether I should expand the marketing efforts, whether I should come up with a new program because I only have one signature program right now. I'm just feeling a little bit lost and not sure which step to take next. I feel like if I take the wrong step or too many steps at once, then I could really hurt my business in the long run.

So I would love your advice. Thank you so much. Okay, well, paralysis happens every time you feel in your business, you've hit a plateau. That's the feeling.

It's like, what do I do now? And it comes from not knowing which way you should turn. Should I go right, left, do more of what I'm doing? It's caused by confusion.

What you've got to do is shake it up. You probably have maxed out for the moment on social media because that happens when you don't have anything new to talk about. You need new material. I like the idea that you might start a new program.

I like that a lot And so far as it being right or wrong or anything else you might think of as right or wrong don be afraid of that I have never taken the wrong steps where it didn then lead to the right steps. So don't be afraid of making a mistake. It's the mistakes that push you ahead. Let's take a short break to talk about a company I love.

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Now let's get back to the show. Hey, some of my best questions, honest to God, come into my Business Unusual Facebook group. I'm going to answer those questions today. We're going to try it rapid fire style, 30 seconds or less.

And by the way, if you're interested in business, don't miss my Business Unusual Facebook group We have the coolest conversations going on there I learning more from people than they learning from me Okay we ready for rapid fire right now Quick questions quick answers and for a little help today I'm bringing my chipmunks. You know why? They talk fast, so they're going to help me stay on track. How has Shark Tank changed your life?

The biggest change has been it's made me a mini celebrity, and as a celebrity I have no personal time. I can go anywhere and be asked in any circumstance for a selfie please? Just a selfie please? I never do this but can I have a selfie please?

This I hear every day of my life but what Shark Tank has also brought me is a lucrative new living where I do endorsement deals, give speeches. I'm a known personality and get paid very well for my presence. What's your least favorite thing you have to do while filming Shark Tank? Funny you ask.

I would say two least favorite things. My beauty treatments so that I look under 40 when I appear over 70, and buying the outfits for the show. It takes a lot of money, a lot of time, time I don't really want to spend, but I know when I look sharp, I'm going to be great on Shark Tank, and I have my confidence, so it's worth the time. Once I'm there on set, finding my latest and greatest entrepreneurs, I love every minute of it.

And that's all we have time for today. If you have a question, leave me a voicemail on the Business Unusual hotline, 888-BARBARA. That's 888-B-A-R-B-A-R-A. You can also tweet it to me at Barbara Corcoran, and I may just answer it on a future episode.

You've been listening to Business Unusual with me, Barbara Corcoran. Come back next week to hear more steps and missteps I took on the path to success. Search and follow Business Unusual on iHeartRadio or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.