We asked them five questions about their experience to share with others. We hope you find them to be informative and inspiring. Feel free to share them with your network!
Name:
Nikhil Vaish
Title:
Founder
Company Name:
BoostSolo
Brief Company Description:
BoostSolo is designed to give solopreneurs (1-2 person businesses) bite-sized BOOSTs in areas where they need help (e.g. brand positioning, web design, SEO, etc.) from vetted and trusted experts.
Website Address:
www.vaishconsulting.com/boostsolo
How many entrepreneurial ventures have you had?
3
How long have you been an entrepreneur?:
13 years
How did you fund your first (or only) venture?:
Self, and friends and family
What do you like most about being an entrepreneur?:
The freedom to make your own decisions, to say no to working with unethical or nasty clients. Also, I can wake up every morning and decide what problem I want to solve. In 2010 we felt streaming search was a nightmare (Google didn’t have the capability), so we built a tool called CanIStream.It – easy way to search all streaming platforms at once – we were called the “The Kayak of streaming services” by Gizmodo. Now, I am launching a new platform of services to help solopreneurs succeed, called the BoostSolo.
Based on your experience, what three pieces of advice would you share with aspiring entrepreneurs and start-ups?
ONE: There is never a good time to start. You just need to take the leap, but remember to surround yourself with your tribe – friends, family, mentors – angels who will support, encourage and lift you through setbacks that you will inevitably face. It’s not just about the leap, but about who leaps with you.
TWO: Always be willing to help others. I follow a simple rule: help people because you can, not because you want something in return. I have found that when we help purely out of kindness, without expecting anything in return, it creates a spirit of generosity that benefits everyone, and often that good deed comes back to me in an unexpected way down the road. But that’s not why I do it – I help because it’s the right thing to do.
THREE: Storytelling is key. Go beyond product features and benefits and focus on crafting a compelling brand story that connects with your audience on an emotional level. The story should articulate the brand’s mission, vision, and values, and how it’s product/service improves lives.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Sleep on it.
My father always told me not to react in the moment. Give a complex problem/event/situation time and space before you react. This way you allow your brain to process and think about it on a deeper level, create space for additional context and some healthy distance. Doing this provides clarity that will always be missing in the heat of the moment.