300 | Lessons Learned from Successful Entrepreneurs

I am incredibly proud to share our 300th episode of the Proof to Product podcast! It's just incredible to me that we started this show in May of 2017 with one single goal in mind—to become an invaluable business resource for those starting and scaling product-based businesses. I think it's safe to say that we have certainly hit that goal.

We have produced and published over 150 hours of audio content through this show. Our podcast has been downloaded over 1.1 million times. The Proof to Product Podcast is ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts. Our podcast and programming have helped not only shape the businesses but also the personal lives of our listeners and our students—and that is something to be proud of.

We have used our platform to shine a spotlight on hundreds of our Proof to Product students to share their unique stories, products, and business perspectives, and today is no exception. On today's episode, you will hear from several of our Proof to Product students as they share lessons that they learned throughout their business journey, and more specifically, what they wish they had known when they were starting out.

Today's episode is brought to you by our Is Wholesale Right for You audio series! This free 12-part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business.

After listening to this audio series, you'll know:

whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business and
you'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale

Lessons Learned from Successful Entrepreneurs

Within the Proof to Product community, we are surrounded by talented and successful product makers. I asked a few of them to share the biggest lessons they’ve learned on their business journey and what they wish they’d known when they were starting out.

Lana Effron, Lana’s Shop

After 10 years in business, Lana wishes that she’d known early on in her business that we’re all just trying to figure it out and to lean into your friendships and relationships. On those particularly harder days, take a break, get some fresh air, and come back to it later.

Connect with Lana’s Shop and listen to her conversation on the Proof to Product Podcast where we talk about selling wholesale to Nordstrom, Anthropologie & REI.

Katie Hart, Odd Daughter

Katie Hart has sold to 450 stores worldwide over the last 10 years. One thing she wishes she’d understood earlier in her business was the importance of follow-up. In the past, she would email stores and maybe follow up one time; when she didn’t hear back she’d assume they weren’t interested.

Now she understands that follow-up is just a part of doing business once you’ve vetted the retailers that you think you would be an ideal fit for. This gives her the confidence to follow up for new orders and reconnect with existing buyers who haven't ordered in a little while.

Connect with Odd Daughter

Alicia Heater, Slightly Stationery

After eight years in her business, one thing that Alicia wishes she’d known at the beginning of her business journey is that there are seasons of business where you’ll see mountaintops and valleys.

The best thing you can do for your business is set up a firm foundation early on—legally, financially, and in business strategy. When you execute on those foundations consistently, you will survive every season of business.

Connect with Slightly Stationery. You can also listen to Alicia on our podcast where we chat about discontinuing a product line.

Sadie Teper, Twentysome Design

It’s inevitable for businesses to have failures and that’s okay—this is the lesson Sadie learned in her three years of running Twentysome Design. As long as you’re not afraid to try new things, even when they don’t work out, you’ll be able to adapt and keep moving forward. In learning this and pursuing her business, Sadie is in over 200 stores worldwide, including Barnes and Noble and Paper Source.

Connect with Twentysome Design and listen to her on the PTP podcast as she talks about niching down in order to scale up.

Rhonda Warren, Colorbox Letterpress

Rhonda Warren has been in the product and wholesale business for over 18 years. In that time, the biggest lesson she’s come to learn is that you’re not alone. We all have the same questions through every stage of your business and when you surround yourself with a community like Proof to Product, you’re able to grow with others faster than you would alone.

Connect with Colorbox Letterpress. You can also listen to Rhonda on the Proof to Product Podcast about why she will never give up custom work.

Kiwi Schloffel, Your Gal Kiwi

Slow growth and intentionality is the key to growing a business that works for you. After 12 years in business, Kiwi wishes that early on she would have realized that you don’t have to do everything all at once, but rather slow down and focus on what works and iron out strategies in her business.

Alongside that, she wishes she’d known that the most important thing she could do for her business was take care of herself first. Rather than overworking and burning out, pay attention to your feelings both in and out of your business.

Connect with Your Gal Kiwi.

Kiwi has been on the Proof to Product Podcast twice. You can check out her episodes below:

Alyson O’Connor, Rust Belt Love Paperie

As a business owner for thirteen years, with 3 years in wholesale, Alyson wishes that she’d understood the value and importance of investing in education early on. For the first eight years of her business, she relied on Google searches to guide her, whereas now she’s investing in her education with programs like Paper Camp for guidance.

Connect with Rust Belt Love Paperie

Katie Hunt, Proof to Product

Prior to pivoting full-time into Proof to Product, I owned a stationery brand whose products were carried in hundreds of stores throughout North America. For fifteen years, I’ve been an entrepreneur and in that time I’ve learned that it is 100% possible to build a profitable, sustainable business that supports the life you want to lead.

It may not always be easy. Your boundaries and patience will be challenged. You’ll have to make tough decisions and take calculated risks. You’ll have to remind yourself of what matters most in your life and business. With focus and agility, you will continue to evolve your business in a way that supports the life you want to have.

Connect with Proof to Product

300 Episodes

I’m so thankful for 300 episodes of the podcast and the community members and students who shared their thoughtful lessons here on the podcast today! If you want to help us celebrate this major milestone, would you mind leaving a five-star rating and writing a review for our podcast on your favorite podcast player?

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Quick links:

Here’s a round-up of other podcast episodes mentioned in this post:

If you are ready to learn more about wholesale, I encourage you to download my free audio series, Is Wholesale Right for You?

This free 12-part audio series will help you decide whether wholesale is a good next step for your specific business.

After listening to this audio series (in less than an hour), two things will be true:

You'll know whether you want to pursue wholesale for your product business
You'll have the confidence and action steps to get started with wholesale. Sign up for the private podcast today!

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Connect with Katie Hunt

Katie Hunt is a business strategist, podcaster, mentor and mama to four. She helps product based businesses build profitable, sustainable companies through her conferences, courses and coaching programs.

Website: prooftoproduct.com | Instagram: @prooftoproduct