Keep It Simple, Smarty Pants: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Not Overcomplicating Everything

Ah, the life of an entrepreneur: the late nights, the endless emails, the caffeine-fueled brainstorms where you concoct the perfectly complicated business model. You know, the one with 17 revenue streams, 12 payment options, and a secret handshake that unlocks the premium tier. Because surely complexity equals genius, right?

Wrong.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned (and am still learning, because old habits die hard) is this: complicated business models don’t make you look like a genius. They make your life miserable. The more intricate your revenue model, the more likely it is to collapse under its own weight, or at the very least, confuse the heck out of everyone, including you.

And guess what? You’re not alone. Most entrepreneurs are honorary members of the "Make It Too Complicated Club." We love complexity because it makes us feel special, like our business has some secret sauce no one else has discovered. But let’s face it: the only thing you’re cooking up is unnecessary headaches.

So, what’s the antidote? Simplicity. Sweet, glorious simplicity.

1. Capture Attention

First, you need people to notice you. This isn’t rocket science; it’s basic human psychology. Exchange something valuable for their attention—a helpful freebie, a cheeky post, and don;t overthink this, TEST IT.

Best case scenario? You grab their email address. That’s the holy grail. A LinkedIn connection? Not bad, second place. And if all else fails, a social follow works too. Think of it as collecting breadcrumbs to lead them back to your magical lair of awesomeness.

2. Nurture That Attention

Congrats, you’ve got their attention. Now, how do you keep it?

Here’s the trick: be interesting and trustworthy. Share stories, tips, or mildly self-deprecating anecdotes (like that time you accidentally sent a marketing email with "Hi [Insert Name]" still in the greeting). Make them want to hear from you. Trust isn’t built overnight, but it can be lost faster than you can say “unsubscribe.”

And let’s not forget your vibe. Your unique positioning is what attracts your people. So lean into it. Quirky? Own it. Inspirational? Go for it. Obsessively into cat memes? Weird, but you do you.

3. Sell to the Sellable

Now comes the part that trips up so many of us: selling. Spoiler alert, not everyone in your audience is going to buy from you. And that’s okay.

Don’t waste your precious time and energy chasing the unsellable. Focus on the people who are already leaning in, wallets at the ready. These are your people, your tribe, your ride-or-die customers. Congrats you have the beginnings of an effective and simple marketing funnel. Refine around the edges but don’t overcomplicate.

Keep Your Funnel Foolproof

If you can’t explain your funnel to your mom or your friend who still thinks TikTok is a clock app, it’s too complicated. Capture attention, nurture it, sell to the willing. Done.

So, the next time you’re tempted to create a labyrinthine revenue model, remember this: simplicity isn’t boring, it’s brilliant. Keep it simple, smarty pants. Your future self (and your stress levels) will thank you.

What’s happening this week in the Dare2Grow Collective?

• Speaking of simplicity, there will be some changes coming in the new year to the Dare2Grow Collective. I will announce those changes next week in the new year. But I am excited and you should be too, especially if you are looking to grow in 2025.

• Is a newsletter in the cards in 2025? In December we wrapped up our first newsletter group in the D2G Collective, and I think I can say with confidence it was a great success. I am recruiting a second group at $99. 4 weekly workshops, a ton of peer feedback, and a whole lot of fun. This cohort will be running in January. So if you are looking to start a Newsletter program in 2025 this is a great way to get started. Rely to this email and I will send you the details.

• Finally, our January cohort for the Linkedin Impact Accelerator is beginning to fill up. Pop over there and sign up before Jan 1st and you will get access to early bird pricing. This program is the bomb and I am looking forward to seeing you all in there.