The 4 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting a Business

You need to know your why when starting a business. Ask yourself: Why are you doing this?

The why is the purpose behind it all and will drive you in your quest to succeed. It shouldn’t be complex or drawn out. As your business grows, your why will evolve. But, your starting why will help you face the challenges of starting your own business.

When I asked myself why are you starting this business, my “initial why” for Rockstarr & Moon was so that I could make some money and expand my skill set for the job hunt. That evolved as my business continued to thrive. Today, our “why” at Rockstarr & Moon is to empower aspiring rockstarr business owners to SUCCESSFULLY START, BUILD, AND GROW their business so that they can create the lives they’ve dreamed of for themselves, their families, and their communities.

It is nice to know the whats and hows of your business, but it’s not necessary as they will also transform. What you do, how you do what you do and most importantly, what value you bring to the client will all evolve as your business grows.

Start with your why to help you through the initial challenges that may cause you to throw your hands up in the air and give up.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting a business is thinking it has to be perfect before you can launch. A full website, a great logo, business cards, a full product built out – basically, everything picture perfect before you start your business. That’s not the case. In fact, it can stall forward progress and quickly become excuses for why you don’t have your first clients.

When building Rockstarr & Moon, I spent way too much time working on a logo, learning to build a website, getting the Facebook images perfect. I could have used that time to get a client, perfect my pitch, work on the services I was delivering, or anything else that would have advanced my business. I was caught up in the minutiae. The bottom line is that marketing will always change and evolve as your business grows.

Done is what will help get you the client. Perfect will give you the excuse to wait to launch your business.

Asking for feedback from your clients is crucial for your business growth.

Once you have completed the first few jobs for clients, ask for feedback. Surveys lack a personal touch and may not give you the data you need to improve your product or service. Try reaching out to your clients personally and ask them how their experience was with your business. Find out if they’re satisfied, if there are areas of improvement, and if they would recommend you to their network.

When you go back to your clients, you can learn from their first-hand experiences on how to improve your product or service and help you determine what characteristics your ideal client should have as you move forward.

While I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, none of them encouraged me to follow my dreams and start my own business because it’s too big of a risk. Most people around you won’t start businesses for that same reason. This is where having a mentor can play a critical role in your success. While you may get some helpful tips from books and online Google searches, having someone in your corner that is a seasoned business owner can give you the boost you need.

70% of small businesses that received mentoring survived more than five years – double the survival rate of non-mentored businesses. Starting a business is overwhelming, but having a mentor can help navigate the challenges of being a new business owner. If you are serious about starting a business, you need a mentor. You will want someone to guide you through the process of identifying your first product/service, knowing your first customer avatar, knowing how to get your first sale, working on that value proposition, or marketing messaging that says what it is you do in a customer-friendly way.

At Rockstarr & Moon, we believe in the power of small business. We believe they are the backbone of our economy and an essential force in our communities. That’s why we specialize in providing marketing services to small businesses that may otherwise not have access to the same resources as large corporations. By leveraging the latest technology and custom-made rockstarr strategies, our team can create powerful campaigns to help your small business stand out and succeed.

The Marketing Snapshot You Can’t Afford to Miss

Are you ready to uncover the hidden roadblocks holding your business back? Rockstarr & Moon’s instant marketing snapshot report delivers the clarity you need to boost your brand and skyrocket growth—fast.

In just seconds, you’ll receive a powerful, personalized report breaking down your digital presence. From website performance and SEO rankings to social media impact and beyond, we reveal:

What’s working: The strengths you can capitalize on.
What’s missing: The gaps holding you back.
What’s next: Actionable insights to fuel your success.

Why waste time guessing when you could be growing? Get the tailored insights you need to dominate your market and outshine the competition—all in the time it takes to grab your coffee.

Ready to level up? Enter your info now for your instant, no-strings-attached marketing snapshot. The results are waiting—are you?

Get on the VIP List

Subscribe to The Jam Sessions

Gain access Rockstarr marketing tips and insights with The Rockstarr Jam Sessions, our exclusive newsletter with actionable marketing strategies you can start applying today.

Ready to ignite your marketing? You can’t start a fire without a spark.

The Spark promotes powerful marketing strategies. With each article, you will experience Rockstarr marketing with tangible tactics you can start using today.

What’s the best marketing advice you’ve ever received?

Hey Rockstarr team - What’s the best marketing advice you’ve ever received?“Stop waiting for perfect. Just get your message out there.” Why This Advice is a Game-Changer Too many businesses overthink marketing. They spend months tweaking their website, overanalyzing social media posts, or waiting for the “right time” to launch a campaign. Meanwhile, their competitors are out there taking...

How can businesses market effectively on a tight budget?

Hey Rockstarr team - How can businesses market effectively on a tight budget?You don’t need a massive budget to market effectively. What you do need is consistency, creativity, and a strategic approach. Where to Focus Your Marketing Budget Leverage Organic Social Media – Post high-value content on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook (wherever your audience is). Start an Email List – It costs...

What’s your take on influencer marketing?

Hey Rockstarr team - What’s your take on influencer marketing?Influencer marketing can work, but most businesses do it wrong. Paying someone with a big following to promote your product won’t automatically lead to sales. Why? Because audience size doesn’t equal trust. Why Most Influencer Campaigns Fail Wrong Influencer Choice – Just because someone has a large following doesn’t mean they have...

What’s the most underrated marketing channel?

Hey Rockstarr team - What’s the most underrated marketing channel?SMS marketing. Why SMS is a Goldmine ✅ 98% open rates (compared to ~20% for email)✅ Immediate engagement – Most texts are read within 3 minutes✅ Higher conversion rates – SMS gets 5-10x more responses than email Best Ways to Use SMS Marketing Appointment & Order Reminders – Reduces no-shows and increases sales. Exclusive...

How do you market without sounding salesy

Hey Rockstarr team - How do you market without sounding salesy?Most people hate being “sold to,” but they love solutions. The key to marketing without sounding pushy is to shift from selling to serving. How to Sell Without Sounding Like a Salesperson ✅ Lead with Value – Provide useful insights, case studies, or actionable advice before making an offer.✅ Use Storytelling – Instead of saying...

What’s the role of AI in marketing today?

Hey Rockstarr team - What’s the role of AI in marketing today?AI is a game-changer, but it’s not a replacement for human connection. What AI Can Do in Marketing ✅ Automate Repetitive Tasks – AI can handle email sequences, chatbots, and social media scheduling.✅ Generate Content Faster – AI tools like ChatGPT can draft blog posts, emails, and ad copy.✅ Analyze Data & Personalize – AI can...

What’s the best way to grow an email list?

Hey Rockstarr team - What’s the best way to grow an email list?If you want people to join your email list, you need to give them a damn good reason. Why Most Email Lists Don’t Grow The Lead Magnet is Weak – A boring “Sign up for updates” button won’t cut it. No Clear Value Proposition – If people don’t see what they’re getting, they won’t subscribe. Too Many Barriers – If your sign-up process...

What’s one outdated marketing tactic businesses should drop?

Hey Rockstarr team - What’s one outdated marketing tactic businesses should drop?Cold outreach without research. Sending generic cold emails, LinkedIn DMs, or calls with zero personalization is a waste of time. Today’s buyers are smarter—they can spot a copy-paste message from a mile away. Why It Doesn’t Work People Hate Spam – If your outreach isn’t tailored, it’s going straight to the...

How do you know when to pivot your marketing strategy?

Hey Rockstarr team - How do you know when to pivot your marketing strategy?If your marketing isn’t producing leads, sales, or engagement, it’s time to pivot. But too many businesses either wait too long or panic and change direction too soon. The key is knowing when a strategy truly isn’t working versus when it just needs tweaking. Signs You Need to Pivot Your Leads Have Dried Up – If your...

What’s the fastest way to get more leads?

Hey Rockstarr team - What’s the fastest way to get more leads?The fastest way to get leads isn’t ads or SEO—it’s referrals. Why Referrals Work So Well Instant Trust – People trust recommendations from friends & colleagues. Higher Conversions – Referral leads close 3-5x faster than cold leads. Low Cost, High ROI – You don’t have to spend money on ads to get them. How to Get More Referrals...

What’s the best way to build authority in an industry?

Hey Rockstarr team - What’s the best way to build authority in an industry?Want to be seen as the go-to expert in your industry? You need to show up, share value, and get your name everywhere. The Authority Building Formula Content + Consistency = Visibility Speaking + Teaching = Credibility Results + Social Proof = Trust 5 Ways to Become an Industry Authority Post Valuable Content Regularly...

What’s one marketing tool every business should use?

Hey Rockstarr team - What’s one marketing tool every business should use?Every business needs a solid CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. If you’re still tracking leads in spreadsheets or trying to remember follow-ups in your head, you’re losing money. Why a CRM is a Game-Changer No More Lost Leads – A CRM keeps track of every contact, conversation, and deal in one place. Automated...