Are you ready to transform your entrepreneurship journey? Curious how storytelling can boost your sales? Struggling to connect with customers? Welcome to DO GOOD X, where hosts Kimberly Daniel and Stephen Lewis guide purpose-driven entrepreneurs to build businesses that make a difference. In this episode, we dive into storytelling with expert Stephen Steers, who shares how to create customer connection and drive business growth through authentic narratives. Learn practical systems and confidence-building tips to elevate your social impact venture. Join us to learn how mission, vision, and milestones can scale your business.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Intro: Meet Stephen Steers
• (05:09) Defining sales and a discussion on outcome, roadblocks: confidence, resilience, and business growth
• (08:31) The "Magnificent Seven" reasons why people buy: think storytelling to outcomes
• (11:04) The near-death experience that sparked Stephen S’s entrepreneurship journey
• (15:30) Building trust, customer connection, the mission, the vision, and milestones
• (23:34) Solving, not selling, using tools to quantify problems and build confidence
• (28:17) How social impact entrepreneurs should approach sales
• (31:05) Resources Stephen Steers recommends
• (32:33) Four questions for storytelling that sells
• (36:51) Stephen answers off-the-cuff questions

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Storytelling is crucial for entrepreneurship, enabling founders to build customer connections and drive business growth by sharing authentic mission, vision, and milestones that resonate emotionally.
• Effective sales focus on solving problems, not pushing products, using practical tools like the OCGZ call script to foster confidence and create sustainable systems for social impact.
• Resilience and faith shape leadership, helping entrepreneurs navigate challenges by trusting their purpose and seeking help to achieve meaningful outcomes.

RESOURCES:

DO GOOD X Mastermind Retreat

DO GOOD X - Website

DO GOOD X - Podcast

DO GOOD X - LinkedIn

DO GOOD X - YouTube

DO GOOD X - Spotify

DO GOOD X - Instagram

Steers Sales Consulting - Podcast

How to Master the Art of Selling: Hopkins, Tom

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Are you ready to scale your business and attract the right investors? Do you know how to build confidence as a founder and navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship? In this episode of DO GOOD X, Kimberly and Stephen are joined by Shruti Shah, a partner at Symphonic Capital, who shares her expertise on funding, exit strategy, and leadership. With her unique lens as both a founder and investor, Shruti offers valuable insights on how to build a successful business that makes a positive impact.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Kimberly and Stephen discuss highlights of conversation with Shruti Shah
• (06:27) Shruti’s journey into her current career
• (08:22) Deciding on an exit strategy and different funding options
• (12:51) Exploring funding options for early-stage startups
• (14:00) Accelerator programs are valuable, and testing your product or service
• (17:28) How much to spend on a prototype to test a product

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Confidence is built through navigating hard times, and reflecting on past experiences can help entrepreneurs develop the resilience they need to succeed.
• Investors who bring empathy and understanding to the table can be invaluable to founders.
• Entrepreneurs should carefully consider their exit strategy and funding options, determining the type of investment that best suits their business.

RESOURCES:

DO GOOD X Mastermind Retreat

DO GOOD X - Website

DO GOOD X - Podcast

DO GOOD X - LinkedIn

DO GOOD X - YouTube

DO GOOD X - Spotify

DO GOOD X - Instagram

Symphonic Capital - Website

Shruti Shah - LinkedIn

BIOGRAPHY:

Shruti Shah is a partner at Symphonic Capital, a pre-seed investment fund, and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, advisor, and investor. She was previously an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Nike and Silicon Valley Bank. She co-founded Move Loot, a Y Combinator-backed marketplace for buying and selling used furniture that raised $22 million. Forbes has recognized Shruti as a 2016 30 Under 30 honoree in Retail and E-Commerce and by the Aspen Institute as an Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar. She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina and an MS in Education from Johns Hopkins University.

KEYWORDS: Entrepreneurship, Capital, Confidence, Empathy, Investors, Founders, Startups, Business, Leadership, Funding, Exit, Strategy, Venture, Accelerator Programs, Profitability, Economics, Investment, Partnerships, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Scale, Business Capital

Should you grow your business through sales or raise investment capital? It's not a one-size-fits-all answer, but understanding the trade-offs can make you feel more confident.

Today’s episode of the DO GOOD X podcast explores the intersection of purpose and business with hosts Stephen Lewis and Kimberly Daniel. Together, they’ll delve into the crucial decision entrepreneurs face: growing through sales or raising investment capital while breaking down the basics of both approaches and discussing the pros and cons of each.

Kimberly and Stephen also touch on the importance and the challenges of sales, the pressure of securing outside investment, and the benefits of a hybrid approach. Ultimately, each impact-driven entrepreneur must consider their unique circumstances and time horizons when deciding how to fund their businesses and keep doing good.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Intro: Welcome to the DO GOOD X podcast
• (05:42) Distinguishing between sales and raising capital
• (09:09) Benefits and challenges of sales-driven growth
• (12:24) Determining the right funding approach for your business
• (15:49) Importance of sales skills in any path
• (17:22) DO GOOD X unique support for purpose-driven entrepreneurs

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Building a business through sales allows entrepreneurs to validate their ideas and create early momentum. This customer-driven approach can lead to more confident investor conversations if capital is needed later, as it demonstrates market demand and traction.
• Sales skills are crucial regardless of the funding path chosen. Even when seeking investment capital, the ability to effectively sell your product, service, and story remains essential for long-term business sustainability and connection with your customers.
• Raising capital through investors can accelerate business growth but may come with added pressure and potential misalignment of goals. Entrepreneurs must carefully consider if the investor's values align with their social impact objectives.
• A hybrid funding model, incorporating small grants or bank loans, can provide capital without sacrificing equity. This approach offers a middle ground between pure sales-driven growth and traditional venture capital.

RESOURCES:

DO GOOD X - Website

DO GOOD X - Podcast

DO GOOD X - LinkedIn

DO GOOD X - YouTube

DO GOOD X - Spotify

DO GOOD X - Instagram

Kimberly R. Daniel catalyzes entrepreneurs and organizations to do good. She is co-founder and project director of DO GOOD X, a community that provides programs and support for faith-driven social entrepreneurs whose businesses focus on positive change. Kimberly also helps purpose-driven organizations clarify and design compelling brand and communication strategies.

With over 15 years of experience developing and leading communications efforts, she is committed to producing effective processes and creating authentic, “sticky” brands that are community-centered. In addition, Kimberly has nearly ten years of experience as a certified life coach. She has facilitated workshops, spoken