My guest today, Mikaila Ulmer, is probably one of the youngest entrepreneurs you’ve ever heard of. When she was just four years old, she was stung not once, but twice, in one week. What happened after the bee sting is nothing short of miraculous.
Mikaila’s parents were determined to take this bee sting experience and turn it into a positive, so they encouraged Mikaila to do some research on bees. And rest, as they say, is history.
Armed with her Great Granny Helen’s lemonade recipe, this 13 year-old CEO (yes, she’s 13) has taken the lemonade world by storm.
This year alone, Me & The Bees Lemonade, has sold over 360,000 bottles of their four flavors of lemonade in 28 states.
She’s been on Shark Tank and is a regular texting friend of Daymond John. Her advice is powerful and timely and I promise, you will forget that you’re listening to a 13 year-old. Her words of advice are simple, yet spot on for what it takes to succeed in today’s market.
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You should start small. And that is really important so you know that your customers want the product and that they’re going to go out there and purchase it.” – Mikaila Ulmer
Show Notes:
- What happened after she got stung twice by two bees in a week – this was the beginning of Me & The Bees Lemonade
- The importance of just getting out there and doing it – start small
- How she snagged a spot on SHARK TANK
- How she navigates school, homework, hanging with friends and running a company
- Her incredible Superpower – this was pure gold and you will see the simple but powerful message in this
- How Mikaila has used her business to help SAVE THE BEES
- And much, much more
I kind of initially started to get this toy that I wanted, but I decided to keep on going, and that’s how I got to where I am now.” – Mikaila Ulmer
Connect with Mikaila Ulmer:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Me & the Bees Lemonade
Find your passion or a cause that you can use your company to help save, or to do good as well as make a profit.” – Mikaila Ulmer
The number #1 barrier to getting a business off the ground is fear and I’ve shared tips and solutions on fear of failure and how to overcome this barrier for years. Today, I want to focus on the second biggest barrier to getting a business off the ground. What do you think it is? Money. Entrepreneurs struggle with access to enough money to stay in business until it becomes profitable. According to the US Small Business Administration, at any given time, there are roughly 27 million US businesses in need of capital.
I struggled this week on what I wanted to share with you. I actually had one article written and another in draft mode, but neither were hitting the mark for me instinctually.
One of the questions I get asked often by women entrepreneurs is, “Joy, once I’ve created a relationship with my ideal client, how do I get them to buy from me?” Great question!
Women entrepreneurs everywhere are experiencing the same dilemma and asking themselves the same question: “How do I manage my business while navigating the kids during summer break?”
I have the opportunity to speak with scores of women around the globe about smart ways to grow a successful business. One of the best ways to grow your business and collapse your time frame is through joint ventures. A joint venture is where you and another business owner come together for an agreed upon period of time and collaborate on a project or product. You agree to share revenues and expenses associated with the specific project or product.
I have the good fortune to listen and learn from women all around the globe about their big ideas, dreams and goals and a common theme is women start businesses based on their values and a desire to make a difference in the world. The idea of giving back or helping others is exciting and it gets the creative juices flowing. However, the desire to serve can sometimes overshadow the one thing you must do in order to keep your business strong and healthy: cash flow.