Chris Cooper: Your Route Through the Entrepreneur's Valley of Death

So you're ready to scale up and out. Maybe you want to open a second location; maybe you want to start a new business altogether. First, you're going to have to cross the Valley of Death.

The Valley of Death is the gap that lies between your first successful business and your second. It's the money gap. The knowledge gap. The tools gap.

Chris Cooper has crossed the Valley of Death more than once. Here, he'll tell you how to get safely to the other side.

Links:

Two-Brain Coaching
Incite Tax
Gym Owners United
"Simple Numbers"
"Traction"
"Get a Grip"

Timeline:

1:30 – The Valley of Death.

3:19 – Gaps that kill.

6:13 – The gaps that almost got Coop.

8:27 – Operational skills vs. management skills.

11:36 – Change is inevitable.

12:36 – Upgrading to expert-level knowledge.

15:39 – To cross the Valley, start with a big buffer.

20:01 – Trade where you can.

21:57 – Join a mastermind. 

22:31 – Partner with caution. 

26:37 – Set up commercial agreements in advance. 

28:41 – Simplicity scales faster.

29:17 – Maintain financial guidelines.

30:27 – Mentor your team. 

30:57 – Layer your marketing. 

32:48 – Think about your impact.

33:17 – Be patient.