Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1233: Setting Revenue Goals That Actually Matter... And Hitting Them! w/ Noelle Curtis
In this powerful episode, Brian sits down with Noelle Curtis, a visionary leader and "connector of dots" who has navigated everything from agriculture and fashion to finance and SaaS. Noelle unpacks the uncomfortable but essential truths about money, mindset, and the universal principles that govern business success, regardless of your industry. This episode is a masterclass in financial discipline, teaching you why your personal budget is the blueprint for your business's success and why "paying yourself" isn't a luxury—it's a necessity.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- 💰 How to shift your mindset from "money" (something scarce) to "capital" (a tool for growth).
- 📊 Why your personal financial habits are a direct predictor of your business's financial health.
- 🚀 The truth about setting revenue goals based on the lifestyle you want, not arbitrary numbers like "$1 million."
- 🛑 How to break the cycle of "idea hopping" and give your business the time it needs to gain traction and succeed.
- 💸 The critical importance of paying yourself as a founder and how it impacts your ability to secure future funding.
- 🤝 Why you can’t build a scalable business alone and how to start building a team, even on a tight budget.
📝 About Noelle Curtis
Noelle Curtis is a strategic business leader with a people-first approach and cross-sector expertise spanning nonprofits and for-profits. She brings deep knowledge in operations, financial analysis, and research to help businesses thrive in complex environments.
Previously Director of Credit to Capital at Chicago Sunshine Enterprises, she managed $2M in funding and now leads the Community Micro Equity Fund Program, supporting early-stage businesses. Noelle also founded Pretty Dapper P.C., a top-performing Chicago day spa, and directed business development at New Covenant CDC, allocating over $1M to community ventures.
Her latest venture, Bisi Blvd. Inc., is a hybrid SaaS/Fintech company creating digital tools for startups. With certifications in finance, tech, real estate, and operations, Noelle has coached over 200 entrepreneurs and facilitated access to $3M+ in capital.
🎯 Noelle’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Be patient with yourself, because even your business style is going to change the longer you are an entrepreneur… give yourself the grace to make mistakes as well."
📢 Memorable Quotes
- "If you're not managing a thousand dollars, how can you possibly manage $100,000? Oftentimes people are not honest with themselves about where they are in their financial journey."
- "I like to describe cash flow as you're putting money out into the world with the expectation it's going to bring its friends back to you."
- "A lot of entrepreneurs just, they don't want to take the time to grow a company. They want instantaneous results. And I like to level set with people. It's not going to happen."
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- ✅ Conduct an honest audit of your personal budget. Before you can manage your company's finances, you must have a clear picture of your own.
- ✅ Add a line item to your business budget for your own salary. Even if it’s small to start, this builds a crucial habit and proves your business's viability.
- ✅ Set a concrete time commitment for your current business idea. Stop the temptation to "idea hop" by giving your current venture the dedicated time it needs to mature.
- ✅ Define your revenue goals based on your ideal lifestyle needs, not a random, impressive-sounding number. What do you actually need to earn?
🔗 Links & Resources