📈 If I Had to Start Over Tomorrow, Here’s Exactly What I’d Do

No audience.
No email list.
No revenue.

Just you, a laptop, and whatever knowledge is still bouncing around in your head.

If I had to rebuild my business from scratch today, I’d do it very differently than I did the first time with Greenbox Storage.

Back then, I made it harder than it needed to be.

I overcomplicated things, waited too long to take action, and tried to do everything myself.

But now?

I’d build it leaner, faster, and smarter.

Here’s exactly what I’d do, step by step:

Step 1: Niche Down Immediately

I wouldn’t waste time trying to appeal to everyone.

Instead, I’d get hyper-specific:

• Who do I help?

• What painful, expensive problem do I solve?

• Why should someone choose me over anyone else?

Find a niche where people already spend money, and position yourself as the go-to solution for that one specific need.

I’ve been asked several times if I wanted Greenbox to expand into other storage solutions.

I said no every time.

College students were our niche. That was our goldmine.

Here are some more tips on how to niche down: The Power of Niching Down.

Step 2: Start Sharing Valuable Content on Day One

The biggest mistake I see?

People waiting until they feel “ready” to post about their business.

I wish I would have started posting on social media years earlier.

Authority, trust, and visibility are built one post at a time.

Here’s the mix I’d use:

• Authority content: Teach what I know.

• Trust content: Share my story, process, and values.

• Conversion content: Make clear, direct offers.

Pro tip: If you need help posting content, FounderBrands can turn you into a leader in your industry.

Step 3: Sell Before Building

I wouldn’t spend months building a fancy logo or website. I’d sell first.

One of the first moves I made with Greenbox Storage was sending an email to the student body at Dartmouth asking if they’d be interested in summer storage.

Best move I ever made. I knew immediately that we’d have customers.

What you can do:

• Book calls

• Validate demand

• Pre-sell the offer

• THEN build the thing, based on what people actually want

Start with a simple service that solves a clear problem.

Sell it, deliver it, improve it. Rinse and repeat.

Step 4: Build a Simple System for Leads

Once I have proof of concept, I’d set up a basic, repeatable system:

• A lead magnet or landing page

• A short nurture email sequence

• A consistent content strategy

• Regular calls to action

This doesn’t need to be fancy, just consistent.

Focus on a simple funnel that moves people from “just found you” to “ready to buy.”

Step 5: Delegate Fast

I wouldn’t try to do it all myself.

I was in the trenches with Greenbox - driving U-Hauls, lifting boxes, collecting reviews.

Check out 2 Stories of Startup Struggles for a look into what entrepreneurship is actually like.

I learned that the faster I could get out of the weeds, the faster I could focus on growing.

• Hire someone to handle admin

• Use automation tools to save time

• Stay in my zone: sales, strategy, and delivery

Start lean, but delegate early.

Your business should grow without you doing everything.

The Takeaway

If I had to start over today, I’d build a simpler, more focused, and more strategic business.

• Solve a specific problem

• Show up with value

• Sell early

• Systemize quickly

• Delegate fast

You don’t need years of experience, a massive following, or a fancy brand to win.

You just need clarity, consistency, and the courage to keep going.

And if you are starting over, or just feeling stuck, it’s not too late to do things differently.

Because sometimes the smartest move is building like you’ve got nothing to lose.

Whenever you’re ready, there are 4 ways I can help you:

1. FounderBrands: Build your online identity. Become the authority figure in your industry.

2. Hire me as a consultant to take your business to the next level.

3. Offshore Hiring Guide: Learn how to hire inexpensive ($6 / hour) offshore talent in 3 weeks or less.

4. Promote your business to 1,800+ subscribers by sponsoring my newsletter.

Cheers,

Collin Rutherford

PS. Don’t mess with Linda