Entrepreneurship promises freedom, creativity, and potential rewards, but as highlighted with our guest, Darlene Ziebell, starting a business is not unlike climbing Mount Everest.
Darlene is a veteran entrepreneur, Board Director, CEO, and Management Consultant. Her unique methodology brings the entrepreneurs fire and passion and successfully proven business techniques that give business owners a greater chance of success. She uses her enterprise-wide level of experience as a Fortune 100 management consultant and her entrepreneurship to provide a unique blend of business talent.
From Hobby to Business: Making the Leap
Many women consider transforming a personal passion or hobby into an enterprise, but Darlene Ziebell urges a careful look at financial realities and life circumstances. She shares stories, like that of a couple who slowly transitioned their furniture refinishing hobby into a business—by one spouse retaining employment (and benefits) while the other built market experience and cash flow.
“People make sacrifices to make this work,” Ziebell stresses, emphasizing that sometimes remaining small can yield better profits than unchecked growth.
Building a Solid Foundation: Networking and Mentorship
Networking emerges as another cornerstone for success. Darlene Ziebell recounts using charities and passion-driven causes to access influential circles, especially when conventional venues (country clubs, corporate events) weren’t accessible. She advocates for what she calls “the six degrees of separation,” mapping out connections and leveraging her involvement in organizations like the Center for Women Business Owners to gain mentors and business allies.
That is a huge number of consultants, equaling a lot of money!
Darlene answers the question of why a small business owner needs all of this support, how they finance it, and most importantly, what could happen if they don’t build this team.
Avoiding Financial Pitfalls and Navigating Funding Obstacles
Money is the lifeblood of any venture, but accessing capital is particularly challenging for women business owners.
Darlene Ziebell is candid: “Every one of the four companies I launched, I launched with my own money. It was impossible to raise money at the beginning.”
She recounts serendipitously securing a bank line of credit only when the bank believed her business might leave—a reminder that being proactive and establishing multiple financial relationships is essential. Even SBA-backed loans are not guaranteed if banks remain reluctant.
Marketing in the Digital Age: The Challenges of Social Media
We talk about the complexities of modern marketing, noting that social media offers both reach and risk. Darlene Ziebell advises that no single channel guarantees success; instead, a mix of direct marketing, public speaking, podcasting, and strategic social engagement is key.
She describes her own weekly calendar of blog posts, videos, and motivational content, orchestrated across platforms using free and paid tools. Staying agile with new digital tools and resisting short-term hacks like buying followers can help build genuine audiences and business resilience.
Daily Challenges: The Importance of Preservation Planning
From supply chain shocks to cash flow gaps, business owners must plan for “avalanches”—those unforeseen events that can bury a business overnight. Rolodexes of trusted advisors, proactive research, and membership in supportive organizations like chambers of commerce provide critical lifelines when a crisis hits.
Final Words of Wisdom about Starting a Business
Darlene’s advice: Have a clear plan (even if it’s just on a napkin), identify your ideal customer, test your idea with strangers (not family!), and secure experienced mentors. Choose saturated markets with clear niches, and never assume funding or HR processes will go smoothly—be prepared for surprises at every turn.
To survive and thrive as a woman entrepreneur, arm yourself with knowledge, build solid relationships, and treat every day as an opportunity to learn and adapt. The journey may be fraught with avalanches, but, as Darlene Ziebell proves, success can be carved out even from the most daunting slopes.
Learn more about Darlene here.
Why would you want Darlene working with you? The answer is here!
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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle 270 Media Podcast Consultants.
