287: Ask Me Anything

How to Turn Your Ideas Into Offers and Tackle Entrepreneurial Roadblocks: Key Takeaways from Tina Tower’s Ask Me Anything Episode

On Episode 287 of the Her Empire Builder Show, Tina Tower opens up her business playbook—and her personal journey—with a candid Ask Me Anything session. From ideation to launch, handling limited funds, overcoming failure, and even personal health, Tina responds to thoughtful listener questions with actionable advice and real-life examples.

Turning Ideas Into a Winning Offer: Tina’s Proven Process

Tina emphasizes that finding the right business idea isn’t about a single “aha” moment—it’s a crossroads of passion, market demand, and willingness to pay. When first diving into online business, she launched three completely different offers (Tutoring Institute, Happy Life, and Scale Up) to test what felt right and resonated with her audience.

Her advice?

• Test Your Ideas: Present them to different segments of your audience.
• Run Small Experiments: Host live events and gather feedback.
• Refine and Listen: Pay attention to what people ask you for, and don’t be afraid to pivot.
• Evaluate Commercial Potential: Think about potential impact, enjoyment, and profitability.

Starting a Business With Limited Funds

Addressing a heartfelt question from Jenny, Tina relates to the struggles of building something from scratch with little to no money. She talks about her own early days, hustling however possible to cover essentials while bootstrapping her business.

Her practical blueprint for a lean online course launch:

• Invest Wisely: Register a domain (~$50), use free trials (like Kajabi), leverage free tools (Canva, Zoom).
• Keep Expenses Low: Start small and scale as revenue grows.
• Sacrifice and Hustle: In Tina’s words, “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t, so you can live the rest of your life like most people can’t.”

Not Just Courses: Supporting Service-Based Businesses

While Tina’s primary focus is now on the online course world, her breadth of experience means she still shares business wisdom that applies beyond just digital products—particularly during her annual Hyper Focus Month. If you’re looking for a more service-driven path, she encourages seeking mentorship and one-on-one guidance during these intensive periods.

Protecting Yourself in Business Relationships

When it comes to “trusting people in business, especially around money,” Tina’s advice is clear and matter-of-fact:

• Put Everything in Writing: Clear contracts, defined expectations, and documented agreements prevent conflict.
• Retain Responsibility: Even with trusted advisors, you are ultimately responsible for your business’s finances.

Growing an Audience From Scratch in 2024

Social media trends have shifted, but value-driven content is still queen. Tina recommends:

• Mix Your Content: Use stories, reels, live videos, and posts to maximize reach.
• Add a Paid Boost: If you’re starting with zero audience, a small daily ad spend to a lead magnet can accelerate list growth.
• Show Up Consistently: Stand out by being educational, entertaining, and authentically YOU.

Tackling the Biggest Barrier: Fear of Failure

Possibly the most common struggle among new business owners? Fear of failing. Tina urges her community to see business as a creative experiment rather than a high-stakes, one-shot attempt. She reminds us:

• Everyone Makes Mistakes: Failure is part of the process—you just don’t see others’ behind the scenes.
• Separate Outcomes From Self-Worth: “This failed” is not the same as “I am a failure.”
• Personal Growth is Inevitable: Building a business is the ultimate personal development journey.

Whether you’re toying with your first idea, stuck in the “messy middle,” or fearful of what others think, Tina’s Q&A episode is a treasure trove of tough love and practical strategies. Her honesty—that building a business is hard, messy, and so very worth it—reminds us all that embracing the process is just as important as chasing the end result.

Resources Mentioned:

Idea to Launch - herempirebuilder.com/start

275: How to go from $0 to $100K in your online course business

A Thousand True Fans by Kevin Kelly