10 Entrepreneurial Growth Strategies You Haven’t Tried Yet—Nathan Baws’ Shark Tank Approach
Introduction Hey, you. Yeah, you—the one with the big idea burning a hole in your pocket. I’m Nathan Baws, and I’ve been where you’re standing. I’ve scratched out a living building health shops from nothing, faced the Sharks as a Shark Tank entrepreneur, and learned a ton along the way. Entrepreneurship’s no picnic—it’s a grind, a thrill, and sometimes a punch to the gut. But it’s my life, and I wouldn’t trade it. Forget the polished business books and stuffy advice. This is me spilling the unfiltered strategies that got me here, from scrappy marketing wins to the mindset that keeps me sane. These are the tricks I’ve leaned on as a Shark Tank entrepreneur, and I’m handing them to you. Grab a seat—let’s talk growth. Critical Takeaways Here’s the rundown of what’s coming: Let’s dig in. Lighting a Fire with No-Cost Marketing Guerrilla Marketing: Loud and Cheap Back when I was broke and hungry, I didn’t have cash for ads. But I had hustle. One of my favorite moves—and a tip I’d give any Shark Tank entrepreneur—is guerrilla marketing. It’s about making noise without a big budget. Picture this: I once set up a pop-up health booth in a bustling farmers’ market, chatting up strangers and handing out freebies. Cost me peanuts, but people couldn’t stop talking about it. It’s bold, it’s in-your-face, and it sticks. Whether you’re a Shark Tank entrepreneur or just starting, this is how you get noticed. Social Media: From Strangers to Superfans I’ve spent hours tinkering with social media, and here’s what I’ve learned: it’s not about pretty posts—it’s about connection. Share the messy truth—your late nights, your wins, your flops. Before I ever pitched as a Shark Tank entrepreneur, I was posting about my shop’s ups and downs. Ask your followers questions, run a quick contest, reply to their messages. Turn them into a crew that’s got your back. I’ve seen this build loyalty that money can’t buy, and it’s a trick every Shark Tank entrepreneur should master. Teaming Up: Partnerships That Pop Don’t go it alone—find allies. I linked up with a local yoga studio once; they pushed my products, I sent customers their way. It’s simple: find businesses that fit with yours and swap some love. No cash needed, just mutual gain. I’ve leaned on this as a Shark Tank entrepreneur to stretch my reach. It’s like borrowing someone else’s megaphone—smart and effective. PR on a Dime: Get Your Name Out There You don’t need a fancy publicist to make waves. I’ve cold-called local reporters and bloggers, pitching my story—why I started, what I’m fighting for. One time, a small paper ran a feature on my first shop, and the next day, people were lining up. It’s free exposure that builds trust. Every entrepreneur, even a Shark Tank entrepreneur like me, can use this to shine. Toughening Up for the Long Haul Failure’s Just a Lesson in Disguise I’ve bombed. Big time. Before I was a Shark Tank entrepreneur, I had a shop opening that flopped—empty shelves, no customers. It stung, but I picked it apart, figured out what tanked, and came back swinging. That’s my advice: don’t run from failure, learn from it. It’s shaped me into the Shark Tank entrepreneur I am today. You’ll trip too—use it to get smarter. Grit: The Glue That Holds You Together Some days, you’ll want to quit. I’ve been there—staring at bills, prepping for Shark Tank, wondering if I’m nuts. But grit keeps you going. It’s that stubborn streak that says, “Not today.” I’ve pushed through sleepless nights and slammed doors because I refused to fold. Every Shark Tank entrepreneur I’ve met has this fire—it’s what separates the dreamers from the doers. Take Care of You First I used to think hustle meant no sleep, no breaks. Then I crashed—hard. Now, I carve out time for a jog, a good meal, or just laughing with my family. It’s not slacking—it’s survival. A burned-out brain can’t build anything. Even as a Shark Tank entrepreneur, I’ve learned to recharge. You’ve got to keep your tank full to keep rolling. Tune Out the Chaos Emails, notifications, that endless scroll—it’s a trap. I’ve wasted hours distracted, but when I buckled down for Shark Tank, I learned to focus. Pick your top three tasks each day and crush them. Ignore the rest. It’s tough, but every entrepreneur, including a Shark Tank entrepreneur like me, needs this discipline to win. Growing Big with Little Bootstrapping: Make Every Penny Count I built my first shop on fumes—no loans, no handouts. Bootstrapping’s my jam: squeeze every dollar, barter when you can, reinvest what you make. I swapped services with a designer once—saved cash, got a killer logo. It’s how I survived pre-Shark Tank, and it’s a move any Shark Tank entrepreneur can use to grow lean and mean. Tech: Your Secret Weapon I’m no tech wizard, but I’ve found tools that save my bacon. Apps for scheduling, tracking sales, even sending invoices—they cut the grunt work. I’ve used them to scale without hiring an army. As a Shark Tank entrepreneur, I’ve seen tech turn small ideas into big wins. Dig around—there’s something for your hustle. A Team That’s All In You can’t do it solo forever. I’ve built teams on a shoestring by finding people who get my vision—folks who’d rather chase a dream than a paycheck. Offer them a piece of the pie—equity, bonuses, whatever works. My early crew stuck with me through thick and thin, and it’s why I thrived as a Shark Tank entrepreneur. Passion beats cash every time. Cash to Grow: Finding the Funds Bootstrapping’s great, but sometimes you need more juice. I’ve pitched to investors, polished my numbers, and faced the Sharks as a Shark Tank entrepreneur. Look at loans, angel investors, whatever fits—then sell your story hard. I’ve learned funding’s a leap, but it’s one many Shark Tank entrepreneurs take to soar. Thinking Different, Winning Big Break the Rules I love flipping the script.