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I'm Anna - 33 year entrepreneur, first time builder :)

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Hi PH 👋

I'm Anna from Canada (Vancouver) - Mom to one teenage son, two dogs, and eight chickens.

I've been a Founder for over three decades and four businesses. For the last 4 years, I've been a Business Foundation Strategist, using my 33 years of experience to fix the foundational cracks in other people's companies (think Ideal Clients, Positioning, Offers, and Pricing).

Two years ago, I started leaning into AI (Claude specifically) - making a few automations, a lead magnet, and even an AI assessment for my Clients.

Something I've NEVER done before, until now, is build a piece of software myself!

Now I'm building a warm outreach tool for LinkedIn, aimed at Solopreneurs and small-team Founders who need pipeline help but don't have a sales team. Launching here on September 9th, and honestly a little nervous about it - waaaaay outside my comfort zone! But I'm also super excited :)

And honestly, in the 3 months that I've been here on PH, I've learned so much. Happy to be in this community and connecting with you all! Any other new builders here?

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Welcome, Anna! 33 years and four businesses is a serious amount of pattern recognition to bring into a first software build that's a real advantage most first-time builders don't have. September 9th launch is close enough to be real but far enough to still shape things, good timing. Also a newer builder here, still finding my footing on distribution specifically curious what's surprised you most moving from "advising other founders on positioning" to actually having to nail your own for a launch. Different muscle than you'd expect, or does the strategist background transfer more directly than you thought?

 Thanks so much and congrats on being a new builder, too!

Distribution takes you into marketing territory, and that can be outside your skill set if you're primarily a builder. That's where having a solid following is crucial - whether it's social platforms, email lists, newsletters, etc. And you need to keep tapping into that network!

For me, the strategist background transferred well from the "what to build and for whom" side - I already knew exactly who I was building for and why, because that's the muscle I use every day with Clients.

Where it's been genuinely different has been from the technical side - that's not the world I come from. Luckily, I have amazing people in my circle who have helped and supported me.

Is there anything in particular with distribution that's got you stuck?

Thanks for sharing! I'm a new builder here, too. Published my first app here a while back. Didn't do as well as I had hoped but not everybody hits a homerun (or even gets on base) in their first at-bat :)