Successful business owner offers tips, insights and secrets to success
Have you ever dropped your mobile phone, cracked the screen or submerged it in water? I think we have all done this at some point! You worry about the fees involved in replacing your phone and recovering your lost data.
Well, Josh MacGown decided to do something about it. As the founder of Mobile Genius, http://www.fixmyiphone.com/, Josh recently discussed his entrepreneurship journey with me for the StartupNation audience. 
Here’s what he had to say:
Tell us a little about Mobile Genius and why you became an entrepreneur.
I believe people are born to be entrepreneurs, and I knew I wanted to run my own business at a young age. At 11, I sold CO2 to my friends who needed it for their paint-ball guns. And I pitched several, business ideas to local leaders throughout my teenage years (one of which was stolen without my knowledge!).
However, Mobile Genius became a reality when my girlfriend at the time (who is now my wife) accidentally put my mobile phone through the washing-machine cycle. I went to the local phone store to try to recover my data and get a replacement phone.
As I sat there waiting, customer after customer came in with broken-phone issues. And all the store could do was take $200.00 and provide a replacement phone. After waiting a long time, hearing all of the complaints, paying the large replacement-fee, and losing all of the data in my phone, I knew there had to be a better way.
With this in mind, I figured out how the phones were made, how they could be fixed with replacement parts and what needed to be done to recover the data on the phones. Then, I went to each, local phone store and told them that I could help them fix the phones for their customers.
They were happy because they could actually help their customers instead of turning them away, and I was happy because my business idea became a reality. From there, word spread, and Mobile Genius grew into a successful business that has helped thousands of people with their broken-phone issues.
What marketing and PR activities have you used to grow your business?
When we first started, we tried various, marketing activities including AdWords, PPC campaigns, social media, and in-person meetings. We also paid for a large advertisement in a local magazine but that did not get the results we wanted.
Today, we get our best marketing results from social media, especially Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. We also reach out to store managers and build business relationships with providers. By meeting someone in person, you can discuss their specific, customer needs and help them reach their goals.
If you could go back to when you first started your business, what would you do differently and why?
When I first started out, several, local business-leaders told me to lock in the name of our business with trademarks and copyrights right away. While I thought this was a good idea, my budget was tight and I waited to secure our business names. If I would have done this immediately, I would have actually saved time, money and effort fighting others who are trying to use our name today. 
What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs who want to start a successful, small business?
When you start out, write down your plan and goals and stick to it. There will be a lot going on, and it’s important to focus on priorities.
Also, when you have proprietary information, have all of your team members sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, even if you are dealing with friends and family members. This way, you can protect all of the trade secrets you worked so hard to create for your business.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think some of the best business ideas in the world today are locked in kids between the ages of 15 and 18. While they may seem young, pay attention to them and try to assist them in any way possible.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and don’t ever get to the point where you think you’ve learned everything. Keep these things in your head at all times, and you’ll be successful!
Thanks for your great insights and tips, Josh!
If you’d like to find out more about Josh and Mobile Genius, please visit http://www.fixmyiphone.com/.
And if you have questions about your PR and content strategy, please write to me here or visit www.rembrandtwrites.com.
