My 2023 Wrapped

After Spotify's 2023 Wrapped, here you get Matteo's 2023 Wrapped.

It's been almost a year since I launched my own Fractional business.

So many things happened, and I don't know where to start, but I try to be concise and deliver the main points of this story in 3 minutes.

There are so many people out there who want to launch their own businesses.

Many are happy with their job.

Let's consider for one second if you want to launch something for yourself or aspire to do it one day.

Today, I aim to show you what happened to me during this crazy year.

It was a challenging ride. Mistakes, fears, burnout, you name it. I had them all.

That was the first moment of friction since I decided to do this and left the stable and recurrent salary I was getting.

The second one was just after a month.

I had landed my first few clients, and one startup, whom I had been talking to before that moment, offered me a job I had applied for months before. Head of Sales, 200K OTE.

I said no.

Tough.

But from that moment, I went on.

If I look back, 2023 has been the most transformative year of all after the birth of my first daughter, Mia.

First of all, what do I do?

I'm a Fractional Sales Leader, and I help early-stage startups build and scale sales teams as a service.

I also built another product offering, the Fractional School, where I teach people how to build their own fractional business.

That's all. I do two things. Not ten, and I do them mostly alone.

What is the difference between being a Consultant and a Fractional?

There are few, but Fractional generally works for one or more days a week (but less than full-time), leading a team or a business unit with the same responsibility as a full-time employee. I usually work 1 hour per client per day.

Consultant instead delivers X within X time and for a fee. It can be time or project-based. It can be a flat rate or include performance-based metrics/equity.

Let's try to recap a full year in a few lines; let's start.

Key Moments

January

• Website and business Launch
• First Client closed won after two weeks

February

• I opened my company and got my VAT
• Highest number of contracts Won (30K+)
• Newsletter Launch

March

• Found an accountant!
• Opened my company for trading.
• Finally, send invoices!

April

• Too many clients, seven clients in one go.
• Burnout
• Busy Busy

May

• 1st price increase

June

• Higher revenue, fewer clients
• Crossed 6-figures revenue

July / August

• Reassessment, 2nd price increase
• High-leverage vs Low-Leverage, Video + School
• 0 income, busy building and refining

September

• Launched the Fractional School
• Launched a new offering for CEOs/Founders only

October

• 2nd best month ever, with fewer hours.
• I hired my first Assistant, Clementina

November

• It is very close to October in terms of revenue
• Rebranding and Launch of Instagram

That is my journey in one nutshell.

Key Learnings

I have learned almost more this year than during my 15 years of employment.

But if I have to write down three learnings, those would be:

1. Post daily on Linkedin, and add value to your ICP for free.
2. Build your Brand relentlessly.
3. Do what you love (a.k .a. work in the Zone of Genius).

Key Mistakes

There were many mistakes along the way, but these stand out.

1. Impostor Syndrome and seeking perfection
2. Go with the flow
3. Say too many Yes

Summary

As this year ends, I'm grateful for what I have done. Grateful and Proud.

Before, there was nothing. Now, there is a thriving business.

I hope this story helps somebody get out of their comfort zone and start building.

Do it. You won't regret it.