Business Athletes: Asti Wagner

Hello and welcome to Business Athletes everyone 👋 

Each week, we’ll explore the athlete-like habits behind a different business leader. In less than 5-minutes, we aim to provide you with practical tactics that you can quickly apply in your day-to-day.⚡️

In this edition of Business Athletes, we spoke to Asti Wagner, who’s building the future of influencer marketing. Asti is the founder of Invyted, a transformative platform enabling seamless connections between influencers and venues, optimizing influencer management and enhancing marketing outcomes for restaurants, brands, and venues alike.

Asti also runs a popular food blog on Instagram, which initially allowed Asti to identify the opportunity she’s tackling for brands and influencers at Invyted, which is also backed by John Vincent, co-founder of Leon.

Here are some of my favourite practical takeaways:

• Authenticity drives influence: Having been a food blogger herself and staying true to her passions, Asti leveraged founder-market fit to continuously improve the Invyted platform. She did this by connecting to other influencers on the platform, driving her first-hand understanding of the power of influencer marketing could have for brands, and driving growth for her platform just as she once did for her food blog.

• Transparent and intentional communication: Clear communication and setting expectations are crucial, whether with team members, influencers, or clients, to foster trust and smooth collaboration.

• Ritualised preparation: Implementing a consistent morning routine with activities like reviewing schedules and consuming iced coffee helps set the tone for a productive day.

• Influence begins with networking: Leveraging relationships with influencers and stakeholders can accelerate brand growth and market reach, emphasising the power of authentic partnerships.

• And much more!

Read time: 3 minutes 22 seconds

Pre-Game Preparation

Iced Coffee For Morning Clarity

Every morning, I start my day with an iced coffee—it’s a non-negotiable ritual that fuels my energy for the day ahead. I look through my calendar to understand my schedule, ensuring I’m prepared for all meetings and commitments.

My morning also involves checking emails and social media accounts related to both my personal and professional life. This helps me stay on top of urgent matters and set the tone for a productive day.

Evening Wind-Down Struggles

At the end of the day, it’s challenging to switch off completely. Often, I’m still checking emails or thinking about work late into the night.

Before bed, I always review my schedule for the next day. This habit ensures that I don’t miss important meetings or tasks, allowing me to mentally prepare for what’s ahead.

Although I aim to relax by watching shows or speaking with friends, my mind often remains occupied with work-related thoughts.

Tools For Managing A Variable Day

My workdays can be highly variable, often filled with meetings, managing my team, and interacting with influencers and investors.

To manage this, I use my calendar as a dynamic to-do list, blocking out time for specific tasks like sales or email responses. This method helps me stay organized and ensures I dedicate time to essential activities.

Additionally, I use tools like Google Calendar, Monday.com for team collaboration, and Plannable for scheduling social media posts, which streamline my workflow and keep everything on track. The iPhone Notes app is also one of my daily favourites - I love its simplicity! 

Deep Into The Game

Finding Her Flow

I find my peak productivity in the late afternoon and evening. During these times, I feel incredibly motivated and can work for extended hours. 

Despite feeling tired throughout the day, my focus intensifies as the day progresses, allowing me to accomplish significant tasks late into the night.

This counters the common belief that productivity peaks in the early morning, highlighting the importance of working with your natural rhythms.

Preparing for The Big Moments

Whether it’s investor meetings or significant events, I try not to overthink. Over-preparation can lead to unnecessary stress.

Instead, I focus on maintaining a calm mindset, knowing that thorough preparation has already been done. This approach helps me stay composed and perform effectively, viewing each high-stakes situation as just another conversation.

Team: Player & Coach

Embracing The Solo Journey

Being a solo founder is both liberating and challenging. Initially, it was just me and my tech team managing everything. The autonomy allowed me to shape the business according to my vision, but it also meant facing the harsh reality of loneliness and the constant pressure to succeed.

As a solo founder, you quickly learn to wear many hats—CEO, marketer, sales rep, and even customer support. This multifaceted role is demanding, requiring adaptability and a broad skill set.

Although it's exhausting, it provides a comprehensive understanding of every aspect of the business, which is invaluable for long-term success.

Building a Team From One to Many

Building a team starts with trust.

Initially, I struggled with trusting others to handle tasks I could do myself. For instance, I hired someone early on who ended up taking advantage of the situation, which was a hard lesson in trust.

Now, I focus on hiring people who are not only skilled but also trustworthy.

Leading By Example & Nurturing Potential

To me, leadership is about setting the right example. I strive to demonstrate the values and work ethic I expect from my team. By maintaining high standards for myself, I inspire my team to perform at their best.

But leadership also involves being approachable and supportive, helping team members navigate challenges and grow in their roles.

Post-Game Recharging

Recharging and Relaxation: Finding Balance

Relaxing is not easy for me, but I find respite in watching shows or talking with friends—anything that takes my mind off work.

My work and personal life are deeply intertwined, especially with my food blogging hobby, which sometimes makes it hard to disconnect. However, these activities help me recharge and come back refreshed.

Playing The Right Game For You

Influencers as Authentic Brand Ambassadors

Influencers play a pivotal role in modern marketing. Their ability to connect with audiences on a personal level makes them powerful brand ambassadors. By collaborating with influencers, we can reach a wider audience and build trust more quickly than traditional advertising methods.

Authenticity is crucial in influencer marketing. Consumers are savvy and can quickly spot inauthentic promotions. We focus on building genuine relationships with influencers who truly believe in our brand, ensuring that their endorsements resonate with their followers.

Founder-Market Fit: Passion Meets Opportunity

My background as an instagram food blogger and influencer provided unique insights into the influencer marketing industry. 

There are also two other advantages that I see:

1. One, I am able to truly understand the pain point that other influencers have in monetizing their reach.

2. And two, I can better relate to users and customers when gathering feedback to improve our platform.

The Business Athlete Mindset

Winning The Day

A successful day for me often means clearing my inbox, responding to emails, and achieving my set goals.

From Invyted’s perspective, signing new clients and receiving positive feedback are always significant wins that validate our efforts.

While it’s early days for our business, these daily accomplishments are stepping stones towards larger success.

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