7 secrets for 7 years: An entrepreneur shares

For many, the choice between working for a big company and starting one on your own is a no-brainer. The lure of being your own boss, setting your own hours and not having to split your hard-earned profits with the mysterious powers that be is worth the risk of going independent.

Saya Hillman, owner of Mac'n'Cheese Productions, a Chicago-based digital media and events company, took that risk 7 years ago, and has been grateful ever since. With her company thriving and evolving beyond her initial vision, Hillman is proof that you can start with virtually no money and cultivate a successful endeavor over the long haul. Here are some of her secrets:

1. Learn software on your own. "For FinalCut Pro, a very overwhelming software," she begins, "I could've taken a class, but I decided I wasn't confident enough yet that my business would make it. I started taking notes from books and invested in a manual with a DVD tutorial, which became my best friend over the next few weeks. It might've taken me longer to learn, but to save the $300-400 dollars the class would've cost was worth it. I did the same thing DreamWeaver and others."

2. You don't need a lot of capital to start. "A lot of the advice I got from peers was to buy the best, most expensive equipment," shares Hillman. "I not only couldn't, but didn't think that was a wise choice. I did a lot of research and found what the really important features were to have in a camera, and then looked for the least expensive camera that had those features. Then I researched stores that would sell me that camera and shopped for the best payment plan. I ended up getting a camera I could afford and pay off in a year with no interest, thanks to all the research."

3. Go to networking events outside your field. Hillman recalls, "When I started out, everyone was telling me a good way to get clients was to go to networking events for videographers. But I didn't want to meet just videographers. My philosophy has always been that you should go to things that you want to go to anyway, so you don't worry about getting new clients at an event. That way, when you leave, you still had a good time because you wanted to go to whatever the event was, not just because you were looking for clients."

4. Tell everyone! "Tell everyone that you have a new business," she emphasizes. "Tell everyone what your need is ... it's so easy with technology these days to get the word out there about yourself. It takes no money; you don't need to have any special skills. With a few clicks of a button, hundreds of people can learn in seconds that you have a new business."

5. Don't be afraid ask. "I couldn't have made it through the first couple years of my business without the help of my networks. Whether it was financial help, referral help, or people helping me with their time," says Hillman. "The only way I got that help was because I asked for it. I know it's cliché, but you've got to say to yourself, What's the worst that could happen?"

6. Go to stuff alone. "Even though it can feel scary and intimidating to walk into a situation by yourself, nine times out of 10 I have found it to be extremely beneficial, because when you go places with your friends, you don't push yourself, you don't get out of your comfort zone. And I'm not just talking about networking events. I go to parties by myself, I go to classes by myself, and because of this I've never had to do any advertising. It's all been through meeting people," she shares with a smile. "My business is all referrals. "

7. Believe in Karma. "I'm at the point now where I get asked to do a lot of things pro bono or at very reduced prices, and I want to do all of those things, but I just can't," Hillman states. "That said, I remember all of the help that was given to me at the beginning of my business, so I do make sure to do a certain amount of that. And everything that I have done pro bono or at a greatly reduced rate has come back to help me again. For example, this nonprofit asked me to edit something for them free. I said yes, and they liked it so much that they hired me for another task the next year."