Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in outdoor adventure but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rene Rosendahl, Founder of Hiking Kalalau, located in Irvine, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I run a site called "Hiking Kalalau," which is all about the world-famous Kalalau Trail on the Napali coast of Kauai. It is rated one of the most beautiful but also one of the most dangerous trails in the world. People from all over come to Kauai to hike this trail. I provide information to help these adventurers plan and train for this bucket-list hike and complete it successfully.
Tell us about yourself
I am an outdoor adventurer and heard about this trail years ago. At one point, I decided that I wanted to experience it myself. Finding all the required information was challenging, and so, after completing the hike, I started publishing information about it, and it eventually created a video course.
Kalalau is my personal "happy place," and I think about it every day. I am excited to share my knowledge with others and help them make their dreams come true by experiencing this epic adventure themselves.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Building all the content has not always been easy, and I feel especially proud of the Hiking Kalalau video course, which has been a true labor of love to put together.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
As a creator, building an audience is always the most challenging part of a successful business. I also found that changes to Google's ranking algorithm can overnight result in big swings in traffic, which can be disconcerting.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find something you are truly excited about so that working on that business feels less like work.
- Truly understand who your customers are and what their needs are.
- Be willing to stay flexible and adapt to changing circumstances.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.hikingkalalau.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hikingkalalau
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rrosendahl
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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