Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business solutions but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jocelyn Chang, Founder & CEO of Imagine Better Solutions, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are holistic business consultants (a one-stop shop) that do it all for online businesses and virtual entrepreneurs. With over 35 years of combined experience in digital projects and operational consulting, we are "the Professionals" when it comes to pivoting business operations online to do it right the first time. We help our clients drastically reduce overhead costs in the face of inflation in a global recession. We have succeeded by consistently planning ahead with the right strategy for a strategically cohesive delivery of Web, Marketing, People, and Launch Pad solutions.

Effective change or launch of a business focuses on the top-down deployment of alignment in People, Design, and Technology. So whether our clients are fostering unique concepts from brand to market or need help aligning the right people and corporate culture in place to scale their business, we're there to help build a brand-cohesive approach to People, Marketing, and e-Commerce. We're in the business of taking brands where they want to go. For the Canadian market, we are Canada Digital Adoption Program-approved Digital Advisor.

Tell us about yourself

I am a Chartered Professional in HR with a background in Counseling Psychology from UBC. With over 12 years of management experience, I leverage my operational knowledge from more than 40 employers to provide strategically-focused business solutions, leadership development, and talent management consultation. From enterprises with over 10K employees to small businesses with ten employees, I design people strategies to match operational requirements while aligning to annual plans and executing them through the change management approach to "make it happen."

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

After years of working with teams for management coaching and conflict resolutions, I am currently working towards my Master of Counselling at the City University of Seattle to refine my technical skills in planning and motivating sustainable change for individuals, couples, families, and corporate culture for better mental health outcomes. I plan to become a Registered Clinical Counsellor in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in the coming days.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Mental health well-being is one of the most challenging things that come with being a business owner. As a coach to many entrepreneurs and leaders, this is one of the first things that bring them down physically, mentally, and emotionally. In a modern world, we are extensively connected through technology (including social media and news) to be highly aware of the many issues that can or may arise from your business. At the same time, we aim to be connected with our business allies, prospects, and our own tribe, including our community, friends, partner, and family.

When we don't step up to the plate with these commitments, we lose opportunities and connections. This can look like loss of clients/leads, break ups, divorces, loss of friendships, and distant connections with family. These are social support networks that are vital to our survival. For many entrepreneurs, we carry the world, and when we use up all of our capacity at work, our families are left with whatever is leftover of us - impacting our family's most intimate connections and life satisfaction. Where is our fuel to keep going, then? Fear of failure. Sunk cost, opportunity cost, demands, and expectations are all heavy burdens on top. It's no wonder that so many business owners keep secret stories of their own burn-out cycles (including struggles with anxiety, depression, and other health-related issues). There are many demands of our mental engagement, and less and less time is spent on connecting with ourselves and our bodies and providing ourselves with the self-care required to keep sprinting ahead. The sprint moves us ahead toward success, but the payment and sacrifice tend to be our health, love for life, and our families.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Work on yourself first before you start a business. You are at the very core and foundation of a business you start. If you have an unstable core, you will not survive the waves of challenges that come with growing and owning a successful business. Create a routine for yourself on self-care and create contingency plans that can help you overcome challenges internally. What are you going to do when things go wrong? How do you work on calming down when things go sideways? How do you recharge? When will that happen on a regular basis? What are the barriers to recharge? What will you do when there isn't time to recharge? Get to know yourself because this will deeply influence your decision-making in your business: What are your priorities (for work and for life)? What are your core values as an individual? What does success look like? What can you not sacrifice in pursuit of your dreams and goals? What are your weaknesses and blind spots?
  2. Business partner (and executive) conflicts are one of the main reasons that can quickly destabilize a business. You should have a deep understanding of a business partner before you give away power in your business. This contractually-bonded relationship can be more impactful on you than marriage. Consider how much time you spend working in your business vs. your personal relationships. Be aware and mindful of who you get into bed with. Assess your compatibility and risks. Don't just marry the one that's currently there or the one that came knocking. Go out there, network, and recruit! Don't settle! You should have crucial conversations with your business partner (executives/leaders) before you work together, and this is especially true if you work with your family members. You should both be informed of each other's worlds: What are their priorities (for work and for life)? What are their core values as an individual? What does success look like to them? What can they not sacrifice in pursuit of your joint dreams and goals? What are their weaknesses and blind spots? How will you work through conflicts in workplaces?
  3. Don't be afraid of conflicts. Conflicts and disruption are the birthplaces of innovation, so they must happen in the workplace, but they can be facilitated to be constructive instead of destructive. When you walk on eggshells, avoid people or topics, or brush things under the rug, these are common behaviors that are red-flag symptoms of a bigger problem in your team dynamics. Team dynamics are incredibly important in growing a business, so you should be mindful of how you are hiring, why you are hiring, and who you are hiring. Building a successful team takes strategy. Create a people strategy if your business needs people to succeed. Human capital is one of your most costly resources and investments. They will take the most time and effort to retain, foster, and grow. They can be the source of some of the biggest challenges in your business that you might not be readily trained to handle. Hire professionals to govern and support your most important resource.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.imaginebettersolutions.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imaginebettersolutions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imaginebettersolutions/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelync/

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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