Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with John Bowe, Founder of John Bowe Int'l., located in New York, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I teach individuals and teams how to re-think and improve their ability to speak and present ideas.
Tell us about yourself
I was a long-form journalist and author for many years with an interest in social justice. I knew nothing about public speaking (except that I didn't like it very much). I discovered it by accident and realized that, as taught by the ancient Greeks, speech training is a secretly cool, long-lost IP that unlocks a ton of human potential. Our world is very disconnected, people are very isolated, and here's this ancient, practical training method for connecting. My goal: teach every kid in the world how to use these simple techniques to connect with others.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Transforming myself from a writer/reporter, which is very much of a one-person show and very deep and concentrated, to becoming a business owner, constantly collaborating, moving fast, and putting myself out there.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The decentralized, collaborative style of modern entrepreneurial work means that every new contractor or partner I meet comes with a different way of working and a different platform or software. It's crucial for me to stay focused on customers and not let myself get distracted by the ins and outs of every new business process. Everyone's in love with their process and with automation. My focus must remain at all times on the humans I want to serve, not the technology.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Prioritize your customer's happiness --always-- and everything else will sort itself out.
- Software is boring. Really: f*ck it. It's boring. People want to complicate stuff with fancy processes, and half the time, they just waste money and time.
- Be yourself. Every facet of growing a business brings an opportunity to adopt an inauthentic, fake-grownup, fake professional way of doing stuff. Being professional is great, but (see #1) only if it makes life easier for your customer.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.johnfbowe.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfbowe/
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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