Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in leadership and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrea MacKenzie, Founder and Owner of Lead With Harmony, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Lead With Harmony helps business owners and executives hire, lead, and develop themselves and their teams for higher productivity, lower stress, and stronger leadership. We enjoy working with leaders who advocate for the advancement and well-being of the people they serve, hire, and inspire.
Tell us about yourself
I am a creative at my core - my earliest passions were music, art, and writing - and, as a child, I was also always digging deeper into the meaning of things and asking ‘why’ more times than most adults could handle. Throughout my career, I explored and tried many different hats in corporate roles, including roles where I pushed my limits and comfort levels, hired and developed great people, led multi-team projects, and successfully navigated conflict, politics, and competing agendas.
However, I always knew I wanted to create a business and be my own boss - freedom is truly one of my top values. Freedom, authenticity, and fulfillment are the key values that motivate me to help people hire, lead, and develop great teams to build businesses. Enabling people to have the freedom to contribute their authentic strengths, values, and skills in the workplace is a pathway to innovation, well-being, and growth in business. And as a coach, consultant, and teacher, I constantly get to dig deeper into “why” as a mechanism of helping people at all levels of organizations make conscious decisions.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Learning to practice my values and strengthen my mindset every day is probably my biggest accomplishment. Saying no to things not aligned with who I am, setting boundaries, staying focused on goals, and seeing mistakes and failures as opportunities are all part of this practice.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Hands down, the hardest thing about owning a business is dealing with fear. It will be there no matter who you are, and it’s a voice to observe, learn from, and face. The voice of fear is rarely, if ever, the truth, and learning to say thank you to that part of yourself that is trying to protect you, let go of it, and move forward in the direction that serves your purpose is one of the toughest steps to opening the door to success.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Create a solid mindset, vision, and plan for profitability.
- Be ready to invest money right away in order to make money, grow, and do what you do best.
- Make sure you are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to create success that is aligned with your vision.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.leadwithharmony.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadwithharmony/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadwithharmony/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leadwithharmony/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreamackenzie/
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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