Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tracy Bullock, founder of Simplicity Do Your Dream, located in Vaughan, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
You. Me. Folks who work - we all work. Be it at a job or a creative endeavor. Or work at finding either. Getting out of one company and on to elsewhere, completing or starting some artistic aim, beginning working solo, or making doing so ‘work’ for us. Or perhaps there is working to avoid, working to ignore, working at something that isn’t coming together or that we have completed and want to share.
I support all those who all do the above. We address the troublesome habits that keep such ‘work’ being happy and towards creating and continuing those that make the effort of effort easy and informative.
My clients are smart and curious, frustrated, creative, stagnated, or moving with whiplash speed that never seems to pause enough to know where they are at, they have aims, responsibilities, and wants. We get to all of those and anything (everything!) that comes up in the process of making the possible - feasible and fun!
Tell us about yourself
I have done a good deal of “jobs” myself, so I GET IT!, but most recently to starting SDYD, I was the COO of a start-up for seven years which, I am proud to say, we were able to make successful enough to sell to another entrepreneur. In the position, I served as a company leader, as a COO is to do, but also created the HR and leadership programs, company culture, branding oversight, and an executive counselor.
I am also a creative writer and teacher in higher education on occasion - both leading classes, running workshops, lecture, and advising.
Again I GET IT! the challenges and joys of leading and guiding across many corporate and other ‘out of the box’ arrangements. Those varied, and too extremely related, aptitudes and experiences therein I am honored to share with my clients towards meeting their own green pastures.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
By doing so strongly I can choose whom I work with. Marketing is, chiefly, at this point referral-based, and my people STAY! My crew is so loyal and appreciative, I just can’t. It is so humbling to be connected to and trusted by all these fantastic professionals and creatives.
Even coaches self-doubt - and when the dark cloud visits my sky, I think of them and I am like … “Hey, look who I get to hang out with today?! I can’t be so crummy, huh?” The session starts and the sun comes out!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
What is “hard” changes as we do, but there are some consistent ones: ego is a biggie. Now egos are great, so let us thank them for giving us the gusto to do this crazy business owner thing to start with, but to it is the stickler that can stick us in a negative place when things don’t go as we think they ought to, or (reality mic drop!) need for our bottom lines. Think a client pausing or redacting their package, not enjoying feedback or an idea, being funny about payment - those will never cease cropping up and will certainly hit like an ‘uh oh’. If the mind sits in that place we can get really icky with ourselves. That is tough and normal, and we can let pass. The instinct that have us doing so much ‘right’ can also sometimes not land. I say, feel like poop for a bit - like the rest of the day, and then reproach with a proper self-eval.
But, the point is -that difficulty, as long as we are human, will likely never end. We care, which is so important and necessary, so (of course!) when it goes less than hoped it bites.
Knowing “who” is the right fit, generally and specifically, is a tricky one too. That takes experience and we also fail no matter how experienced we are.
And, last, pacing yourself so the energy we have (for energy is infinite in the universe, but not in persons!) goes to our customers and ourselves vs bopping around at work and false lead chasing.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Define and keep exploring this: HOW CAN YOU HELP SPECIFICALLY AND UNIQUELY IN THIS ARENA VS WHAT ANYONE ELSE CAN. Aka not the ‘what’ but the ‘whom’ of your self and service.
- Who you are is what will be the most winning thing about your business - run to that, don’t try to change or contort into some stupid “should”.
- Smile when you answer the phone.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I can’t wait to meet you, ANY OF YOU! Thank you for being so curious about me - now tell me all about your awesome selves!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.simplicitydoyourdream.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracymichelebullock/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TRexySDYD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-bullock-b70521159/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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