Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Courtney Gavin, Founder of Xelda Company, located in Boca Raton, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Xelda provides valet trash, recycling, and event cleanup services. Our customers include multifamily communities (apartments), venues, and city-owned parks. Our mission is to make our communities greener, one trash bag at a time.
Tell us about yourself
A few years ago, my husband and I were at a soccer game, and he asked, "who cleans up the field when everyone leaves?" Neither of us had a clue. We did some research and quickly realized that this was an untapped market. There was a true need for a service provider in this niche. That is when event cleanup was born. Fast forward a few years, we not only provide event cleanup, but we also provide janitorial and valet trash services to commercial real estate properties, non-profit organizations, and cities throughout the state of Florida. My husband has always been my biggest supporter and encouraged me to start the company. Knowing that my service is making an impact and filling a need motivates me each day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is not the accolades and awards I received. It's actually the impact that we make every day in our communities. We collect hundreds, if not thousands, of trash bags daily. The fact that we are making our communities cleaner and greener truly makes me proud.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
To be honest, many hard things come with being a business owner. If I had to name just one, it would likely be wearing all the hats. While it's exciting to be your own boss, it is a huge responsibility. You're often doing everything in the beginning: sales, marketing, hiring, firing, logistics, accounting, payroll, etc. It can be very difficult to "clock out" as a business owner. Once you're able to scale, you can hire or outsource some of those departments to give you your time back in your business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just start. Fortune really does favor the brave; you won't see any results until you actually get out there and just start. You'll thank yourself one year from now!
- Be patient. Success is a long game; give yourself time to accomplish your goals.
- Fail fast. I used to worry about making mistakes, and sometimes that fear would paralyze me. I finally learned that no matter if you go fast or slow, you will make a mistake somewhere. It's better to fail quickly and early, learn from it, and keep growing.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.xeldacompany.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneygavinblog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/courtneyglory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneygavin1/
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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