Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrea Fryrear, Co-Founder, and CEO of AgileSherpas, located in Niwot, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our customers are business teams and departments -- marketing, operations, sales, HR, etc. -- who need to be more efficient and effective in the way they work. AgileSherpas team of highly specialized trainers and coaches teach them how to apply Agile ways of working, which were first implemented by software development teams, to their unique situations. We blend live instruction with online learning to create tailored solutions for all industries and organization sizes.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a first-time entrepreneur, and I got started simply by wanting to solve a problem that I saw in my industry. For the first part of my career, I worked in marketing, and I could see how our processes were holding us back. AgileSherpas got started by helping marketing teams adopt Agile ways of working before expanding to support all kinds of non-technical teams. Now five years into the journey, I'm continually energized and motivated by the need to learn new things and solve new problems as the CEO of a scaling business. The challenges of 15+ employees and a multi-million dollar organization are WAY different than our start-up phase, but I love discovering solutions.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Successfully scaling my first ever business without taking any outside investment.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Saying no to most things so I can focus on the few things that will have the biggest impact. Especially since I was the first Sherpa in the business, it's tough for me to avoid being sucked back into the day-to-day work. Of course, when I'm working "in the business," I can't work "on the business," which puts our long-term success at risk. It's a constant balancing act that I definitely don't have right yet.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start by asking yourself what you really want -- what your ideal work day and workweek look like? Why do you want to work for yourself? If you don't know the answer to those questions, you might build a business that's successful but still makes you crazy.
- Choose partners wisely. Whether those are formal partners who go into business with you or people you barter your skills with, the humans around you can make or break your early efforts.
- Leverage as early as possible. Take less of a salary as long as you can in the interest of hiring other people. Get stuff off your plate that you aren't energized by so you can focus on your superpowers only. It's good for the business and good for you.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.agilesherpas.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreafryrear/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/andreafryrear
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afryrear/
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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