Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kim Jacob, Founder of Arvorei Communications Group, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Arvorei Communications Group is a multi-language, boutique communications agency helping purpose-driven businesses deepen customer relationships and reach new language groups. Our team of highly-skilled, impact-focused writers and translators covers more than 35 language pairs. We’re a one-stop shop for all customer communications, in any language.
Purpose-driven businesses hire us to help them: deepen connections with customers who speak different languages, reach new customers for whom English is a second language, and make their content more accessible, understandable, and customer-focused.
Tell us about yourself
Bridging my 25-year career in not-for-profit communications and marketing with 15 years in the translation industry, I launched Arvorei Communications Group to help grow the impact of businesses and not-for-profits that are helping people and the planet thrive. Our proposal is simple: a company can multiply its impact by making its products and services available in other languages, attracting new customers, and deepening existing relationships.
While we work with businesses and not-for-profits across many social impact areas, my passion is health and well-being. Having benefited from the work of many online health educators who are helping people cure and prevent illnesses such as cancer, what motivates me to keep going is knowing that what we offer—particularly the translation of courses, books, and other educational content—helps increase the accessibility of this life-changing and life-saving information.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I’m thrilled to be able to support my team and other freelance translators worldwide by creating an online community that offers networking and business learning opportunities.
We are a group of more than 45 translators from 20 countries meeting monthly to learn, share and collaborate. Membership is free, and feedback shows that the Translator’s Treehouse Collective is helping members build their businesses while reducing feelings of isolation often accompanying the freelance career.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It can be very isolating as a business owner, particularly in the early years when financial constraints require that you do almost everything independently. This is why I invest considerable time in building connections with entrepreneurs who share my passions for collaboration and improving the world.
One of the best decisions I’ve made in participating in weekly networking meetings hosted by The Forum, a not-for-profit that supports women entrepreneurs across Canada to access the resources and community they need to thrive in business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My top 3 tips for up-and-coming entrepreneurs are:
- Participate in virtual and in-person networking opportunities and communities to build connections with like-minded entrepreneurs who can support you in areas where you have less expertise. Look for collaboration and co-promotion opportunities.
- Be clear about your "why" and keep that focused, especially when imposter syndrome tries to creep in.
- Schedule time in your calendar for rest and renewal.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://arvorei.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arvorei.communications/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyjacob/
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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