Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amanda HarNess, Founder of Business Excelerated, located in Greenwood Village, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Business Excelerated is a consulting firm working with Leaders of mid-sized organizations to develop high-performing Teams. We collaborate to identify the dysfunctions in an organization, strategize goals and plans, and implement solutions so the company can grow faster and easier.
Tell us about yourself
Prior to living in Colorado, I grew up on the coast of California. I worked in the healthcare industry for 10 years. While working in these larger organizations, I gained experience in business development and facility-wide initiatives. I was afforded the opportunity to see where the dysfunctions and gaps lie in service organizations. I now use that insider knowledge in my work. I also have education in psychology and human behavior, which helps me make a long-term impact on the people side of a company. Oh, and I know every word to every song was ever written (kinda, almost).
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being able to help Leaders and Teams of organizations actualize what they are truly capable of is what it's all about. I started Business Excelerated to have a greater reach and help even more people achieve their goals. And so that I can get even more people to listen to my dad jokes.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One thing that comes to mind is stamina. It takes a lot of stamina to sustain the ups and downs that inevitably come with owning a business. My metaphorical muscles have been sore before with all the times I've fallen and had to get back up. Stamina requires both physical and mental determination, and having a solid purpose at the core is what helps me continue onward. There's always something more, the next level. It's like playing Super Mario Brothers - sometimes Bowser gets ya, and sometimes you save Princess. Either way, you keep playing.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Oh, I love a top 3 question. And I often give a similar answer. It's because it's a universally applicable one. Apply these three rules to your life and your business at every stage.
Rule #1: Don't Panic - take the time to pause and respond instead of reacting. Breathe.
Rule #2: Be Tenacious - gain a firm hold, remain steadfast, persist, and take action.
Rule #3: Party - this is both literal and metaphorical. Be sure to celebrate the breadcrumbs and the milestones. It all matters, and it helps with stamina.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
You can do serious work without being too serious. Many business owners will find themselves sucked into the whirlwind of the day-to-day. They will find themselves exhausted and unsure. And all of that can lead someone to become very serious and potentially focused on the wrong things. If you can maintain a sense of humor (not saying it's easy), then you'll go much farther, much easier. You can make a big impact in your work, be taken seriously, be seen as professional, and be playful while you do it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://businessexcelerated.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-harness-business-excelerated/
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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