Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Deann Butler, Founder and CEO of Connected Consultants, LLC., located in Charlotte, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Connected Consultants is a consulting and coaching business. We currently provide DEIB consulting and training services to healthcare organizations. Additionally, we work with women and black healthcare professionals to launch their own consulting businesses through Linkedin.
Tell us about yourself
I walked away from a corporate job for the first time in 2019. I was overworked, underpaid, and undervalued. I promised myself from that point on, I would not allow myself to stay in any position that was not working for me. From there, I began working within the healthcare startup industry and caught the entrepreneurial bug. It was inspiring to see and help build companies from the ground up. I started Connected Consultants as a way to help my circle of Black professional women gain visibility as consultants. Over time the business has expanded to offer a few different services. At the end of the day, the company is my way of putting equity into action.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Thus far, I have helped over 100 women launch consulting businesses or utilize Linkedin for their professional/business growth. Additionally, I have been able to secure training contracts that allow me to spread knowledge around diversity, equity, and inclusion topics.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Balancing life. Actually, there is no such thing as balance. That is a myth someone started a long time ago. What we really do each day is decide on what is the priority and make boundaries. As a business owner maintaining those boundaries is hard.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Identify your zone of genius and build a business from it.
- Surround yourself with other entrepreneurs. Starting a business and sustaining it is hard. Keep a close circle of people who are going or have gone through this experience.
- Surround yourself with other smart people. Outsource tasks to others who have that area of expertise. This should allow you time to work within your zone of genius. The goal is for you to focus on revenue-generating activities.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.connected-consultants.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connected_consultants/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannbutler/
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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