Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Annemarie Penny, Career Advisor & Talent Acquisition Leader of Dreamore Career Advisors, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I run a firm called Dreamore Advisory Services. We offer to coach, resume writing, and recruiting services, particularly for founders, women/diversity, and corporate executives.
Tell us about yourself
I've dedicated most of my career working as a strategic partner for startups and corporations during times of rapid growth, helping them hire people and advising in HR and general business as well. I've been a founder several times. So I am pulling from my own experiences as a business owner in addition to thousands of clients who are founders themselves.
It's deeply satisfying to make an impact on businesses tackling problems that I might have seen before, so I can help guide them to better results. It's also satisfying to build so many positive relationships with people in career mode, reconciling the needs of the business with individual needs so everyone can benefit as greatly as possible. My role involves lots of listening, processing, and then acting!
Being able to help individuals grow and help small businesses grow: that's always been a primary motivation. Growth can mean different things to different people. It's definitely not just about money, though in business, that's a natural outcome. It's more about fulfillment, knowing you made a difference, and evolving as a person.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
With a small team of 5, we grew the business to a healthy seven figures of recurring revenue and an established reputation that continues to this day. I trained this team not only as productive recruiters but with the same values and life skills that had been given to me by mentors earlier in my career. We remain friends, and they are leaders in their own companies now. Quite proud of them and grateful.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It's a mental game as much as anything. Imposter syndrome is commonly described in corporate worlds but is equally a challenge for an owner - especially a single owner who does not have a partner to share the task load or compare ideas. There are solutions to this, of course: staying involved in communities of other owners like you, getting proper rest and nutrition, and taking frequent breaks so you can allow your brain to relax and think strategically, not just reactively. For a first-time founder, or a deeply experienced one, this is one of the hardest things: keeping your head clear.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- It takes time and consistent effort to build your business and reputation. Fads and viral campaigns can blow up and dissolve just as quickly. A positive reputation can last a lifetime. So it's important to focus on the long term and keep doing it.
- Be cautious about how you invest your money and hire people, but don't be so bootstrapped that the business suffers or you get too overwhelmed. Some businesses can't succeed without upfront investment and a team. Others can quickly self-fund through revenues and focus on profit margins later. Be clear about what you are, and act accordingly.
- Self-care. Businesses are made of people, and as an owner, you are the most important person in the organization. Without proper self-care, even if the business is succeeding, it can feel like a failure inside of you. And that's the worst feeling ever.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://dreamorecareers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annemarie.penny
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennyannemarie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dreamorecareers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarie/
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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