Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in outdoor products but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sophia Markesini, Founder of ECCOSOPHY, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

ECCOSOPHY is an outdoor lifestyle brand for travelers and families alike who enjoy exploring nature without the fuss and without the bulk. We've used innovative materials and smart designs to provide compact, lightweight, problem-solving products that make outdoor activities even more enjoyable. Our microfiber beach towels and parachute nylon beach blankets are fully sand proof because it's time to enjoy the sun without a worry in sight. We want every day to feel like a summer vacation. Our philosophy is: life's adventures should be worry-free and Instagram-worthy!💛

Tell us about yourself

My childhood years were spent on the idyllic Mediterranean coast, and the beach had become a big part of my life. As an adult, I pursued a career as a flight attendant, which fueled my passion for meeting new places and cultures. I then dedicated myself to motherhood, but now with my children grown up and preparing to leave home, it was time for me to find something new to pour my creativity into. And so, ECCOSOPHY was born - a unique blend of travel and beach-inspired products created out of my love for both! Through ECCOSOPHY, I wanted to capture the beauty of various places around the world that have always held a special place in my heart. Creating these products was essentially turning all my vacation dreams into reality! Knowing that people are taking my products with them on their adventures fills me with joy – it's truly a dream come true!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Going from Mom to a 7 figure business owner has definitely been a roller coaster journey that I'm super proud of. As an entrepreneur, it can be so easy to get overwhelmed by the day-to-day hustle and put your biggest dreams on the back burner. But for me, achieving my biggest entrepreneurial success meant challenging myself to stay focused and inspired - and reminding myself that anything is possible if I just keep putting in the effort. My biggest accomplishment as an entrepreneur has been learning how to unlock my potential, follow through with hard work, and conquer my fears every step of the way!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Being a business owner is both an exciting adventure and incredibly challenging. While there may be a number of factors that make running your own business difficult, one of the toughest things to deal with is finding a balance between work and life. From dealing with overwhelm and imposter syndrome to self-doubt and second-guessing yourself to juggling client demands, networking events, family responsibilities, and self-care, it can all make your head spin just thinking about it! However, with systems in place, the journey becomes so much easier, and the final reward is so gratifying! Being a business owner is one of the most incredible, empowering journeys you can take to unlock success, satisfaction, and fulfillment in your life and career.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

My top 3 tips for business success, in order of importance, are:

  1. Believe in yourself. The first and most important tip I can give you is to believe in yourself. When you're first starting out, there will be a lot of people who doubt you and your ability to succeed. It's important that you don't let these people get in your head and that you stay focused on your goals. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible.
  2. Stay organized. Another important tip is to stay organized. When you're running a business, there are a million things that need to be done, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. That's why it's important to create a system that works for you and that helps you keep track of everything that needs to be done.
  3. Delegate, delegate, delegate! One of the most important things you can do as a business owner is learning how to delegate tasks. It's impossible to do everything yourself, and if you try, you'll quickly become burned out. Instead, learn to delegate tasks to other people on your team or hire someone to help with the things that you don't have time for. This will free up your time so that you can focus on the things that only you can do, and it will help your business run more smoothly overall.

Entrepreneurship isn't only wildly fun; it's also one of the best ways to take control of your life and create the future of your dreams. I wish you all the luck in the world with creating a successful business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://eccosophy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eccosophy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eccosophy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eccosophy

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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