Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kon Apostolopoulos, Founder and CEO of Fresh Biz Solutions, LLC., located in Westminster, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Most organizations spend a lot of time and money developing their strategic plans with the belief they will lead to business success. But without the right people and leaders at all levels to make them real, these plans are simply a paper exercise.
My company, Fresh Biz Solutions, partners with our client's executive and senior leadership teams to ensure they have a pipeline of engaged talent ready and willing to achieve the organization's goals and mission. That may include training solutions, coaching for individuals and groups, innovative team-building events, and optimizing their Human Capital Management systems, so every dollar invested in their people is well-spent and purposeful. This results in the confidence that they can attract, retain and grow the talent they need to move their company forward for years to come.
We have broad experience across many industries, including 15 years of supporting service organizations in the travel, cruise lines, hospitality, and restaurant sectors. Over the last ten years, we have made significant contributions to supporting our clients in the construction and building industries and helped higher education institutions and state agencies become more performance-driven and efficient.
Tell us about yourself
As Mark Twain said, "The two most important days in your life are the day you come into this world, and the day you realize why." Looking back on my life in general and my professional experiences that span more than three decades, I realize that I have always gravitated toward being a teacher and a coach. Perhaps because I love to learn, I want to share my passion and make learning exciting, valuable, and memorable for others. Living and working on four different continents, I have embraced change and cultural diversity as natural things. I have kept a youthful wonder and curiosity about life, people, and human behavior. That leads me to question why or why not and to look for ways to make things better. As the son of Greek immigrants, I know the value of hard work, and I carry with me the long history and heritage of my culture that spans millennia.
So, I have spent my life teaching and coaching, helping people and processes perform at their best, and showing others how to become more resilient and successful through change. I learned my craft, helping large multinational corporations and private companies reach their goals for many years. Then in 2012, I launched Fresh Biz Solutions to bring a fresh perspective, innovative ideas, and proven solutions from different industries to solve my client's people and performance problems. Through my journey, I have become an international author and speaker, an award-winning coach, and a master facilitator. As the co-author of the timely book, "7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide for Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters" and a Thinkers 360 Global Top-10 Thought Leader in the areas of Mental Health and Wellness, I often speak about the power of emotional and organizational resilience, engaged workplaces, transformational change, and developing high-performing cultures.
When not working with business leaders, I give back to my community by developing young soccer players in local, state, and Olympic Development Programs. After all, sports are a great way to teach important life skills!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Discovering that through my work, I can help my clients achieve their goals, I can make a difference in the lives of others, can provide a great life for my family, and can feel that I am living my purpose! More than half the businesses launched today will not exist in five years, and only three out of ten will last another five after that. Earlier this year, we celebrated a decade of success and growth, and we are entering this next decade full of hope and confidence that we will continue to serve our clients and make a positive impact on our world.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things as a business owner is accepting the weight and consequences of the decisions you make. It can be very lonely at the top of the organizational pyramid, whether you are a solopreneur or the head of a large corporation. If you believe in your abilities and surround yourself with trusted partners, then you can get to the answers that will help you succeed.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Find something you are passionate about and the world needs. Hone your craft to the point where people will gladly pay for your skills, knowledge, and expertise. Position yourself as the trusted partner and guide, and allow your customer to be the hero of their own story. Then you will become indispensable.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.freshbizsolutions.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreshBizSolutions
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kon_Ap
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkon/
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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