Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Grace Sturdivant, owner of OtoPro Technologies, located in Ridgeland, MS, USA.

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

OtoPro is not hired by any one brand. We are continuously vetting options to bring you a professionally curated product offering that will continue to evolve in this ever-changing technology realm. OtoPro's mission is to hear conservation so that you can continue trading those campfire hunting stories for a lifetime. No matter your needs — whether you're a hunter, swimmer, pilot, motorcyclist, musician, construction worker, physician, or a light sleeper — OtoPro will ensure your hearing protection device fits perfectly and aligns with your lifestyle.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Dr. Grace Sturdivant, and I completed my Doctorate of Audiology degree at Vanderbilt University Medical School before diving headfirst into the world of diagnosing and treating hearing loss. First, working in the medical and research environments, I combined my professional findings with a love and interest for outdoorsman ship to launch my own hearing conservation business, OtoPro Technologies. My expertise allows me to vet, recommend, and provide the ideal product, brands, and manufacturers that are tailored to meet each client's specific hearing needs, whether they're an avid shooter, experienced musician, or any profession in-between.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Every day, I hear from clients who are doing what they love, and their hearing isn't suffering because they are doing what they love. I'm in the business of helping people, and it's the small moments where I hear from someone we have been able to help in seemingly small ways that make me realize I'm doing exactly what I should be doing.

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

Being a business owner comes with so many rewards but also its fair share of challenges. Balancing the time it takes to run my business well and the time spent with my family is hard. I know most working moms can attest to this. I have a husband and three young daughters. I know time is fleeting, and I want to treasure my time with them. However, owning my own business allows me to make my own schedule and not miss the important moments. I also love that my girls get to witness their mother doing what she loves and working hard.

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

  1. Be prepared to sleep less. Your business is your baby, and you'll wake up in the middle of the night thinking about it more often than not.
  2. Lean into what you know and love. If you start a business doing something you don't really care about, that's a recipe for failure. I'm lucky that my every day consists of what I'm passionate about.
  3. Brace yourself for the rollercoaster. When you see entrepreneurs from afar, you often see their success. But the day-to-day is a constant pendulum swing from things great to things are hectic. So, be prepared for every single day, hour, and minute to be different from the last.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://otoprotechnologies.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OtoproTechnologies/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otopro_technologies/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/otoprotech
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-sturdivant-80aa46105/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.