Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Josh Denhart, Founder of The Amazing Chemistry Show Inc, located in West Des Moines, IA, USA.

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

The Amazing Chemistry Show is a 32' stage production with Fire, Explosions, Foam, and Liquid Nitrogen. The show is set to music, has hilarious audience involvement, and shares the message of Jesus in a way that honors the audience and seeks to honor the scriptures. I work with churches all across North America.

Tell us about yourself

I am a former High School Chemistry Teacher with a Master's Degree in Effective Instruction and a National Board Certified in Young Adult and Adolescent Science. After teaching for a decade in the public school system, I became a children's pastor at a large local church. I merged the two professions together and now have "The Ministry of Chemistry." I am motivated by three things: (1) Sharing Christ, (2) Having Fun, and (3) Generating Revenue so that I can KEEP Sharing Christ and Having Fun!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

It was a big accomplishment when I made 6.5 times on my own compared to what I made working for someone else. That is not my top motivation, but that was a big milestone.

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

The hardest thing for me as a business owner is that the work never really stops. There is never a time that I am not thinking of what I could or should be doing to move something forward. It can be mentally exhausting.

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

  1. Outsource as soon as you can. Get bookkeeping, basic travel arrangements, conference details, and tedious web work OFF your plate and into the hands of someone else. In addition, do not make these people your employees, rather 1099 contract workers.
  2. Find people in your niche that you can talk to and network with. Running your own business can be lonely.
  3. Automate as much as you can through digital automation as well as analog SOPs (standard operating procedures). My greatest "employee" is my website and all the back-end automation that accompanies it.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

As a business owner, you can only move as fast as your spouse and family can manage. Consider climbing Mt. Everest. Sure, you, the owner, can muscle through it, trudge right along, and not miss a beat. However, my wife might need to "slow down" and acclimate to the lower oxygen at a base camp. In other words, my ability to move ahead needs to be in keeping with my wife's ability to keep up and stay strong. Even if our spouses are NOT a part of our business, we must pace ourselves for the long haul. Having a great business and a failed marriage is a very poor trade. I have made adjustments and have chosen to be "Slow to Grow." I want to have a business and personal life that is healthy, not hectic.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://kidminscience.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshua.denhart/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshdenhart/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amazingchemshow

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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