Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business and personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kaitlyn Kessler Motivational Speaker, based in Charleston, SC, USA.

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

I am a business coach and mentor dedicated to supporting my clients in stepping into more ease throughout their businesses and lives. We work with both practical business strategy and inner work to create businesses that actually feel good to show up in and run.

My work is centered around self-trust, values, and leadership. I support service providers, coaches, program creators, and creatives working in the online space. My clients are self-identified "overachievers" who are ready to find ways to maintain and grow their businesses without burning themselves out or feeling tied to their laptops.

Tell us about yourself

I got started in the online space in 2015 as a graphic designer. I sort of "stumbled" into this corner of the internet where you could work from home doing what you love, and I never looked back. I grew my design company to well over six figures a year while figuring out what it meant for me to have a business that truly felt good—one that embodied my personal values of time, freedom, and integrity.

In time, I started being asked how I did it, which led me into the world of coaching and mentoring. I’m beyond inspired by my clients and the people I get to support. What motivates me the most is truly believing that we all have gifts to share, and when we finally acknowledge, accept, and honor our own, the impact is incredible.

I feel so fortunate that I get to spend my days helping people unlock what their unique gifts are and incorporate that into a business that feels easy and good for them.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

That’s a tough question. I’m proud of everything I’ve created over the last seven years. I’m proud of the work I do every day. I’m proud of the people I get to support. I’m proud that my business has afforded me so many luxuries in life. I’m proud of my devotion to my values and of who I’ve become in the process of owning a business.

If I had to choose, I’d say my biggest accomplishment is the skillset I’ve gained in commitment and dedication to my desires. No matter where life leads me, I know that with that skill set, I’ll be able to accomplish anything I set my mind to.

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

The hardest thing about being a business owner is definitely the personal development journey you didn’t realize you were signing up for! When I started this journey years ago, I thought, sure, I’ll put up a website, do some design work, make some money, and call it a day. I didn’t realize—and most people don’t realize—that when you start to move out of "just freelancing" and into true business ownership and entrepreneurship, you change.

You learn so much about yourself, you grow so much, and you have to do the inner work to support that. Fortunately, I love that work and find it exciting, but it’s also the biggest unexpected challenge!

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

The top 3 tips I’d give someone are…

  1. Learn the rules and be willing to break them. One size fits all; generic strategies don’t work anymore. The online business space is creative, innovative, and values-driven. Sure, there are some "rules" of business, but true success comes from your willingness to break the rules and do things your own way. This is a big part of my work with clients who found success following the rules but feel capped and exhausted.
  2. Honor life beyond the laptop: Most of my clients come to me because they are learning this lesson the hard way, so perhaps this can save you some future stress. You are a business owner, not a business yourself. Dedicate time to personal projects, hobbies, loved ones, etc., and your business will work better because of that.
  3. Think of it like an experiment: This is the key. Perfectionism and business ownership do not go hand-in-hand, so challenging yourself to be in "experimentation" can relieve so much pressure to get it right or be perfect. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for the next, so let it all be an experiment to find what works well and feels good for you and your business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://kaitlynkessler.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaitlynskessler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynskessler/

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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