Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kelly Nolan, Time Management Strategist of Kelly Nolan LLC, located in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I help professional working women manage it all professionally and personally with less stress through my realistic time management system, the Bright Method™️.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a former patent litigator who got overwhelmed as a new attorney and slowly figured out a time management system that worked for me – and kept practicing for years. After realizing other working women felt similar to how I'd felt before, I now teach women this method. Getting to meet incredible people and help them enjoy their lives more – whatever that means to them – is hugely rewarding. I love it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Building a business that I find rewarding, provides for my family, AND gives me the flexible lifestyle I want and need as a mom of two married to someone with a non-flexible schedule is huge. I'm so proud of that.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Trusting yourself. During the first 2-3 years of my business, I succumbed a bit to that "I don't know what I'm doing – these other business coaches, etc., know more." While I firmly believe in learning from others, at some point, I realized I know more than I was giving myself credit for. It can be hard to remember that sometimes, and sometimes I AM wrong, but learning to trust my gut on business decisions – even when it runs counter to a lot of business advice – is huge.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Explore business opportunities – but at some point, niche down, stake your claim, and clarify who you work with. That's the only way people will actually understand what you do.
- Testimonials are gold. Serve your clients well, ask for testimonials, and create a form (e.g., Google, Typeform) for them to fill out, so you get really detailed information for your testimonials and for feedback/improvement purposes. On a related note, do detailed intake forms. Not only are they helpful and help you serve clients well, but they're invaluable for marketing language and content ideas your potential clients will resonate with.
- Talk to people who serve a similar demographic to you and are a few (or many) steps ahead of you. Be open-minded to their advice. Those conversations have pushed and continue to push me in directions that I would likely rule out on my own – and the advice has often been right.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://kellynolan.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kellynolan_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellynolantimestrategist/
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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