Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Todd Leader, Founder of Leader Development, located in Halifax, NS, Canada.

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

I provide consulting, speaking, and training for individuals and organizations on leadership, collaborative team functioning, addiction and mental health system
transformation, healthcare, and creating client-centered organizations beyond the typical understanding of the concept.

Tell us about yourself

I began this business because, after decades of watching public-serving organizations struggle to meet the needs of the populations they served, it was time to help them change that. It was time to offer education, training, and consulting that didn't just come out of a binder but instead was based on well-developed real-world transformational leadership skills, experience, and measurable success. I recognized that many people in leadership roles wanted to improve the organizations they led and the way they served the public. Unfortunately, much of the training and education they had access to was mostly theoretical, delivered by people who had little or no experience successfully leading real change, despite sometimes having been in leadership positions. People want to learn from individuals who have not only been in leadership roles but have demonstrated the ability to actually lead significant change even without a roadmap or a pre-packaged model to follow. I realized this was an opportunity for me to contribute to the public good by helping to improve those many organizations looking to serve the public better by learning from a leader instead of a consultant. So, I proceeded to write a book about one particular area of significant leadership success, which then formed a foundation from which to work. The book, which was based on work in the field of addiction and mental health, is generalizable to any field that serves the public. It is called "It's Not About Us The Secret to Transforming the Addiction and Mental Health System in Canada." Regardless of your field, check it out (www.ItsNotAboutUs.ca), and I assure you that you'll feel motivated to lead change that perhaps you never thought possible.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I have been contracted by private corporations, non-profits, and governments who have sought me out because they have heard enough to know they are getting the real thing with me. They have learned that what I offer is not superficial, cookie-cutter, theoretical content but instead is practical, experience-based, and effective knowledge and skills that they can use immediately to improve the way their organization serves its clients. The most common feedback I receive from those many organizations and sectors is that they find my work uniquely and refreshingly practical and relatable, as well as inspiring, empowering, and motivating for their management and staff alike.

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

Being a small-business owner means we are never off duty. There are always ideas to be considered, emails and messages to be responded to, proposals and quotes to be prepared, websites or social media to be updated, etc. If you don't like the work, then don't start your own business doing that work. You'll burn out. I love what I do. I love seeing my clients learn, grow, and develop their services. I love hearing them express a level of empowerment, motivation, and optimism they didn't have before. I love seeing their leadership skills grow. I also love the fact that I learn from every person and organization I work with because if we're humble enough as leaders (which we should be), we are always open to learning from others. So, love what you do, or don't do it as a business.

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

  1. Develop real quality content, expertise, or products. I see many ads online from people and companies that are merely capitalizing on trends in society and offering superficial or knock-off products and services, despite not actually having developed any real expertise in that area. That leads to a game of constant marketing to manipulate people into buying the product or service instead of having something of real quality that you've worked to learn about or create. With the former, you're always chasing people. With the latter, they come to you.
  2. Adapt. The needs of your existing or prospective clients are always changing. Whether it's because of economic issues in their local area, or global pandemics, change is constant. If you're the type who likes to do things in a certain way and stick to that routine, and perhaps change is uncomfortable for you, owning a business may not be for you. Those who can't or won't adapt and change day after day in a flexible and flowing way may not survive such independence. So, go in with a plan to never have too firm a plan.
  3. Care about your clients. Your success depends on their satisfaction, success, etc. If you approach clients like they are simply expendable sources of revenue, you'll struggle with loyalty because we all know when we are not valued or cared about by an organization or company. It's not rocket science. We feel it. The sustainability of an organization often relies on client loyalty. So, if you want your clients to stick with you, make your products and services client-centered so they can feel that it's all about them.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://leader-development.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaderdevelopment.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddleader/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToddLeader1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddleader/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.