Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in mental wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Susan White, Founder of Lifeskills Center, Ltd., located in Antioch, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Lifeskills Center, Ltd is the name of my business. I'm a sole proprietor without employees, although I contract with many to support the needs of my business. Individuals, couples, and small businesses use my insight, listening skills, and experiences to identify and create intentional transformation in order to evolve. I'm also a 3X #1 Best Selling Author in the book series Brilliant Breakthroughs for the Small Business Owner: Fresh Perspectives on Profitability, People, Productivity, and Finding Peace in your Small Business. I'm in the transformation and evolution business because being human is challenging and sometimes messy, and we all need help from time to time.
Tell us about yourself
My life's work has always been about investing in people. The passion for that investment creating big dividends in my own personal evolution motivates me daily. I don't "go to work," I meet my responsibilities based on what's most important to me. It's a unique mindset! After working in retail management, as well as the corporate world earlier in life, I made a decision to change career paths and returned to college to complete my Masters in Social Work. Upon graduation, I worked in several human service agencies and treatment centers. During that time, I realized how dedicated I am to personal growth – both mine and others. Throughout this website, I reveal more about myself, those who have influenced me, and some of the amazing people I have learned from.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest business accomplishment is relying on word-of-mouth advertising to sustain a fairly consistent flow of income without investing capital.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things about being a business owner is learning and implementing work-life integration. There's a distinction between work-life balance, which is great for people who work 9:00 to 5:00 for an entity in which there's no ownership. Work-life integration means you honor both your business and your personal life in a way that prioritizes doing what's important 24/7. When you're a business owner, there's natural enmeshment, and it has to be a healthy one for both the owner and the business. In order to create and maintain work-life integration, a business owner needs to be fully conscious and keenly aware of each priority at the moment.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The first tip I give to anybody is to acknowledge you don't own your business; it owns you. Make sure you invest in a passion so your business doesn't become a burden or "work." Know that the relationships you develop regarding your business may be more significant to success than your product. Keep your overhead low... Often there's a desire to invest in the trappings of success up front, and the pressure from maintaining and supporting unnecessary overhead is a pressure no business owner needs, no matter how successful your business is financially. Money is a tool. Use your tool properly.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I've had the privilege of studying with the late Debbie Ford and Deepak Chopra in my own evolution. I encourage business owners to invest in themselves first and foremost because product knowledge and skills can be learned. Business development and having clarity that my business is a reflection of my values is personal. Anyone can get up and go to work and collect a paycheck. A small business owner benefits from an entirely different mindset. Understanding this simple principle has made all the difference in the world to my success. It can make a huge difference to anyone's success!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://learngrowdevelop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanwhitelcsw/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lifeskills/
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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