Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ronnie Quillen, Owner of Limit Break Media, located in Plainview, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Limit Break Media is a storytelling agency in NYC. We specialize in content marketing through social media and website design. We've worked with a variety of service-based businesses in NYC to create community-building content. We love creating fun videos with open-minded companies like our friends at the Gazillion Bubble Show.
Tell us about yourself
After years of studying and working in Neuroscience research labs, I realized it wasn't fulfilling. I wanted to pursue a career in film and do it all, like Jackie Chan, one of my childhood idols. So I took on a full-time job at night, and during the days, I trained in Muay Thai, parkour, gymnastics, stunts for the film, and took acting classes.
My body wasn't cut out for that world, so I began acting, directing, and editing more. Fast forward to early 2020. Recovering from 2 months of mind-numbing migraines and constant brain fog gave me the push to go for it. I had this ambitious idea to curate an enormous collection of inspiring stories from real people. I was thinking about how I could reverse engineer my goal.
Limit Break Media was born. It's my way of building something meaningful and creative while being free to support my family, friends, and the creative community. Any of those are motivation enough for me to keep going every day, no matter how I feel.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I've only been at this venture for a year, so most of that time was spent failing horribly and figuring out what I wish I had done when I first started. My biggest accomplishment has to be finding the courage to quit my job and putting all my time and energy into building this.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Fear. Pressure. Stress. A general feeling of being uncomfortable for some reason you forget. These are all things that your brain is trying to avoid to keep you comfortable and safe. Fighting through these consistently and maintaining relationships will be one of the hardest things IF you are a business owner fully committed to growing. These hardships aren't necessary if you are looking to get passive income and focus on other things.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start somewhere - Everyone worries about 'what if I don't do it the right way' or 'what if people don't like it? The only thing you should focus on is starting. Then pay attention to what happens next. Do that enough times towards a singular goal, and you'll figure it out pretty quickly.
- Make content - You can get virtually the same amount of reach on a selfie post on Instagram Reels today as you would buying an expensive commercial TV spot ten years ago. Get on a social media management platform that posts everywhere for you. Focus on video. Start with your story. In the beginning, volume > quality. The quality will improve as you grow and pay more attention to it.
- Landing page - Put $ and resources into making a landing page designed to generate qualified leads. Run ads (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc., depending on your business) that funnel to that page and keep testing and experimenting.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://limitbreakcollective.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/limitbreakmedia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limitbreakmedia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/limitbreakstory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/limit-break-media-inc/
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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