Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Maggie Mongan, President, and CEO of Brilliant Breakthroughs, Inc., located in Waterford, WI, USA.

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

Brilliant Breakthroughs, Inc. was established at the beginning of the century to help Small Business Owners learn how to optimize, not maximize, their business performance and leadership. We support small businesses because we understand they are the backbone and accelerant of our economy. Small Businesses deserve the same competitive advantage as big businesses, but at a fraction of the cost.

Good news: There is a new way of conducting business in this century! The traditional approach to building a business will not deliver your desired results. I guide clients to tame their business monster(s) and build simplified business models for success by implementing her proprietary framework of The 4 Performance Pillars for Small Business SuccessTM (Profitability, People, Productivity, and Peace). Additionally, Maggie guides you through a proven process to internally support growth and develop Brilliant & Essential Educational Marketing Assets and Traffic Assets for visibility so you can own your marketplace and shine brightly!

Bottom line: I swiftly help Small Business Owners succeed by simplifying strategies and aligning actions to build their profitable and peaceful business.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Maggie Mongan, a Small Business Thought Leader. As a Possibilitarian, I imagine a world where Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs with great ideas no longer have to struggle or surrender. Instead, she believes that with tenured guidance, Small Business Owners can shift from struggle to success, and the world will be a better place because of this!

My secret to being a successful Master Business Coach, Multi-time #1 Bestselling Business Author, and Content Creator? With 30+ years of leadership and management in profit, nonprofit, and big and small businesses, I offer practical wisdom-sharing from my experiences, education, and passion to my clients. My education is focused on improvement: Bachelors in both Marketing and Business, Masters of Management, Graduate Level Studies in Psychology, Certified Youth Minister, Ordained Minister, and a Certified MasterMind Executive Coach – all wrapped up into one and ready to serve!

I am known as a trusted guide, training clients on business's fresh perspectives to simplify 21st-century small business success and how to own their marketplace. I enjoy melding business and spirituality together to assist Small Business Owners in developing a prosperous and peaceful businesses. During my downtime, you'll probably find me riding a Harley or stargazing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

For years I struggled to find a long-lasting way to help true experts market their expertise and businesses so they could connect to the Small Business Owners who need their assistance. Finally, the research revealed the best way to highlight true experts through a (collaborative) book. That book, "Brilliant Breakthroughs for the Small Business Owner: Fresh Perspectives in Profitability, People, Productivity, and Finding Peace in Your Business," immediately became a #1 Bestseller. We also launched a weekly podcast showcasing our authors' wisdom and built a free mobile app (BrilliantBizBook) for Small Business Owners.

The book was a smashing success, and we had many requests for another volume. We met the marketplace's demand and published five volumes one year after the next. Ultimately, creating a #1 Bestselling Business Book Series for Small Businesses with Volumes 4 and 5 also ranking as #1 International Bestsellers. The biggest accomplishment was keeping my coaching practice functioning while repeatedly producing another #1 Bestseller and the many accompanying marketing campaigns. All this while guiding a team of busy and accomplished business owners to leave nothing to chance for their business's success and our collaborative book brand.

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

Success can no longer be achieved individually. Being a solo entrepreneur looks different than it did ten years ago. The 21st-century business owner is required to collaborate to succeed. Unfortunately, as a tenured collaborator, I've often been frustrated and disappointed by people who have broken their promises. In business, promises are things like being prepared as agreed upon, making deadlines, and keeping appointments.

Unique circumstances happen, and understanding should be applied when so. Unfortunately, the business sector's lack of integrity over the past five years has increased. About six months ago, this brought me to a screeching halt. I found a way to deal with it. I show up prepared as if everyone will have their Say-to-Do Ratio in alignment (and expect they won't). I'd rather be pleasantly surprised than repeatedly disappointed. I share with my clients that showing up and how you show up is how you gain respect and more opportunities.

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

  1. Don't maximize anything in your business. The key to success is to optimize. Find your sweet spot because it's where you perform the best. Nature thrives because it is resilient. It functions best when it isn't performing in the extremes. The same is true for your business.
  2. I'm known for the quote, "Slow down to accelerate." Unfortunately, most business owners are so focused on "doing" that they won't take the time to slow down and "be." Typically, this leads to busyness instead of doing what matters most. Slow down at the beginning of any project. Then you can accelerate swiftly and succeed.
  3. Honor your genius – no matter how quirky it may be. You never know the places it will take you. Here's an example: I have a panache for watching any movie and seeing business strategies throughout the plot. Then I developed my noticed business strategies into a Brilliant Business Movie Review via a blog post for small business owners to learn while watching a movie. Finally, after 10+ years, I've been invited to do this as a weekly segment on a national TV show for businesses. So, now it's your turn to see where YOUR genius will take you!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I have 2 Cautions to share:

Caution 1: Even though it sounds sexy to say, "I'm scaling my business." Too many business owners are scaling prematurely. If this is you, build your systems correctly first. If you don't, you'll be scaling unnecessary headaches for yourself!

Caution 2: Don't embrace "hacking." I cringe every time I hear someone encourage hacking systems. Why? When you hack a system, inadvertently, you hack a portion of the success you seek.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.brilliantbreakthroughs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrilliantBreakthroughsInc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiemongan/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrilliantBlogr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiemongan/

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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