Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephanie Kunkel, Leadership and Business Hero of Perspective Shifting, located in Wautoma, WI, USA.

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

Perspective Shifting, LLC is the business - I consult for large companies who need leadership development training - I start with a gap analysis that assesses how leadership is doing from the highest leadership all the way to the front-line workers. We take the results from that analysis and create a customized leadership development platform. I also am developing a platform for small businesses and solo-preneuers who want leadership development but need a less structured platform. That platform starts with an assessment, and then we tailor the leadership development content to the leader.

Tell us about yourself

I started my business after living with undiagnosed depression for years, becoming suicidal, and then seeking help. From that place, I stepped into the desire to grow, and leadership came with that. As I found more understanding about my mental health, I found that I understood my teams and what they needed more. The organization I worked for at the time had no leadership development, and I found a need to create something for my peers. As I worked through that, I found some alarming statistics that made me want to take a wider approach. 20-25% of adults suffer from an episode of major depression in their lifetime. The average time from symptoms to treatment for people with depression is 11 years. The average American spends 34 hours a week at work. Over 80% of employees are actively disengaged at work. Leaders have a unique opportunity to make changes for people with mental illness.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Writing and publishing a book while I took my business full-time and got my master's degree has been a huge accomplishment for me.

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

Not having recognition or thank yous for just doing the job. You do it for yourself, and if you don't learn to do your own recognition and it's something that you like and get used to from a corporate world, it gets hard to get the feel goods on a regular basis.

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

  1. Collaborate with people who are experts in things you don't understand.
  2. Set a really good foundation - Values, Mission, and your own development and mindset.
  3. Don't ever stop asking questions.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.stephaniekunkel.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perspectiveshiftingofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiftingperspectives/


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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