Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kate McKay, CEO of Siena Strategy Partners, located in St. Petersburg, FL, USA.

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

I am the CEO of Siena Strategy Partners, a human performance training company. My customers are high-performing people who want to elevate their game to another level of excellence. As a speaker, I motivate and inspire the audience to live with greater energy, increased productivity, and a deeper sense of meaning. I am passionate about igniting greatness in every person I touch.

Tell us about yourself

As a coach, speaker, author, and athlete, I am committed to helping men and women uncover their truth and give words to their limiting beliefs so as to release them and live a life with greater courage and meaning. I am a cheerleader for the human soul. This is our one rodeo — let's play it all the way. In a way, losing my son was the gift that set me free to move more completely into my purpose to help others. I am deeply grateful for all the lessons, even the brutal ones. It's human nature to want more, to desire, to seek, to yearn. The question is, what do we all need to do as individuals and in the collective to define what we desire, to own our unique gifts, and decide to take the right action instead of numbing ourselves out to dim our desires to create meaning? This requires both a willingness and the courage to risk failure, exposure, or whatever else limits us.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Life is business; business is life. I am one of the lucky few who live each day fully between the two. Through many struggles and challenges in life, losing a brother to murder, and a son to suicide, to name two key losses, has resulted in my keen understanding of the human condition and my deep desire to help others move through challenges and win in all areas of their lives. Honest conversation, being willing to ask the tough questions, having the courage through the silence of the unknown- these are the accomplishments I live into each day.

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

Prioritizing, doing the things you don't feel like doing, developing internal fortitude, and faith in your WHY. Moods come and go. Distractions are everywhere. Living into your purpose and values must remain at the forefront of your consciousness, or you will easily stray from success. Requirement: accountability partners, coach, good accountant and attorney, someone to call you out on your own B.S.

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

  1. Have a WHY that stirs your passion and get CLEAR on your end result. Who are you here to serve?
  2. Stay healthy, exercise, pray/meditate/journal, and set a morning routine.
  3. You are the five people that you EXPECT to be around you. Success does not happen in a vacuum. Hire people to hold you accountable because the people who love you are often not the same people who want to see you win like you want to. Don't take stuff so personally.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.kate-mckay.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katesmckay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatemckay/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katemckay18
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemckaycoach/


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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