Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stacy Reed, CEO of Stacy Zeal & Co., located in Baltimore, MD, USA.

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

Stacy Zeal & Co. is a marketing consulting company that provides Strategic Marketing and Executive Leadership to online brands. We specialize in identifying opportunities for growth, building strategic plans, and providing executive leadership and mentorship to in-house teams. Our customers are the CEOs of six-figure online brands that are stuck trying to grow to $1 million and beyond.

Tell us about yourself

I started my business because I realized I was connected to a lot of business owners that struggled with marketing. I started side hustling while working in marketing in corporate and used the expertise I had to help CEOs make more money. The ability to impact the masses by helping them make more money to live their best lives motivates me. When clients and people I come across tell me how impactful learning from me is, it shows me that what I have to offer is necessary.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is creating an environment where my team, clients, and I thrive while maintaining our sanity.

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

The hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is having to make all of the decisions and wear all of the hats until you can get some help. Having to lead, drive and steer the ship can be overwhelming, but with a good team and the right assistance (coaches, mentors, consultants), you can overcome any obstacle.

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

  1. Focus on 1-2 core offers instead of trying to create custom offers for everyone. When you focus on being known for one specific thing, it is easier to grow.
  2. Actively build relationships - There are so many rooms that my name is mentioned in that I am not in because of the relationships I've built. You can get a lot done when you surround yourself with people who share the same mindset of success as you.
  3. Invest strategically - There are tools for everything, but that doesn't mean you need to invest in all of them. I made the mistake of investing in tools that were popular but didn't meet my needs, and that burned through my business cash. When I started following Profit First and figured out what tools we used that actually contributed to the health of our business, I stopped burning through all of my cash.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://stacyzeal.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StacyStyle03/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StacyZeal.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sreed2582/


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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