Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marisa Tallie, Founder of Stream, located in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Stream specializes in marketing strategies for startups and SME's, offering specialized 1:1 consulting, online courses, and a Podcast focused on Mental Health and Business.
Tell us about yourself
My career started 15 years ago as I entered the fast-paced PR industry, learning how to create captivating news angles and perfect storytelling for brands in very diverse industries. After a PR stint in the UK, based in the diverse city of London, representing brands like Colgate, Samsung, and Universal Pictures, I headed back to South Africa with a burning desire to start a boutique PR agency that was different from the very traditional, old-school PR landscape.
Incredibly passionate (and somewhat naive), I started my PR agency at age 25, helping hundreds of small and established businesses with national and international brand exposure with a key focus on PR and Social Media.
Fast forward seven years, I sold my agency shares and, with a heavy heart, left my team so that I could start streaming and offer Digital Marketing Consulting for startups so that I could have a direct impact on the success of small businesses from the get-go.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I have hit many milestones over the past decade of being an entrepreneur, and as rewarding as the big client wins are like supporting Australian retail giant The Cotton On Group launch over 300 stores in South Africa, the biggest accomplishment is seeing all my hard work pay off, and getting to work with business owners who inspire me and whose values are aligned with mine. Not only is this so incredibly fulfilling, but it also enables me to create my best work, offering more value and making an even bigger impact on the success of startups.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Making all of the decisions on your own can become overwhelming, but what I find even harder is managing to switch off because your mind is constantly thinking about expanding, improving, and doing better. You are testing in so many ways and have to get better at looking after your mental health and knowing when to be gentle towards yourself and when to push through.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Perseverance will outway passion - so make sure you constantly reassess WHY you started and continue to focus on your goals.
- You don't have to do everything on your own! I believe in investing in outsourcing, which doesn't necessarily mean employing staff if you don't have the capital but looking at where you can get experts involved to assist in areas that you are inexperienced in so that you can focus on what you are good at.
- Collaborate! This is a big one! Don't look at competitors as threats but rather as inspiration, and always be open to working with other brands and business owners on projects and partnerships that will assist you in getting more brand exposure and tapping into a bigger audience.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://thestream.co.za/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStreamSA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestreamsa/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestreamsa/
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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