Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Busola Boyle-Komolafe, director of research of Versa Research, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Versa Research is a data, research, and consulting company focused on providing insights and foresight to build sustainable and scalable businesses. We are experts in consumer behavior research as well as product research.
Tell us about yourself
There are only two words that can be used to describe me; curious cat. I love understanding the underlying reasons, I love digging, and I love learning more.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
It definitely has to be running a sustainable business for the past four years.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Learning how to manage and retain a high-performing team. When I started out as a business owner, I did everything strategy, business development, sales, marketing, finance, execution, recruitment, hiring, people management, and so on. The hardest by far was people management which seemed unimportant compared to sales but turned out to be the most important.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Let your business reflect who you are. Building a business that isn't a reflection of you adds a major layer of complexity.
- Build a tight circle around you and know when to ask for help. It took me so long to understand that asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
- You need to know when to give up and when to keep fighting. Before you begin, identify what rock bottom means to you and what success means to you.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Starting a business is an amazing, fulfilling journey. They say it is not what you do but who you become. Starting a business changes you, you learn valuable life skills within a short time frame. It makes you more creative, adventurous and you find that you are more passionate with each day than the last.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.versa-research.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/versaresearch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/versaresearch/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/versaresearch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/busolaakinolawore/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
