Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Beth Smith, President of A-list Interviews, located in Westminster, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I teach Interviewing skills to business leaders so that they are making better hiring decisions.
Tell us about yourself
I owned a restaurant in Boulder, Colorado, across the street from CU. I hired a guy to help me manage the place. He let in 2 underage football players who committed a felony. This was one of the incidents in the Colorado Football Recruiting Scandal, and it made national news. The next day, my restaurant was surrounded by reporters and, on walks, the Boulder Police Department. The cops told me I was going to lose my license, and I said, "Is there anything I can do to change that?" And I had a detective lean across the table, point his finger at me, and say, "You have to learn how to hire better." Since then, I have interviewed over 20,000 people and have a 91% retention rate for employees after a year. I absolutely LIVE for seeing the light bulbs go off for my clients. It is so satisfying!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is that I continue to create relevant content. I have written two books and have two more coming out this year. In addition, my longevity in business- I have been doing this for 17 years!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The recruiting field changes so rapidly! Keeping up with trends and new information and then being able to pass that information on to my clients in a meaningful way is a constant challenge!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Only start a business doing something that you love and would do for free.
- Find a group of mentors. Solicit advice from them and listen to it.
- Prioritize self-care and self-learning. If you don't fiercely take care of your mental, physical, and spiritual health, you won't make it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://a-listinterviews.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlistInterviews/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alistinterview
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethsmithalistinterviews/
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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