Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erik Beckler, Founder of Afila Group, located in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

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

I am an executive and leadership coach, providing support for leaders who wish to become more impactful through what I call the Four Fundamental Forces of Leadership - Love, Respect, Service, and Fun. My customers are C-level and functional leaders in large organizations. I also have a service as part of the Afila Group Leadership Accelerator that is a peer group roundtable of a leadership team to help them ingrain and practice the Forces through their teams.

Tell us about yourself

I 're-started' my business late in 2021 in order to get back to my personal mission of maximizing human and organizational potential through leadership development. COVID and my father's death compelled me to assess how I wanted to move forward with my life. I had been using the Four Fundamental Forces of Leadership with youth basketball teams I coach, leaders I consulted with a previous company, and many people I came in contact with. I was coaching a C-level leader at a large retailer early in 2021 on the side. I was having so much fun at it that I knew I had to dedicate myself. The Forces work incredibly well, and I felt I needed to help others help the people they lead.

My motivation is to see the look in my coaching clients when they uncover what they have within them and comment about how much change and impact they've seen in themselves and the team.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'd like to think my biggest accomplishments are ahead of me. However, I have two right now I'm proud of. Firstly, I've written a book on the Four Fundamental Forces of Leadership set to release in September 2022. That has been a great experience.

The second accomplishment pertains to the executive I mentioned above. He's had multiple coaches over the years and his boss, the COO, told me he was amazed at the amount of growth this person had in his leadership capacity over the previous year. I am honored to be a part of that journey.

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

As with many leadership coaches, staying on top of marketing and sales is a challenge. We get into coaching because we love digging into relationships and seeing growth. Constantly putting the time and energy into connecting and finding potential clients is something I work on.

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

That's a great question. First of all, I'd say be clear and connected on your purpose. What's your mission, and how do you see yourself impacting the world and your customers?

Secondly, and something else I struggle with is understanding the balance of spending money and time on foundational work on your own (marketing, accounting, etc.) versus having experts do it. How you use your limited money is an important aspect.

Thirdly, I think being focused on who your real target market will be is important. Chasing customers and deals to make money that is tangential or father from your mission will only hurt you in the end. There are some deals that might side on the shoulder of what you do, but stay true to who you are looking to serve or take an honest look at whether you need to commit to another direction.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I think having a support structure around you to help you through your venture's insecurities - and successes - is really important. That could include your partner or family, but it also could mean a mentor or a coach to talk to who is not as vested in you like a life partner but can keep you on track is important. There will be ups and downs.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://erikbeckler.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/erikbeckler
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikbeckler/

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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