Empowering the Entrepreneur in You

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alisha Pennington, Co-Owner of Pennington Perspective, located in Buckeye, AZ, USA.

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

I am an independent business consultant who helps entrepreneurs start, scale, and shift their businesses. Alongside my husband, we offer mentorship to those in the idea and startup phases to create a strong foundation to build their business and those in the growth phase to create simple, repeatable processes for scale.

Tell us about yourself

I started my first business, a specialized staffing company, in 2012. After achieving great success within the first few years, friends and family started reaching out for help with their businesses. My husband and I started helping others in 2016 and decided to make it official in 2020. We are focused on serving and providing opportunities for other households and families that business ownership has afforded us. We now live a life we could have never imagined and want to help others achieve the same.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In our staffing company, we were recently named to the Inc 5000 list, which was an incredible accomplishment. Inside our consulting business, we love to see the results that other people can achieve. Seeing their bank accounts well and their lifestyles change from the work we do in their business is one of the greatest achievements we could have for ourselves. Their success is our success.

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

For me, it's balancing all that I want to do with what can actually be done. Business ownership suits me because I dream big and have grand visions, but the realities of what can be done in any amount of time and prioritizing the needs of work already in place bring me down to earth. I have been able to go after so many of my ideas with great success, and so my brain thinks anything is possible with some grit and perseverance.

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

Start before you're ready. I am a "messy action" type of person, and it has yet to lead me astray. Getting out of our own way is the hardest part, so simply taking small steps each day toward your dream will get you there faster than staying stuck in the "wondering" phase.
Focus on the unsexy stuff. What often gets the attention is the branding/marketing aspects of business, but when your backend is busted, you will suffer the consequences. Focusing on building a solid foundation, creating simple and repeatable processes, and doing all the behind-the-scenes work will pay dividends.
Keep perspective. Sometimes we are our own worse enemy and need help getting out of our own way. The best way to do this is to have an outside perspective, whether that is a trusted friend, a mentor, or a hired coach. Sometimes who has the ability to help you identify where to go next and what to not sweat over.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://penningtonperspective.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsalishamp/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisha-m-pennington/

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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