Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dennis Mellen, Coach of Be A Bean, located in Algonquin, IL, USA.

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

I am a speaker, best-selling author, and executive coach. Since leaders are the single biggest influencers on culture, I help bridge the gap between employee engagement and elite performance. Business is this roiling, boiling pot of water filled with volatility and uncertainty. Leaders cannot control the roiling and boiling challenges, but we can enter the water as a coffee bean and start changing our team into coffee beans to slowly transform the water into gourmet coffee. My positive leadership training provides the tools for leading teams to alter, change, or affect the outcomes of challenges by looking at challenges as opportunities. Be A Bean and transform your team from ordinary water into gourmet coffee starting today.

Tell us about yourself

As a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, former Alaska Airlines Captain, and fleet captain in charge of 550 pilots and 40 instructors, I found a challenge every organization has, which is a lack of formal leadership training and 1-on1 mentoring. Choosing leaders based on seniority and/or subject matter expertise leaves a void in leadership skills which are a completely different skill set from subject matter expertise. I am motivated to make a difference with new, emerging, and established leaders who want to engage their team and strive for elite performance.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

A while back, I spoke at my alma mater, the United States Air force Academy in Colorado. To speak on stage and make a difference with my audience inspires me to this day.

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

My business is based on public presentations, and COVID forced me to look at new opportunities to present my message.

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

First, be persistent. Next, build your network and establish relationships. Finally, look for the opportunity within each challenge because if you can visualize the opportunity, you can make it happen.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

You cannot imagine the feeling a speaker gets when you have not only engaged your audience but changed them into coffee beans, excited about transforming their teams through positive leadership.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.beabean.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beabean914/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dennismellen/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beabean14
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beabean/

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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