Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tara Landes, President, and Founder of Bellrock, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Bellrock is the most practical, hands-on training and business consulting company for small and mid-sized businesses. We believe in unleashing potential as we know people can achieve much, much more. We shepherd clients through transformational change that enables them to realize their goals and dreams. We do this by being the CrossFit of small business consulting and training.
Working with Bellrock isn't easy, but we've learned that easily doesn't deliver. We give you all of the tools you need to get the results you deserve. We are so confident that our approach will make a meaningful impact – whether that's measured by more revenue, more profit, or simply more time to do what you want to do – that if you don't think we delivered value, you don't pay. We don't charge for time. We charge for results.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Tara Landes and I am the founder of Bellrock. I earned an MBA in 2000 and, almost by accident, became a small business consultant. I thought that I would get some experience and then move into the industry when I found the right client.
It turned out, however, that this was my forever job. I loved it! I loved going into companies where they usually knew what their problems were, just not how to solve them. I loved developing solutions with their management teams, using my business background and their industry knowledge. I also loved leaving once the solution was implemented, allowing them to build upon the foundations they had laid together while I moved on to the next challenge. But, more than anything else, I loved visiting those companies again to celebrate how they had taken that foundation and made it completely their own, soaring to new heights of success.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is the success of my consulting team when they leave Bellrock for another job. Almost everyone that I have managed directly has gone on to a leadership role in another firm. They also tend to hire Bellrock when they are at their new company, which to me is very high praise for the work we do. Even people from the inside that were trained in our systems know there's intangible magic in the combination of outside perspective and Bellrock systems that deliver consistent results. The impact we have on the success of our clients and the success of our staff is a source of pride.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
When a great staff leaves, the investment in training that we make as a small business is significant. When someone leaves after three or four years, it can be tough to watch them go. That's the risk of hiring people early in their career who may not have decided what they want to do for the long term. That said, the opportunity to mold their knowledge of business practice and send them out in the world as managers to positively impact so many others feels good.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First, recognize that an entrepreneur's main job is sales. If you are starting your own company because you like the work you do, it's likely you won't get a chance to do that work. Your job is to feed the machine with orders. Second, pay attention to the money right off the hop. People start companies for so many reasons, but one of them is to make money. It is surprising to me that they then de-prioritize the financial functions in their businesses - bookkeepers, controllers...these are professions. Don't just try to figure it out off the side of your desk. A great finance team will pay for themselves. Finally, get really clear about your vision and talk about it endlessly with anyone willing to listen. That's how culture gets developed.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
If you are a small business manager or leader, check out our searchable blog at www.bellrock.ca. Whatever you are struggling with, there's an article for that.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://bellrock.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/landes99/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bellrocksays
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taralandes/
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.
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