Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in leadership development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Daniel Bauer, Founder of Better Leaders Better Schools, located in Syracuse, NY, USA.

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

At Better Leaders, Better Schools, we are changing the landscape of professional development that school leaders experience. My ideal client is what I call a "ruckus maker" in education.

That means three things:

  1. They invest in their continuous growth.
  2. They challenge the status quo.
  3. They design the future of school, now.

Tell us about yourself

In 2015, I was still a school administrator in Chicago. The professional development I experienced had a problem: Too Little, Too Late, Unhelpful, and Disconnected. It also focused on only three topics -- student achievement, attendance, and discipline. All those things are essential in education, but they were not why I became an educator.

Questions like these drove me:

  • How does a leader craft a vision that people are excited about and guides the work of the school?
  • How does a leader navigate difficult conversations (because I hate them!)?
  • What can a leader do to address the school system's inherent inequities?

I started the podcast to solve my problems and answer my leadership questions. If I listened to the stories of success and failure from other leaders... and, most importantly, took ACTION on one idea I learned, I figured my skill set would grow.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My podcast has tremendous reach and has opened many doors for me. It ranks in the top 0.5% of all shows worldwide (out of nearly 3 million podcasts). This exposure allows me to inspire thousands of global school leaders every week.

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

You can't be an expert at everything, and you need a great team to allow you to focus on your Zone of Genius while they handle the rest. If you keep too much stuff to yourself, you will fail or limit the impact you can have.

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

  1. Take action—most people talk.
  2. WHO, not HOW -- this idea comes from Dan Sullivan and Ben Hardy. It's about getting the right people around you instead of figuring out how to do everything yourself.
  3. Join a mastermind or hire a reputable coach—you will grow much faster and avoid many mistakes.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.betterleadersbetterschools.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danevanbauer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alienearbud/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alienearbud
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielevanbauer/

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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