Marketing & Public Affairs Partners

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jonathan Bridges, Founder of Bridges Consulting, LLC, located in Wilmington, NC, USA.

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

We are a full-service marketing and political consulting firm. We partner with political candidates, businesses, and non-profits to craft winning messages to deliver to their target audiences quickly through powerful branding, websites and graphic design, digital marketing, direct mail, and advertising.

We value our impact on marketing outcomes, the tenacity to do what it takes to win, the resilience to adapt to changing circumstances, and partnerships that last beyond the marketing cycle. We adopt a servant-leadership mindset and strive to be good stewards of our clients' and partners' resources.

Tell us about yourself

I have over ten years of experience in marketing and communications. I've worked with non-profits, universities, and political campaigns. During that time, I've been able to do work in various business functions, from budgeting to graphic design, to fundraising and government affairs. Throughout my career, I've faced challenges that seemed to repeat themselves. Just over a year into most jobs, I either become bored or want to collaborate with other departments. Most job descriptions are linear and don't allow much room for growth. After enduring some toxic work environments, two layoffs, one of which was COVID-related, and trying to navigate adult ADHD, I knew something had to give.

Up until two years ago, I've been risk-averse. I always played it safe and took the opportunities in front of me. But after ten years of waiting for that perfect job, I realized that the best things in life don't come through waiting; they must be created. Being a business owner allows me to be involved in every business function, grow at my own pace, and, most importantly, I can thrive as someone with ADHD.

What motivates me each day is two-fold. A scary reality is that I am solely responsible for my business. For years I would be on the sidelines saying that I could run things better. Now, it's game time. Every decision I make directly impacts the success of the business and the team. Second, clients look to me for guidance. As a partner to my clients, my work directly affects their success. Unlike working for a large company, where your performance only has a minimal impact, everything you say and do as a consultant has a major impact on your clients. That's motivating enough!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Taking the risk to start a business is hard enough; what's even harder is surviving the first year of operation. Two years in, I've been able to take this from a side hustle to full-time, and I am proud to have made it this far. In this first full year, I've worked with some amazing clients that have been successful. I'm very proud of their accomplishments as well.

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

Money, Money, Money. I'll admit my weakness is finance. Unlike other jobs, as a business owner, you have to worry about your revenue, your expenses, and your client's budget. Everything I do becomes quantifiable, and I have to constantly forecast sales and, when short, either find more clients or cut expenses. What's even more difficult is you're going to have time where you're not making money because you have to work on the business doing things like bookkeeping, marketing, sales, etc.

Additionally, it can be hard to keep costs low when you're in the "networking business," and you rely on attending social events, dinners, and conferences to find clients.

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

Network, Network, and network some more. Even if you're a programmer who doesn't like real people, as a business owner, your success will depend on interacting with people. You need to build a network of people that do similar work as you, so you can bounce vague business ideas off them (but don't give away your blueprints). You also need a network of successful business owners who can be your mentors and help open doors to clients and funders. A good mentor will be late in their career or semi-retired. That way, they have time to meet with you, are much more willing to share with you, and you won't be a potential competitor.
Go. Ready. Set. Ultimately, there is never any perfect moment to start a business. While convention tells us that we need to be prepared and have a plan before starting, I guarantee you will never pull the trigger if you wait until you're ready. If you have that burning desire and the initial resources to start, then move forward, and you'll learn and plan along the way.
Fail early and often. You need to look at failure differently. Failure is good. Failure is how we learn and gain experience. Mistakes are a part of life and really only become a failure if we don't learn from them. Make mistakes early on while your overhead expenses are low. Trial and error is the only way to test your minimally viable product.
(Bonus tip) Pivot should be your favorite buzzword. This is where small businesses thrive. Unlike corporations that are slow to adapt or fail because they can respond to economic changes, as a small business owner or solopreneur, you will be successful if you learn to adapt quickly and change to outward circumstances, like a recession or a pandemic. By the way, the confidence to pivot comes through failing early and often.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.consultbridges.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConsultBridges
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgesfornc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consultbridges
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridgesconsultingservices/

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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