Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stuart Burgess, Co-Founder of Stuart Burgess / Burgex Inc., located in Sandy, UT, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Burgex Mining Consultants - we provide comprehensive mining consulting and mineral exploration services with unmatched expertise and fast turnarounds. Our clients range from individual prospectors to major international public mining companies.
Tell us about yourself
Growing up in the Western United States, I was initially exposed to mining through visiting old ghost towns - many of which were mining camps. This led to an eventual hobby of abandoned mine exploration and documentation, which became the core service that Burgex initially offered when I co-founded it in 2010.
It has been interesting to see my motivations shift over time - initially, they were all around survival and working hard enough to keep the lights on, but as the company has grown, I now find motivation in seeing our team thrive and make accomplishments.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I was able to step back into a Chairman position at the beginning of this year and left the company in the hands of our very competent CEO. Being able to grow the company to a point where it can run itself without me having to be hands-on every day is really neat.
I would say the second biggest accomplishment has been the successful development and deployment of our new Mineralocity Aggregates market intelligence platform. This project really stretched the limits of our team and abilities, but we are really creating something unique that has never been done before.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The effective delegation was something that I struggled with for a long time - being able to step back and trust my team to complete projects without me. I found that oftentimes when the right person has the task, they find a better and more efficient way to do it. Seeing this over and over again definitely helped me refine my delegation toolbelt, but I think I can say that I still have some work to do.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Never give up - keep chasing that dream.
- Your greatest successes are on the other side of whatever difficulties you are currently facing. The bigger the challenge, the greater the success when you eventually overcome it.
- Don't be afraid to start a business in an industry that you are passionate about but don't have a lot of experience and knowledge with. If you are passionate and work hard, you can go very far. Over the last twelve years, I have had to become an expert on a dozen different aspects of the mining industry that I knew nothing about before.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I really like the quote "Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours." by Richard Bach. As an entrepreneur and especially as a solo entrepreneur - it's often your own internal voice that is driving your motivation and work ethic.
This can be a wonderful thing but can also be a big limiting factor when negative thoughts take over. There are always going to be a thousand reasons why you can't succeed - but keep climbing that hill, and eventually, you will reach the top.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://burgex.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burgexinc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MineConsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/burgex-inc-/
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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