Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Camille Rapacz, Owner of B2E Consulting, LLC., located in Bellevue, WA, USA.

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

As a business performance coach, I help small businesses develop smarter growth strategies while stabilizing their business so it will stand the test of time. I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, so I create custom packages to meet each business owner's needs. My services include one-on-one coaching, workshops, VIP sessions, group programs, and meeting facilitation.

The most common thread among my clients is that they're eager to get out of the daily grind of working in the business and are ready to start working on the future of their business. The best part about this work is seeing a business owner who has finally achieved that next level and is firing on all cylinders with a level of clarity and purpose they thought they might never achieve.

Tell us about yourself

I've been fortunate to work in some amazing places where I developed skills and expertise in leadership, strategy, performance improvement, project management, and implementing change. When I left the corporate world and started my own business, I discovered that many small business owners didn't have the same tools and methods I'd learned for improving business performance. And this was hurting their chances for success.

So, I decided to focus on helping small businesses because I wanted to close this gap and see more small businesses thrive. But I personally enjoy working with small businesses more than large corporations because they are so motivated, open to change, and much more nimble and able to make decisions quickly. It means results can be more immediate, and I find that truly rewarding and fulfilling.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I felt most accomplished when I chose my unique business model and approach. That might sound simple, but when you start as a coach, you are bombarded with advice, and it's hard to sort the good from the bad. Much of the advice I heard wasn't helpful. So when I decided to forge my own path and develop my own approach, it was so freeing and satisfying. And it's what drives me every day to help my clients find their own paths to success.

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

There are so many things! But the big one is probably being alone in your work. Even if your business involves working with people, it can get very lonely running your own business. Most business owners know other business owners, so their closest friends and family don't understand their challenges. And yet everyone has an opinion! It's why one of my goals is to connect business owners so they can share their challenges and wins through masterminds and group programs. Nobody understands how much work went into getting that big client or reaching that next-level achievement like another business owner!

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

  1. Do not do it alone! This relates to my previous comment about the hardest thing in business. Find a community, coach, or mentor (all of the above if you can) to connect with. It will help you grow faster.
  2. Start planning for the future now. This means creating a long-term vision, strategy, and goals for your business. It's never too soon. But it's the one thing I find business owners struggle to do, and they pay for it later when they build a business by reacting and not by creating and end up with something they no longer enjoy.
  3. Embrace failures as opportunities. You will fail. And if you don't, you're not doing it right! Every failure presents an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. Get ready to fail your way to success.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.camillerapacz.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/camille.rapacz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camille_rapacz/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillerapacz/
Podcast: https://www.camillerapacz.com/podcasts/the-belief-shift

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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