Run Your Business Better

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with John Seiffer, Owner of CEO Boot Camp, located in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

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

I work with people who own growing companies. I help them manage their growth so their companies provide the money and time they want to accomplish all their goals in life - not just their business goals. It turns out that companies grow in predictable ways, but if you're not ready for the next stage, it can be hard. There is different advice for a stage 1 company than for a stage 2 company, for example.

Tell us about yourself

I'm 67 years old and never had a job - always companies. I love learning about different companies and business models and teaching what I've learned to others who are not as far along in their journey. I wish I'd had someone to teach me when I was starting out things like what a business model is and how to make money and have a life.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The craziest company I owned was one I ran while living 1,500 miles away. We leased movie libraries to apartment communities, and they used it as a marketing tool to attract tenants. It was like Netflix before streaming was possible. It made the most money and took the least amount of my time because I learned how to systemize and focus on the outputs I needed from my employees.

I owned that company for 25 years before technology made it obsolete. But it taught me an approach to business that I've used with my clients for over 20 years.

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

One of the hardest is that you can't turn it off. It's with you 24/7. And it can be scary. But there are ways to minimize the fear and the constant barrage of ideas so you can get what you want FROM your business.

Another is the frustration with employees, but that can be learned (I'm writing a book about how). Just remember, if employees all thought like an owner, they probably wouldn't be working for us.

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

Learn what customers think of the problem you're solving (not just your solution). Their way of describing that problem will become your marketing message. It's the customer's passion (not yours) that makes a company successful.
Know something about numbers. Four key numbers are GM (gross margin), CAC (customer acquisition cost) and LTV (lifetime value of a customer), and Break Even Monthly Revenue.
You'll have lots of emotions - positive and negative. Feel them but don't let the emotions control how you act. Feel the feelings but act rationally.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ceobootcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BetterCeo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnseiffer/

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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