Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chris Pepple, Host of Look to See Me, located in Germantown, TN, USA.

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

My company name is Look to See Me, and my business slogan is "a view, a voice, a written choice." This slogan reflects both my journey and the journey I walk with my students and my clients. Through my published works and through my public talks, I challenge people to look to see others in their community who may be marginalized or who have a unique story to tell. I write to turn truths into poetry and fiction… embrace diversity, capture the beauty and complexity of the people around me… share the voice of the people we often fail to hear…to declare that all people deserve to have their stories told. Through my seminars and classes, I help people learn how to write their own stories in their own voices. I give glimpses of my story and the stories of others I have met along my journey.

My topics for my seminars and my writings come from years of observing and listening to voices that often go unheard and lives that go unnoticed. I try to capture moments in life that are touching and honest. My 'slice of life' short stories and some of my poetry give my readers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people who walk through life with extraordinary determination. I love to help then other people tell their stories through memoirs, fiction, or poetry. We look at ourselves and see our strengths. We find our voice, and then we make a choice to tell our stories and the stories of others in our community. A view, a voice, a written choice…a choice to be the change, be the light, and be the bearer of hope for others.

Tell us about yourself

My inspiration for starting my business came from my own life story. I have survived a lot in life, and I realized that I didn't have many stories that I could easily find when I was facing so many daily challenges. When I lost a family member to AIDS in the 90s, I could find very few stories that were being told by people living with AIDS and the family members who loved them. Finally, people courageously began to tell their stories, and their voices brought understanding, comfort, and hope to others. When I faced court battles to break the chains of abuse, I found strength when others shared their stories with me. Now I see how valuable books and memoirs, and blogs are to the LGBTQIA+ community as so many people are fighting for equality and working to bring change and understanding to our nation (and this world). As a Mama Bear with family members in the community and being in the community myself, I see the love that is brought into this world when people find safe spaces to openly share their sorrows and joys, their triumphs and their failures, and more than anything, their hopes, and dreams. I believe change will only occur in this nation through books and lectures that open the doors for conversations in small groups and in community settings. That's why I do what I do.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm not sure what I would call my greatest accomplishments. I think publishing my books has been a huge accomplishment for me. I do all my own marketing, so when one of my books hit a bestseller list on Amazon, I was thrilled. I also consider it a special accomplishment that many of my students and people I have worked as a manuscript consultant for have gone on to win writing awards and publish their own works. What brings me the most joy, however, is being before a group of people and creating a safe space for them to discuss their stories. When people open up and share with me, I consider that an honor. When someone returns and tells me how my words helped them in life, that is a true joy. Whether I'm speaking to a book club online or a group of people in a church or a local library, I enjoy being in the presence of people joining conversations about writing their stories…putting their journey and their stories into words. I also consider it an accomplishment that my affirming liturgy has been used in services around the country and that my poems have been printed and hung in homes to help encourage others. It's my connection with so many communities that make this career choice feel so right for me.

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

Managing time and having to deal with paperwork is always a challenge for me. I'm not naturally an organized person, so I have had to rely on mentors to help me in that area. I also have to learn about the business world. For a creative thinker, that can be a challenge.

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

  1. Set goals that are within your reach so you can see your dreams starting to take shape. Also, set goals that are ones you will have to work toward over several months or a year. You need goals you can reach so you can feel uplifted by your achievements, and you need some goals to push you to grow.
  2. Find mentors! I am so thankful for the people who took the time to teach me so much about life and business. We all need to be lifelong learners who are willing to be taught by others.
  3. Be a mentor. When you teach and give back, you learn a lot about yourself. You will also learn from those you are mentoring.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.looktoseeme.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrispepple16/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisPepple16
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-pepple-73554220/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.