Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in career development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Courtney Kirschbaum, Founder of Courtney Kirschbaum International, located in New York, NY, USA.

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

I'm a career strategist and author specializing in elevating the careers of the Big Four and Fortune 500 professionals.

Tell us about yourself

After working for Big Four accounting and consulting firms with Fortune 500 clients, I realized when it comes to your career; there's far too much you're left to figure out on your own. And knowing these things in advance increases your happiness and the rate at which you rise in your career. My goal is to share that information with as many people as possible so they can benefit. What I love about what I do now is being my own boss, of course, and helping others realize how much they have and how to use it to get more money and freedom.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Probably writing. I thought I'd coach and speak, and I've done a lot of both, but it's writing and publishing that have helped me reach my biggest audience and help the most people. In September 2022, I published my first book with Scribd - scribd.sjv.io/CKBook. My second book comes out in the Spring of 2023.

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

It all comes down to this. You can't see the picture when you're in the frame. The main thing my clients need is what I have to focus on, too: Objectivity and strategy. Seeing what you need to do - that's the objectivity part. And doing it at the right time. That's the strategy. Ironically it's what my clients struggle with too often without realizing it.

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

  1. Be patient. It takes time, and progress can seem painfully slow, yet you are making it. Don't give up; instead, surrender to the process.
  2. Get in a Mastermind group or accountability relationship. Don't go it alone. Any periods of rapid accomplishment, I've been lucky enough to have almost always aligned with connecting with other entrepreneurs who offered objective advice and support.
  3. Make more mistakes. If you come from a corporate background, and for that matter, no matter where you come from, mistakes or not "knowing" what you're doing are stigmatized. Make mistakes; you'll learn so much more from them. Your instincts are your best friend in this world.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website:
https://www.courtneykirschbaum.com/
https://courtneykirschbaum.medium.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtney.kirschbaum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtney_kirschbaum/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckirschbaum/

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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