Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in public relations but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Meredith Cruz, Principal and Owner of Cruz Public Relations, located in Jupiter, FL, USA.

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

Cruz Public Relations, based in Jupiter, FL, offers a wide variety of services to help clients shine, including writing, editorial, and content creation for new business procurement, branding and social media campaigns, public speaking, and presentation training, meeting and event planning, and effective crisis communications management. An expert in community engagement, media, and government relations, I have spent the past two decades working in the engineering, construction, transportation, and nonprofit industries concurrently. Along with these niche markets, my services are applicable to all industries, as the core of public relations remains the same—effective storytelling to clearly communicate your brand, values, and mission to help grow your business and reach new levels of success.

Tell us about yourself

In 2002, I began my public relations career in Washington, D.C., and soon after moved to south Florida to attend graduate school. There are so many options and opportunities within this field, whether you work for an agency with varied clients or directly for one company in-house. My path led me to the engineering and construction industries, working in the private sector for a government client while dedicating personal time to supporting local nonprofit organizations in leadership roles. After 20 years, I decided to launch my own firm to continue working in the industries I know so well but also to branch into other aspects of the diverse business landscape in south Florida and beyond. I am inspired by other small business owners who set aside comfort in favor of courage to take the metaphoric ‘leap.’ You definitely don’t know exactly where that journey will take you or precisely where you’ll land, but what you will learn through this process is priceless. I’m also motivated each day to set an example for my children to keep pushing forward no matter how challenging it may seem because small, consistent efforts create big change.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

2022 was one of the most pivotal years of my life… leaving the safety net of a company and environment I had known for the majority of my career to turn my thoughts on future success into a tangible reality. After working privately for months on the branding and website, I finally launched it to the public in October. I had only let a few people in on my new venture beforehand, but that led to some conversations with a friend, fellow mom, and business owner on some needs they had for their company. The day before the website went live and I blasted the news across social media, I procured my first signed contract for my very first client. That was a huge confidence booster, both knowing that the services I was providing were valuable to another business owner, but also that it would be applied to an industry that was outside of my comfort zone. As I am approaching the 6-month mark, I am happy to report I have acquired additional clients in the construction and nonprofit sector, which is accomplishing my dream of merging my past experiences with new opportunities.

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

If you have always worked for a company or team, there are so many aspects of business that you’re naturally aware of, such as insurance, payroll, and contractual agreements. However, when you are now filling all the roles of your former companies’ departments, you are responsible for creating, tracking, and executing all aspects of the business while still managing your new work assignments. Although it can be challenging, it helps to embrace the process as a learning experience that will ultimately continue for the life of your business. This time is crucial to understanding what it takes to run your business at the most basic level and prepare you for when you hire your first, tenth, or hundredth employee.

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

  1. For anyone thinking about starting their own business, I would first look to these three principles—passion, perseverance, and profitability. What do you enjoy doing, not just in your free time, but based on the experience you’ve accumulated over your education and career? This is the chance for you to take your favorite parts of previous positions and create a landscape in which you can confidently represent your skillset and, in turn, help others fulfill their business or personal needs.
  2. Perseverance is not just a mindset but also comes with ensuring you have the stamina to maintain this ride through all its ups and downs. That will mean something different for everyone—and we are all a work in progress—but improving and/or prioritizing your mental and physical wellbeing in an environment that will promote success will help manage the unavoidable stressors in owning your own business.
  3. Finally, profitability is key not on a scale of riches but what you need to maintain your essentials during this unknown time of change. Is your business something you can start in your free time while holding another paid position? Can you rely on investors to see you through the initial start, or can you utilize some savings to support yourself during these first few months or years? Those options are something to thoroughly think through beforehand. Regardless, a calculated risk is still better than no risk at all… so think about it for as long as you need; just don’t forget to act on it!!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://cruz-pr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cruzpublicrelations/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_cruz_pr_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cruz-public-relations/

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.