Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jessica Dalziel, Founder of Dalziel & Company, located in Sarasota, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Dalziel & Company is a global boutique consultancy where small business owners come to grow through client experience (CX), marketing, and operational strategies. We work one-on-one with small business owners (industry agnostic) all over the world (virtually) but find that the most successful outcome usually occurs when our client has experienced tremendous success because they are highly skilled in a specific field and need to implement business frameworks in order to grow.
Tell us about yourself
I spent most of my professional life in the ad agency world. Then, I decided to move to Ireland to obtain my MBA from Trinity College. When I was there, I realized that a lot of small businesses and startups are incredibly skilled at their trade, but they don't have access to the tools and resources required to establish their new brand and properly go to market with it. When I first started D&Co, I wanted to make more premium marketing services accessible to small business owners worldwide.
As the company evolved, I honed my focus on supporting the small business owners themselves to empower them to make educated, fully informed decisions about their business. There are many facets of running a business that a small business owner needs to grasp; I usually help with client experience (CX), marketing, and operational strategies.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
It is so cliché, but my biggest accomplishment is when I have the privilege to see my client take their business to the next level of growth through the work that we accomplished together. It's a bit more of an intimate nature than working in a corporate setting because I can literally witness some of the suggestions in action the next day -- no red tape!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, it's dealing with "imposter syndrome" and understanding the value I bring to my clients so I can better position what transformation is possible. It's also not a static thing; the needs of my clients and prospects change, and I need to ensure I'm staying on top of that.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a cushion of savings before you start.
- Know how you're going to monetize your idea.
- Don't be afraid to invest in getting support. You can't do everything!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I recently made the decision to split one of my free service lines, called the Peer Advisory Group, into a brand of its own and relaunch it. Peer Advisory Group is an inclusive and poised group where (womxn) mavens come to perfect their craft, gain support, grow their businesses, and offer guidance from their own professional experiences, backgrounds, or career histories. Each month this solid group of highly professional, industry agnostic experts with complementary skills and experience levels from around the world come together to meet virtually. If interested in joining, please feel free to check it out: https://www.peeradvisorygroup.co/.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.dalziel.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalzielcompany/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalzielcompany/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dalzielcompany
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dalziel-company/
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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