Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Richard Stevens, Founder of Danggene Consulting LLC., located in Fairbanks, AK, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Danggene Consulting is a Native-owned small business that provides enterprise business software services. We cater to Oracle customers and specialize in upgrades, migrations, implementations, and support. We provide services to any organization running enterprise software, private or public sector.
Tell us about yourself
My background is in computational physics. Part of my job was to take disparate data sources and create visualizations to create a narrative for science outreach and funding proposals. I made a career jump to IT and then Enterprise Resource Planning. I was pleasantly surprised that my skillset and passion apply to the business world. My goal and core product are delivering the ability to make good decisions. Providing businesses and leaders with the information they need in context to improve operations and strategy is what gets me out of bed in the morning.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Danggene Consulting is a new company. So far, my biggest accomplishment is staying in business. Enterprise software isn't necessary for businesses until they reach a certain size. That makes breaking into the market complex. I would not say I have broken in. I've been lucky enough to partner with industry colleagues.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
I have to say the hardest part of owning a business is the mental toughness to push through. There are no sick days, there are no vacation days, I have to educate myself on new tasks quickly, and I've had to expand my skillset from technical to include things like Marketing and Sales. It's grueling but rewarding. It's the most rewarding work I've ever done.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First, learn the basics of accounting and acquaint yourself with tax law and relevant business laws for your area. Secondly, clearly define your product or services and the bounds to which you can honestly sell or provide. Third, set a mission, vision, or guiding principle to keep you aligned with your goals and the market.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.danggene.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanggeneConsulting
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanggeneCnslg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-j-stevens-iii-67816a54/
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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