Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amy DeLouise, Founder of DeLouise Enterprises LLC, located in Kensington, MD, USA.

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

We help organizations tell a better story with video. Our clients are nonprofits, corporations, associations, and government agencies throughout North America and beyond. We help them create branded video content for social, web, live, hybrid, and virtual events. We also consult with companies on how to streamline their video storytelling workflow.

Tell us about yourself

One of my first jobs was as a production assistant in the art department of "Forrest Gump." I loved being a part of a skilled team telling a story, and I still do. Most of my career focus has been on directing and producing nonfiction, short-form content--today, that means videos of 5 minutes or less. I love the challenge of digging out the untold story of a brand or organization's impact and bringing it to life in a way that connects with a live or asynchronous audience in a short amount of time.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Paying my own salary for more than 20 years is a huge accomplishment. Being an entrepreneur is never easy, so I'm proud to have overcome obstacles, stayed creative, and built great teams, always ready to engage our clients' audiences with strategy and technology in service of a story.

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

Hah! There are so many hard things, but that's what keeps it interesting. This week my hard thing is maintaining an explosion in new business while ensuring our quality and service remain best in class. Running a business means staying nimble and ready to meet each challenge.

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

My #1 tip for aspiring or growing business owners is to assess your appetite for risk (and also that of your life partner!). Not everything will go your way. Are you prepared for that? Are you willing to fail and get up and try again?

My #2 tip is to grow your personal "infrastructure." If you aren't great at accounting, be sure you have a good finance person. If your strength isn't IT, be sure you've got a team you can call when your computers melt down. You can't be good at everything; frankly, you need to focus, so you need good internal and external teams you can count on.

My #3 tip is to get some sleep because you probably won't get much once you launch a business!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

To any women, LGBTQ, and people of color out there, we especially need you in the ranks of business owners. If there's anything I can do to help you succeed, I'm happy to do it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.amydelouise.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/producersplaybookvideo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adbrandbuzz/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/brandbuzz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amydelouise/

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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