Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lori Potts, Founder of ECB Communication Consulting, located in Ammon, ID, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I advise mid-to-executive-level female professionals to overcome internal and external bias using science-backed methods to help them more quickly advance their careers. I offer both Public Speaking Coaching and Career Coaching to help clients advance internally or advise them through an external job search. I also offer Interpersonal Communication and Public Speaking Corporate Training for large and small businesses.
Tell us about yourself
Having faced discrimination and bias my entire life, I chose to specialize in helping women because they face too many obstacles to advancement. I started coaching speakers for TEDTalks and from there expanded into Career Coaching when one of those speakers requested I assist her in her job search. I’ve also always wanted to continue group coaching as I did for TEDTalks and small businesses, so when Facebook requested I execute training for them this year, I jumped at the opportunity!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Helping my clients get out of their comfort zones and watching them achieve standing ovations for their TED Talks brings me great fulfillment! Helping them go from Specialist to Director-level roles and completely skip the management-level. Advising them through negotiation to get 30k raises is also very fulfilling because I see how it transforms their lives. I signed a contract with Facebook this year to execute Corporate Training.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The ups and down of income and managing the workload when I have many clients at once is a challenge. Thankfully my husband works full time, so we have a consistent income. He’s also very supportive of my passions and business, which helps me when my business may be struggling.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you have consistent income from other sources before you start. I’m a realist, and we have to provide for ourselves and our families first of all.
- If you don’t have a background in Marketing, invest in Marketing and Sales education - listening to top sales leaders’ podcasts, etc. I have a background in Marketing, and I still continue to educate myself by listening to top sales professionals like Jeremy Minner.
- Choose a niche and do market research to understand them so you can speak to them.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Katica Roy said, “Women are complicit in their own inequity insomuch as their environment conditions (or force-functions) them to be.” Unconscious bias is a significant hurdle women face in the workplace. If you’ve tried repeatedly to advance and can’t seem to quickly get where you want, internal and external bias may be a significant challenge you’re unaware of. Thankfully, there are science-backed methods to help you advance past the bias and discrimination to help you achieve your dreams. Reach out if you want to discover what may be holding you back in your current and past environments!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.ecbcommunicationconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ltpotts/
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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