Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sonnie Linebarger, Founder of Evoke Greatness, located in Phoenix, AZ, USA.

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

I founded my company, Evoke Greatness, after being in healthcare leadership and the C-suite for the last 20+ years. I provide interim executive leadership, healthcare consulting, executive coaching, and keynotes. I help organizations get clear on their strategy, decrease turnover, improve culture, maximize profitability, and scale their business. I help senior and executive-level leaders flourish and prosper.

Tell us about yourself

I am a Registered Nurse, a mom, a wife, and an innovative thought leader with 20+ years of experience within the healthcare space. Throughout that time, I have gained incredible expertise and experience leading thousands of people in the clinical, sales, strategic operations, and financial management divisions for large healthcare organizations throughout the country. Prior to starting my own company, I spent the last 4 years as the Chief Operating Officer for a national hospice company, where I helped lead them to more than double the size of the organization with 45 locations across 20 states and was responsible for over $300+ million dollar top line. Crafting and refining a people-centered culture is a passion of mine, as I am committed to the mentorship, development, and transformation of others.

In 2022, I responded to the underrepresentation of women and women of color within the healthcare leadership space. I co-founded the nonprofit organization called I.D.E.A.L. for Healthcare (Inclusion Diversity and Equity Alliance in Leadership). Catalyzing women in healthcare, promoting upward mobility and visibility. I also host a podcast called Evoke Greatness, where I share stories of how successful people have navigated their journey toward greatness…all while stumbling through valuable lessons along the way. My intention is to impact organizations and leaders in a more meaningful way, on a larger scale. I have taken all I have learned over the last 20+ years in life and business and poured that into creating my own multifaceted platform in Evoke Greatness.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Helping organizations and leaders see what kind of transformation is possible for them and then executing it. When you impact a leader of people, the ripple effect can be endless. I heard someone share a quote recently that really resonated with my mission: "Plant trees under whose shade we shall never sit."

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

Bootstrapping a business and launching from the ground floor as an entrepreneur is hard. Some days can feel overwhelming and even defeating at times. You have to believe so deeply in your mission that you simply aren't willing to quit. I adopted the treadmill mentality from Will Smith: "The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me; you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there's two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple, right?"

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

  1. Start with a dream or mission that REALLY matters to you. Something you're willing to fight for.
  2. Brainstorm all the ways you can begin building and branding while still doing something else.
  3. Leverage the relationships you have created. This network wants to see you succeed, and they want to help you achieve your goals. This can be an amazing foundation to build upon.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://evokegreatness.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evoke.greatness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnie-linebarger-899b9a52/

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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