Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Deb Schell, Founder of Find Calm Here LLC., located in Mechanicsburg, PA, USA.

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

I'm a lifestyle design coach who works with female founders to guide them in building a business that aligns with their purpose, vision, and mission, using their innate talents, strengths, values, and skills to find purposeful work that inspires energy and enthusiasm. Find Calm Here LLC is a hub for female creatives, founders, and entrepreneurs interested in learning how to run a values-based, purpose-driven business using their innate talents, strengths, values, and preferred skills. My mission for 2023 is to help female founders align their purpose, vision, and mission with their values, strengths, and skills to bring energy and enthusiasm into their life.

Tell us about yourself

I opened my consulting business in 2020 to help online business owners. I started because I launched an online community during the pandemic, and so many people noticed that I was building an online business that was community focused. People asked me about it, so I began offering consulting and design services. I later shifted to coaching as that is a better fit for me. I'm passionate about bringing people together online.

Over the past 20 years, I've explored different ways to make a living as a creator, trying different ways to make a buck. In 2010 I opened a photography business which I ran for 10 years, and did everything from portraits, weddings, and even pet photos, to gallery exhibits and commercial artwork sales. After landing large projects, I thought that's what I'd do, then that no longer served me. I was seeking to experience life differently. I didn't want to "hustle" all the time to get clients. I wanted time to enjoy travel and spending time with my family and friends. My desire for a change led me to quit my corporate job in 2019 to become a travel writer. Then the pandemic shifted all my plans, and I found a new direction.

I experienced so much compassion within groups online that I decided to share how I've learned to live a more purposeful life with others. After launching an online community in 2020, I learned so many skills that I started to help other leaders build their communities. I've consulted over 50 new community builders in the past two years. It's time for a change again, to widen my net, and to work with amazing women who want to build a business or find a more meaningful way to work, live, and experience life.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I've hosted The Community Strategy Podcast for over two years which ended after reaching 100 episodes. I've always found different ways to repurpose my work, and I'm doing that again as I write a book, Creator to Community Builder, published in 2023. My biggest accomplishment is continuing to run my business into its 4th year!

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

I needed to find a better way to manage time and not work too much. I found it hard as a single person with no children not to work all the time when I was struggling to find clients. If I could go back and do it again, I'd find more time to enjoy daily life.

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

  1. Start with your why. Knowing the problem you solve and how you are unique or how you stand out among the others will provide a way for you to separate yourself.
  2. Ask many questions. Talk to your ideal client or customer, don't just wait for them to come to you. They won't. Be bold, reach out to your existing network and talk to them, and ask them about the problem you are trying to solve and how they've found solutions in the past. This helps validate the need in the market for your product or service.
  3. Comparison is the thief of joy. Stop comparing yourself to companies that've been operating for 20+ years. Your journey is yours, and it will not look like anyone else's, so don't compare!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://findcalmhere.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FindCalmHere
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deb_schell/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/findcalmhere
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debschell/

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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