Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kendra Swalls, Founder, and CEO of Girl Means Business, located in Justin, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am the founder and CEO of the Girl Means Business brand. I help mompreneurs simplify and streamline their marketing so they can get better results with less time, giving them more time to focus on the things they love. I do this through 1:1 coaching sessions, online courses, a weekly podcast, and speaking events.
Tell us about yourself
I never intended to start my own business (much less TWO), but sometimes life offers you something, and you have to be willing to jump. Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher. I loved helping others discover new ideas and change their knowledge of something. I started my career in education, but as we all know, teachers don't make much money. So a few years into my career, I started a photography business as a side hustle to make extra money. What I didn't expect was that I would fall in love with running a business. In 2017, after my second daughter was born, I left the classroom behind to run my business full-time. While I loved being my own boss, I missed teaching...just not in the traditional sense. In 2019 I decided to combine my passion for business and my natural love of teaching and create the Girl Means Business brand and podcast. Now I get to help other women live out their dreams of owning their own businesses.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment to date is speaking on stage at a global photography conference. The same conference I had attended when I was a new photographer. I remember sitting in the audience and looking up at the speakers and thinking, "I was to be where they are one day." So when I stepped on that stage for the first time, it felt surreal to know that I had actually made it happen.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Social media like to glamorize entrepreneurship and make it looks easy. But if it were easy, then everyone would do it. For me, the hardest thing about working for myself is the loneliness of it. Most of the time, I work alone at my desk, just me and my laptop. When you are left alone with no one to bounce ideas off of or "talk shop" with, it's easy to let self-doubt, fear, and imposter syndrome get the best of you. Luckily I have found some amazing business friends along the way that have really been the rock that I lean on most days.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get really clear on who your business is for and how you help them. This makes such a big difference in everything from your product offers to your marketing.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. This might mean asking for someone to watch your kids while you get work done, outsourcing a part of your business, or asking someone to help you brainstorm an idea. No one can do it all on their own.
- Be ok making mistakes! There is not a business owner out there that got it right 100% of the time. Each mistake is an opportunity to learn something new.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://girlmeansbusiness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlmeansbusiness
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlmeansbusiness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-swalls-74b602104/
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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