Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Zach Selch, owner of Global Sales Mentor, located in Chicago, IL, USA.

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

I coach and train and support Global Sales Leaders. My clients are people who have been very successful in domestic sales and then promoted into international or global sales, and now for the first time in their career, they need help, and I am the guy who helps them.

Tell us about yourself

When I was a little boy, growing up living in a trailer in rural Pa., I wanted more than anything else to see the world. I worked from the earliest part of my career, in my early 20s, in international sales living all over the world for 25 years and selling in more than 135 countries. As I developed, there was nobody to mentor, coach, or train me; I had to figure all of this out myself.

Over the years, I found that multiple times I took over organizations and saw that I could grow sales by 300% easily, and often over 1000% growth. This led me to write a book on the subject, and then a few years ago, I decided to quit my job as a VP of Global Sales and open my own business. I realized that what I really enjoy doing is helping people grow their international sales and that there is room to do it for several companies at once.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm a fairly new business owner. Over the years, I have helped companies grow over 100% many times, 2000% once, and 4000% once. In my business, in the past year, I have helped a client grow by almost 100%, I have helped a client receive a presidential award for export excellence, and a client is awarded exporter of the year.

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

My clients are very successful until they aren't. They are often facing the first time in their life when they are not successful. I am basically telling them that I can turn things around because I know this one thing much better than they do. I get some pushback on that.

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

It will take longer to get profitable than you think. Strive for multiple parallel revenue streams. And keep a careful watch on payables/receivables.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.globalsalesmentor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/globalsalesmentor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachselch/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/selchzach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/international-sales-growth/

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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