Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and organizational development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Princess Castleberry, Founder of Go Beyond Well™, located in Auburn Hills, MI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At GO BEYOND WELL™, we equip people with new and practical ways to solve wellness challenges inside and outside work through collaborative learning. We partner with mid to large-sized corporations, trade associations, and employee resource groups (ERGs) ready to go beyond basics and support employees in building workplaces where they can thrive. We are powered by Castle Risk Management & HR Consulting, so in addition to our core offerings, we provide keynote talks, training design, facilitation, and consulting services in those areas.
Tell us about yourself
I first launched the consultancy as an interim executive service after 20 years as a risk manager and instructional designer with Fortune 500 firms and as the Chief Administrative & HR Officer of an education management company. GO BEYOND WELL™ is the manifestation of my career expertise and life experiences and is built on the vision of making wellness training inclusive, accessible, and culturally relevant, especially for people pushed to the margins.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is building a highly profitable consultancy with a diverse client roster and zero attrition while maintaining my authenticity as a Black woman. My second biggest accomplishment is becoming a TEDx Speaker and living out my dream of owning the stage! Speaking at TEDxDetroit was a life-changing experience for my wellness journey because it represented the first time that I was truly fearless in my career. There's no turning back now!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the biggest challenges for any business owner is understanding and managing our risks for decision fatigue and burnout. These are terms used today like buzzwords but can devastate leaders personally and professionally, with an increasing number of professionals suffering daily.
Laying a proper foundation for your wellness as a leader and improving the quality of your decisions early on increases the opportunities to build healthy, inclusive, and financially successful organizations.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Trust and bet on yourself at least once in your life! You're the only one who truly knows what you're made of.
- Beware of scope creep! Avoid scopes of work that don't align with your mission, vision, and strategic plans.
- Hire these three professionals first: a CPA, an attorney, and a marketing strategist.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://castleriskhr.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/princessthespeaker/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/princesscastleberry/
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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