Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Natasha Cruz, Founder of Great Orators, located in Humble, TX, USA.

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

Great Orators - aka GO Public, is a public speaking coaching and consulting company. We offer business professionals a high-quality integrated, comprehensive approach to communicating their message clearly and reaching their ideal audience. Our company’s mission is to help our clients not just become confident speakers but to enjoy it and to be able to reach, help, and add value to as many people as possible with their service or product.

Tell us about yourself

My background is in education. I previously taught in London. A couple of years after moving to the U.S. and teaching at the International British School in Houston, I quit teaching and started coaching kids in public speaking. The program was well received by the school system, students, and parents. Several parents approached me to coach them as well.

From my experience teaching and working with adults and children, I have also written an easy-to-follow practical Public Speaking & Debating Curriculum for kids, K-8th grade, and a curriculum for business professionals called, The 7 Pillars of a Powerful M.E.S.S.A.GE.™ My students, be they, children or adults, motivate me. When I see their transformation, the freedom and enjoyment that comes from speaking confidently, I just want to continue what I’m doing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Pivoting from teaching kids to adults and being so well received by the corporate sector.

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

Initially, working by myself, especially since I am an extrovert, but I have learned I don’t necessarily need to work alone. As I have coordinated within the parameters of my own business, I’ve enlisted other business owners to supplement my products. You don’t have to be a jack-of-all-trades.

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

  1. Approve and accept yourself. Make sure you, above all, are your biggest cheerleader, keeping your self-talk in check. There will be good days and not-so-good days, but you must be able to move forward consistently. Prepare beforehand what you will say when self-doubt comes knocking on your door because it will.
  2. Prepare yourself to experience delays, dismissals, and disappointments as learning opportunities and NOT failures.
  3. Keep on learning, growing, and being humble enough to ask for help. Read books, take courses and surround yourself with others ahead of you.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Embracing public speaking will help you fulfill your dreams and goals in almost any career path and open doors to unexpected opportunities.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.greatorators.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100038684726454
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/great.orators/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-cruz-04b6b398/

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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