Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amanda Hamilton, Founder of Hamilton Raye, located in Cleveland, OH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Hamilton Raye, "Your Outsourced Admin®" provides fractional executive assistant solutions to other businesses to amplify their focus and give back their most non-renewable resource, TIME.
Tell us about yourself
Prior to starting Hamilton Raye, I spent ten years working in the corporate retail industry in Columbus, Ohio. After spending several years in burnout and no longer feeling fulfilled, I decided to make a life change and leave my job while also moving to another city. I spent a little over a year working odd jobs to pay my bills, such as working the front desk at Orangetheory Fitness and working as a virtual assistant for an agency out of Georgia. While working as a virtual assistant, I identified an area of opportunity for small to mid-sized businesses; with the skills I'd developed throughout my corporate career, I realized I could provide a higher level of support as an executive assistant and bring a thought partnership relationship to the table.
In March 2020, I officially launched Hamilton Raye, and as any business owner, at this moment, I had to pause and identify the best way to move forward, given the state of the world. Fortunately, the swift shift of moving to fully remote for most organizations brought a lot of great opportunities to Hamilton Raye. People were no longer concerned about hiring a fractional executive assistant that lived in a different part of the country, and it became more of the norm.
My team and our clients motivate me each day. I truly love what I do, and the passion I see among these individuals is contagious and continues to motivate me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Building a business based on core values that mean the most to me and support a healthier and balanced life for myself and others. At Hamilton Raye, we have created a set of core values that embodies the fundamental beliefs of our organization. We use these principles to guide our decisions, service, and behavior each day. They help us fulfill our goals and adhere to our vision.
Passion: We believe that bringing enthusiasm and a strong internal desire to your work leads to success.
Efficiency: We focus on utilizing our energy, efforts, and time in the best possible ways. The outcome is producing results that make lasting impressions.
Balance: It is important to feel centered and balanced in all aspects of life, including work.
Happiness: Leading a life of happiness and fulfillment should be a factor in all that you do.
Presence: We place emphasis on being present at work, with family and friends, without feeling stressed or overwhelmed. This small effort greatly improves our quality of life.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Maintaining motivation and a positive mindset when times are tough. I find it best to always go back to my "why" to re-center myself and focus on the good, even if it only feels like a small piece at the moment, to re-focus and go back to a positive mindset.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Remain true to the organization's mission and core values.
- Master the art of delegation.
- Focus on what matters most.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://hamiltonraye.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HamiltonRaye
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamilton_raye/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hamiltonraye/
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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