Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lindsay Hayes-Cofell, Co-Founder of Hayes Cofell Performance Horses, located in London, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We help reiners up-level their skills in the arena so they can improve their scores in the show pen. We coach both in person and online. Our customers are passionate about reining horses, cowhorses, and ranch riding. They put the horses first and sport second.
Tell us about yourself
Jess and I both love horses. We love riding and training. We love helping people to achieve their goals and do things they never thought were possible for them. Improving the quality of the horses through our small but mighty breeding program excites us and keeps us getting up in the morning and out to the barn!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Building a sustainable equine business. Many people get into the business of horses and then leave within the first few years. We are proud to be self-made and have had our business withstand the fluctuations in the economy and the personal challenges in our lives. We are proud of the results we get for our clients. We have multiple top-ten world titles ourselves, have coached multiple riders to top-ten world titles, and are finalists at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The instability of income. Horses and the farm have a huge overhead that doesn’t end in the evenings, on weekends, on holidays, or during economic downturns. Not knowing what our income will look like from one month to the next or one season to the next is challenging.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- You have to be willing and able to put in far more hours than a 9-5 job and develop a thick skin for the inevitable criticism that will come when you work on your own.
- Focus on creating lasting relationships with your customers by helping them achieve long-term success rather than short-term wins and short-term financial gains, especially if you are in a niche industry.
- Find other people who are doing what you want to do at a higher level. Pay mentors or work for free to be building your skills constantly.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.reiningtackcanada.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hayescofellperformancehorses/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayes_cofell_performancehorses/
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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