Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Hope Timberlake, Founder of Forté Consulting, located in Mill Valley, CA, USA.

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

We provide communications and workplace effectiveness programs and keynotes for scaling companies.

Tell us about yourself

I started coaching technology executives for high-stakes presentations. Over the years, I realized how important daily communication is between a manager and a direct report, members of two different teams, or a customer success person and a client. My current focus is creating more harmonious and effective workplaces through effective communication.

I'm particularly motivated to support women in sharing their voices at work. This involves teaching and practicing strategies to overcome fears, craft persuasive messages, and communicate ideas with presence.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Writing a book and delivering keynotes that inspire and motivate teams.

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

Saying no to opportunities that create income but may not be aligned with the company's growth plan.

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

  1. As you start a business, attend networking events, create genuine connections on LinkedIn, schedule virtual and in-person coffees, and ask friends and supporters to refer you. It takes time to find clients, but if you put yourself out there and deliver quality work that meets your client's needs, eventually, you'll have more work than you know what to do with! In my case, "eventually" took about ten years.
  2. Find good people to run the business while you focus on the areas where you're strong. In my case, I rely on several team members who focus on operations (contracts, vendor onboarding, invoices), bookkeeping, and marketing (social media posts and newsletters). This allows me to focus on connecting with the clients to deliver customized communication programs.
  3. Carve out personal time. Schedule an offline time and activities with family and friends. It's easy to work all the time!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.fortesf.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speakupdamnit
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopetimberlake/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hopetimber
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hopetimberlake/

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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