Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Mike Brown, Founder & CEO of Impact Grove, located in Irvine, CA USA.

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

Impact Grove is advancing the movement of business as a force for good in society. Impact Grove helps companies become better by starting or improving their efforts in environmental sustainability, social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and overall governance and purposeful strategic planning.

Tell us about yourself

I am a lifelong entrepreneur based in Orange County, California. I launched Impact Grove because I wanted to dedicate my work to helping solve two of the world's greatest threats: the climate crisis and social inequality. I met my wife, Kady, almost seven years ago, which was a major turning point for me. She is Asian-American and opened up my perspective that my journey in life has been different and privileged compared to my own as a white male. My why at Impact Grove is to help build a world that provides better equity and opportunity for my wife and daughter while protecting the planet that businesses depend on to thrive.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I started my first company at age nineteen with a 50/50 business partnership for twelve years that ended with a successful and friendly win-win exit.

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

Not lashing out at those closest to us when the pressure builds up. Business owners experience more pressure than most people realize, and that can lead them to hurt the people closest to them when they are feeling the weight of everything.

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

  1. Choose a business that allows you to honor and stay committed and present for your spouse.
  2. Spend time setting your expectations, boundaries, and personal commitments to yourself before you start. Review, renew, and recommit to these often.
  3. Build a triple bottom line business - for people, the planet, and profit. It's not all about the money. Triple bottom-line businesses have competitive advantages today and going forward. Consider incorporating as a Benefit Corporation, becoming a Certified B Corp, and joining 1% For The Planet as a Business Member.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.impactgrove.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082882040071
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactgrove/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/impactgrove
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebrown0806/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.