Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jan Spence, a Professional Speaker & Business Coach of Jan Spence & Associates, located in Jacksonville, FL, USA.

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

I am a highly engaging speaker who is able to connect with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. I am also an experienced facilitator and have led workshops and training sessions for audiences of all sizes. I am skilled in tailoring my message to meet the needs of my audience and in creating a positive and welcoming environment for learning.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a preacher's kid, and after church on Sundays, I would stand on this little mini kneeling rail and give my own little sermon and song while I waited for my dad to greet people after the service. I have old cassette tapes that I would record myself singing and sharing the Christmas story underneath the Christmas tree when I was a child.

What motivates me each day is that I know that I can make a difference. People need to hear a positive message in a way that they can easily relate to and have simple, tangible takeaways from my message that they can put into action right away that will better their lives and the lives of those around them. With my sales training business, I know that I am helping families earn an income so that they can have a better life and hopefully give intentionally to causes that are important to them.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am a professional speaker who received my CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation in 2020. Fewer than 10% of professional speakers worldwide achieve this, and it takes a minimum of five years up to ten to gain this certification based on several factors, including the number of presentations given, revenue, stagecraft, and client reviews. I was also voted as one of five inductees into the 2021 Virtual Speaking Hall of Fame. I am known for doing the research before my programs, so I use verbiage and examples relevant to the industry of the participants and connect with the audience in an authentic, relatable way.

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

It has to be the challenge of balancing priorities. I desire to be fully present for my team, my clients, and my prospects. I'm also committed to following through with what I say I'm going to do and serving my customers with excellence. I also like to amaze and delight them with above-and-beyond customer service. With that, it means a lot more goes into every day and every contact with each client when we go above and beyond. So the constant balancing of making sure we're delivering on our promises and being time efficient is critical.

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

  1. Do the numbers! It's critical that someone starting a business do their market research for demand and price points in their market. From there, they have to overestimate expenses that they never thought they wouldn't count. A wise business owner once told me, do the math, and then cut it in half, and if you can live with that, go for it!
  2. What's your endgame? So many people start a business as a hobby or because an opportunity comes their way, but they don't have a plan in place for their exit strategy. When we bought our franchise business, we had a clear five-year plan to buy it, build it, and sell it to make a certain amount of profit to become debt-free. So from the beginning, we started with the end in mind.
  3. Check your lifestyle. From my financial and time standpoint, there are often sacrifices to be made when starting a business. I ask budding entrepreneurs if they have 1 to 2 years of living expenses saved up and if it takes longer to get the business profitable than expected. Also, people go into business thinking that they will have more time, money, and freedom, and it's often the exact opposite. There will definitely be a sacrifice of time initially to get the business going and training and investing in your people as you build your team out. That being said, to avoid burnout, it's also critical that you protect some personal and family time to make sure that you are taking care of yourself and those relationships during the initial growth phase.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.janspence.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janspenceassociates
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanHSpence
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-spence

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.