Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jeremy Poincenot, Founder of Jeremy Inspires Inc., located in Carlsbad, CA, USA.

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

I’m an Inspirational Speaker & Performance Coach. I deliver keynote presentations to large audiences at conferences, conventions, and meetings. I provide half-day workshops to smaller groups. I provide 1-on-1 coaching services to individuals seeking to achieve their peak performance.

My customers range from a meeting planner searching for a memorable keynote speaker to an individual seeking an accountability partner to help them achieve their goals.

Tell us about yourself

I suddenly became legally blind as a 19-year-old college sophomore due to a rare genetic disorder called Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). It was an extremely difficult challenge to confront. While going through the grieving process, I began speaking at various events to raise awareness of LHON. I was featured on some national TV shows, including ABC’s 20/20 and MTV’s True Life, and people started contacting me asking how much I charged to give a talk. That’s when I realized I could be a professional speaker.

I love what I do because I’m able to impact others’ lives in a positive way. I’m a seed planter - I plant seeds of new ideas, and then it’s up to the audience members to water those seeds and have them change their lives.

Knowing that each keynote talk and each coaching client provides me an opportunity to change someone’s life for the better keeps me motivated to continue doing what I do to the best of my ability.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I’ve impacted the lives of tens of thousands of audience members. Having people tell me after a presentation how it changed their life, or receiving an email letting me know that before my talk, they felt a certain way, but after hearing my talk, they feel differently and will make changes to their lives, lets me know I’m having an impact. My business has weathered the challenges thrust upon all of us by the pandemic.

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

One of the hardest things is also one of the best things. Your income is $X, and your hard work and dedication help to determine what $X is.

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

  1. Have a plan of how you’d like to get started and what it would look like if you succeed.
  2. Surround yourself with quality people to help you (because you have a lot to learn and you don’t know everything).
  3. Look for role models and ask them a lot of questions.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from losing my sight that’s impacted my life personally and professionally, it’s that independence is good, while interdependence is great.

I believe that we should embrace interdependence in our lives, become more comfortable asking for help, receiving help from others, and offering to help those around us. We’re better together than alone.

I have a bi-weekly newsletter called “Poince of Perspective.” To receive ongoing inspiration and perspective, you can subscribe by texting SEE to 55444 or by following this link.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.jeremypoincenot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeremyPoincenot/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremypoincenot/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeremyPoincenot/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremypoincenot/

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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