Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jon Harol, President of Lighthouse Lab Services, located in Holly Springs, NC, USA.

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

We are a solutions provider for the clinical diagnostic laboratory testing industry. We provide recruiting, staffing, consulting, lab start-up services, Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), RCM guidance, and Payer Strategy advice.

Tell us about yourself

The company started to service the medical laboratory staffing shortage. I read about the pending Medical Lab Scientist staffing shortage and recognized the need for a group to provide solutions to this challenge. Over time we have expanded our services as we continually seek ways to fulfill our company mission of "Making quality lab testing more accessible."

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our team has accomplished many things that I am proud of: we have built hundreds of clinical labs over the last 19 years and helped over a thousand scientists find better jobs. During the pandemic, we built over 60 Covid testing labs, including standing up the highest volume covid testing lab in the state of California, and millions of patients were tested at these labs. It is humbling to think of the impact this had. I am also proud of the fact that we have been named to the Inc 5000 Fast Growing Company list three times, which is a rare feat.

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

The most challenging part of running a company is faithfully fulfilling my responsibility to all the various stakeholders, which include employees, investors, clients, and patients. These stakeholders have different priorities, which sometimes compete, and it is a challenge to navigate the various daily decisions to ensure that I am doing right by each of them.

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

  1. Take calculated risks. Gather the data that is available and consider it before pushing in your chips, but know that you will never eliminate all the variables. When your gut tells you it is time, you need to pull the trigger.
  2. Don't be quick to spend big dollars; you can accomplish a lot on a bootstrap budget.
  3. Do the right thing and help others along the way. If you treat all of your business relationships transactionally, you will miss out on the possibility of deeper relationships and potential partnerships.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.lighthouselabservices.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jon.harol
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harol_but_no_kumar/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jharol
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/labrecruiter/

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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