Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Samantha Irwin, founder of Kaizen Coaching LLC., located in Hood River, OR, USA.

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

Kaizen Business Coaching & Consulting. I help independent business owners in hospitality, supporting them with tools and training that increase return visits. We focus on the FULL customer experience!

Tell us about yourself

I restored, owned, and operated a boutique hotel and experienced, firsthand, the challenges that go with it. The biggest challenge was equipping my people (staff) to give amazing customer service experiences. Only when that happened was I able to confidently step away from day-to-day operations and work on my business, to grow my business, without so much worry!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Creating a training program that supports independent business owners to train and equip their front-line staff to give consistently amazing customer service experiences. Training people with soft skills, helping them to really understand how valuable they are to the success of the business, is how owners make more money and gain free time.

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

Myself: Creating a team and community that support the business.
Business Owners: Creating a team and teaching them HOW to deliver consistent service and WHY they're so vital.

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

  1. Get a coach or mentor.
  2. Focus on blocking time for tasks that move your business forward (many distractions out there!).
  3. Take the next step.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Get comfortable with an unfinished to-do list.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://kaizen.zone/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaSmallBusinessRevival
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthairwin/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.