Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Richard Racz, a Professional Engineer and owner of the Kestävä YouTube channel, based in Portland, OR, USA.

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

Structural engineering consultant for residential and light commercial structures, as well as a YouTube channel that teaches civil/structural engineers engineering design through real-life examples that practicing engineers regularly, see in their professional lives.

I want to advance young engineers' careers more quickly through explanations of my own faults and shortcomings back when I first got into the industry.

Tell us about yourself

Simply put - the PANDEMIC. Being locked up like everyone else, I wanted to add something uncharacteristic to my current routine. So, I decided to try my hand at YouTube. Best decision I've made in my professional career to date.

Teaching (and also learning myself) through a non-conventional means has been an amazing experience, and the growth of the channel shows that there are plenty of engineers wanting additional direction in their studies that they are not getting through the standard education system.

Spreading real-life engineering concepts to the world has been rewarding, and I believe it will ultimately produce a better class of emerging young engineers into the workforce.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Providing a well-engineered design for a client's home renovation or new build. There are so many shortcuts in the building industry today that it feels amazing to supply a design that is consistently above expectations. Ultimately, home is where we will spend most of our time, so it is the one structure that should be paid attention to the most from a design standpoint.

Also, every time I get a comment on YouTube that explains that I've cleared up a major point of confusion. Or my practice problems have helped a young engineer pass their professional engineering exams to become a licensed engineer.

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

Feeling like your work is good enough! and also bringing in more work.

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

No matter what - keep pushing on. You will put hundreds of hours/years of effort into your business at the beginning and most likely receive little to no traction. KEEP GOING - your building a base that appears to be non-existent, but once you gain traction, you will look back and realize everything you did prior to that point was important. Success truly doesn't come overnight. We only notice successful people but never the early work they put in.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Kestävä on youtube! Or email me for structural engineering consulting at kestavallc@gmail.com!

Where can people find you and your business?

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNHiPdtZhwVKUSeCyAhF5zQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kestavaengineering/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkz/

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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