Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kimberly Erskine, Founder of Hatched Consulting, Village Family Collective, and Venture Business Collective, located in Columbus, OH, USA.

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

Currently, I have my hands on a few things. I am a business consultant to heart-centered businesses. Through my business, Hatched Consulting, I have a few long-term clients and rotate several short-term clients across the United States. My clients are heart-centered, highly passionate entrepreneurs. I specialize in all things kids/family, education, and conscious choices.

I also just launched two new businesses out of Central Ohio - Village Family Collective and Venture Business Collective. They are my solutions for helping the backbones of our communities' local kids and families, AND small businesses. Each Collective is made up of a hand-picked selection of local businesses that emulate ethical and more natural or holistic business practices- Village helps kids/family, and Venture helps business owners. We even offer a free community service where a family or small business owner can call our small team (we are all parents and entrepreneurs ourselves) to listen and make recommendations for who/what to seek out as far as support within our Collectives.

Tell us about yourself

Oh goodness. In 2012, I started and operated a large Practice and Center that offered speech therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy, and social support and had several other related service professionals with us to make up a lovely, one-stop shop for kids of all abilities. I was working as a speech pathologist prior to that and knew that pediatric therapy could be done better in a more whole-kid approach- so I built my dream. It was growing so much, and after COVID hit and we had to flip to telehealth to keep operating, that took a lot out of me as a business owner and a leader. I just wasn't sure I had the growth I needed left in me at the time.

Early in 2021, I ended up selling that beloved Company to my assistant of 7 years and her family at its then height of 26 employees. It is still doing great! I honestly thought I would retire and homeschool my kids... but my never-ending idea streams got the best of me. Hatched Consulting and the Village Family and Venture Business Collectives were the itchiest ideas- and I just had to scratch them. I am overwhelmed with how great it is all going. I am motivated by my two fantastic young sons helping bring heart to our communities, and I follow my core values and authenticity the whole way.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Just taking that initial leap. It is vulnerable, exhilarating, scary, and a way of living all it's own. But I did it. And it was very successful. I proved to myself and my community that I could do it and had sincere intentions of helping how I could. I will continue to take those leaps as my ideas come to me.

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

TIME. When you are so passionate and energized for your businesses, it is hard to fit it all in amongst all the other great things about life, family, friends, travel, nature... It gives you more freedom with how you spend that time, sure. But man, my constant ideas get the best of me sometimes with the balance of it all. That balance will always be a work in progress, and I have come to appreciate and even love that over the years.

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

  1. Don't do it alone - get a mentor, a circle of entrepreneur friends, someone/anyone that will understand you as a business owner, and the commitment and vulnerability of it all.
  2. Establish your Core Values and stick to them- always.
  3. Closed doors always end up being a dodged bullet down the line when you look back on your business journey. Respect them, accept them, and move on. It just means something bigger and better is meant for you, and it will come if you listen and let it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website:
https://hatchedconsult.com/
https://consciouscommunitycollectives.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hatchedconsult/
https://www.facebook.com/VentureCentralOhio/
https://www.facebook.com/VillageCentralOhio/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/hatchedconsult/
https://www.instagram.com/venture_centralohio/
https://www.instagram.com/village_centralohio/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyrmartin/

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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