Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kristy Mandour, founder of Sow to Speak, located in Utica, NY, USA.

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

I am a writer and communications coach for established and emerging leaders. I work with individuals to enhance their emotional intelligence so that we can rehumanize the workforce (and world) once and for all.

I also am the host of The Closet Series, a podcast and YouTube video series that interviews cross-industry guests who are doing meaningful work to inspire listeners to make their own unique contributions to creating a safer and better world for all of us.

Tell us about yourself

Going way (way) back: I had two pivotal moments in my career that greatly informed and directed me towards the work I do today. The first was holding workshops with teen girls in our community to help them come together and support each in thriving in their own unique ways. Simultaneously, I worked as a director of training at a local non-profit (now Empowered Pathways) in helping women transition back into the workforce. The clients we worked with ranged from those reentering society to women who had been out of the workforce for decades because of being the captain of their households and families.

With both populations (the teens and women reentering the workforce), I supported them in strengthening their communication and emotional intelligence skills, many times through incorporating the performing arts in some way and reframing mindset exercises. I saw the immediate positive impact and realized that if they resonated so strongly with this work, what would happen if I brought it to the leaders in their worlds? First thought: Parents. Then it hit me: Where are most parents? At work. Second thought: Community decision-makers. Where are they? At work. And with that, Sow to Speak was born. Suppose we are aware that change starts in the home with how we raise our kids (aka our future leaders). In that case, it is HUGELY beneficial to go where the leaders with the most influence and impact reside: C-Suites, Executive Leadership Teams, and Upper Management. If they're willing to strengthen these essential human skills, they cause a tremendous and beautiful ripple effect throughout their organizations, continuing to our families, schools, and communities. It's powerful, and it works. The one requirement: a willingness by the individual being coached. That's essential. After that, we're off and running.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

When I remember to practice what I preach! There is always something to do when you own a business. It is easy to be self-critical and let your mental tyrant convince you that you're not doing enough. A considerable part of my work is introducing people to self-compassion practices. Thankfully, we have Kristin Neff, the pioneer in researching self-compassion, who has a number of studies to back up the positive power and sustainability of self-compassion over self-criticism. And when you bring science into the mix, it gives anything immediate credibility. When I introduce the five pillars of emotional intelligence to individuals and groups, I always add a sixth pillar of self-compassion. It is the foundational lifeboat of raising one's emotional intelligence.

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

One?? (laughing) Checking the overwhelm. I'm a huge fan of Dr. Shauna Shapiro's work. The idea of micro over macro has been a lifesaver in focusing on taking small actions instead of being engulfed by the enormity of being a business owner. The other reframe that I love from Dr. Shapiro is swapping out self-improvement for self-liberation. That mental reframe helps me to immediately shift to a "what can I control" mindset.

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

  1. Strengthen your intuition. There is so much to learn, and if you're going with what "you think" you should be doing, you're doing a massive disservice to yourself and can quickly fly into a spiral of burn-out. By sharpening your discernment skills of knowing (body awareness) and thinking (mental awareness), you're honing a life-long craft that will serve you incredibly well in business and life. There is SO much to take in when you're starting, and by trusting your inner guidance, you can more easily navigate the speed you're going, what's a priority, and which resources to dive into first.
  2. Ask for help. This is where Tip #1 serves you first. Once you strengthen your intuition, you'll be able to internally direct yourself to who or what can you help you gain clarity and break ground on turning your idea into a living, breathing business.
  3. Be conscious of what you consume. This goes well beyond food and drink. It encompasses everything from quantity and quality of conversations to news, advice, and social media. If we become what we consume and we are the sum total of the five people we spend the most time with out of all the things out of our control, these are within our power of choice. It's super important.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

We are super excited to have just launched The Closet Series as a podcast! I initially created it as a YouTube video series out of my linen closet in April 2020 to highlight and support local businesses in my community. It quickly grew to spotlight cross-industry guests worldwide doing incredible and meaningful work. The hope is that no matter where you live, you can take a piece of insight back into your community and apply it so that we can all do our part in making it a safer and better world for all of us.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://sowtospeak.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sowtospeak/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristymandour/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sow-to-speak/

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.