Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in publication but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alinka Rutkowska, CEO of Leaders Press, located in Levanto, SP, Italy.

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

At Leaders Press, we turn entrepreneurs' book ideas into best-sellers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Wall Street Journal, USA Today) and get them into book stores (via our distribution partnership with Simon & Schuster). Our customers are leaders looking to increase their authority and credibility and grow their business.

Tell us about yourself

Passion is what got me started. I started in the corporate world, but I soon realized that there must be more to life than selling domestic appliances (which was pretty much what I was doing). I went on a journey of self-discovering and slowly shaped my talents and passion into what is now Leaders Press. I'm self-motivated. I wake up excited about getting to work on growing the business and interacting with my team, partners and customers.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

That would be building a thriving 7-figure business from scratch. Right after comes getting 198 authors on the USA Today best-seller list and getting our authors into brick-and-mortar stores via traditional distribution.

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

It's probably dealing with uncertainty. When you're in a 9 to 5 job, you can be quite sure you'll always get your paycheck no matter how the business is doing. Once you're the business owner, you have to make sure your team gets paid before you do. Cash flow is a challenge when the business is in growth mode, so making decisions about what to invest in and what to cut comes with a lot of responsibility.

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

  1. Success isn't all that difficult. Just find someone who's achieved what you want and ask them for directions.
  2. Don't let your primary driver be the money. Go in for the passion, and you'll wake up excited every day of your working life.
  3. You either earn or you learn, so make those mistakes fast and let them become the experience that will lead you to success.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Never give up on going after your dreams.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://leaderspress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlinkaRutkowskaOfficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlinkaRutkowska
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinkarutkowska/

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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