Interested in starting your entrepreneurial journey in personal development, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kendra Reddy, founder of both Blueprint Strategies Inc. & The Tala Leadership Institute Inc., from Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Tell us all about your business...
With Blueprint Strategies, I’m the CEO and sole practitioner. I coach senior executives to be more empowered courageous, authentic, and resilient in their leadership. I’m also the CEO and Co-Founder of The Tala Leadership Institute; a leadership development company that helps individuals discover how to access their authentic leadership through nature emersion and equine experiences.
What's your background and motivation to grow as a solopreneur?
I’ve made a career out of careers and leadership. As an executive recruiter and human capital consultant, I learned that most people have very narrow and outdated definitions of leadership and success. For example, you’re a leader if you’re over 50, white, male, and have a team of people reporting to you; you’re successful if you make a lot of money and climb the corporate ladder. This made me furious. We don’t need external mediators defining our happiness or experience of the world. Fulfillment isn’t found through an external authoritarian or institution representing an objective, non-feeling, disembodied power. I was determined to change the narrative by empowering people to step into the fullness of their natural leadership and potential. It was my firmly rooted values system, my passion for liberation and sovereignty, and my belief that we’re all leaders in all areas of our lives that first got me started on my own business. What gets me out of bed each day is knowing that each of us has agency and the ability for self-responsibility, self-learning, self-healing, and self-generating. We have to vigilantly explore our authentic, leaderful selves to find the fulfillment and success we desire.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
There are so many, and it depends on how you define ‘accomplishment.’ In the early days, my biggest accomplishment was paying the rent and keeping the lights on. Then it was becoming incorporated. Later, it was landing big well-known clients and cool projects. After that, my biggest accomplishment was starting a second company. Lately – and overall – I’d say my most significant achievement has been creating the capacity required to own and operate two thriving businesses and have a life outside of them as well.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a solopreneur?
Similar to my greatest accomplishment, one of the biggest challenges as a business owner was capacity. It’s a big journey with a lot of responsibility and risk with many variables and unknowns, and those things require energy and attention. Entrepreneurship requires ALL of us, and figuring out how to meet the demands of my business(es) sustainably and healthily was critical.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run or grow a small business today?
Start a business: think larger than you think you should right from the beginning. That doesn’t mean bigging yourself up or spending money you don’t have. It means considering what your ultimate end goal is. It’s also critical to get the proper support in place – a wealth advisor, business/industry mentor, coach, legal team, etc. Run and grow a business: planning and scheduling are essential. Have a wellness plan. Schedule and calendar everything to see where your time and energy are going, and adjust as necessary. Have a plan for when you’re going to work ON the business (strategy, operations, sales, etc.) and when you’re going to work IN the industry (delivering services, making products, etc.). Be shameless in your passion and promotion of your business – people buy authenticity with great abandon!
Where can people find you?
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.
