Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Leslie Cramer, Founder of Leslie Cramer Agency, LLC, located in Charlotte, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I provide brand strategy, design, and writing services for entrepreneurs to build trust and recognition through visual and verbal consistency.
Tell us about yourself
I have been an entrepreneur since I was 16 years old. I started an independent dance school with 4 classes for homeschoolers. Each week, we set up a dance studio in the cafeteria of the church, and I built the membership to ~40 students. While my friends were working at Blockbuster for minimum wage. I had 40 students paying $40/month and only worked 4 hours per week. Since then, I've started 10 other businesses. Some are beautifully successful, and some are epic failures. The most successful ones all had one thing in common. A good brand with clear visual and verbal communication that connected with my target customer.
I watch so many business owners get bogged down with decision fatigue. What do I want to say? How do I say it right? Why are graphics so hard? Why doesn't anyone open this email? Constant decisions about branding and messaging. So I decided to help businesses reach success by coaching them through their branding process and writing the words that their customers will actually respond to. Interestingly enough, this has been my most successful business. It is the perfect combination of creativity, business, and people for me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Anytime I help someone create something tangible from just an idea in their head. I love being a part of that.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Understanding your worth. I'm historically AMAZING at undervaluing my services. Overcoming that mindset to recognize that not only am I valuable as myself (thanks to therapy), but my services are also highly valuable (thanks to coaching).
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be kind to yourself. It won't be perfect. But if you give up because it's an ugly duckling, it'll never grow into success.
- Outsource, outsource, outsource. You can't possibly be in every department of your business. Hire the lawyer, the artist, the assistant, the business manager, and the writer. Hire the people who will fill the holes. Otherwise, you'll be focused on bailing water instead of building a bigger boat.
- Hire a coach. A coach that aligns with your goals. Shop around for a good one. Someone who can give you the cheat codes for your particular business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://lesliecramer.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliecramer/
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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