Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jerome Imhoff, Founder of Manifesting Brilliance Coaching, located in Palm Springs, CA, USA.

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

Throughout my entire life, I have always been very altruistic. I love helping others. In 2009, I launched a Career Coaching and Résumé Writing practice. In a short time, the business expanded to include Life Coaching. My customers are professionals and entrepreneurs who are ready to transform their lives and live more authentically.

Tell us about yourself

I love people, and my career has enabled me to connect with interesting people with diverse backgrounds. I have worked with people who have very interesting careers, like a gentleman who was sailing a boat around the world while teaching virtual classes to kids or a woman who worked for a time as the personal assistant to Sarah Jessica Parker. I have coached men and women who are experiencing real pain and trauma in their lives. What I have learned is that we all need help to get where we are going. I have worked with mentors and coaches my whole life. A coach pushes us beyond the point where we are ready to give up. I am so humbled by the opportunity I have to hold space for others and to assist them in defining and living their best lives.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Right now, I am pretty jazzed about the fact that I just finished writing my first book, which will be published by the end of the month. I am also proud of the fact that I was able to replace my income from my full-time job as a recruiter in the first year of my business. And the business has grown exponentially every year since.

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

I am a one-man shop, so I am responsible for every aspect of my business, from sales and marketing to delivering the service. That can be overwhelming at times. It's easy to feel pulled in a lot of different directions.

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

  1. Go for it. It can feel risky and scary to go out on your own, but there is something really empowering about building something for yourself. I could never work for someone else again. That said, I know that I could find a job if I had to do that. In other words, I took the leap, knowing I could always return to what felt "safe" if I needed to.
  2. Don't wait for everything to be perfect before you launch. Be open to learning along the way. I have coached clients who have a good idea for a marketable service, but they stop themselves from executing because the website has to be perfect or they want to have more services to offer, etc. I launched my business with just the idea of writing résumés. I had no website. I advertised on Craigslist and networked a lot, and passed out business cards. I put things into place as I learned I needed them.
  3. Find a mentor or coach who can teach you what you don't know. When I started my business, I didn't have a business plan or a marketing plan. I muddled along for a while. Then I met a great business coach at a BNI meeting. Coach Crystal Shanks helped me learn the things I didn't know I needed to know.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I honestly believe that those of us who are meant to be solopreneurs know it deep in our souls. It's a spark of inspiration from the Divine that keeps pushing us until we put ourselves out there. I knew that if I was following my Divine Purpose, it couldn't fail. It's been hard at times, but I have always figured out the next best step to take to keep things going.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.jeromeimhoff.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manifestyourbrilliance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manifestingbrilliance/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ICURbrilliance
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeromeimhoff/

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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