Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sarah May, founder of Mayflower Enterprises, located in South Bend, IN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Mayflower Enterprises is a consulting firm specializing in the discovery and documentation of business processes and improvements. My customers are traditionally start-ups, but many are those who have been in business for many years that need help documenting the tribal knowledge used to run day-to-day operations.
Tell us about yourself
During my time in the manufacturing industry, I learned that well-defined processes are the core of any stable business. As an Industrial Engineer, it was my responsibility to ensure that the best products were made, but also that they were made in the best way possible. This experience opened my eyes to the notion that the techniques we used to build products could be translated and employed at the very beginning of the establishment of a business. Today, helping start-ups avoid common pitfalls and mistakes keeps me going. Blending engineering, business, communication, and technical writing in this way has led me down a whole new path in life, and I love every day of it.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a business owner, my biggest accomplishment is still going, I think. Being able to not only sustain my lifestyle but thrive and grow in these uncertain times is a source of great pride for me.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Facing the things that you didn't know you needed to do. All of the rookie moments that pop up when you are just idly trying to go through your work day and all of a sudden you get blindsided by a tax bill or an insurance issue, or an entity report. These things are all simple in their own right, and I don't think it's possible to know every little detail of running any company until you get into it and mix it up. The constant learning about all the ways you've been doing it wrong is equally some of the hardest and most rewarding parts of it.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Stay true to yourself: If you don't love what you do, it shows. If you are electric, people want you, no matter what your business is.
- Do your research: Make sure you are constantly learning (so that you get blindsided less often) about your field, your business, and others in your line of work.
- Don't be afraid: Remember that we were all new once, we all were "just starting out" once, and if there is anything we all have in common, it's that sometimes, we have no idea what we are doing. If you wait until you are comfortable and "ready," you will probably never seize the opportunity.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mayflowerenterprisesllc.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mayflowerenterprises/
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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