Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Milo Shapiro, Founder of IMPROVentures and Public Dynamics, located in San Diego, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
It is a challenge for many people to convey the message and presentations to the best of their ability. So many of us were never really trained how to do it or learned from poor examples. This is so much of why we are afraid of speaking because no one ever really showed us how to do it well and bring out our own personal style to the best of our abilities. Whether the challenge is greater in finding the right words or saying them well, as a public speaking coach, I help all kinds of people, from entrepreneurs to managers to company presidents, learn how to speak with more confidence so they feel more prepared and polished and powerful wherever and whenever they speak. And thanks to the power of Zoom, I can help people no matter where they are as easily as I can those here in San Diego with me.
Tell us about yourself
I was an information technology person with a passion for improvisation for the first 15 years of my career. I left that career to start doing team-building events using improvisation, which led to my being asked to give motivational speeches where I left whole audiences in the game. People kept coming up to me after my speeches to ask if I would help them with their speaking skills; eventually, I started listening and created my coaching practice. That was 18 years ago, and since then, I've worked with hundreds, proud to have made them all feel more capable so they can excel in any message they want to deliver.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I had one client who came to me because she was a nervous wreck every week at quadrants staff meetings as everyone went around the table sharing what was happening for them that week. I helped her see the things that were getting in her way and accentuated what was great about her, and she started to excel. Her commanding officer took note of that and told her that she was going to be the one to brief the Admiral when he came in. he was so impressed that he recommended to the commanding officer that she brief a congressman. He was so taken with her that he recommended that she brief Mike Mulvaney in the White House, who referred her to another congressman. she went from trembling to speak to her coworkers to being a source for key people in the US And doing it with great success and feeling the pride that goes with that.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Remember that marketing is a constant effort. I'd love to say that I work more than I market, but the truth is that it takes ongoing effort to stay top of mind, no matter how pleased my clients have been.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Build your contact list from day one, not from when you think you're fully established.
- Don't get so attached to your business plan that you aren't open to an opportunity, an opportunity that feels right. If I had stuck to what I planned in 2000, I would have missed out on the biggest part of my business.
- Build a professional network of people who can not only assist you but to whom you can refer business. It's one of the best ways to get people to remember you when their clients need something you do.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://miloshapiro.com/public-dynamics/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miloshapiro
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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