Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sean Kosofsky, Owner of Mind the Gap Consulting, located in New York, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I offer coaching, consulting, and courses for nonprofit leaders. Specifically, I help executive directors, boards, and fundraisers transform their organizations.
Tell us about yourself
I started my own business mostly as a temporary way to bring in some money between jobs, but I fell in love with the work when I saw the results my clients were getting. It's incredibly rewarding to translate what I have learned about nonprofits, campaigns, leadership, and fundraising into actionable insights. The vast majority of nonprofits are small, and they are filled with people trying to make a difference. I love being a part of problem-solving and helping organizations improve lives.
Do you have daily rituals for work / wellness / fitness / mindfulness?
Every week, I print a list of my annual goals and business areas so I can monitor key areas. Then, every day, I review my goals and pick three big things I must get done that day. Some things are always in my calendar, so I get additional notifications, and they are work blocks. Nothing can be scheduled over them. I always have "no meeting days" on Mondays so I can think, get caught up, and focus. Every day, I write one thing I am grateful for and one reason why the day will be awesome. I try to work four days a week, first thing in the morning, and I try to practice mindfulness and slow down my pace throughout the day. Then, at 5, I stop. Hard stop!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
In less than 10 hours a week, I have taken my business to a very respectable place and can't wait to see what's next. The business is profitable, but most importantly, I am proud of the body of work I have created...hundreds of tools, downloads, videos, courses, and blog posts. Taken together, it really has a lot of helpful information about how to start and run a nonprofit organization.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Being able to delegate. I feel like you need a team of people to help you because if you try doing it all for too long, you'll burn out. It may be scary to hire help, but you must figure out the division of labor and hire people to support you.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do a few things well instead of 20 things poorly. Get one awesome product or service mastered before adding to it. It's easy to get distracted but do this first.
- Don't get slowed down by the mechanics and logistics of the paperwork. Pick a name, get a URL and bank account and file the paperwork and go. Focus the most energy on your unique value proposition. What problem do you solve, and why should people work with you?
- Seek help from people who know what they are talking about. It's easy to get lots of opinions, but listen to the really smart people and join Facebook and LinkedIn Forums of people who are in your world and who can help you get shortcuts from the mistake they have made, so you don't have to.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.nonprofitfixer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindthegapc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonprofitfixer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nonprofitfixer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kosofsky/
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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