Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with John-Austin Emmons, Founder of Mint Competitors, located in San Antonio, TX, USA.

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

I am a sports peak performance coach (specializing in baseball). I work with athletes of all ages to help develop the confidence, focus, routines, mindsets, and best practices that not only allows them to play their best game but live their best life. I offer Mint Academy, which is a robust curriculum to help athletes develop a proper mental game to complement their physical skills. Mint Academy is something I'm very proud of. I love the structure as it allows me to spend a lot of time with the athlete, assisting them as they learn. I also offer consulting services to parents, coaches, teams, as well as schools and universities.

Tell us about yourself

From a very early age, athletics has been all I've known. I was fortunate enough to play baseball in the Seattle Mariners organization, albeit not nearly as long as I had wished for. My playing career was shorter than I had envisioned due to my lacking the proper mental makeup. Since my career ended, I have made it my purpose to not only fix my own shortcomings but help others do so as well. Over the last 10yrs, I was fortunate enough to help countless others, from athletes to business professionals, get the most out of their day as well as their life. My two boys were the driving force behind Mint this last year. It's their love for the game and my desire to make sure they, as well as anyone who plays, have all the skills necessary to compete to their fullest potential. That, coupled with the feedback from current and former clients that Mint is having a positive effect on their game and life, is extremely rewarding.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Ideas are easy and a dime a dozen; the art is in the execution. I've always been full of ideas that I never even started, much less made to the finish line. I'm most proud of having the courage it took to see this project to the end, to stay the course, and put in the hard work to build something not only I can be proud of, but also those that work with Mint can be proud of. Sometimes it's the start that stops us, so often times just getting to the starting blocks is more important than the finish line.

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

The hardest part of being a business owner is planning and prioritizing. Each day there are multiple things to get done. Structuring your time and keeping the most important thing is hard at times. We get caught up in thinking we have to do certain things to be successful. Stay true to ourself and your vision, tune out the rest and take peace in what you did get done, not what still needs to be done.

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

  1. Be conscious of your own personal needs and time. When starting a new business, you will have to wear many hats and do and perform multiple tasks. There will be early mornings and even later nights. It is a must you make time for yourself, away from your new business to recharge, catch up on sleep or just get away for a day or two. Self-care is not selfish; I believe it is a must if you want to show up as your best self on a more consistent basis.
  2. When building a business, there are no small things; it all matters. The devil is in the details, so to speak, so making sure you're getting it "all" done can be tough. We get so excited to throw the doors open or take that first customer that it can be hard to remember all the small things that must be done.
  3. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Building a business is hard work, and a helping hand or an extra brain to pick is never a bad thing. Most of us are surrounded by people who would love to help, they just never knew we needed it, and we never asked.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

You should always be in pursuit of the best version of yourself.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://mintcompetitors.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mintcompetitors/

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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