Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alison Henderson, CEO of Moving Image Consulting LLC., located in Downers Grove, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
As a body language expert, I work with business leaders who want to be more confident communicators. My clients want to attain the next level in their careers and know great leadership starts with engaging communication.
Tell us about yourself
I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior. Before cell phones distracted everyone from communicating, I would watch people on the subway and try to figure out who they were based on their body language. When I first began working in offices, I was dismayed by the lack of communication I witnessed, which wasted so much time and energy. I knew I could help! I became a Certified Movement Pattern Analyst so I could truly understand body language on a scientific level and bring this to the business world.
Now I help leaders “listen with their eyes.” They learn how their body language is perceived by others and how to read the body language signals coming to them. We don’t learn how to interpret nonverbal behavior in school. Body language is a language that can be learned, just like Spanish or French.
What motivates me each day is receiving e-mails from my clients sharing stories of their success. They tell me how their teams are working more efficiently or their sales have risen. Speakers tell me how they held their audience, and others tell me about winning negotiations.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner was when my TEDx talk on virtual body language was picked by TED global for their main site. During the pandemic, we all suddenly needed to become virtual speaking experts, and I was honored to be able to help in a small way. Now I volunteer my time to coach TEDx Wrigleyville speakers, and it is thrilling to see someone’s talk go from good to great and impact the world.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Making ALL the decisions. As a solopreneur, it is lonely and terrifying to choose the path. Celebrate when you make a tough decision.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Discernment is key. There is so much noise out there telling you what you “should do” or what will “guarantee profits.” Allow yourself the space to know what is right for YOU and YOUR business.
- Collaborations are great. You don’t always have to work alone. Find someone with the same target market whose services your business complements. Create a package. You can both make more money working together than you would alone.
- Let it go. If a product or program isn’t working, cut it out. It doesn’t matter how much you invested in trying to make it work. Move on and pivot to something else.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://movingimageconsulting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movingimageconsulting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alison_bodylanguage_henderson/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoveObservation
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/movingimage/
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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