Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in consultancy but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chris Taylor, Founder of Neutron Consulting, located in Lake Oswego, OR, USA.

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

I help businesses make better human decisions. My clients are executives and business owners who spend considerable time, effort, and money to surround themselves with the right people to accomplish their objectives. Usually, they have a few people that don't seem to fit. I help them understand why and what can be done to fix the situation. They now use math and science rather than instinct (gut) to build their companies and arrange their teams. What do I do? I teach leaders to use applied behavioral analytics to improve their businesses.

Tell us about yourself

I am a proud military veteran with decades of business experience in companies of all sizes. After working in larger companies, I truly believe that small and medium-sized businesses are our country's backbone and communities. These companies treat their employees with far more compassion than the larger organizations. Serving these companies, improving their operations, and increasing the number of people they employ have the greatest impact on real people's lives. That is why I choose to dedicate my time, talent, and expertise to improve them. What motivates me is seeing real, concrete changes in my clients' stress levels as they gain the time to pay attention to the parts of their business that excite them. Watching their employees blossom as they become more effective, work smoother, and relieve the "grind" in their days is also very rewarding. As part of my program, I ask my clients to take a more flexible approach to their teams' job duties. Using this methodology, the talent to win is usually already in the organization. Employees find their hidden talent, unlock their potential, and alleviate other stressors, so their teams have time to concentrate on and conquer challenges. It is so impactful. Who wouldn't want to watch people shine?

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My greatest accomplishments always relate to the impact my work has on others. Recently, one of my clients and I worked hard to improve their business processes to spend more time with their families. Most of my business owners are typically involved in every aspect of their company. They often find it hard to step away for a vacation. After only four months of working with me, my client took a 2-week international vacation. He returned to tell me that this was the first vacation in 10 years where no one quit, and he didn't get any emergency calls from staff. Everything was running smoothly upon his return. What a gift to be able to give someone!

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

As a small business owner, I wear many hats. The hardest thing for me is deciding to trust part of my business to another person and then find a professional to contract to support me. I usually wait longer than I should, even though I know I will be happily surprised when that weight is lifted off my shoulders. Of course, when I hire a pro, I try and learn what I can from them in addition to the work I pay them to do. Best practices are important in every industry, and having those benchmarks is so important in making sure your business is running efficiently.

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

  1. Invest in your employees. I run into companies where the employees haven't been exposed to how to run best or professionalize their area. For instance, one of my clients didn't understand how powerful their call center could be until they sent their manager to a program and learned how to improve their sales numbers by tailoring their call scripts.
  2. Invest in yourself. Never stop learning and investing in your own personal skills. Being intellectually curious is important to staying relevant in a rapidly changing world.
  3. Bring a flexible mindset, especially for marketing your business. It is not one of my favorite areas to focus on, but the speed at which marketing changes, it can be used to improve your business is powerful.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.neutronconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christaylor35/

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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