Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jenni Hargrove, Founder of Nonprofit Jenni, located in Fort Collins, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is a nonprofit consulting firm. I'm a consultant for nonprofit leaders, helping them develop and implement marketing and fundraising strategies. I also lead a book club for nonprofit professionals and host a podcast called the Nonprofit Jenni Show.
Tell us about yourself
My background is in marketing research, and my favorite clients to work with were always nonprofit clients who wanted to learn more about their supporters and beneficiaries. Nowadays, my efforts are focused on helping nonprofit leaders grow and engage their different stakeholder groups. I love my work because I can choose the clients I work with. I always choose to work with nonprofits serving causes that are close to my heart. It feels so rewarding to know I'm having a direct impact on these cause areas.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I don't know that I have a single biggest accomplishment that looks impressive on paper. On a daily basis, I try to focus on the small wins that have a big payoff for my clients. For example, when I spend an hour teaching a nonprofit leader how to write a compelling fundraising email that nets tens of thousands of dollars in donations to support a mission I care about, that counts as a big accomplishment in my book.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
For me, the hardest part of being a business owner is trying to figure out what I don't know. For example, there are a ton of tasks that I can automate to help me save time, but I often don't know which tasks are able to be automated or how to find those tools until someone steps in and reveals my blind spots. I think it's really important for me to bring in outside third parties to help me uncover those blind spots.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't be afraid to fail. When you're an innovative go-getter, failure happens pretty frequently. You have to be open to learning from your failures, so you can innovate better the next time around.
- It's OK (and often smart) to start small. That way, you can test out your ideas, fail, learn, and perfect your products/services at a small scale before you launch a massive campaign.
- Find people who have strengths that complement yours and ask them to help you find your blind spots.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.nonprofitjenni.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprofitjenni
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonprofitjenni/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennighargrove/
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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