Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Wendy Norfleet, PhD, CEO of Norfleet Integrated Solutions Inc., located in Jacksonville, FL, USA.

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

Have you recently been promoted and have difficulty transitioning from a team member to leading the team? Have you recently received a performance review and learned your leadership skills were not quite up to par? Executive/leadership coaching is just one of the services provided by Norfleet Integrated Solutions. We help current and aspiring leaders make the most of opportunities.

Norfleet Integrated Solutions is a professional service organization formed to work with individual and corporate clients to help them achieve their goals. We do this by assessing their current situation, envisioning what they want their future position to encompass, developing a plan of action, and executing solutions that increase productivity, improve performance, and inspire a continuous focus on excellence. We work with clients to overcome people and process challenges that prevent optimal results.

Tell us about yourself

I started Norfleet Integrated Solutions Inc. in December 2016, but it was official in March 2017. I knew I wanted to use my skills to help others, but I also wanted to enjoy what I was doing. When I took stock of my skills and abilities, I knew executive/leadership coaching would play a role as this is something I had been doing with my leadership team for over seven years.

The training and development come from my years of experience with multiple colleges and universities and my doctoral degree in Instructional Technology. I worked as a business consultant for a large organization in Michigan and have always loved working with companies to achieve their goals. Each day, what keeps me motivated is the genuine desire to help others be successful.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being recognized as 1 of 12 of the Jacksonville Florida Small Business Leaders of the Year. Winning a Corporate Excellence Award for the Best Small Professional Training and Development Firm 2021 - Florida. Recognized as a 2020 Women of Influence for the Jacksonville Business Journal.

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

The buck stops with you. No matter how many contractors I have, no one will care about your business or take care of it the way you will. However, you have to realize that you cannot do everything yourself. You must build a good team and recognize that your team may consist of others providing the professional services that you need.

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

  1. Be passionate about the business you're starting, as you may not see a profit immediately. Your passion will keep you going.
  2. Don't expect to make a profit from day one. Set realistic expectations.
  3. Know the benefit your service or product provides, and make sure it's what the market is asking for.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

In addition to being an engineer turned business owner, I am also an author (Leading Without the Title: A Blueprint to Growing into Leadership, available on Amazon), public speaker, certified coach, and communicate advocate. I have been a mentor for the past 12 years. I serve on several boards, including the Cathedral Arts Project, Synapse in Tampa, Women Business Owners of Northeast Florida, and Jacksonville Information Technology Council.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://norfleetsolutions.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/norfleetintegratedsolutions
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendynorfleet/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.