Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Teresea Patton, Founder of Patton a Passionate Life, located in Chattanooga, TN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My name is Teresea Patton, and I am the founder of Patton a Passionate Life. I am a creative hippie mama that thrives on helping others and doing things that help me enjoy life to the fullest. After many years of making all kinds of arts and crafts, I started my jewelry business in my daughter's walk-in closet. Not only do I design jewelry with a love for found objects, antique pieces, and an eclectic vibe, but I also teach women how to live a life that sparks their passion.
Tell us about yourself
I've always been a creative person; however, there were a few years of my life when I didn't have a creative outlet. I got depressed. To try to get out of the depression, I made decisions I thought should make me happy. Some of those included joining the corporate workforce, buying professional work clothes, and baking all the cookies I could for the kids, the school, and the potluck lunches for work.
There was work Teresea and home Teresea. I was more miserable than when I started. That is when I learned what authenticity meant and how I could show up that way. This included getting back into my creative endeavors. That is when I knew I wanted to encourage others to live a truer way of life so that they feel happy, confident, and empowered. I'm motivated by hearing the success stories of those in my community. It makes me want to help them achieve more and more in their lives.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is being able to provide training programs for my community that help them change their lives and the lives around them. My favorite testimonial came from a mom with two kids and a husband that traveled a lot, worked long days, and left her feeling like a single mom. She was able to implement changes based on a boot camp I offered that helped her entire family. Seeing the impact on her kids, marriage, and mental health made my heart soar.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The pressure to be everywhere is overwhelming. The desire to help all the people I can means I spend more time researching platforms than delivering the messages that will help those that want the type of transformation I can help them get. Choosing where to focus is important and also a very hard decision when you are working on growth.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be yourself. If you try to talk or act exactly like someone else, it rings false, and no one listens to that.
- Build relationships that are authentic and flow naturally. Forcing a relationship for the "benefits" doesn't work out. The energy put in isn't returned.
- Take the time to listen to your audience. It might feel like it takes too long, but you are able to speak to their pain points, and that is what they need.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.pattonapassionatelife.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PattonaPassionateLife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pattonapassionatelife/
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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