Compassion, Communication, and Community

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in media production but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Philip Toussaint, CEO and Co-Founder of Ecopreneur Media, Inc., located in West Orange, NJ, USA.

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

Ecopreneur is an environmental media platform that rewards volunteers for doing good. We do this by increasing awareness for brands and non-profits by aligning them with volunteers through our model of incentivized activism - the act of rewarding the volunteers.

Our approach involves targeting volunteer projects, allowing brand sponsorship opportunities, and authentic storytelling which speaks true to the mission - to promote compassion, communication, and community towards a sustainable tomorrow.

Tell us about yourself

Well, in college, I majored in environmental studies and business management, and early on, I took an Everglades research course which allowed me to spend some time in the Everglades and conduct field research there. In doing so, I was able to witness firsthand how climate change is affecting the Everglades. For example, there has been a dramatic rise in temperatures which has led to unprecedented evaporation from land and bodies of water, creating droughts. It was astonishing to see the effects, and it made me want to get help in some way and get others involved too.

At the same time, I realized education was one thing but taking action is important too. So, I wanted to help take things a step further by facilitating action, and that's what gave birth to the idea behind Ecopreneur. I also noticed that there were lots of educational platforms encouraging individual action but not enough encouraging and facilitating collective action.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is being resourceful and a go-giver rather than a go-getter. I've always been somebody who genuinely wants to see others succeed in their endeavors and expect nothing in return. One of the attributes of a go-giver is the ability to take one's eyes off oneself in order to focus on contributing and adding value to the lives of others. In my opinion, that is truly a successful person, and opportunities usually present themselves as a result.

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

One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is blocking out unnecessary noise. You're going to come across a lot of people who have opinions of you and your business. The best thing you can do is to know who to listen to and what pieces of advice make sense and apply to you. It can mean the difference between arrogance and confidence in the long run.

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

Learn to become resourceful. In today's world, knowledge is free and at your disposal. You just have to be willing to search for it.
Remember that the mission is more important than the revenue. When you lead by solving your problem first and changing the world for the better, money will naturally follow.
Surround yourself with the right people, personally and professionally. This can mean the difference between running a business people respect or a business that leaves a bad taste in people's mouths. Leading always starts from the top, and you have to lead by example.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://ecopreneurmedia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecopreneurmedia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecopreneurmedia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EcopreneurM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecopreneur-media/

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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