Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in organizational development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marie-Genevieve Pawlak, Founder and President of Prime Alchemy, located in Plainfield, IL, USA.

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

My business is a Game-based Organizational Health Firm. That is the short answer. The long answer is that we help companies build systems that connect their teams through the neuroscience of play. However, game-based learning isn't for everyone. Our customers are companies that are early adopters or innovators in their various industries that are excited about optimizing their team's performance or improving their operational processes.

Tell us about yourself

I have always been a watcher, someone who loves to discover new ways of doing things and watch how people interact with each other to solve problems. Because I am a watcher, I am interested in exploring different perspectives and approaches to work.

So when I listen to how miserable people were at work, their sense of self-value was dying daily. I wanted to do something about it. I was lucky at the beginning of my career, I had a leader that taught me about continuous improvement, treating people with respect, and valuing what they bring to the workplace, and I wanted others to have that same experience. I have worked in operations for most of my career, and we look at our work with an eye to a system for everything. The problem was what was the system to help people feel connected to their work. How do we unlock the system of team leadership?

What I learned in my years of work and study are the following things:

  1. The rate of change is happening so fast. It's not about learning new technology. It's about being open to learning and retaining what we learn quickly.
  2. In order to succeed in this new world of technology, we have to be agile.
  3. Game-based learning taps into the basics of how we are wired to learn
    through play.
  4. We have a higher retention rate when we are having fun.
  5. Consistent practice (play) helps us develop new skills.

That is what game-based learning does. It helps teams, leaders, and project groups enjoy experimenting with new tools or techniques to find more efficient or effective ways of achieving their goals. In addition, it allows them to use what they learn to improve how people work or communicate.

Strong teams are essential for the success of any organization. A team that can build connections with each other quickly improves their overall performance and has developed strategies and techniques that they can share with others. That is what makes me excited about the future of work.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

When the pandemic hit, I didn't know how I would maintain my business because what I created was for live in-person meetings, not virtual ones. But I quickly jumped into my own continuous improvement loop and started to re-think how I could use virtual tools like Teams, Zoom, and Webex with an "old-school" twist to create experiences for my clients remotely. Of course, it wasn't always perfect, but I kept at it, and now we offer fresh, fun, and evergreen in-person, virtual, and hybrid models. I am really excited and proud about that.

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

Running a business requires making tough decisions and taking risks, which can be both mentally and emotionally exhausting. As a business owner, you are responsible for your company's success or failure, which can create a lot of pressure and stress. Additionally, you may have to work long hours and sacrifice your personal time to keep your business running smoothly.

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

  1. Be adaptable and flexible: The business environment is constantly changing, and successful business owners know how to adapt and adjust to new challenges and opportunities. This means being flexible in your approach, willing to pivot your strategy when necessary, and constantly seeking new ways to improve your business. In addition, stay informed about the latest trends and technologies in your industry and be ready to innovate and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.
  2. Focus on customer experience: In today's competitive business environment, delivering exceptional customer experience is more important than ever. Customers seek businesses that offer personalized experiences, fast and efficient service, and high-quality products. One of the most critical parts of the customer experience is how you treat your employees. My motto is your employees create your customer experience. Focusing on your employee's work experience will build strong relationships, increase loyalty, and drive growth with your customers.
  3. Create a system: Even if you are a one-person business, you need a system for how you do things and how your company works with customers and future employees. By creating a system for yourself, when you grow your business, you will not have to worry about going back and creating a system. Most companies end up having more pain because they didn't create a foundation for themselves in the beginning when they had time to create it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.theprimealchemygroup.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primealchemy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planning101com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariegenpawlak/

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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