Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Adrienne Barker, MAS, owner of Professional Global Etiquette, located in Daytona Beach, FL, USA.

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

I am an International Protocol and Corporate Etiquette Consultant, Business Coach, and LinkedIn Coach with over 40 years of business education and experience. I grew up in the promotional products industry, so many of my clients are in the creative logo merchandise industry.

Tell us about yourself

My parents started the business in 1955, and I joined them after college. I was trained and handled every area of our large family business. I noticed that our sales team and many in our industry did not have proper etiquette training, and I set out to educate myself and our sales team. In 2016, I attended and graduated from The Protocol School of Washington. It was time for me to leave the family distributorship and open up my own business. The first steps I took were to create my website and social media, start a radio show called Adrienne P's & Q's, signed up to be a guest on podcasts. I decided I wanted to do this myself so I could one day help others in the business. I loved mentoring and realized quickly that I was good at helping many businesses. In 2017, I joined SCORE as a Certified Business Mentor and then as VP of Southern Arizona. I still volunteer as Co-Chair of Volusia/Flagler Chapter 87 SCORE. I serve on various boards and committees and am always happy to help fundraise, assist in marketing, and even volunteer in public relations.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In the summer of 2018, I moved to Nanjing, China, to teach business English. It was a wonderful experience, and when it was over, I moved to Daytona Beach, Florida, to open up my family's fifth art gallery. We closed the gallery when my father passed away in 2019. I mentored other business professionals and encouraged them to begin their podcasts. During Covid, I started No Prep Needed: Candid Conversation, a podcast with over 100 guests. When Florida businesses began to open up, I created an Upwork profile and have enjoyed working for various clients. I have a stellar reputation and currently earn a six-figure salary. I am supporting myself and my family because of my hard work, dedication to my clients, and ability to help business owners succeed.

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

As a business owner, it's easy to think that enjoying vacation days, playing at the beach, and having early dinners are just minutes away. Yes, you can take as much time as you want but is that helping you be successful? The summer of 2022 started fantastic, with great clients and a wide variety of marketing campaigns. Then mid-June, my husband was diagnosed with leukemia, and as a business owner, this knocked the breath out of me. I immediately asked my clients if I could take a step back on their campaigns. As a business owner, that was difficult as I never wanted to let anyone down, but my clients were understanding. By September, I had a full house of clients and loved my work and clients. I am proud to have a lifestyle business and my passion projects.

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

My top tips for new business owners:

  • Always have a pad of paper near you and take notes.
  • Be on time for every meeting (actually, a few minutes early is excellent).
  • Make sure clients and prospects can reach you quickly when needed. Every email and reply should clearly show your cell phone number. Be reachable; it's the number one way to show you care.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://professionalglobaletiquette.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdrienneBarkerSpeaks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrienne_barker_speaks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/profetiquette
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennebarkermas/

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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