Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nikhil Desai, Founder of Proteus Creative, located in Brookfield, WI, USA.

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

My business aims to optimize and expedite the social media content creation process for physicians and healthcare organizations/companies. I provide assistance with all aspects of social media branding and the business end of the creator economy. My ideal customer is any healthcare provider, practice, or company that is interested in using social media to create an online brand, attract patients/consumers, create another income stream, or educate the public and become a thought leader.

Tell us about yourself

I started creating social media content myself after being sent home from college during the pandemic. At the time, I realized that a lot of students were at home without the resources and guidance necessary to complete college applications and finish their school work effectively. Using my understanding and the amazing mentorship I received, I decided to share what I knew online. My initial posts were focused on my experience as a pre-medical student, but I quickly learned that my audience was much larger. I started posting about college applications, student debt, and scholarships. Within a year, my account grew to over 100K followers.

I was able to leverage my understanding of social media to learn in a business setting. At my last part-time consulting job, I was the head of social media at a medical education tech start-up. I had many opportunities to speak to physicians who had an interest in business and marketing. Through these conversations, I shared my insight about social media and how I grew my audience. Two physicians took my advice, and within a month, they had 40K followers. I honestly did not think much of it, but the doctors did! A few months later, I left the company to study for my MCAT (I am still a pre-med student, after all) since I knew I did not have the time. A few physicians expressed an interesting sentiment that they still wanted my help with social media and said they were willing to PAY for it. A lightbulb went off in my head when I had the time in the future; I would try to create a social media agency focused on working with healthcare professionals.

Fast forward to today, and my business has afforded me amazing opportunities and flexibility. I am motivated by my creative freedom as a small business owner. I am the accountant, sales rep, marketer, and strategist, and I execute projects through this experience. I have learned so much about business and have developed a sense of confidence that I previously lacked!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

This past fall, I was able to leverage my agency to mentor students at my alma mater, high school, for a business consulting program. Being able to give back and help fuel the next generation of creative thought leaders and entrepreneurs was an amazing opportunity! I hope to do similar projects moving forward and continue to encourage students to explore their interests and create a career out of their passion!

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

There are many challenges, lol. I would say the hardest thing is setting boundaries and managing time. No one is telling me when I need to work, how long I should work, and what I should do. This means I have to hold myself accountable! As a recent college graduate, this experience is drastically different than being a student in classes. But once again, I am learning a lot about myself and how to optimize my life!

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

  1. JUST GET STARTED! Taking the first step is the hardest, so do not wait for the "perfect moment" because it will never come. You will always have doubts.
  2. Don't hire until you necessarily have to. Before you bring other people on, you need to have a system that makes sense to you. Otherwise, ideological organization and logistics will become way too complicated!
  3. INVEST IN YOURSELF! One of my clients and mentors, who runs a business, told me that she spends nearly 20% of her time learning about different things. As an entrepreneur, you are your greatest asset so spend time trying new things and expanding your perspective!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.nikhilndesai.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikhildesai.med/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nikhil.desai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhil-desai-aa709319a/

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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