Improve Your Customer Service Systems

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nancy Azeez, Founder of Red Onyx Consulting, located in Cypress, TX, USA.

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

I own a consulting firm called Red Onyx Consulting, based out of Houston, TX, and I offer Customer Experience and Customer Service training and workshops to businesses in the food and beverage industry. My customers in that industry are businesses looking to revamp their customer service culture, build a better reputation, increase employee morale, gain more loyal customers, create effective customer experience processes and systems and increase revenue.

Tell us about yourself

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be an entrepreneur. I started at a young age by selling my lunch to other kids. I would go to an orange farm, get oranges, and sell them to my classmates. Customer service has always been dear to my heart because of my personality and genuine care for people.

My first real job was as a hostess in Olive Garden, and I stayed in the hospitality industry for a while. I received my Bachelor of Science from the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. I transitioned from being a hotel manager at the Omni Hotel into owning my own business, and today I use everything I learned, coupled with my graduate degree and entrepreneurial experiences, to help businesses in the food and beverage industry earn more and thrive through strategic customer experience and service systems.

My motivation daily is my family. I want to leave a great financial legacy and a strong work ethic to my children. Another thing that motivates me is being a part of others' success stories. Covid was hard on the food and beverage industry, so if what I do can help a restaurant bounce back and succeed, I can sleep better at night.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment was taking a leap of faith to fully quit my job and go into entrepreneurship without any financial help from anyone. I succeeded by starting my own consulting firm, franchising my own tax firm with multiple locations, and balancing work and family.

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

Perseverance. Entrepreneurship is not an easy road. There are many reasons to give up and go back to the comfort of a paycheck. As a business owner, you must always be your cheerleader and your own coach and keep going even if you don't see results sometimes.

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

Please do your homework on the industry you want to go into and learn all you can before jumping in.
The right mentorship is key. You need people in your corner who have been where you're trying to go. Hire a business coach, look for a solid mentor, and read business books that you can apply the knowledge to your life. If you can't afford a business coach, I suggest looking into SCORE. They're great.
There is no such thing as overnight success. You must be willing to work hard and smart to endure the process. Don't fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others you see online. People show their victories without the scars.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.redonyxconsulting.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nazeezspeaks/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancymensah/

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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