Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Caleb Quaid, Owner of Regenerative Shift, located in Tampa, FL, USA.

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

Regenerative Shift provides environmental consulting to businesses, municipalities, and individuals, focusing on regenerative practices and nature-based solutions. Soil and water are the building blocks of our ecosystems, and all life on earth depends on their health. Healthy soil and water also are two of the biggest keys to reducing atmospheric carbon, which is a major cause of climate change. At Regenerative Shift, we define regeneration as putting life at the center of each decision and action, whether at home, in business, or the community. We work with corporate clients of all sizes and focus on the business side of sustainability. Often, when we take a moment to look, there are ways to increase life, sequester carbon, and reduce cost through the same actions. For example, many companies and communities have large landscaping and maintenance budgets to go along with ambitious, expensive carbon-reduction goals. By utilizing native plants and shifting landscaping practices, we can increase the habitat and biodiversity of the land, reduce the needs and costs for water, pesticides, and fertilizers, clean/filter groundwater, and sequester tons of carbon per acre (literally).

Years ago, it was true that most environmental initiatives cost more money, but that isn't the case any longer. The Inflation Reduction Act, which is the federal environmental bill enacted in 2022, provides huge credits and deductions for individuals, corporations, and communities that invest in green technologies. Insulation, weather stripping, solar, HVAC, plumbing, and LED lighting upgrades all typically provide substantial monetary ROI while helping to ease the environmental burden. Regenerative Shift helps customers navigate the Inflation Reduction Act and find cost-effective solutions that bring life to their businesses and community.

Tell us about yourself

My background is in the National Football League, starting with the Miami Dolphins from 2009-2012 and then mostly through 10 years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2012-2021, where I directed stadium operations, facilities, and over $200MM in capital projects. Towards the end of my time with the Bucs, my passion shifted as I connected more with the environment and learned more about regeneration. At the time, there were very few businesses that were bringing regenerative environmental practices to corporate sustainability plans, and corporations lagged far behind best practices in agriculture for land and water management. I saw the opportunity to turn what was quickly becoming my passion in life into a business and use my connections and experience from the NFL to help bring life to corporate sustainability. Regenerative Shift's slogan is "Life at the Center." Life at the center is the philosophy for my business and my personal life. Whether it's meeting business challenges with regenerative solutions, sitting in nature, or participating in food rescue projects, I'm motivated by the philosophy of life-centered living and sharing these ideas.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My company is most well known for the living fence project we planted at Raymond James Stadium (home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) in 2022, which is the first project of its kind in North American professional sports. This 1100-foot living fence of bamboo and native plants replaced a previously-planned aluminum fence and serves to protect the parking lot from curb jumping. This project garnered media attention and helped propel Regenerative Shift into the public light. In its first full year in business in 2022, Regenerative Shift was profitable and continues to grow and thrive in 2023. That said, my biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been the opportunity it has given me to shine the light on and support others that have been working in the regenerative space for many years without much mainstream recognition. 80% of consultants and vendors are women, most having worked in their field for decades. It is an honor to bring them business and recognition for their expertise.

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

Finding a balance in life. With two young sons and a new relationship, finding the time to prioritize and balance all the important things in life, including Regenerative Shift, is a daily challenge. While it is a huge benefit to be passionate about my work, it also leads to me integrating my work and social life together, which can turn into lots of time working and discussing work. Finding a balance and focusing on creating life through my work, relationships, and family is a daily priority that is sometimes out of alignment.

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

  1. A penny saved is a penny earned. I've been fortunate to have success with sales for my new business, but the number one reason that my business is successful is because I limit spending. About a year before leaving the Buccaneers, I cut out a lot of major expenses (landscaping, television, housekeeping, and more) to prepare for entrepreneurship. Since then, I've started growing food in my garden and participating in food rescue to lower my grocery bills. I also limit my energy usage and consumer spending. As a startup, the difference between needing to make a few thousand a month to cover expenses and needing to make $10,000 a month or more can dramatically change the likelihood of a successful startup.
  2. Determine if you're a salesperson. Owning a small business is a sales job, day in and day out. Your ability to sell your ideas and your products cannot be overstated. If you don't feel like you can passionately sell your product, think twice.
  3. Put Life at the Center. We have reached planetary and societal boundaries for how far "business as usual" can take us. Whatever business you're in, recognize as you start out and grow that the market is changing and that the companies that work with nature will thrive. The next decade will hold many changes in public opinion and policy – be a leader in your field and put life at the center of your business!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.regenerativeshift.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071251051563
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/regenerativeshift/

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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