Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dain Johnson, Founder of Rev 0 LLC.,  located in Fort Collins, CO, USA.

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

Rev 0 provides leadership coaching for engineers-turned-manager and leaders of technical organizations. We believe that when leaders grow personally, their organization will too. Our customers are technical experts who are now leading people and strategies in start-up and growth stage organizations.

Tell us about yourself

After ten years as a mechanical engineer in large corporations, I recognized the overweight influence of human behavior and motivation on business decisions - even the most technical of problems.

I saw that most technical experts (myself included) were ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of people and organizations. While working with a start-up engineering firm, I completed a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology - the study of people at work - and realized the most significant value I could add to the world was to improve the working experience for others.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My hardest earned accomplishment was getting the courage to say "no" to the wrong customers and the wrong work. As an entrepreneur just starting, it's easy to say "yes" to any and every opportunity to generate revenue. Once I began saying "no," I could focus all of my energy on getting and performing the right work for me.

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

Investing in the business when revenue is low. When working in a corporation, it's easy to spend money because it's not yours, but every dollar you spend as a business owner can feel personal. Holding back investment holds back your business. That includes outsourcing things you can do but shouldn't, like designing a logo or doing tax filings.

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

  1. If you're considering becoming a consultant or coach, especially as a solopreneur, it's critical to define your niche. Even if you're willing and capable of taking on many different projects, only market one. This makes it easier for people to find you but also easy for people to refer you.
  2. Referral networks are powerful. Spend more time developing relationships with people who might refer clients to you rather than directly with potential clients. A client may hire you once, but a great referral partner might send ten clients to you.
  3. Get out of your office and talk to people about your work. Ideas, clients, partners, and feedback can come from anywhere.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

The great thing about being an entrepreneur is everyone has an opinion about how to do it, even those that have never done it! Find a local entrepreneur group, build a mentorship board-of-directors for yourself, and offer your help to others.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.rev0.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rev0Consulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dain-johnson/

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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