Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Les McGehee, President, and Founder of Rialto Academy, located in Austin. Texas, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am the founder of Rialto Academy and McGehee Authentic Company (MAC). Rialto coaches and trains entrepreneurs, especially those in home sales. That includes big real estate companies, Realtors, lenders, inspection companies, etc. Rialto is famous for customized interactive education platforms, and we have over 300,000 members. MAC specializes in entertainment and investment products, including my publishing, performances, and production projects.
Tell us about yourself
I was a successful working comedian at an early age. Somehow school leaders took my misbehavior and directed it into performance, awards, and scholarships. I had entrepreneurial parents and free days, so I soon started businesses. One business I had was to consult other businesses on what they called "soft skills," such as presentation skills, interviewing, and other interactive skills. Then McComb's Graduate School of Business (the University of Texas at Austin) and some other business schools did multi-year studies on my work and its effect on hundreds of their MBA candidates. The results of those studies got me my first book deal, Les McGehee Plays Well With Others, and greatly expanded my reach as a consultant. My motivation to perform is deeper than I can describe. My motivation to coach is as deep and comes from the fact that I had successful businesses that didn't reap the rewards they had coming because I lacked a business advisor or coach. Now I am thrilled to be that source of key advice for other entrepreneurs, and I love to see them make millions, achieve life goals, and support others through mentorship and charity. I love that I get to share huge life successes with my clients. It rates right up there with being on stage in front of raucous laughing audiences.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Like most business people, I was doing my best. Come to find out, my best was THE best in some categories. It helped my business confidence and growth to have won #1 in the world in a couple of categories. #1 in comedy performance with a team (Comedy League of America) and #1 in Business Training (Training Magazine). While my daily accomplishments with my clients and with my laughing audiences fill me up every day, it would be those awards as #1's in the world that focused my business ownership and underlined everything I did in business with a sense of responsibility to lead.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The best things are often also the most challenging things. For instance, the best thing about owning a business for me is that I get to surround myself with amazing teammates. A hard part of that same thing is that I feel quite responsible for their experiences and development! So finding, leading, nurturing, and feeling responsible for the best teammates is the best and hardest sometimes. It's quite an honor to lead an amazing team, which comes with great amounts of pride, fulfillment, and pressure.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get extremely clear on what you'd like to do.
- Find the folks who have a need you can fulfill with what you do.
- Do what you do extremely well and focus on constant curiosity and improvement.
- Have fun. Take your work seriously, and don't get distracted by taking yourself too seriously along the way.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://rialtoacademy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/les.mcgehee.5/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesmcgehee/
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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