Interested in starting your own journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lauren Trantham, Founder of Ride My Road, located in Talent, OR, USA.
What's your organization, and who are your members?
Ride My Road is an anti-human trafficking nonprofit. Our donors come from all walks of life, although we have primarily operated within the motorcycle community.
Tell us about yourself
I founded Ride My Road in 2016 as a personal project to ride my motorcycle 10k miles across the United States to meet and photograph American survivors of human trafficking. I have now photographed over 80 survivors, and meeting them changed my life. I became educated on how trafficking occurs in the United States and how prolific exploitation is right here in our own communities. The survivors motivate me with their leadership and courage. Knowing that simple education can make a huge difference in their lives keeps me pushing on.
What's your biggest accomplishment as an organization?
Being invited into the survivor community is my biggest accomplishment. Also, thanks to our supportive community, we have raised $400,000 for survivors to receive education and restoration. We have hosted events across the US and made so many wonderful connections in the anti-trafficking community. It is awesome to be surrounded by such compassionate people.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being an organization?
Nonprofit work can be hard. There is a lot of burnout, and like any business, there are bills to pay. For the first four years, I did not receive any sort of compensation. Now, we are operating at a larger level and with that comes more pressure.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow an organization today?
- Be coachable - find yourself some mentors and actually take their advice. There are many people who have come before you, and they want to help, but you have to listen.
- Have at least one day a week when you fully unplug. Not just for your own mental health but also to nurture your personal relationships outside of the job.
- Believe in yourself - the top performers in the world all have one thing in common, an unwavering self-belief. Cultivate that belief by never breaking promises to yourself, tackling difficult things, and making time for introspection on the areas where you can grow.
Where can people find you and your group?
Website: https://www.ridemyroad.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ridemyroad
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridemyroad/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.