Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ruben Gonzalez, Founder of Olympian Motivation, located in Colorado Springs, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a professional keynote speaker. I speak for associations and corporate meetings about what I had to do to make it to the Olympics and how you can reach your goals faster by following the same success principles. Since 2002, over 100 Fortune 500 companies have brought me in to speak. I'm a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. My books have been translated into 10 languages.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a four-time Olympian in the sport of luge - the first person to ever compete in four Winter Olympics in four different decades. I used to sell copiers in Houston. Right before the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, a 5th-grade kid asked me to come to his school to tell my story. Afterward, the principal said I had a gift and that I needed to speak for a living. That's where it all started. I love inspiring people to face their fears and pursue their dreams. That's my motivation. It's all about the audience.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is getting to design a life where I can work from anywhere in the world and where I can spend a lot of time with my kids.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
You need to discipline yourself to get things done. The buck stops here.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find someone who's already done what you want to do. Approach them. Ask for help. Take them out to lunch or coffee. Then do everything they say you need to do. Make them proud by becoming successful.
- Join your trade's association. Find out who the most successful people are and hang around them. You become like the people you associate with.
- Dis-associate from anyone who plants doubt in your dream or says you can't do it.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
After speaking professionally for 20 years, I finally did my first TED talk, "The Power of Following the Leader," watch it here: FollowTheLeaderTEDtalk.com.
It's getting so many views, and I'm getting so many comments that it inspired me to write a book, "The Shortcut - The Fastest way to Achieve Your Goals." The book will be available in late September 2022.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://ruben-gonzalez.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelugeman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelugeman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-gonzalez-olympian/
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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