Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrew Ettenhofer, founder of Sales Toolbox, located in Lafayette, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Small business owners have one of the biggest jobs - sales, marketing, HR, operations, and everything in between. They are often alone and feel lost or overwhelmed with these demands. This is where I come in - I help business owners find perspective and purpose so they can continue to grow and enjoy what they do.
Tell us about yourself
I discovered sales early in my career and liked how it put me in touch with people every day. I really enjoyed collaborating and problem-solving with diverse kinds of clients on a variety of projects. Not wanting to be bound to one kind of client or industry, I launched Sales Toolbox in 2016 as a well-rounded business development consulting firm.
I eventually learned that people - especially business owners - often don't need consultants telling them what to do. Who knows their business better than the person living in it 24/7/365. Instead, they need a coach who can act as a sounding board, hold them accountable, and continually remind them that they are capable of great things!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
What started as a side hustle has become my full-time profession.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It's hard to pick just one! But if I had to, I would say pulling yourself out of your business so you can work on bigger picture stuff is one of the hardest things. Business owners are too often in the weeds with the day-to-day tasks of running a business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Test drive your concept. Start as a side hustle, for example, if you can before committing all the way. You want to see if you really enjoy what you do before making it a full-time gig.
- Determine if there is a need or demand for your concept. You may love your idea, but then you discover that the world really doesn't need what you are offering. Again, it's better to know this before committing too much to a business.
- Create a support network. Find mentors, advisors, and other folks with valuable knowledge and experience that hopefully resembles what you are trying to accomplish. Enroll friends and other people you can confide in for more emotional support. And enlist people who will give you honest feedback so you can learn and grow better, faster, and stronger.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.buildyoursalestoolbox.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewettenhofer/
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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