Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sam Demma, Founder of Sam Demma Enterprises Inc., located in Pickering, ON, Canada.

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

I run a speaking business. Schools, organizations, and conferences hire me to deliver keynote speeches that help them create a culture of hope and service to others. My customers are school boards, student leadership conferences, civic organizations, governmental organizations, and higher education institutions.

Tell us about yourself

I was originally inspired by my grade 12 world issues teacher, Michael Loudfoot. He believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. He was the teacher who inspired the start of PickWaste (https://pickwaste.com), a volunteer organization my best friend and I started in high school, which led to our initial speeches in schools to recruit volunteers. After delivering about 40 presentations, I realized that speaking was something I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life. If you're really curious about the inspiration, check out the TEDx talk, "Small, Consistent Actions."
(https://www.ted.com/talks/sam_demma_small_consistent_actions) Reaching my full potential and helping as many people as I can do the same is what keeps me motivated and inspired.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I don't know, haha... I'd rather people look into my journey and decide that for themselves. I choose not to define myself by my accomplishments and don't over-celebrate them because I believe the day-to-day journey is MUCH more important than any singular accomplishment or milestone. With that being said, if I had to choose one, it would be publishing my book, "Empty Your Backpack" on November 18th, 2022. I've traveled North America delivering keynotes to audiences as small as 5 people and as large as 11,000, but the personal fulfillment I've received from writing a book over the past 16 months is unmatched.

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

I've struggled to balance my social life with my business growth and progress ambitions. I've become very disciplined about tending to my wellness routine but have yet to build a great strategy to balance all the hours I spent working with building a great social life. Long hours spent alone working on things that certain people will believe are a waste of time has been a big challenge for me in the past.

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

  1. Find mentors. One of the most underrated forms of education in entrepreneurship is learning directly from individuals already doing the exact things you want to be doing. When I first began building my speaking business, I put this idea to action by searching the term "youth speaker" on Google and calling everyone I could find on the first five pages of Google. Most of those individuals were gracious enough to spare me 15-minutes, and today, many of them are actually my colleagues. Reach out!
  2. Create your own definition of success, and don't compare your day one to someone else's day 1000. When I first started my business, I chose to define success the same way society would define it for an entrepreneur - growing a bottom line. After achieving many financial milestones, I realized it didn't make me happy, and I actually got depressed. At the start of your journey, carve out some time to define what success looks like for you.
  3. Create a list of non-negotiable habits to keep you physically and mentally well and stick to them no matter how busy you get. When things become busy in business, sometimes people allow their self-care routines to slip, placing business progress ahead of personal well-being. I've found that when you take care of yourself first, your business will grow, and you will have the peace of mind and health to enjoy it. Don't overlook the importance of taking care of yourself.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If you're in the GTA on November 18th, I'd love to see you at my debut book launch. Free food, music, red carpets, and a keynote presentation will be free, and every ticket includes a signed copy of the book. Tickets are ONLY $20. You can purchase your ticket here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/samdemma/740072

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://samdemma.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imsamdemma/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sam_demma/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sam_Demma
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-demma/

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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