Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katherine Lesperance, Founder of Sensible Marketer Inc., located in Calgary, AB, Canada.

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

We've built up to be a marketing agency, serving enterprise to startup businesses in Canada and the US. We help them attract new customers, clients, and investors with Marketing Strategy, Branding, Content & SEO, Development & CRM, and Consulting & Advisory.

Tell us about yourself

I was laid off in 2017, shortly after returning from my third maternity leave. As I was being interviewed for roles but not finding anything I was really passionate about, a friend of mine asked if I had ever considered consulting. I was reluctant at first, telling myself I needed a 9-5 job, security through full-time work, and benefits. But then I took his advice, and he helped me get my first pitch lined up. A couple of months later, I landed it. From there, it's been an exciting ride, and learning that I had more freedom in my own business, more security as I was in control of my career, and the type of people I get to meet (even internationally!) keeps me going every day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has been the people we work with. The team at Sensible Marketer is outstanding, with brilliant minds delivering on areas of their expertise. The clients we have are amazing to work with, and all of them feel more like an extended part of our team rather than a client. When you get to work alongside great people, it really makes every day that much better.

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

It's a bit of a rollercoaster ride! There are times when you feel like you're kicking butt. On other days, not so much. You need a really strong reason as to why you're doing this to get through those lower moments. Or know where to find your source of inspiration to get through those down troughs. The grass often can look greener on the other side, and you need to ground yourself with why you did this in the first place. You're going to have to deal with conflicts sometimes with clients, people leaving your team if you build one up, market and industry influences beyond your control, and a lot of time dedicated to work, stretching, and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. Even the darkest nights end in the day, so you can get through it. But you need to figure out what your core motivation is and not be shy about reminding yourself what that is.

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

  1. No one does this alone. You need to network, talk to people, don't be shy about what you're doing (don't go the full used-cars salesman cliche that many people hate, but when people ask what you do, share!). When starting out, you are the biggest asset to sell your business.
  2. Write down a lean business plan, at the very least. I started in a program where we had to write out a business plan. It was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted to get into selling and landing more clients. But I always tell people that what I wrote in my business plan actually came true (even the revenue targets!). Sometimes putting your thoughts on paper can help provide direction without you knowing it. And it's a reflection tool to use to see where you started as the months slip by, and you often forget where you started out from.
  3. Think agile. It is not necessary to have everything perfect before you start. Often, people think they need the perfect website. I'm here to tell you, you don't. You can sell without that. I landed my first clients without having a website. You are going to be the biggest promoter, and sometimes it's just about getting that product out there to learn. It's about trying different sales pitches to see what lights up people's eyes or gets them interested. It's about not being scared to try something. Tell all the little negative thoughts about why you can't do something yet to be quiet, and run with it. Go for 80% because you will learn so much as you go, and you may need to adjust what you thought when you actually test your minimum viable product in the market.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://sensiblemarketer.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensibleMarketerInc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensiblemarketer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SensibleMrktr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sensiblemarketer/

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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