Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sami Shaw, Founder and Co-Owner of Shaw Career Consulting, located in West Bend, WI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Shaw Career Consulting is a resume writing service owned by a husband-and-wife team with over 20 years of combined experience in recruiting, employee relations, and administration. Since our conception, we have served over 3,000 clients ranging from entry-level candidates to C-Level Executives. We have mastered the art of writing data-driven resumes for dozens of industries and have achieved close to a 95% success rate with our clients.
Tell us about yourself
Hi! I am Sami Shaw, the founder of Shaw Career Consulting. At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, I set out to find a way to help those affected by layoffs and furloughs while also making a side income myself. At this time, I was already running another business and figured writing resumes part-time for individuals in need would be a great way to get through the pandemic without losing any income.
After realizing how passionate I was about using my skills to help others, I knew I needed to turn this into a full-time thing so that I could support as many people as possible. To this day, my biggest driving force behind our business is helping others find success. My passion comes from seeing my clients find success, land positions they have always dreamt of, and finally, obtain the income that they deserve.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As I mentioned, I am extremely passionate about helping individuals find employment that they love and that pays well. My biggest accomplishments come with those “Thank You!” or “You’ll never believe the job I landed” emails. It may be slightly cliché, but I truly succeed when our clients succeed. My second biggest accomplishment has to be growing the business from a part-time gig in 2020 to a full-scale operation that now supports both my husband and me.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, the hardest thing about being a business owner is letting go of responsibilities and delegating work to others. I am extremely proud of this business - not only the fact that I grew it myself but also the fact that it helps so many people. I take great pride in the quality of work we create and the customer service we provide. We have grown to the point where we will soon be looking to hire a 3rd employee, and knowing that I need to let go of control and trust someone else to provide quality service can be challenging.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find something you are passionate about. Being an entrepreneur and starting a business is tough. There are peaks and valleys - days you feel like you will succeed forever and also days you feel like you are failing and should just throw in the towel. You need to find your passion behind what you are doing and use it as a motivating force to get through those tough days.
- Figure out what your skills are and brainstorm how you can combine those with your passion to create a business. There are so many different paths to becoming a business owner, and there is no “one size fits all” approach.
- Brainstorm where your ideal client hangs out - both in-person and virtually - and hang out there as well. Don’t try to spam people with your services. Instead, listen to their needs and establish yourself as an expert in the community. Build authentic relationships, and you’ll begin to grow your business. If you have the ability, offer a few free services at the beginning of your journey to develop a portfolio and referrals that will support you moving forward.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Exceptional customer service will go a long way. Every business should have set policies and procedures, but knowing when to be flexible and serve your customers differently can really make or break your business. Creating a loyal clientele base that will refer others to you is a huge business builder. Don’t burn bridges if you don’t have to, and when you need to, do it as professionally as possible.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.shawcareerconsulting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawcareerconsulting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawcareerconsulting/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CareerShaw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sami-shields/
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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