Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in digital marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Habib Bakshi, Founder & CEO of SkyDiamond Media, located in Austin, TX, USA.

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

Our business is centered around delivering successful performance marketing strategies for companies in the luxury, fashion, and enterprise e-commerce sectors. Our customers range from nationally recognized fashion brands like MOTHER denim, Faherty, and Kirna Zabete to enterprise e-commerce businesses like high-end spirits retailer ReserveBar.com.

Tell us about yourself

I started early on in the SEO industry almost 15 years ago. This current business is my 4th venture in the digital marketing space. My mentor was a digital marketing strategist that founded a review and rankings company to rate the top Digital marketing-related companies worldwide. I learned quite a bit from him during my early years. Time spent with him allowed me to develop a strong understanding of the pains and challenges most agencies were facing. My goal years later was to develop a marketing agency that could address these challenges and run a much more successful business model than even the best-in-class digital marketing firms. My motivation today is my children. I have a purpose in what I'm building, seeing that premium services today are not obsessive about customer service. We are truly obsessed with the client experience and client sentiment. This metric is something measured beyond just results; it's a care for the entire client business as a whole. My kids are a motivating factor, giving me the purpose to build legacy businesses not for today but for tomorrow.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Creating an organization where its core hiring principles are rooted in 'limitless growth.' I'm so proud to have built an organization that allows even an executive administrator to learn, listen, and become empowered enough over time to make it to the c-suite. I built this company on the principles of the American dream. I believe that your business is only as successful as you allow its people/employees to be. It truly is my most significant accomplishment.

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

Leading comes naturally to some, and I would like to think it's natural for me. However, it's one of the most challenging aspects of running a business. Believing in and executing your own ideas, even if you do not have everyone's blessing, is oftentimes the most difficult thing you have to do.

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

I would say you need to be ok with failure and low work-life balance and be ok saying no. Starting a business requires more than one try; you need to be ok with some failures along the way before you understand your own 'formula' for success. Running a business sounds glamorous, but it's not; there is nothing glamorous about sleepless nights, having little time for friends and family, and getting people to support your run toward becoming a real business owner. The outcome, if successful, is amazing! The journey of getting there is the toughest I've experienced. Your favorite word when you are working on growing a business will become NO. There will be tremendous amounts of opportunities presented to you to help you 'scale' your business. You will have to shut down 90% of these 'opportunities' as most are not proven. Sticking to your formula and growing while staying disciplined will lead you to success.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.skydiamondelite.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/habib.bakshi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/princehabib007/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/habib-bakshi/

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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