Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in professional development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, located in D.C. Metro Area, VA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business advises sales professionals and entrepreneurs the better strategies for building professional relationships that ultimately lead to growing a loyal clientele.
Tell us about yourself
Women were poorly treated in corporate. Each year for 11 years, I had to find a new job as jealously led to my hard-earned accounts given to the men, and my quota tripled for the following year. It was a near-death experience due to an 'irreparable broken neck' showing how to become an entrepreneur via community service. To date, it has been 20 years for sharing my best and that of other leaders to help those striving to improve their careers.
Do you have daily rituals for work / wellness / fitness / mindfulness?
Daily Rituals for Mindfulness
At an early age, I began a practice that works perfectly for a career and a business:
- As the day ends, I reflect on what I did well and what I need to improve for the following day.
- Each morning, I review my daily essential goals and how I may improve upon attaining them.
- I maintain a running task list to ensure I complete everything on time.
Later in life, upon reading a book that sounded ‘nuts,’ I gave it a try: I do workouts at the gym or take long walks at a good clip at least six days per week, increasing the intensity as often as possible, including weights. Moreover, I changed to a vegetarian Mediterranean diet, leading to never-before weight loss and being far more energetic. Wellness paves the way to mindfulness!
Takeaways Regarding Mindfulness
- The frequency of exercise provides extra energy and a feeling of well-being.
- Activity at the gym or outdoors allows further reflection and flow of new ideas.
- A one-minute evening routine before sleep of reflection on my motivating inspiration to continue forward.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Upon being laughed at long ago, I was advised to write a book. A wonderful surprise was mine upon learning that my book, Nice Girls DO Get The Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results, published by Sourcebooks, is now Evergreen - among the classics! It's a corporate tell-all of all the horrific events the male management at each company pulled and how I dealt with them so that readers could step up and do the same as a need arises.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The most challenging aspect of being a business owner for me was the sudden realization of the need to learn varying disciplines related to sales. Coupled with the thought was the need to become collaborative after the years of being highly competitive.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be willing to learn from everyone and all situations - the good and the bad for you to excel.
- Listen, question, and clarify for a better understanding.
- Success requires 'Purpose, Passion, and Perseverance.'
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
As people observe our advancements, negativity and nastiness may increase. It signals that it's time to find people who will encourage you to continue growing. Accordingly, more opportunities arise, and business advances. Sometimes we have to work alone to realize a better path to make our desired advancements. Due to my near-death experience, my success secret is 'Believe, Become, Empower.' Believe you can do it, become that person, and empower others to work similarly.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://smoothsale.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/smoothsale
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elinorstutz/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Elinor-Stutz/e/B001JS1P8S
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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