Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Steve Gamlin, Speaker, and Visualization Coach, located in Weare, NH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Vision Boards are NOT Arts & Crafts projects. As a speaker, coach, author, podcast host, and content creator, my mission is to teach individuals, entrepreneurs, and corporate teams to not only understand but also engage and implement the power of Visualization in all areas of their lives, creating BETTER VERSIONS of the people who walk in the door every day.
My client base is split fairly evenly, male-to-female, with ages ranging from the 30s-60s. Industries that have been in my sweet spot include entrepreneurs, small businesses with teams of 40 people or fewer, larger companies with multiple teams/divisions, real estate, hospitality, financial planners (who wish to engage in Visualization with their clients when setting financial goals) and those in the non-profit sector (who struggle with 'spirit burnout').
Tell us about yourself
When I was 11 years old, my heroes included:
- Dr. Johnny Fever (radio DJ) on 'WKRP in Cincinnati.'
- Steve Martin in stand-up comedy
- My 5th-grade teacher Mrs. Feren
I was inspired to be on the radio, to make people laugh, and to be a 'teacher of people (in a non-classroom setting). At age 24, I got into radio. At age 35, completely burned out and exhausted, I walked away from my award-winning radio career (and the rest of my life fell apart as well). My first marriage ended, and I was heavily in debt. Less than two years later, after spending a hot and humid August afternoon hitting a $3.00 bucket of golf balls in a thunderstorm, under power lines, barefoot in the wet grass (and daring the lightning to hit me)...my humorous re-telling of this little adventure inspired my then-brand-new life coach to ask: "Have you ever thought of becoming a motivational speaker or a stand-up comic?"
Within three weeks, I was pursuing both. Performed stand-up for seven years. Been speaking for 18...so far. Every day, it is my mission to leave as many situations as I can better than I find them, for REAL PEOPLE just like you and me... THAT...is what keeps me going. PLUS: every day begins with putting pen to paper and acknowledging my three favorites 'moments' from the previous day as gratitude. Great way to fire up each new day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My Vision Board Mastery audio learning program. After spending several years putting my own life back together, I began to teach the basics of Visualization while speaking, then began conducting in-person events.
Eventually, someone said: "Steve, I'm just a one-person business and can't afford to hire you for an event...is there any way you could create a program that I could listen to?"
About two years (and more than 200 hours in my recording studio) later, I finally completed the final version (there were 12 in all) of the "Vision Board Mastery (Engaging Your WHY)" learning program: 74 minutes and 52 seconds of audio (divided into ten briefs, action-driven modules), guiding the listener through EVERY STEP that I learned in the process of learning how to use Visualization effectively.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Realizing that you CAN NOT do it all. Being a fast-paced, creative, passionate 'idea guy' is great for some parts of my business...but not for others. This is why I made the decision to bring people onto my team who can construct the systems necessary to be able to grow my platforms, expand my reach and be able to help even more people without stretching myself too thin and burning out (again). For years, I kept insisting that I could do it all. I was wrong and paid the price with a ton of frustration and lack of growth.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Know who YOU are (your strengths, styles, understanding of systems, etc.) and hire others (there are so many affordable freelancers out there) to do the rest.
- Know who your TARGET AUDIENCE is, what their pains are, and how YOU can solve them. Be sure to communicate this in all of your messaging.
- Find something you enjoy (or can at least tolerate) doing, and figure out how to trade VALUE for REVENUE. Too many people are out there shouting phrases like "Follow your passion!" That's great...if you want to be blissed out while you're going broke. Building and growing a successful business requires brain and heart...and a whole lot of time, money, and patience. And a nap now and then wouldn't hurt.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Remember that life is made up of many parts. As a teacher of Visualization, I hear people say things like: "I went to a Vision Board Party!"...then they send me a picture of what they created, which consists of what I call 'The Vision Board Starter Kit' (Lamborghini, mansion, yacht, Rolex, bars of gold and private helicopter). Please remember: your life (the way I teach it) is made up of your Physical health, Emotional well-being, Relationships, Core Values and ethics, Faith and spirituality, Connection to the world, Career, and Finances. Begin setting goals, even simple ones, in each of these areas of your life, and you'll increase the odds of creating a much better, more integrated version of yourself.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.motivationalfirewood.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3QWbqCG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevegamlin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SteveGamlin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegamlin/
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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