Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Mary Welsh, Co-Founder of Susie Q's Kids Inc., located in Warren, MI, USA.

What's your organization, and who are your members?

Susie Q's Kids provides comfort bags to kids in need in our community. Started in honor of our late daughter Susie, we provide comfort bags, blankets, bears, arts, and toys to other nonprofits for distribution to kids in their programs, such as hospitals, shelters, foster care agencies, and those that are grieving the loss of loved ones. "One comfort bag at a time."

Tell us about yourself

My late daughter Susie is my inspiration. We lost Susie to Sepsis in 2017 at the age of 31 after a lifetime of illnesses. She always smiled, helped others, and gave back. She inspires me to get up every day and ensure that another child through Susie Q's Kids gets that same dose of hope, inspiration and healing through our comfort bags, the cuddle of a teddy bear, the warmth of a blanket, or from the art of coloring.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

When you experience trauma, you can process it in different ways. I took the tragic loss of my daughter Susie under the guidance of my therapist to author four books (2 adult and 2 children's books), to speak locally and nationally, to share our story of hope, healing, and inspiration through the Four Aspects of Positive Reflection shared in my books (to remember, to reflect, to recreate, and to help others).

As we weave our story forward, I remember and cherish Susie, I reflect on the seemingly endless precious moments, I picked myself up and created a new purpose and passion for my life. I relate through practicing self-care, helping others (my speaking and books), and giving back to the community by helping other nonprofits and their missions that distribute our comfort bags and, of course, the kids and families that share a smile and get comfort from our comfort bags, bears, and blankets.

Susie is with me always, I speak of her daily, and she inspires me and others through her motto, "You got this."

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

You are it. You encourage and enable others through how you share and express your passion and purpose. How you promote yourself and your product and service. It always involves others and how you treat them makes a difference whether they are your valued employees, volunteers, or your customers. The old saying "to treat others as you would like to be treated" makes sense and should be a foundational segment of your business and employee culture. Happy employees and happy customers make a happy business and owner!

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

  1. Do due diligence in researching your product, service, market, and personal commitment, a lapse in any area can lead to lost time, money, and misallocated resources which could impact your success and potential.
  2. Be prepared to put in the time and resources to succeed.
  3. Be aware you can not do it all yourself, ask for and receive feedback and help.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Make sure you align your business with your passion and your purpose, so the long hours, days, and missed opportunities are worth the effort! In other words, do something you find valuable to yourself, others, and/or the community.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://susieqskids.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susieqskids/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/susieqskids/

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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