Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in content creation but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Suzanne Newman, founder, and CEO of Answers for Elders Inc., located in Edmonds, WA, USA.

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

Answers for Elders educates, inspires, and empowers seniors and their family members through a robust podcast network and nationally syndicated radio show to navigate the daunting journey of senior care. We feature interviews from the top providers in the industry in over 64 interconnected categories of expertise to help them discover the best solutions and resources along the way. We also believe in community outreach. Each holiday season, we team up with the Seattle Seahawks to bring NFL Legends to celebrate memories and football, and since the pandemic, we founded Washington Therapy Doodles, who help touch the hearts of lonely seniors through therapy dog visits throughout Washington State.

Tell us about yourself

As VP of a publishing company, I started a new six-year journey, caring for my mother. Through caring for her, I realized more and more how challenging it could be, as families are often caught off guard as it's an emotional and stressful time. In 2009, at the height of the recession, I was downsized from my job and realized that I could create something that could help educate families like me, as well as seniors who were navigating a very complex and complicated journey. For the past 14 years, I have built AFE to become a lighthouse to guide families through treacherous times. Since our inception, we started educating Pacific Northwest families through a local radio program that is now syndicated and through a robust podcast platform to be there for families anytime they need us. What motivates me started with a visualization I always focused on when I was a caregiver. I saw myself as a Phoenix to rise from the ashes. It propelled me to fly higher and higher. I now use it to help motivate others in similar situations and also seniors to help empower them to plan ahead and properly prepare for their aging years.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Today we have a library of 1000 podcasts and growing, along with a nationally syndicated radio program.

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

This is an interesting question. Initially, it was the stress of feeling like I had to please investors, and I had very little knowledge of what it would be like to build a company. Today, however, I realize more and more that being successful has to do with following my gut and my passion for my values and principles. Today, I love challenging myself to think of new ways to inspire families and take what I know to new levels.

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

  1. ALWAYS be kind. Find ways to show the world that you care about the community you serve. In the words of my mother: "An act of kindness is never a bad thing." I still subscribe to that and always strive to be there for the community I serve. Be gentle with people around you. Make friends. Keep an open heart to help others. It will come back to you tenfold. We do two major outreach programs, and my investors, in the beginning, were frustrated with me because, to them, it felt like the efforts we put forward were not going to bring forward a proper ROI. Yet, it's the relationships we have built through these programs that have given us a loyal and committed client base. I truly believe it's a key reason why we have emerged as a successful company.
  2. Ask yourself every single time you make a decision about a new direction in your organization, "Will this increase the value of my company?" EVERY decision you make should be about increasing your value, either monetarily, to enhance your brand, or to grow your client base.
  3. LIVE your mission and get used to feeling uncomfortable and challenged. That helps you grow. Don't be afraid to be bold and to think big. You are always capable of greater things than you can even imagine. Don't get lost in the minutia by majoring in minor things. As long as you keep your mission as your North Star, it will guide you to greatness.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://www.answersforelders.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnswersForElders

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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