Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Adam Roa, Founder and Director of The Art of Choosing Love, located in Miami, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a creative catalyst. I express that through my own personal artistry and through supporting others in unlocking more of their own personal and business potential. My clients typically fall under the category of "seekers" who can feel that there is more to life than meets the eye and so much more available to us if we can learn how to unlock it.
Tell us about yourself
Growing up, I thought that I was the logical, business-minded one in my family who wasn't artistic. I struggled to find my place in the world and felt that I needed to have all of the external metrics of success (money, fame, power) to be happy. After "checking all the boxes" at an early age, including academic scholarships to college, varsity sports, and winning Homecoming King, I had a powerful realization that achievements weren't fulfilling. I began to search for ways to find happiness, and that led me down the road of artistic expression.
I began with an acting career in Los Angeles that ultimately left me feeling unfulfilled and lacking in self-worth. After going through a spiritual awakening in 2013, I began to share my journey online, and soon I had requests from people who desired support in their own lives. I launched a coaching business and began to share my biggest personal lessons through creative media, including spoken word poetry. In 2018, one of my poems, You Are Who You've Been Looking For, went viral (it currently has been viewed more than 200 Million times), and my social media following grew. Since then, I have continued to follow my heart creatively while offering different programs, courses, and 1:1 coaching to help others along the way.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say that my biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been that I've been able to do what I want and earn a living doing it. Isn't that the goal? Every day I get to wake up and think about what it is I'd like to create and what I want to offer, and I don't have anyone who tells me I can't.
I should say that often, people want to hear metric-based responses to these sorts of questions, but ultimately what we all really want is the opportunity to live a life doing what we love. From the metrics-based accomplishments, I'd say that signing a $1 Million coaching contract was a big achievement. So was creating a piece of content that became the most viral live poem in history.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
You have to self-motivate. On days when you don't want to work, you need to find the motivation to show up and do it. There's no boss looking over your shoulder. Oftentimes, you don't even know what it is that needs to be done, which adds another layer of complexity to the already frustrating times when things don't seem to be working.
Not enough people understand that entrepreneurship is a constant state of figuring things out as you go. Dealing with that frustration and learning to stay motivated through it is crucial.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you love it. There are so many days you will face frustration, hopelessness, loneliness, etc., and loving what you do is what gets you through it.
- Hire the right people. Finding the right team to support your vision is probably the most important aspect of building a business.
- Be willing to pivot. Try things, get feedback, and be willing to adjust your ideas.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://adamroa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAmAdamRoa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam.roa/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adam_roa
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamroa/
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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