Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joe Pusz, Founder & President of The PMO Squad, located in Gilbert, AZ, USA.

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

My business is The PMO Squad which is a Project Management Consulting firm. What's that, you ask? Well, every company in the world, regardless of size or industry, runs projects. Unfortunately, most companies don't do a good job with these projects, and they waste time and money, as well as hurt employee morale and customer satisfaction. The PMO Squad helps companies deliver projects better!

We serve clients across the United States, from small local and regional companies all the way up to the Fortune 50. We've been in business for almost ten years now and are grateful for all the repeat business we get from our customers.

Tell us about yourself

I used to be a corporate PMO Director and was tired of the constant in-fighting with peers and bosses about the benefits of project management. It seemed that every company I worked for struggled to accept project management across the organization, and it was a battle just to make small steps. There was never a sense of appreciation for the value we were bringing to the organization. On top of that, whenever we looked for outside help from consulting firms, there weren't any who specialized in Project Management. With a push from my wife, I started the entrepreneurial journey and started The PMO Squad. We only focus on project management solutions, and each client is asking for our help, so the struggle I faced as an employee is now replaced with the desire to deliver for my customers.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

After ten years, there are many accomplishments, so it's a challenge to name the biggest one. I'll have to say being named the Winner of the Small Business Awards by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2022 was a great validation of the work we've accomplished for our clients, community, and employees. A close second is one which might be obvious but is often not mentioned by owners, and that's our longevity.

So many businesses don't make it past year one, year three, or year five. Here we are about to hit year ten, and we continue to grow and serve a diverse client base across the US. Having the ability to adapt to changing economies, a global pandemic, changing workforce, and demands from the industry have been a challenge and a great accomplishment for our team.

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

One of the hardest things about being a business owner is that you are always an owner. There isn't downtime. Even when you aren't working, you're working. Your brand, your image, your services, your team, everything is 24/7. With that comes the responsibility to deliver for your team and their families. Being an owner means having ultimate accountability, and no one else in the organization carries that same burden.

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

  • Being a business owner is tremendously difficult and equally as rewarding. It certainly isn't for everyone, but if you do decide to start a business, I recommend a few things to consider. First and most important, know your "why." Be sure you have a clear understanding of your purpose and ensure you created your business to satisfy that purpose. Document it, share it with your team, and remind yourself of it every day.
  • Second, learn to become comfortable delegating. As employees, upward and downward delegation is defined by the org structure and culture. You have a clear understanding of how and when delegation is acceptable. When you start your own business, it becomes your child, and it is very difficult to allow someone to do something which you think you can do better. It is very challenging to accomplish your goals and objectives by yourself, so you'll need to be comfortable letting others do their work.
  • Lastly, expect to learn how much you don't know. You may be an expert in your field, but owning a business requires you to be an accountant, marketer, content creator, and salesperson, along with being an expert. Your success will depend more on the items in which you don't have the expertise, so you're going to be learning each and every day. Embrace these new learnings and know as your company matures and grows, you'll be able to delegate some tasks to others.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.thepmosquad.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PurposeDrivenPMO
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepmosquad
Twitter: https://twitter.com/THEPMOSQUAD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-pmo-squad

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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