Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in advertising services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Benjamin Smithee, CEO of The Smithee Group, located in New York, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a Digital Growth Agency. TSG Digital is focused on brand development, content strategy, and paid media distribution across search, display, programmatic, CTV, and social. We help build, grow, and scale retail and DTC brands and products. Our I3 (Insights | Intelligence | Innovation) is a full-service qualitative research division that helps corporations better understand their customers and target market to create successful marketing, advertising, and innovation pipelines.
Tell us about yourself
I have always been curious and driven by entrepreneurship. Through college, I was a jazz musician (saxophone), which taught me a tremendous amount about entrepreneurship, improvisation, and creativity which has served me well across 3 successful startups. My team is my biggest motivation. It starts at home with my family and then in the office with a group of rockstar creatives and strategists that continue to challenge me daily.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Building something that has a generational impact. Our vision has always been to inspire and empower people to create generational success. We have provided first jobs, career changes, advancements, and success for people that will impact their families generationally. That is, by far, my biggest accomplishment from a business perspective.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
It is funny because, as a business owner, you have to embrace change and transition. A healthy thing grows, and growing things change, so growth is constant evolution and transition. That is both a positive but is also the hardest thing about running a business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Fall in love with the journey as much as the dream. Passion is the ember, not the flame. The secret to success is in the 4 C's - Character, Competence, Connection, and Commitment.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.thesmitheegroup.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjaminsmithee/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminsmithee/
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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