Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal and business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Toks Ayinla, founder of Toks Inc., located in Brampton, ON, Canada.

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

Toks Inc. is a multimedia company creating strategic solutions and educational content focused on business, relationships, and personal development. We offer both paid and free content that serves individuals, teams, and businesses. Our services include speaking, writing, coaching, and consulting, all aimed at empowering our clients with the tools and strategies needed to achieve their desired outcomes.

Tell us about yourself

My life and business mantras are 'Better Still Remains' and 'Rock Bottom is the Perfect Place to Start Building the Life of your Dreams.' I started working on Toks Inc. at a point in my life when everything was going wrong. I was depressed, ashamed, and sitting in the pits of rock bottom. The darkness of my situation left me with no choice but to seek light aggressively, so I began to shift my mindset, heal, realign, and discipline myself to better. I'm not special, I just made a decision and am consistently committed to doing the work, and this is what I strive to help others do through my business.

What motivates me each day to do what I do is the fact that my life is bigger than my own. I didn't experience the journey of trials and tribulations that I had to be an island. It's my duty and privilege to be a light to others on their paths to better. The strategies I developed to pull myself out of darkness are now being used to help individuals and businesses achieve their greatest ambitions. Nothing is ever wasted.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner was when a coaching client told me that I saved their life. Knowing that my work is having this kind of impact will always encourage me to continue on this path.

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

One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is staying motivated. When you start, the initial support and excitement can be so encouraging, but the deafening silence when it fades can be overwhelming and lonely. You have to develop the inner fortitude to be both the match and spark for yourself because people won't always be able to give you that. Motivation is an inside job.

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

  1. You need to create your own metric for success. Social media and external voices can have you feeling like a failure because you're not doing things how others are doing them. You owe it to yourself to decide what success looks like and use that as a grounding force to keep you focused.
  2. Get consistent, then get good. When you're starting, take the path of least resistance so that you can develop consistency. We all want to be excellent, and getting consistent will help you make sure it's not a fluke. Once you're consistent, begin to refine and hone your business, so it becomes everything you've ever desired.
  3. Success leaves clues. You're not the first person to run a business, so take time to see how successful people have done it. Read books, watch interviews, and seek out mentors. You'll find that you can skip over some steps by learning from others.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Give yourself grace! This journey is not linear, so be kind to yourself and remember that you're not a failure; you're a learner.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://tokstalks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokstalks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToksTalks
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3zfAG1q

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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