Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in content creation but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tommy Geraci, host of Prelude to Positivity Podcast, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.

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

I have two businesses I am passionate about and that are related to one another. One is my entertainment company, Teeco71Entertianment. It’s where it all started for me, with my blog originally. This was a way for me to expand my social media presence in the early days of Twitter. I began by writing about my favorite shows, actors, trips and just sharing my own experiences. That all led me to interview actors, musicians, and celebrities I’d meet and interact with on social media.

It was through these interactions and sharing that I was noticed by people in the entertainment world and began to receive invites to events at TV Land, then to red carpet events, and even to cover red carpets and parties for award shows like the Golden Globes, Oscars, Emmys, etc. My customers are mainly event coordinators, convention organizers, booking agents (when I work with celebrities at conventions), actors, musicians, celebrities, and now with my podcast (Prelude to Positivity), anyone making a positive impact on the world, overcoming obstacles, and those who have tips for finding the positive and maintaining balance and mental health.

The problem I had with beginning my entertainment career was that I was extremely shy growing up and up to this point, so I had to decide how much I wanted all of this and HOW to overcome that shyness to live my dreams. This led me to my second passion business more recently, Coaching. I realized through working with my own coaches I could use my experiences to help others overcome obstacles preventing them from living their own dreams. If I could do it, so could they, and the tools I used could be applied to any situation. My clients here are people who feel held back by their own fears, lack of confidence, or who need a push to start something new or help organize thoughts and processes needed to advance.

Tell us about yourself

I started my businesses out of a passion for helping others; one is to bring them closer to aspects of entertainment they may not have access to, the other is to help people in similar situations as I was in so they don’t allow fear and obstacles to keep them from a life they dream of. Each day, if I can help others or simply put a smile on someone’s face, I am content. That may sound cheesy, but I remember being that shy kid who really wanted to be part of something bigger; I still have to remind myself from time to time that I know how to get past the obstacle and that I know how to get out of my head and out of my own way.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment so far has been living out my dreams pretty close to how I’ve imagined them and then showing others that it is possible for them as well. We are all more similar than we are different. We may not have the same issues holding us back, but we are capable of identifying what those are, and we possess the courage to get past almost anything.

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

I’d say one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is accepting guidance, corrective criticism, and help when we need it. Fortunately, I have had some amazing coaches who range from spirituality to fitness and nutrition, to life and business coaching. They have all helped me to realize it’s ok to admit you need help, to admit you aren’t ok, and to seek assistance when we need it. Sometimes, it can be as simple as venting out all you have going on to help you realize it’s not as bad as you think, you can do this, and there is a plan.

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

  1. Listen more than you speak – learn as much as you can from those around you, from your mistakes (and you’ll make plenty), and from criticism. Nothing is a waste of time if you learn from it.
  2. Find good mentors to follow, study from, and then adopt some of the things and qualities you like about them or that resonate with you and make sense to you.
  3. Be kind to yourself and allow those mistakes to make you stronger rather than beating yourself up each time. Confidence is something that builds up as you go, but you can’t let the setbacks keep you back.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

When it comes to success, I believe confidence is the first building block and a big part of the foundation you are building. Working on that will serve you in so many ways throughout life and business experiences. Most people think they lack confidence completely, but in reality, we are all confident in something. We just need to figure out what those areas are and then how we can apply that confidence to other areas of our lives when we need it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://teeco71.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tommygeraciofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommy_geraci_/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tommy_geraci_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommy-geraci-27ab241b/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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