Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erica Thomas, President and CEO of Transitional Solutions Inc., located in Sherwood Park, AB, Canada.

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

Transitional Solutions Inc. (TSI) is a management consulting firm focused on assisting organizations through transitions. Whether the organization is planning for the future through strategic and tactical business plans or if they need a neutral third party to take a look at the operations or organizational structure, TSI has over 35 consultants with diverse backgrounds to help. Further to the administration and governance of organizations, TSI has a division focused on emergency services, including fire service reviews, fire master plans, emergency management plans, and emergency exercises.

Tell us about yourself

Most importantly, I am a mother to four amazing young kids. I have a BComm and an MBA and took over TSI in 2015 from my father, who started the firm as a boutique consulting firm assisting Municipalities throughout Alberta. My passion is growing and building; as such, we transformed TSI into a national consulting firm. I am motivated by growing TSI into other provinces in Canada and to continue to build a platform where consultants can share their expertise and assist organizations through their transitions. My children motivate me every day as well.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say there are two areas I'm most proud of:

  1. Taking my father's three-person consulting firm and expanding it exponentially to over 35 consultants and now operating coast to coast in Canada. We continue to be the firm of choice for consultants and our customers.
  2. In 2019, our five-year-old son battled cancer, and through this, our firm survived and thrived. Our team of consultants took over where I couldn't and continued to build TSI in our absence. We further survived through COVID-19, shifting and guiding clients through this incredible transition, not only ensuring our corporation survived but helping multiple other organizations survive the pandemic.

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

While being a business owner offers flexibility, work-life balance is incredibly hard, as the success of the organization often depends on the business owner. There is always a long list of "to-do's" and expectations, and as a business owner, you have to be good at saying no and tempering your staff and consultants' enthusiasm with the reality of limited time and resources. Further, I think staying focused on your core business is important. There have been times when we have tried new areas, and more often than not, it only distracted us from our core service rather than assisted in the diversification of the services.

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

  1. Keep your team close and include them in your vision for the business. You never know when the rug will get pulled out from under you, and these are the people that will catch you when you fall.
  2. Create space in your schedule to plan.
  3. Create some boundaries on your time. The "to-do" list is never-ending, and it's easy to spend 24 hours a day building your business. Don't forget to balance that with time with friends and family.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://transitionalsolutions.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tsisolutionsyeg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transitionalsolutions/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tsisolutionsyeg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transitional-solutions-inc-/

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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