Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ryan Mckenzie, Co-Founder of Tru Earth®, located in Coquitlam, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our business is Tru Earth®, a leading eco-friendly household product company committed to eliminating plastic from landfills and oceans. Our customers are people all around the world who believe in making sustainable choices – they're our 'Tru ChangeMakers™,' as we like to call them. Our business is built on the idea that small actions can have big impacts, and we're proud to be part of a larger movement to help make the world a better place.
Tell us about yourself
I live in British Columbia with my beautiful wife and our three kids. My love for our kids and worry about their future woke up my eco-conscious side. Before I co-founded Tru Earth, I had a subscription box company. The idea for Tru Earth® first came to me while watching YouTube videos with my kids. I saw the crazy amounts of plastic being used. I wanted to create an eco-friendly solution that would actually work. We wanted to make sustainable choices easy and accessible. My motivation each day comes from knowing that our product is making a positive impact on the environment. It's humbling to think that something I started in my living room has now made it into the homes of thousands of people all over the world, and we're grateful for their support! Knowing we are helping make a difference drives us every day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our biggest accomplishment as a business owner is having served over 60,000 people in 40 countries - and the planet! We have been able to make eco-friendly products accessible to so many people around the world, making it easier for them to make sustainable choices. It's amazing to see how much of an impact we've had in such a short time, and it motivates us to keep striving for more.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is the doubt and fear of failure. The idea of taking a risk and investing your time, energy, and financial resources into something that may or may not work can be daunting. We never knew for sure if our product would succeed, but we took the risk, and it paid off.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a great team around you. This can be friends, family, mentors, advisors, etc., whatever works for you! Having people who are supportive of your ideas and vision will help keep you motivated when times get tough.
- Have the right mindset. Believe in your product, don't be afraid to take risks, and never give up! It can sometimes feel like a long road with no end in sight, but if you stay focused on your goals and keep pushing forward, you will get there eventually.
- Take action and measure results. Don't wait for perfection – just get started and see what works! Monitor what's working, adjust as needed, focus on continuous improvement, and enjoy the ride! The most successful businesses are built on trial and error and learning from mistakes.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.tru.earth/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruEarthMovement
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TruEarthMovement/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TruEarthLaundry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryemckenzie/
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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