Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in coaching but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Darryl Stickel, Founder of Trust Unlimited, located in Victoria, BC, CA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I teach people about trust, what it is, how it works, and how to build it. I work with organizations and leaders all over the globe. I've also worked with various industries, including finance, heavy industry, tech, non-profit, and government.
Tell us about yourself
I wrote my doctoral thesis on building trust in hostile environments while at Duke University. Upon finishing my Ph.D. I worked for McKinsey & Company, one of the world's leading management consulting firms. Upon leaving McKinsey, I started Trust Unlimited, and I've spent the last 20 years helping people solve trust-related issues.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Hard to choose the biggest success. Helping the Canadian Military in its attempts to build trust with the locals in Afghanistan was significant. Not sure if it's bigger than the recent work I've done with SAP, a global software company, helping part of their HR group better understand trust and apply it to the leaders they serve. The SAP work was particularly interesting because it involved helping leaders from all over the globe in the same engagement.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Every transition involves a new learning curve. Any time the business grows, it means leaning on other people and delegating more responsibility. This often comes when we have to learn new skills ourselves. Keeping up with all of the detailed work is also a significant challenge.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Relationships are key; I'm biased because of my work, but I believe that having strong relationships with stakeholders makes all of the difference. Clients are more likely to stick with you through challenging times. They are also more likely to make referrals if the relationship is strongly positive.
Think about the perspective of your clients when offering them services. Often we get caught up in how good our product or service is. It's the client's opinion that matters here, not ours.
We build trust with others by making ourselves vulnerable and showing that we have others' best interests at heart.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.trustunlimited.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darryl.stickel
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3bFqZiO
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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