Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Veronica Green, Founder of Cultivating Confidence - Early Years Consultancy, located in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

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

I am an Early Childhood Consultant & Mentor, and I inspire and support Early Childhood Educators to confidently educate with creativity and connection. I offer professional development education and resources that support educators to plan meaningful play experiences, understand behaviours and build strength-based relationships. I am also a special needs momma to an energetic seven-year-old autistic boy, Joshua. He has taught me so much and greatly impacted my perspective as an educator, mom, and human being. I specialize in loose parts play, sensory processing, and sharing my Reggio-inspired practice.

Tell us about yourself

My son is a huge influence on my work and a big part of why I curate educational resources on the topics I teach on. Joshua is autistic, and going through those early years of not knowing how to support my child and what his behaviours meant created some pretty bumpy years of second-guessing myself as an educator and mom, BUT over the years, he has guided me to diving into sensory processing to see children with a holistic view. The very first online workshop I created, Supporting Sensory Needs, is about our journey in the first four years of his life. Tying in neuroscience and practical ideas to support all children to be able to engage in play and therefore develop and grow. Being an ECE and now Consultant for ten years, I can truly say that he is what drives me, challenges me, and makes me a better consultant. My passion and you could say, zone of genius, is my ability to make connections across many areas in my early years' experience. I don't see planning, behaviours, and our early learning environments as separate entities but instead as deeply intertwined, and I am able to simply those connections in my training. Showing educators connections that they may not have seen before. I also love to use technology in my professional development resources to combine the importance of play with current applications such as Canva to make the learning visible, allow educators to advocate for play, and simplify their planning and documentation processes. Helps keep my creativity flowing, and that is an essential piece to also driving me each day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Everything I've learned over the last 4-5 years about building a business. When I think back to the first online workshop that I sold, there was so much to learn. Recording, slides, where to host it, secure login, payment processing, legalities.. etc. And to where I am now, I need to remember that way more often. I had no idea what I was doing, but my drive and passion kept me moving forward. I did figure it out! And I continue to do so today.

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

For me, it's staying focused and not letting comparison get in the way. That only leads to self-doubt and then procrastination. Also, as a mom, balancing family and work needs is always a challenge. The flexibility that being an entrepreneur creates is what I need to support our son and be available to him as he needs is also essential, but finding consistency to complete work and keep the work-life balance can be difficult. But I also love that I can easily say to myself, "You need to take today off to support your son." And there is no guilt or struggle to get the day off!

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

  1. You have to LOVE what you do because sometimes it feels like you spend little time on your craft and most of your time learning how to run your business.
  2. Spend time on your craft; schedule it in to keep that passion alive.
  3. Connect with other entrepreneurs to learn from, gain accountability, and connect. It can be lonely when at your computer every day, and it's not good to only hear your own voice.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Listen to others' advice but remember that you don't have to follow it to a tee. Use what works and leave the rest. Children learn through hands-on experiences that involve trial and error and also being able to repeat the process. We, as adults, are no different. Try, reflect and keep moving forward.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://cultivatingconfidence.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultivatingconfidenteces_eyc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-green-244081178/

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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