Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christa Barone, Owner of Wicked Wisdom Consulting, located in Davie, FL, USA.

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

Hi there! My name is Christa. I am an Operations Consultant and owner of Wicked Wisdom Consulting. I work with coaches, entrepreneurs, and businesses to build and optimize their workflows, uplevel their systems and processes, and manage their business operations. This gives them the ability to continue providing outstanding service and put their clients first, while I handle the rest. My specialty is optimizing workflows and system scaling. Optimizing workflows means I analyze how a company runs and the systems used, then transform the experience from clunky and annoying to an effortless and efficient process. System scaling means I assess current systems and workflows and revise or redesign them to set a company up to scale multiple levels. This is a big concern for coaches and entrepreneurs who start as just a one-person company, then expand to have multiple team members or teams.

My services also include everything from funnel development to CRM development to video editing to data analysis. I’ve been blessed with a lot of experiences that have allowed me to learn many different skills across many fields. I also have worked with many different systems, so I can help my clients determine which is the best fit for their needs. To learn more about who I am, what I do, and the services I offer, visit WickedWisdomConsulting.com.

Tell us about yourself

I got started in operations work completely by accident but absolutely fell in love. I actually get a lot of weird looks from people when I describe what I do with such excitement and passion. In a world where being an influencer is a full-time job, technical fields like operations are not super sexy to most people. I decided to start my own business to allow myself the freedom to grow and develop as I find is right for me. I bring a lot of passion for optimization to the table and want to serve as many businesses, coaches, and entrepreneurs as possible. The world needs more small businesses to counteract the major conglomerates, and I am proud to assist them in any way I can! I am blessed with a brilliant mind that can easily solve complex problems and figure out workarounds in otherwise hopeless scenarios. And seeing the relief and joy on my client’s faces is an experience I will never get tired of.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner was that initial leap to start my business. Leaving behind conformity to follow your passion is not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of fearful people in the world who, while they have good intentions, say and insist on all the wrong things. It took a long time of being miserable working for others to realize that I have everything I need to be successful in my own business. And now, I get to help countless coaches, entrepreneurs, and businesses by taking care of the technical and logistical elements of their businesses.

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

By far, the hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is the constant upkeep of your mindset. Every business ebbs and flows, and you have to be prepared for that. It’s very easy to allow your mind to run off down a path of negative thinking the minute something doesn’t go your way. If you know anything about the Law of Attraction, you’ll know that it’s a great way to keep yourself and your business stifled.

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

  1. I cannot stress this enough, GET YOUR MINDSET RIGHT. If you have a tendency to ruminate and allow negativity to take over, that will compound very quickly. Start meditating, journaling, whatever it takes to gain control over your thoughts. This includes working through any past career trauma as well. A lot of people start a new business because they want to leave a toxic role. Unfortunately, if you don’t at least start the journey of working through that, it will pop up in your entrepreneurial pursuits. If you can do this, you can do anything.
  2. Get your paperwork and policies in order. I feel like so many people are afraid of contracts and agreements, but they are so important! We all want to believe our clients are reliable and trustworthy, and most of them are, but do not leave yourself out to get burned by not having your ducks in a row should something go awry. Block yourself some time and really sit down and consider the details of your relationships with your clients.
  3. Set firm guidelines for yourself. This includes your work hours, pricing, discounts for family & friends, terms you’ll accept, etc. If you set these things ahead of time, you can speak with confidence and are less likely to waver when situations arise. For example, I work with a lot of coaches, and when they’re getting started in their business, they tend to take calls at whatever time the client requests because they’re just happy to have a client. Cut to two years later, and they are working 9 AM to 9 PM five days a week because they set an unhealthy precedent for their clients early on. Don’t make that mistake.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://wickedwisdomconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christabarone/

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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