Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tristan Thibodeau, Founder of Wild Womn Haus, LLC., located in Phoenix, AZ, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My name is Tristan Thibodeau, and I am a Forbes-featured brand strategist and the fierce CEO behind the beauty and wellness leading brand strategy and design agency Wild Womn Haus.
In 2021, I burst onto the scene with my intuitive approach to brand building, garnering the recognition of thousands of online entrepreneurs. Since then, I’ve used my signature 8-step strategy to support the growth of high-profile brands such as beauty educator and TikTok influencer Megan Lavallie and national cosmetic company Sedona Lace.
Tell us about yourself
The short story is that I became an entrepreneur to avoid being an employee. Whenever I felt limited by an organization’s hierarchy, I would immediately rebel. The long story is that I have always felt an inner calling to create a meaningful impact in the world. Knowing this about myself, I became my boss in 2016 when I opened my first business at age 23. From then on, I was hooked by the creative and financial freedom that entrepreneurship provided me.
I’ve since scaled businesses and pivoted specialties, ideal clients, price points, and even entire industries as I searched for a career that would fulfill my need for a more significant impact. Then, the pandemic happened. And like many of us, my need for fulfillment hit critical mass, and I was forced into deep self-reflection.
While half-panicking about my next steps and half-lit up by the excitement of all that was possible, I had time to evaluate how my knowledge, talents, and skills could collide in a single profession. Little did I know that this period of self-reflection would develop into a critical piece of the signature brand-building process that I use with my clients today. Within a few weeks, I discovered my edge. I had a talent for positioning, storytelling, and community-building and was naturally creative. All of which are the pillars of brand building and marketing.
Fast-forward to thousands of hours of self-education and mentorship. Of course, imperfect action, I created my signature 8-step process for brand development. And in February of 2022, I launched the Wild Womn Haus agency, where my team and I use this process to help female-founded brands push beyond what they believe is possible for their businesses. Clients who work with Wild Womn Haus always see increased revenue, community size, visibility, and recognition. But our true specialty lies in helping entrepreneurs identify their unique edge, market their "it" factor, and stand out in their niche. Essentially, we teach industry disruptors how to stand firmly in their individuality and create success on their terms.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As of October 2022, I am a Forbes-featured brand strategist! I also feel incredibly accomplished to have developed the resilience, creative problem-solving, and collaboration skills I have as a CEO.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a business owner is the experience of self-doubt and decision fatigue, but most predominantly, the urge to "keep everyone happy."
Ironically, I have a pretty mean people-pleasing streak in me, and releasing the need to make everyone happy has always been my greatest challenge. I value boldness, individuality, contribution, and creativity at my core. But sometimes, negative feedback and disapproval from those around me can be highly distracting and disheartening.
Plus, running a predominantly digital brand means opening ourselves up to a lot of unsolicited advice, criticism, and strange encounters with the occasional "DM sugar-daddy." This also requires that I am evident and accessible to people from all over the world… which opens up a whole can of worms with internet trolls and haters.
But at the end of the day, confronting my people-pleasing tendencies has given me endless opportunities to re-align with who I am as an individual and to choose self-expression over the perceived "safety" of other people’s approval. Not everyone is going to "get it," and that’s perfectly ok!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start with your boldest vision and then work backward. Every aspect of your brand should support the end goal that you are trying to achieve.
- Never withhold strong opinions about your niche, market, or industry. By sharing your unique point of view, you will become a powerful magnet for the correct type of people.
- The topics you specialize in aren’t unique. People mainly hire you for what makes YOU special.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://wildwomnhaus.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tristan.wildwomnhaus/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristan-thibodeau/
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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