Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in marketing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dale Yasunaga, Owner of Yasunaga Consulting, LLC., located in Honolulu, HI, USA.

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

I own a sales coaching and consulting practice. About half of my clients are businesses that want to improve their overall sales results. I help them identify what can be improved in their sales "operating systems" and help implement changes needed for sustainable growth.

The other half of my clients are individual sales professionals who want private 1-on-1 coaching to improve their skills. These sales reps either want to get to the next level or feel they have not received the coaching they need to have a successful career in sales.

Tell us about yourself

I am a lifelong sales producer and leader. I got started in B2B sales at the age of 19 and have developed what I call a romantic attachment to the profession. Success in sales has enabled me to have a fulfilling life and provide for my family. I started my business to help other people from all over the world do the same.

What motivates me is seeing the results from my clients and hearing the stories, even months or years later, about the impact it has had on their lives. I've helped people go from 30-days away from being fired to being the top rep in their company. I've helped people afford their first homes and start families. These are the things that keep me going.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm just in my first year of business ownership, but the biggest accomplishment so far is sticking to my "why" and the reasons I decided to leave corporate America and start my own business. I wanted to create something for myself that allowed me more control over my schedule so that I could spend time with my young daughter and wife.

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

Seeing around the corners that you don't know are ahead. I'm a planner by nature, but there are things I've learned or realized that I hadn't anticipated. Along with this comes having the humility to ask for help. You may be a business owner or even a solopreneur like me, but that doesn't mean you have to go it alone.

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

  1. Know your target audience. In sales, we call this an ICP (Ideal Client Profile). Knowing your target client is the foundation of a go-to-market approach to generating revenue.
  2. Give yourself some wiggle room. If you think something will take six months, expect it to take 9 or 12 instead. Unexpected things happen.
  3. Automate what you can, especially as a solopreneur. The less time I need to spend working within the business, the more time I can spend on growing the business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.salesmasterycoaching.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saleswithdale/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saleswithdale
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salescoachdale/

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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