Never walk into a room blind; questions we cover:
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Getting Started
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Biggest Lessons Learned
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A Day in the Life
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Community Impact
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Growth & Scaling
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Exit Plans
"You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." – Zig Ziglar
- What inspired you to start your business?
- Can you take us back to the early days—what was the biggest challenge you faced?
- How did you fund your business in the beginning?
- What’s something you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." – Eleanor Roosevelt
- What was the biggest mistake you made early on, and how did you recover from it?
- What’s a lesson you learned the hard way that you think every entrepreneur should know?
- If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out, what would it be?
- Has there been a mentor or key influence in your journey? What did you learn from them?
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." – John C. Maxwell
- What does a typical day or week look like for you?
- What parts of the business do you still handle personally, and what have you delegated?
- How do you balance working in the business vs. working on the business?
- What’s the most rewarding part of your day-to-day work?
- What’s one task you wish you could spend more time on? What’s one you’d rather never do again?
- How do you stay organized and manage your time effectively?
"Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. They are the innovators, the job creators, and the backbone of our economy." – Karen Mills
- How has your business contributed to your local community?
- Have you made any unexpected connections or partnerships that helped your business grow?
- What role does your business play in shaping the culture of your industry or town?
- Are there any community initiatives or causes that you support?
"If you don’t build your dream, someone else will hire you to help build theirs." – Tony Gaskins
- What was your first major turning point where you knew your business had real potential?
- How do you attract and retain customers?
- What marketing or sales strategy has worked best for your business?
- Have you had to pivot your business model at any point?
- If so, what drove that decision?
- How do you approach hiring and building a great team?
"A great business must be built to sell, not just to run." – John Warrillow
- What’s your long-term vision for the business?
- Have you thought about succession—do you plan to pass it on, sell, or expand?
- What would make you feel like you’ve "made it"?
- If you could start a brand-new business today, what would it be?