“5 things I wish someone told me when I first launched my business”

Taking the risk to start a company is a feat few are fully equipped for. Any business owner knows that the first few years in business are anything but glamorous. Building a successful business takes time, lessons learned, and most importantly, enormous growth as a business owner. What works and what doesn’t when one starts a new business? What are the valuable lessons learned from the “University of Adversity”? As part of a recent interview with Authority Magazine, Rock It! Co.’s Founder & CEO, Leah Stoudenmire, looked back at her path to business ownership and answered the following question: What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first launched my business,” and why? 

1. Surround yourself with a great team. When I first started The Rock It! Co., I was doing everything by myself. I was working day and night and my health was taking a toll. After two years of burning the candle at both ends, I hired my first employee. As hard as it was to “let go” of tasks, I realized that I just couldn’t do everything myself. Surrounding myself with a winning team of smart people that I trust is the best decision I ever made. I can now focus on running and scaling the business.

2. Stay flexible. I’ve had to pivot many times in my career. Flexibility is key! You never know what is going to happen, i.e a global pandemic that shuts down the world. To stay afloat during this time, my company had to become more flexible and stay open to trying new things. We had to have the courage to change and grow, which we did.

3. Master time management. Organizing your day is the most important thing you can do as a business owner. Prioritizing a “to-do list” each morning and checking things off the list allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment once you shut down your laptop at the end of the day, and ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner. Incorporating the right project management system has proven to be a great tool for our company.

4. Build lasting relationships. You never know when someone could resurface in your life. I enter each situation knowing that my co-workers, partners, and clients could potentially be in my life for the long haul. I recently started growing my team and was shocked to learn how many past relationships I created came back around. I am working with people now that I met 10–15 years ago.

5. Feedback is a gift. All feedback, good or bad, is helpful when launching a business. Compiling feedback, measuring success, and identifying areas that need improvement, and putting a plan in place to correct shortcomings is critical. As a business owner, these disciplines are imperative. Making the same mistake twice isn’t something I’m comfortable with. Feedback is critical, but adjusting accordingly and taking measures to act upon that feedback can be more valuable.

How can The Rock It! Co. help your business succeed? Get in touch with us and let’s ROCK!

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This is an excerpt from a larger profile on Rock It! Co.’s Founder & CEO, Leah Stoudenmire.
Read the full Q&A with Leah from Authority Magazine here.