Every entrepreneur faces roadblocks that test their creativity and determination. Whether it’s fierce competition or a campaign that falls flat, those moments can define how we grow. When I was running my salon there were a number of moments, especially at the beginning, where I thought my efforts to promote my team of stylists hadn’t paid off the way I expected. At times I felt defeated.
My greatest learning at the time was to take responsibility and own my challenge. I had not marketed to the right audience. My salon was in the Financial District in Boston and my efforts should have been targeting people who worked there, instead of offering discounts to customers who had zero reason to be in the Financial District. Once I started targeting businesses (through client connections and building that community) we started to see incredible growth. Customers would come in before work, their lunch break or spend the evening to relax and get pampered with my team. Accepting I had made a mistake in my target audience was the unlock I needed.
Question: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it? What lessons did you take away?
For newer entrepreneurs: What’s a current challenge you’re dealing with, and how can others in the community support you or share similar experiences?