Here’s a collection of short interviews from local business owners with amazing insights into today’s challenges. This week’s edition of “Business Owners Speak Out” explores a variety of industries and what they are up to.
ActionCOACH Doug Winnie (DW), Cathy Reinhold (CR), and Lydia Navo(LN), and X’Zavia Clater (XC) virtually sit down with business owners to learn how they are working through COVID-19. Check out their inspiring stories for tips on how to cope with and successfully recover from this pandemic, and learn how to avoid making common mistakes. Be sure to check out special offers from these businesses. We can all use a little extra help right now!
Most importantly, visit the company websites. Reach out to those who offer services you can use. Let’s support each other and get through this together!
February 18th, 2021 |
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XC: Who is your target customer? Contact: (832) 777-9641JW: Anyone, but right now, I’m focused on people who want to conveniently track their income and expenses along with their mileage. XC: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? JW: We had in-person meetings in the past. We would rent out meeting spaces and get together with a lot of people for presentations. We would travel to make that happen around the country. We can’t do those things now. XC: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? JW: I’ve done a lot of networking online. I’ve been in several businesses before, so I’ve been able to reach out to those old contacts. People can’t get to conferences, so that’s another way to connect with colleagues. XC: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? JW: Don’t set your expectations too high right away. You have to build your network before you become successful. You’ll have to deal with some rejection. Just remember that people do need your product. XC: What is inspiring to you today? JW: Talking to people and seeing the lights go on motivates me. When people realize how they can better themselves through financial tools, that’s a rewarding feeling. |
My Econ: Receive their basic-level program for $34.95 or the Income Shifting membership for $19.95 when you mention ActionCOACH |
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 Ultimate Wellness Providers serves people in need of mobile lab services. They use physical locations but go door-to-door to give people the medical services they need. Sonja Malone runs Ultimate Wellness Providers, and she started the business based on her many years of experience in the industry.
LN: Who is your target customer? SM: Patients who are in need of lab services and who may have trouble getting to a brick-and-mortar lab. We serve a variety of people. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? SM: Business has grown during the pandemic. It hasn’t shut us down at all. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? SM: We have been able to help the community. We have gone door-to-door to serve those who don’t want to get out. We have followed new health guidelines. We serve individuals and small groups. LN: What are your goals for 2021? SM: We want to open up more business locations throughout the year. We’ve examined our operations in each state and looking at how to grow. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? SM: We’ve provided a lot of really valuable, free coaching advice in the past. We’ve helped people make a lot of money. We could have benefited from that advice financially. LN: What is inspiring to you today? SM: The care that our people show for our clients inspires me every day. We can only employ people who honestly want to help others, and our people certainly do. |
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LN: Who is your target customer? GC: Anyone who needs a haircut! LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? GC: I haven’t been able to meet people in person as much. Also, some people are hesitant to visit a barbershop and be indoors. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? GC: Barbers have a lot of experience when it comes to keeping things clean. We’ve taken care of people and tried to keep them from getting sick for a long time. We always keep things sanitized. LN: What are your goals for 2021? GC: My goal is to sharpen up my skills while things are in limbo. I’m going to keep pushing through. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? GC: Always educate yourself, and in the right situation, make sure your customers feel good about your relationship with them. Don’t be too humble to focus on making other people feel positive. LN: What is inspiring to you today? GC: Seeing people moving on with their lives and rolling with the punches motivates me. We’ve been through a lot, but we keep going. Contact: (346) 420-9031 |
G Cutz Everyone: Receive a free haircut cleanup on Mondays when you mention ActionCOACH. Also, receive a $10 haircut on Mondays if you are a senior. |
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LN: Who is your target customer? Contact: (832) 396-3150CA: Anyone who has a credit score of 600 or lower and anyone looking for coverage for their family is a target customer. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? CA: We can’t get out there and knock-on doors. We can’t interact with our customers face to face. It’s harder to build relationships nowadays. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? CA: We’ve reviewed our online marketing strategy. Because we can’t market in person, we try to do that online. We want to keep interacting, so we’ve used Zoom. LN: What are your goals for 2021? CA: I want to keep taking care of my clients and family. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? CA: I’ve learned quite a bit about smart investing. When you’re not sure what to do with your money, you can easily choose an option that will lose money. Make sure that you invest in yourself. After you pay your bills, focus on things that will make you money. LN: What is inspiring to you today? CA: It inspires me that I can say, “I did it!” I’ve been able to build my own business. Doing this for my kids inspires me. |
Financial Guru Solutions: Receive a free consultation when you mention ActionCOACH |
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LN: Who is your target customer? Contact: pamcastello@comiskeyrealty.comPC: I work with anyone buying or selling a home in Galveston County. Many people are moving here in order to work from home now, as opposed to purchasing a second home here. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? PC: There haven’t been many negative business impacts. Availability of inventory has been an issue in some cases, but that just means that more people are ready to buy homes. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? PC: We have followed all of the new health regulations. We used alternate methods to help clients view homes, for example. Switching methods slightly allowed us to keep moving forward. LN: What are your goals for 2021? PC: My goal is to do better this year than I did last year. I want to grow the business. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? PC: You can learn something new from someone else at any time. Always be open to that. LN: What is inspiring to you today? PC: There’s still a lot of opportunities out there in the world, and I enjoy meeting new challenges. |
Comiskey Realty: Receive a free comparative market analysis when you mention ActionCOACH. |
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LN: Who is your target customer? Contact: (832) 856-4264LB: We love working with restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and other businesses. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? LB: Some business has disappeared due to safety regulations businesses now must follow due to the pandemic. People are also sometimes scared to go out. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? LB: We have increased our preventative maintenance services. We help people make sure that their equipment stays clean. We have also given extra attention to each of our customers to make sure they’re taken care of. LN: What are your goals for 2021? LB: People are resilient. We think they’ll come back ready to thrive. We’re looking forward to expanding this year. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? LB: Don’t ride your own rocket. You can focus so much on getting to the top that you forget about the details of running a good and profitable business and keeping up a relationship. Stay focused on what helped you grow in the first place. LN: What is inspiring to you today? LB: I’m a single dad. I have two sons. They inspire me daily. |
Dr. Clean Ice: Receive a 10% discount on an ice machine cleaning when you mention ActionCOACH. Call today to receive the code for these savings |
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 For the last 26 years, Londyn Town Pictures has provided Houston businesses with TV and production services. They work on everything from shoots for local networks to Netflix shows. Londyn Town also handles feature films and ads. John Wayne S. III runs the business.LN: Who is your target customer? JW: Our target customer depends on the subject matter and who wants the project completed. We work with a variety of networks and studios. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? JW: We had to shut down for months. We were only able to continue shooting in December. When we were able to get back to work and continue shooting, things were much slower in terms of getting tasks completed. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? JW: We use smaller crews. We follow health protocols. Things have come back somewhat. LN: What are your goals for 2021? JW: People were at home last year. We hope that we will be able to talk to people more directly this year. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? JW: At the end of the day, you don’t want to deal with a lot of could’ve, should’ve, or would’ve. You have to make it happen yourself. You need to take responsibility for achieving your own goals and not blame failure on others. LN: What is inspiring to you today? JW: The possibility of overcoming anything inspires me every day. Whatever happens, the human race keeps going on. |
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 From a background in engineering, Mike Wilson transitioned to teaching. His organization, The Think Tank Tutorial Services, teaches kids of all ages and learning styles. The company focuses on math but teaches other subjects as well. The Think Tank’s services include one-on-one tutoring and test preparation for people of all ages.LN: Who is your target customer? Contact: (832) 324-9048MW: Kids from kindergarten to twelfth grade are our target market. I also tutor for a variety of tests for both adults and children. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? MW: We couldn’t meet face to face for a significant time. That made it harder for kids to learn because many learn better in person. Many are struggling with online learning, so demand has risen. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? MW: We have used online tools to meet the needs of our clients during these times. We’ve tried to use those tools effectively to overcome the difficulties that children are having. I’ve helped more people, including honors students who are struggling to transition to online learning. LN: What are your goals for 2021? MW: I want to expand the business. I want to hire some tutors and help more students. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? MW: You have to be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. You have to adapt to be successful. You have to be flexible to accommodate the needs of your customer. LN: What is inspiring to you today? MW: Seeing growth in my business inspires me. I love seeing the light bulbs go off in my students’ heads. Seeing my students continue to want to grow at any age inspires me. tutorthinktank@gmail.com |
The Think Tank Tutorial Service: Receive an online tutoring session for half price when you mention ActionCOACH |
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LN: Who is your target customer? RC: We primarily serve senior citizens who are in need of help with their mental health. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? RC: We had to cancel our workshops as a direct result of the situation. Also, because of COVID-19, we were not able to work with seniors directly, which is what we usually do. We also had to cancel our mental health run due to the pandemic. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? RC: We have a new office space, so we are learning to provide services in a new environment. We are offering more mini sessions, too. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? RC: Don’t take every criticism as a negative. In business and in life, you have to have a clear vision. Sometimes, some criticism can help you develop that clear vision. LN: What is inspiring to you today? RC: Seeing the resilience of people who deal with adverse conditions inspires me to do my best. We keep bouncing back! |
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 Big Smoke Cigars opened in 2012 and has a range of cigars and smoking products available online. The company also does social engagements related to smoking events and promotes the cigar lifestyle.LN: Who is your target customer? Contact: (281) 356-0101AT: Typically, anyone of legal smoking age is a target customer. We have men and women in our client base. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? AT: The price of production has significantly risen from what it usually was before COVID-19. Many factories aren’t producing our products as rapidly as before. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? AT: Whenever we have events now, we have a strong emphasis on social distancing. We have to make sure that we are not too big of a group of people. LN: What are your goals for 2021? AT: We are focusing on educating people more about cigar etiquette. Cigar knowledge is for selecting different tobacco products and more engagement for growth. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? AT: You have to be sure that you have intentions for your business idea and then plant the seed for your dreams. LN: What is inspiring to you today? AT: I like that I have the opportunity to see changes and growth. It’s motivating to see other people starting their businesses. I am also happy to teach people about the cigar lifestyle. |
Big Smoke Cigars: Get free same-day delivery within surrounding areas as long as you place an order before 5 p.m. |
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 WLM Virtual Comm has provided customer service for telecommunications companies since 2011. The company employs many people who want to work from home and set their own hours. Their goal is to help companies who need some extra help support their customers better. Michelle Washington runs the business.LN: Who is your target customer? MW: We often work with global companies that need to supplement their workforce. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? MW: There has been less work all around. Many people have lost their primary job. Some of our employees have had to help a sick loved one or deal with an illness. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? MW: We’ve helped our agents continue to set their own hours but find ways to meet scheduling gaps. We’ve pursued new opportunities that allow us to keep on setting flexible hours and keeping our people working. We’ve also used part-time employees strategically. LN: What are your goals for 2021? MW: We want to expand the business this year. We want to market ourselves more, and we want to get our name out there. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? MW: Have your business plan set before you start your business, and then push forward no matter how many obstacles are in your way and how many people tell you that you can’t do it. LN: What is inspiring to you today? MW: My children. I’ve seen so much in the world that’s taught me that you can’t take anything for granted. info@wlmvirtualcommunication.com |
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N: Who is your target customer? TP: We work with a wide variety of customers, from Home Depot to George Foreman. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? TP: People have been afraid to do what it takes to stay ahead of the game. Too many people have not used their downtime to build their primary or side businesses, and people are still spending money. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? TP: We have helped people develop methods to deal with current regulations. We have provided small events that allow businesses to get their name out there in unusual ways. For example, we have used horses, social media, and more! LN: What are your goals for 2021? TP: We want to teach small businesses how to utilize the help of interns. We’re working on a variety of methods of building up small businesses. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? TP: You have to be able to deal with no’s. At the same time, you have to be willing to pick up their phone, make the call, and eventually ask for the money. LN: What is inspiring to you today? TP: People are trying to come out of their shells. They are attending social media events and using other means to satisfy their hunger for financial independence. terrence.pace@gmail.com |
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 For more than a decade, Kennedy’s Pet Services has provided walking and grooming services for pets. They also pet-sit and offer a selection of pet-related supplies, from dog food to grooming brushes. They love caring for pets and connecting with pet owners, and their clients leave them fabulous social media reviews that cite the team’s knowledge. LN: Who is your target customer? ST: We target people in our area who love their pets and want the best for animals. LN: What has been the greatest impact of COVID-19 on your business? ST: It completely halted the dog walking service. When people are at home, they don’t need the same assistance. At the same time, more people are getting puppies. LN: What are one or two actions you’ve taken to make a difference? ST: Since August, we’ve added hundreds of customers. We’ve focused on earning five-star reviews on Google, and we’ve paid extra attention to following health regulations. LN: What are your goals for 2021? ST: We want two more locations. We want to grow quickly. We have to stay focused to make that goal happen. LN: It’s been said that smart people learn from their mistakes, and wise people learn from the mistakes of others. What is a mistake you’ve made along the way that other people can learn from? ST: Educate yourself on various aspects of your industry. Also, you need to build trust with vendors and employees and then delegate key tasks to them. You also need to learn about regulations around your business before starting it. LN: What is inspiring to you today? ST: Seeing people adapt to changes in the world inspires me. Contact: (832) 688-8874 |
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