Expert Advice Profile:

 

Jill Konrath

CEO, www.JillKonrath.com

Launch year:  1987

 

Describe your business in one sentence.

I help salespeople and entrepreneurs win sales in the corporate market.

 

What led you to launch your business?

The desire to create a business that played to my strengths and a lifestyle that was that was manageable with two small children.

 

How’d you land your very first customer or client?

I approached my previous employer with a really solid idea on how I could help their sales team drive more revenue. They immediately hired me.

 

What’s the biggest struggle you’ve encountered in running your small business?

When my two biggest clients, under pressure from Wall Street to deliver better earnings, stopped all projects midstream. It wiped out my business entirely and it took a long time to rebuild.

 

What has surprised you most about running your business?

How much it’s evolved over the years. When I started, I would have never expected to be doing what I am today. I’ve always just followed my interests.

 

What one thing do you know now that you wish you would’ve known when you started?

Initially I was totally intimidated by big companies. I didn’t believe that they’d ever want to hire me with all the talent they had inside. I was wrong.

 

How do you measure success?

Doing work that challenges me. Doing work that matters and makes a difference. And finding new revenues streams to grow my business.

 

What’s your must-read online resource in your industry? Why?

I think the best ideas come outside your industry! That’s why I read across multiple disciplines.

 

If standing on a rooftop facing crowds of aspiring business owners, I would shout,

“Treat all failures as a valuable learning experiences and you’ll ultimately succeed.