Real Mom. Real Talk. Real Hustle

I’m not one you’d consider an expert but have had a lot of business experience in roles in leadership, built working culture, hired talent and implemented ideas for company growth in a fair amount of industries. We’re talking medical, childcare, real estate, fashion, event planning & more.

My background? I went to school initially for Public Relations. Having to transfer colleges due to medical needs, my new school, unfortunately, didn’t offer that program. I’d then switch to a communications major and suffered through an Intro to Psych class for my elective. Having to take one more, I opted for another Psychology class and fell in LOVE with it. The Spring semester prior to my senior year, I would go on to change my major to Psychology with ambitions to get my doctorate in Sport Psychology.

Spoiler alert – I did not continue my education because my wallet wasn’t going to fund that at the time. I’d switch gears in the meantime to try and figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. What scared me most, I had zero clue what that was. Honestly, I still don’t know what it is.

I’d take on roles that I definitely was not qualified for (on paper) but somehow wowed in interviews. Being the ‘perfectionist’ and ‘people pleaser’ that I am, I would do my damn best to meet and exceed their goals for me and my position. Every single time proving that I am actually qualified and worth their hire. Real life lessons learned here.

It wasn’t until I got into Real Estate that I would truly understand my worth & what I actually brought to the table. See, this was my first time I was truly in control of my outcomes. Money was great while my heart leaned more into supporting teams, supporting agents and helping build an environment that people could not only thrive in but also make a good living.

Fast forward a few years – I left a position as an Expansion Manager, Mentor, & a Top Producing agent because the culture was changing at the company and it was no longer in alignment with my values. To be honest, I don’t know how the company is doing anymore and only wish them well. What I do lean on, is what it taught me about businesses, how they can be successful, how they can stay successful and how to build a great team and culture. For that, I’m forever grateful.

Living in Charleston the past 4 years, I’ve had the privilege to see a city full of entrepreneurs & small businesses. I’ve seen many come and go, some hanging on by a thread and I’ve seen many experience insane growth. Running my instagram page, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many of these. I’ve heard the wins, the losses, the struggles & the celebrations.

Today, many small businesses are suffering even if they are doing it “perfectly.” Like I said, I’m no expert and I’m not a business coach. I’m also not a financial advisor (I absolutely will not talk money with you, I promise). What I will do is share what my collective experiences have taught me that could guide any business into success.

So let’s dive in already, I’ve been rambling long enough…

3 Ways to Build a Successful Business

YOUR WHY.
I used to loathe hearing people ask me over and over again “What’s your why?” and “Why do you do what you do?” Nowadays, I’ve come to realize that it’s the most important question for anything you do in life. Maybe you’ve owned your business for 10 years and you feel like your losing it. Have you sat down and revisited your why? Does your answer still stand with what you’ve created?

Let’s say your “why” does, but you haven’t paid attention to it in quite a while. How can you use that to fuel change, creativity, build off that energy and promote growth?

Make it publicly known.

Do your employees know your why? Does the public know your why? Tell the story. Revisit why you started this business and why you continue to do so. Be very clear in your messaging. Honesty goes a long way here and builds trust with your community. Like you do with business planning, do a quarterly check-in with yourself on your why. Add it to your plan and make it a top priority to keep top of mind.

CULTURE
The culture of a business can make or break it. As an employee, I’m going to suffer through a poor culture to put money on the table until I can find something else that has a better environment. Even if it means the potential chance for a small pay cut, I’d rather work somewhere that provides a good working environment and values me, as an employee. My mental health is just as important as the money in my pockets. I’ll also stay longer & perform better at a company that has an awesome culture, treats employees well and fosters good energy.

Ask yourself this: Have you defined your company’s culture? Maybe you have on a surface level but let’s take it a step further. To truly define your company’s culture, you need to not only articulate what it is, you also need to mean it & do it. You need to live up to the hype of the culture you want to create. You need to fill the room with employees who match that energy. You need to set the culture standard as the bare minimum for your expectations of yourself and others.

But Katie, what’s a good business culture? Ultimately, you will have to decide what’s best for you and your business. Of course I’m going to share with you my top 5 I’ve seen show a true improvement on employee / customer satisfaction and employee work performance:

1. Integrity & Honesty: Expect it across the board and especially from the top. Honesty is key and builds trust. If you say something, mean it and follow through with it.

2. Value : Show you value your employees and your customers. This can be in small or big ways.

Employee Ideas: Thank them for going above and beyond; Congratulate them on a big win (even if it’s not something that happened in the workplace); Invite them in to collaborate on a project or an idea; Surprise staff with lunch one day; Team events/dinners/celebrations; If your budget allows for it, give them a well deserved raise or en extra PTO day; Offer your employee additional support by taking a simple task off their hands if they are having a day or just need a minute.

Customer Ideas: Customer appreciation days (free coffee station, surprise discounts, etc.); Social media posts or emails thanking customers (I’d add on a little discount code for next time they shop online or in store); Provide a personalized experience when they are in store; Thank them; Random surprises (free item, extra something) to your customers; Handwritten notes. The customer experience is the most important. Make each one memorable and don’t sacrifice ANY of it even when your business may not be at it’s highest point. If a customer expects a certain experience (and they should) when they walk through your doors, meet it and exceed it.

3. Communicate: Be open to communication from and to your employees & customers. Listen first and pause to respond. Don’t respond in defense mode to anything. Maybe what you have to say to an employee or what you hear from someone isn’t the thing you want to hear or say. Tough conversations happen and are successful when we can have open & honest conversations. Sitting in defense mode will not serve anyone well.

4. Take Ownership: As a business owner, you must take ownership especially for the things that are very much on you. Many times over and over again, I’ve seen owners gaslight employees or lie about a situation to make themselves look better. I’ll be honest with y’all, the employees that you hired are not idiots. They already know you’re lying and can see right through you. You have to own it.

Your employees and your customers will likely stand with you if you own your mistakes and move forward trying to find the solution together. This goes back to Integrity & Honesty: Don’t lie or hide things. Your employees and your customers will follow suit. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes (yes, even us perfectionists). Be solution focused and work towards it together.

If you are having a hard time retaining staff: look in the mirror. Ask yourself why they are leaving. Sometimes, the answer isn’t what you want to hear and you truly have to look within. Look at yourself and see how you can turn it around. I’d start here with these 5 little tips & revisit your why.

5. HAVE FUN: Truly my favorite. Don’t forget to breathe for 5 seconds and have fun. I have been in the thick of it, negotiating 12 deals all at once, working 5am – 11pm daily & what got me through any of it was breaking the time up with something fun. Work hard, play harder y’all!

This could mean something like a dance break in the middle of the day, a happy hour meet up with the whole crew, a fun in store event, a random surprise for staff, etc. Make it big or small, I promise you that it will go miles.

Maybe this stuff isn’t rocket science, maybe you already know all of this. Are you implementing it? Do you think you are implementing it but in reality, you aren’t?

WHAT YOU OFFER
Maybe you are doing everything from the tips list above and you have an amazing culture, the best employees and your customers are amazing. But what if, it’s just not enough and your business is barely surviving.

I’d ask you to sit down and look at what your business is and how it serves the community. Is it still serving the community as you intended? Is your field saturated with similar businesses and how can you stand out?

This would be an incredible time to reach out to your consumers and find out what else they’d like to see from you. This could be done through surveys & quick social media polls/question boxes. Invite your returning customers in and ask them why they come back AND invite your former customers in and ask them why they left. Brainstorm with your employees. Sometimes just opening up the floor for ideas can spark something beautiful.

Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I want every small business to succeed. I love seeing the dreamers dream and share their vision with the community. I love cheering on each and every business owner. I love supporting small businesses anytime I can. I hope these tips and reminders are helpful for you. Now is always the best time to refocus and recharge. Use this to level up and finish out 2025 at your best.