As a small business owner, one of my favorite things about working with so many of our clients is what I learn to run my small business better.

After having countless conversations with amazing business owners and thinking, “I wish others could hear this”, I decided to start a series of blog posts.

Welcome to our new monthly series; “A Business Owner Shares”.

So each month I am going to ask one of our amazing clients 5 questions that I find helpful as a small business owner and I hope you will as well.

Last month, we heard from Butch Cassell owner and general manager of American Fleet Service.

Up this month, is Tanya Prosser, owner of Penguins Snoball in Norfolk VA.

Butch Cassell and his Team at American Fleet Service

That’s Tanya with her husband in the bed of the truck in front of the amazing Snoball stand on Little Creek Road.

Answers From A Small Business Owner

1. What’s a project you are excited about right now?

We are excited this season to partner with other businesses and organizations in our area to promote local/community engagement. For instance, this past week we partnered with a community church to provide welcome back breakfasts for two community schools’ staff returning to on-site schooling. Our next partnership is with the same local church and a community technical school, hosting a 10,000 egg hunt for local children. (Yes you read that right… TEN THOUSAND EGGS!).

 

2. What’s a challenge you are currently working to solve and how are you attacking it?

We are a seasonal business, running in the warmer months (Spring, Summer, early Fall). We’ve been toying with the idea of introducing a food product and running all year. So we keep experimenting with different items, still in search of that magic recipe that will return customers throughout the full year. I’d love to hear any suggestions or ideas from anyone hearing or reading this!

 

3. If you were going to have your memory erased and could only remember the content from one book, what book would it be and why?

Probably Shel Silverstein’s “Where the Sidewalk Ends”. I LOVE (quirky) POETRY!

 

4. If you could ask any business or marketing guru one question; who is that guru, what would you ask, and why?

I can’t think of one in particular. I have learned so many tips and tricks from the global level to the local level. I try to keep my eyes and ears open, to remain open-minded about how to successfully run our business. Our world (and customers) is continually evolving, so it’s important to never be complacent with our business strategies. Flexibility is key (as we’ve seen in this pandemic). I don’t ever want to lose an opportunity to serve a customer simply because I wasn’t willig to change/alter or update my business practices. We have to put on our sealegs and as my Retired Navy husband says “Adapt and Overcome!”

 

5. If you were asked to give a keynote speech to a group of business owners and had 10 minutes to prepare a 30-minute talk – what would you talk about and what’s the one thing you would want them to learn?

I would definitely speak about our responsibility to invest in our communities. Investing not only financially, but in time. I have found that the more I invest in my community, the more my community supports my business, and my business has thrived through the current pandemic because I took the time (pre-pandemic) to make sure my customers (existing and potential) know they are important to me, and that “Together, We Can!” I want them to learn to get involved!

The Advice I Heard As A Small Business Owner

1. Be part of making the difference you want to see in your community.

2. Think outside the box.

3. Know what brings you joy and hope.

4. “Adapt and Overcome!”

5. A. core value of your business really should be about caring for your community.