who am i?
I'm Ron. I've built and run several small businesses for more than 20 years, and for the last 10 years, I've been using that experience to help other service professionals as a growth strategist. I'm certified in Book Yourself Solid® and Executive Coaching with The Center for Executive Coaching. But what really sets me apart? My experience as a small business owner myself.
why does my experience matter?
When I was building my first business, I was often up at night worrying about the unknowns—what I didn’t know and what I didn't know that I didn’t know. It drove me to seek help, leading me to advisors who seemed to have all the answers. They were the MBA types, confident in their big-business strategies. I hired them, hoping for clarity and direction.
But here's the thing: they didn't get the small business world. Their advice was suited for big corporations, not small businesses like mine. Their big business approach, complete with slide presentations, generic templates and textbook answers, fell flat. "Spend more on marketing," they said, without understanding my budget constraints. "Hire better people," they advised, without explaining to me how I was supposed to do that.
I wish I were making this up, but I am not.
When I asked them specifically what kind of marketing I should spend more money on, they weren't sure. Should I advertise on the radio or run a weekly ad in the newspaper? No idea. Should I advertise on the internet or take out a full-page ad in a magazine? Not sure. And how can I hire better people? I was already hiring the best people I knew. At no time did I ever think, “Joe is a much more qualified candidate, but I think I’ll hire less-qualified Bill instead.” I was doing the best I could, and their general (and obvious) answers weren’t any help at all.
Lesson learned. It was painful, but I got it.
so why am i different?
Because I've been exactly where you are. I've lost sleep over payroll, worked through nights to keep promises, and stretched every dollar to grow my business. I've been in the trenches, and I know the challenges firsthand.
I've also seen the other side. I built a business that my team could run (allowing me to take years off) and then successfully exited that business. So why do I still coach? Because I love it, and there's nothing more rewarding to me than helping small business owners like you find success without the unnecessary struggle. I love making a difference in the lives of the people I work with, in the lives of their families, their employees and their communities.
My mission is to be the advisor I needed more than two decades ago - a guide who really understands the ups and downs of running a small business. Building a business is tough, but with the right guidance, it doesn't have to be overwhelming.
If you’d like to discuss your situation to see if we’d be a good fit, you can email me ron@rontestercoaching.com or you can book a call by clicking the button below.