Andrea Travillian is a business consultant and coach who helps business owners maximize profits without working crazy hours. By using strategic planning to help guide business decisions, business owners can create a business that supports their life. Instead of them supporting the business. Learn more at Aspirify.com

 Can you tell our readers about your background?

I have a unique background in that I have training in areas that many do not put together! I have my BBA in finance from the University of Iowa, my MBA from Creighton University. I worked in corporate finance, banking, investments, and taxes before I ventured out on my own.

While getting my degrees I paid my way through college in the hospitality industry, eventually having spent over 10 years in various areas. Working my way up to restaurant management. Actually, contemplated staying in hospitality since I loved it, but took a job in banking instead.

Through the years I have also gotten my Reiki Master training, coaching certificate, and meditation teacher training.

What inspired you to start your business?

I started my first business in 2002, I did so after growing tired of micro managers in corporate America. Of course, since I was in finance, I was surrounded by them. Details and needing to know everything thing is common when you need to balance large budgets and justify every expense!

Where is your business based?

 I am in Frisco, TX a suburb of Dallas. But I am lucky that I can work with clients around the world. 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

When I started my business, I really had no idea exactly what I wanted to do. I just knew I wanted to run my own. So, I started researching what options I might have. While at the same time doing as much as I could to understand my myself. This way I would, hopefully, pick out a business that would fit my personality. 

Once I narrowed it down to a few industries, I began interviewing people in those fields who ran their own businesses. Which brought me to decide that I would open an event planning company. From there I started working on making it a legal entity and started marketing! 

All of this took quite a bit of time, as I started my first business before social media, zoom or online classrooms! Websites were basic brochures, so much of what I learned came from hiring attorneys working with the SBA and talking to existing business owners. The process took much longer than it does today. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

I have owned three businesses, and the two that have worked for each one of them. Even though they were in different industries, is networking and speaking. The more people you can get in front of the faster awareness of you spreads.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Having the guts to pivot when necessary. Even if I felt like I had already pivoted too much. One thing I have learned is that your business will constantly change. And if the best thing is for it to go another direction then you need to do so. I overcome fears like this and act, by staying focused on the ultimate end goals. The business may change, but my goal stays consistent. That is the important part.

How do you stay focused?

I have a regular routine that allows me to stay centered and focused. That is every morning I start the day with good coffee, meditation, and journaling. This helps me get clear on what is going on while at the same time keeping me calm. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

My current company has two different divisions. One focused on helping small business owners with strategic planning. The second helping small business owners overcome their own limiting beliefs and emotional trauma so they can find success.

I differentiate both based on the same idea: that the business is only as good as the owner and if the owner does not know what they want and where they are going then problems will occur. Having the same differentiation allows me to cross promote both services. Which ultimately leads to better outcomes for clients.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Teaching real principles that can help clients. I focus a lot on content that clients can take and use on their own. This helps build trust and they understand what needs to be done, so it is easier to get started with them.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Create multiple financial plans. Business never turns out the way you expect. If you have a best case, most likely case and worst-case scenario planned out. Then it is easier to make changes as you go. It’s harder to create good plans if you go from best case to worst case and you have not given it any prior thought. Your emotions take over from the bad start and you struggle to come up with plans that are not reactionary. Having a plan to work from that you created earlier, saves you some of the emotional reactions that lead to bad decisions. 

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

I have so many! I am an avid reader with many interests, so could not pick just one. So here are two!

1.     For business owners: The E-myth revisited. It is an older book, but the principles still apply. I read this almost 20 years ago, and still think about it when running my business.

2.     For personal growth: The Four Agreements. Another oldie but goodie! It gives you the perfect template to deal with any situation that life gives you. I go back to it weekly to help me figure out different situations. It has given me the ability to own my reaction to everything that happens to me. Plus, solve each situation in the healthiest way possible. I am more at peace and feel like I can handle any situation.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Evernote – because it goes everywhere with me since it is designed to be used on many devices. It allows me to gather thoughts, create templates, read images, and share notes with clients. I cannot imagine life without it, it is my second brain. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

Sara Blakley. She inspires me because she did it her way, with an emphasis on being a woman! Plus, she self-funded, which I think is important for business owners to see it is possible. When I am frustrated and wondering if I should keep investing money in my business, I go back to her story and get re-inspired! And she is very generous, with many donations to charities. I love seeing others who have made it help others working on making it! Plus, if you follow her on social media – she is funny, and we could all use a bit more of that.

How do you balance work and life?

First, I think the idea of balance is wrong. The idea that we are going to spend perfect amounts of time in different categories is unrealistic. Instead what I focus on is staying emotionally balanced. If we are healthy emotionally, we can manage any life situation. By focusing on this we create a balanced life for each of us based on what we each need. Instead of a life based on random categories someone else assigned us.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I love to be outside in nature. Nature has a way of calming me and allowing me to relax. If I cannot get outside reading and a hot bath works wonders!

What do you have planned for the next six months?

I am currently working on creating DIY packages for micro and solopreneurs to do their own strategic planning. So that they can gain the benefits of strategic planning without too much cost. I am also working on a book teaching others how to heal their emotions and learn more about themselves.

How can our readers connect with you?

I have two sites. One for the small business strategic consulting, it is Aspirify.com

My other site is for emotional healing and it is AndreaTravillian.com

You can find me on twitter @travillianand or Instagram @atravillian