Balancing Business and Life: How Courtney’s Flexibility and Passion Drive Her Success

Courtney Edwards/Founder and Owner of Concho Consulting, LLC; Photo Credit: Tabby Turnage

Courtney brings calm chaos to the table. As a military spouse of 14 years and mom of 3 rambunctious boys, she is constantly adapting to new needs. Flexibility and adaptation, especially in times of uncertainty, are traits Courtney exhibits daily, in both professional and personal settings. When faced with a problem, she faces it head on, breaking down what is going awry and how to best execute a solution. In her free time, you will probably find Courtney at the ballpark or school event. People who know Courtney would describe her as caring, outgoing, and nurturing. Leave the worry behind, Courtney is ready to tackle all of your business needs!

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I have a background in education, but my passion is in business management. I began working as a virtual assistant after my third son was born and my husband's career required him to be gone a lot. I wanted to be present and available for my children while also contributing financially to my family. From there, the opportunity presented itself for me to work directly with a client acting as operations manager, heading finances and developing services to support small businesses. My passion for supporting other small businesses grew from there.

What inspired you to start your business?

In 2022, the opportunity to own my own business arose and was too good to pass up. I knew this was my chance to bring my ideas to life and offer a niche set of services to other small business owners. It piqued my passion even further. 

Where is your business based?

Concho Consulting was founded in Texas, but we are completely remote, so we have employees all over the United States, and one overseas! I currently reside in Virginia.

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

Registering with the Texas Secretary of State, the IRS, and opening bank accounts. Filing all the proper paperwork to ensure the business was set up for success. 

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

At first, I worked strictly with word of mouth referrals. As business grew, we increased awareness through social media platforms and through LinkedIn. Most of our clients are still from referrals, but our services are available to anyone interested!  

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

One of my biggest challenges while establishing Concho Consulting was navigating a cross-country move with my family. I have been a military spouse for 15 years so I am no stranger to juggling a dozen things at once, but this was something completely new I had to learn to navigate. 

How do you stay focused?

I am a big fan of time blocking my calendar so I have dedicated time to work on different projects. Using task management software is another way myself and my team stay on top of tasks. If I am feeling overwhelmed or lacking focus, I step away, take a break, and reset.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition? 

We set ourselves apart from the competition by remaining customer focused and providing exceptional services to our clients. Our Executive Assistants go above and beyond the duties of other virtual assistants and make themselves indispensable to our clients. We pride ourselves on fostering personal yet professional relationships

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

I continue to work off of referrals, which I feel is a testament to the services we provide for our clients. Our social media presence is slowly gaining traction but I do not think it will ever be as effective as word of mouth. 

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

Make a plan. And then make another. There are never too many plans when developing your business plan and strategizing. This will allow you to be prepared for anything that happens, especially the unexpected.  

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

My favorite app would most likely be a mindless game, I’m currently stuck on Solitaire. It allows me to take my mind off of my to do list, my kids to do list, and what is upcoming on my schedule. 

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

ClickUp, hands down. Having a tool that allows me to keep myself and the team on track with tasks, CRM, automated templates and many other automations is such a time-saver! Our clients, potential clients, and employees are able to fill out forms that are assigned directly to the correct person which really reduces manual data entry. 

Who is your business role model? Why? 

There are so many business people to look up to. Instead of who, I look up to what. How business owners pave their path, what they do when the plan fails, how they handle the tough days along with the best days, and most importantly how they show up for other people. 

How do you balance work and life?

Creating a life-work balance was my number one priority when creating Concho Consulting, and I still practice that almost two years later. My team has access to my calendar which shows availability, and I also use DND during nights and weekends. As a business owner, you’re never actually off the clock, but I am intentional with time away and prioritize time with family.  

What’s your favorite way to decompress? 

Decompressing majorly relies on my schedule. My husband is in the military and often gone or working long hours. We have three boys who all play on multiple sports teams. Decompressing sometimes means finally letting my head hit the pillow! My husband and I also play on a co-ed softball team for fun, sometimes we get away from everything and just have fun together! 

What do you have planned for the next six months? 

I don’t have any major changes planned for the next six months. However, I would like to offer more employee benefits, implement more training so our team can grow their knowledge of the many platforms our clients use, and give more eager people the opportunity to work with a company that truly cares! 

How can our readers connect with you?
Find me on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram! Concho Consulting is also on all three platforms, or reach out via our website at www.conchoconsulting.com.