March 3, 2025 • 33 mins
Join us as we sit down with the inspiring April Nash from the Western Women's Business Center, who shares her journey from a budding entrepreneur to a pivotal community leader in Western North Carolina. If you've ever wondered how to transform a business idea into a viable opportunity, this episode is a treasure trove of insights. April discusses the ample resources available to entrepreneurs, from business planning and marketing to financial strategy and capital access. Her personal story of giving back to the community that once supported her highlights the power of resilience, especially in the wake of natural disasters, and reminds us of the importance of thorough planning and distinguishing between mere ideas and actionable opportunities.
April Nash joined the Western Women's Business Center team in 2023. She is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for small business and social justice. She is accomplished in business and financial planning, cost-saving initiatives, and mentoring executives.
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Bill
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey there, welcome to this week's episode of Epic
Entrepreneurs, and we've got atreat.
Today.
I am with April Nash from theWestern Women's Business Center,
and so we're glad to have heron board.
We're going to talk all thingsentrepreneurs.
We're probably going to talk alittle bit about what the
government can do to help youand take it from there.
(00:24):
So, april, what is the WesternWomen's Business Center and how
did you end up there?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well, hey, bill, nice to talk to you this afternoon.
So the Western Women's BusinessCenter is a program of the
Carolina Small BusinessDevelopment Fund.
We do receive small businessadministration funding and we
work with those programs.
There's about 157 differentwomen's business centers all
(00:51):
across the nation, so no matterwhere you are, what your zip
code is, there is a women'sbusiness center that serves the
area.
We are open.
Women is in the name, butthat's required by the Small
Business Administration.
We are open to allentrepreneurs and I love working
here.
So one of my things that bringsme great joy is that this
(01:15):
position is actually a fullcircle moment for me.
When I was in my early 20s, Ireceived free assistance through
the Small Business Center inMacon, georgia, and that helped
me to launch my very firstbusiness.
So I'm a serial entrepreneur aswell, and that really impacted
(01:38):
the trajectory of my career inmy life.
And I've done I've had everyrisk management, risk mitigation
, every license you can have.
I was a FINRA registeredinvestment advisor and did some
advising for several years andalso have done some
(02:00):
entrepreneurial businessplanning and coaching.
And so you know, after youraise your kids and you get to
move into this next stage oflife.
Being able to give back withfree resources that were given
to me is just a really beautiful, so full circle moment for me,
and it's just a real pleasure toserve our community.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, and I think you know one of the challenges is
connecting people with theresources.
So give us an idea of some ofthe resources that are available
that people may or may not knowabout.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Got it, got it.
So we are a nonprofit and allof our services come at no cost
to our clients.
We are a nonprofit and all ofour services come at no cost to
our clients.
Literally anybody that lives inour geographic territory is
welcome to approach us and wehave our niche.
So Western North Carolina isknown for its entrepreneurial
(03:00):
spirit and the number of smallbusiness startups and having a
really wonderful, thrivingecosystem.
So where we fit into that istheir business journey.
So it can be early stages intime.
Anyone from you have an idea andyou're not sure if it's a
(03:24):
business idea or if it's anactual opportunity.
We can help you work throughthat all the way to really by
the time you're ready to hireyour first HR person, you've
outgrown our programs.
Our programs are really reallyspecifically focused towards
those early stage entrepreneurs.
(03:45):
Even if you've been around for30 years and maybe you don't
have a marketing strategy, wecan still be of assistance.
So we really really focus onfive main areas.
So we do how to write a businessplan.
The financial portion of thebusiness plan we place a
(04:06):
specific emphasis on becausethat is such a steep hill to
climb.
For most entrepreneurs it'svery, very specialized knowledge
so we can help with that.
We also help with marketingstrategies.
We also help with marketingstrategies, or how to reach new
clients or expand your marketshare.
(04:27):
And then we also help inbusiness networking or creating
your elevator pitch.
And we also have access tocapital any loans.
We currently offer businesscoaching for those early, early
stages in consulting, but ourhost organization does have
(04:58):
access to capital and is able toget entrepreneurs.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, awesome, that's a good summary.
That's a.
That's a good summary.
That's a lot of services forpeople.
So, um, let me ask you somequestions.
What do you think that you know?
What do you think's thechallenge right now?
So it's multifold With thephysical, natural disaster that
(05:33):
we've had.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
They've had this business, this business has been
(05:54):
in their family for ageneration or two and that
person is seen as economicallyadvantaged or very successful.
Economically advantaged or verysuccessful, when sometimes the
reality behind the scenes isthat that business has been
operating and it's an integralpart of the community, but it's
not all that profitable and sobusiness is not an easy thing to
(06:39):
go into and creating thatprofit can be, the margins can
be so tight in the best of timesthat that people have had.
In addition to the businesssetbacks.
It's just.
I mean, we all know, everyonethat lives here just knows the
(07:01):
number of challenges that we areexperiencing.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, I mean I've heard some statistics that in a
natural disaster like this, alot of times, like up to 40% of
the businesses actually don'treopen, yeah, which is in a way
sounds horrible, but you know,but it might be okay.
Uh, it's not, it's not pleasantfor the 40 that have to close.
(07:30):
But if they were close orfighting or struggling anyway,
it might've just been the thingthat just said hey, let's, let's
go ahead, and let's go ahead,and then they may, maybe, and
maybe they end up going in nowthat they've learned some stuff,
maybe they go into anotherbusiness and get started there.
I know that's how in my firstbusiness.
(07:51):
It wasn't super successful, butI learned a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I learned so many things with that first one.
Yeah, yeah, I learned so manythings.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
So what would be your advicefor someone who maybe is you
know, maybe doesn't hasn't had abusiness yet and is getting
ready to pull the trigger?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
What should they do Like?
What are?
What are two or three thingsthat they should keep in mind
Planning, planning, planning,planning and understand the
difference between a businessidea and I mentioned this a
moment ago a business idea and abusiness opportunity, because
there are millions of greatideas out there, but not all of
(08:36):
them are going to make a profit,and so the entire purpose of
going into a business is tocreate that profit.
Of going into a business is tocreate that profit, and I'm such
a huge fan of how smallbusiness ownership and opening
your own business can be aneconomic driver for yourself,
(08:56):
your family, your community.
It's such a powerful vehicle.
The caution is our businesses,and especially on the small
business startup end, tend to beour passion projects.
They are our brainchild blood,sweat and tears, and so so many
(09:17):
entrepreneurs, their businessends up owning them instead of
they own their business.
So, before you put your life'senergy into this business, make
sure that you are going to getout of it what you need to be
successful and thrive in yourlife.
So do a business feasibilitystudy, do a business plan and
(09:44):
make sure that this amazing,powerful vehicle that you are
assembling is actually gettingyou to where you want to be in
life.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Yeah, I mean you've got to have the passion, but you
also got to have the numbers.
So yeah, so yeah, Will thething work?
Will the thing work?
I mean in some?
I mean, you know, let's face it, some of the passion projects
do, but they, they work betterwith a plan.
So yeah, that's, that's, that'sinteresting.
Let me get your thoughts onsomething.
(10:16):
So EPIC is an acronym and sothe E stands for education.
What are your thoughts aroundeducation and entrepreneurial
education in general?
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Oh, I love it.
So, because of the niche thatwe occupy in our entrepreneurial
ecosystem, we really do workwith people that have an idea or
a skill set and they have anamazing skill set.
And let's say that skill set ispottery and they make beautiful
(10:51):
pottery and they're nationallyor internationally recognized
and there are pieces in museumsand everyone loves their pottery
.
There's a difference betweenbeing amazing at your skill and
then running a business, andrunning a business is its own
skill set and so many of thepeople that you work with it's a
(11:18):
foreign concept, it's a newconcept, and so really, truly,
that is what we do.
I say we help earlyentrepreneurs with with
knowledge, education and skillbuilding.
That's what we do.
And so that foundational,formative knowledge about
business 101.
What's what's an income andexpense?
(11:41):
How do I structure my business?
That education piece I'm deeplypassionate about because it can
be the distinction betweensuccess or failure 100%, yeah,
100%.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
So that's incredible.
We believe that as well.
So the P stands for planning,and we've already talked a
little bit about planning, butwhat is your anything else you'd
like to add about planning?
I think we've covered it, yeah,yeah, I think we've covered it
All right.
What about the?
I stands for inspiration.
(12:16):
So what are your thoughts aboutinspiration and maybe finding
inspiration, or maybe even beingan inspiration?
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Okay, so this may be controversial, but it's a
double-edged sword, because thatinspiration right, it's a
personal thing.
It lights you up from theinside, outside.
It's that we've all heard thesaying do what you love and
you'll never work a day in yourlife, right, so that's
(12:48):
inspiration and at some point wehave to bring in, understand
that that's a personalinspiration.
And if you're going to create abusiness that's designed to
create a profit, you need tocheck and see if that is
(13:09):
something that is inspiring toothers, if it's something that
people are willing to pay for,and maybe this inspiration is.
Some inspirations are worldpeace, and that's wonderful, but
what's the business plan forworld peace?
And is it going to make aprofit?
Right, is this inspiration aninspiration or is it a business?
(13:34):
And so there's thatdouble-edged sword Just because
you are inspired doesn't meanit's going to make money.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah, I think that's right and I also like I take a
little bit of exception to thatthing that you're never going to
work a day in your life.
I just I mean that's the politeway to say it yeah, I, I'm uh,
yeah, I just think, yeah, yougotta work.
I mean it's, it's and and and.
Work is hard.
It's hard being in business.
You never work a day and, ofcourse, you work every day of
(14:03):
your life if you're in business.
So, I think it's.
Yeah, I get what they're saying, they enjoy what they do, but
that's different than than the,than the, than the overall thing
, All right.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
The C is commitment.
So what are your thoughts onentrepreneurial commitment?
Okay, so it's it's.
I love your.
It's not an anagram.
It's not an anagram.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Acronym Acronym yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I love your acronym because clearly you understand
this is where the rubber meetsthe road.
You can have all the education,you can do all the planning,
you can be inspired and it'salmost like commitment, right,
it's like you're choosing tostart a business.
Well, it's the same thing whenyou choose to have kids.
(15:01):
Right, this is a commitment.
It doesn't just go away.
And so I keep that analogybecause so many people don't
realize how much work isinvolved in being a parent.
If you don't already own abusiness and you're thinking
about starting one, you truly donot understand how much work is
(15:24):
involved and the commitmentlevel required.
And even when you're sick, whenyou're having a bad day, you
have got to show up because yourcommitment.
You're having a bad day?
You have got to show up becauseyour commitment.
You have to be the mostcommitted person.
It's just a requirement, andyour business and life will show
(15:48):
you and remind you repeatedlyabout how much work it is.
And if that, about how muchwork it is, and if that it
cannot be a lark, it cannot be apassing fancy.
It has that commitment, has tobe there.
For the rest of it doesn'tmatter.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Yeah, it's pretty.
Yeah, that's what I found.
You got to stick in there.
I mean, I think we I think whenI first started my first
business, we moved, we started abusiness and had a baby all at
the same time.
So I think that's the way mostpeople do it something like that
just to, because you just don'tknow what you don't know.
(16:29):
So you just go do it, you do,and so it's something to it,
which actually I don't usuallybring this into it, but the B
actually does.
It stands for bring the energy.
So we have the B.
Epic is the full thing.
So give us your thoughts onenergy and energy management,
since we're going through thefull acronym.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
So one of the things that I regularly go over with
clients that come to us is takethe time to educate and to plan
so that you own the business,that it doesn't own you.
My first business, I trulyworked 20 hours a day, seven
(17:12):
days a week, and I didn't getsleep and there were so many
things that I did not do rightin all of those lessons.
And so when you bring theenergy, you take that time as a
gift to yourself to plan and howam I going to make this work
(17:37):
for the long haul?
That commitment, Because ifyour business requires that
level of energy, you're going toburn out.
And so be realistic, bring theenergy, but also bring the logic
.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Yeah.
Yeah, it's an.
It's an interesting one.
Let me.
Let me ask you um, this is aquestion I usually ask towards
the end, but I know we want tohave some time for some
discussion about some otherthings.
Um, what do you wish someonehad told you that they didn't
before you went into business?
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Hmm, hmm.
Well, I was told several thingsthat I absolutely ignored, so
that's on me that's normal.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah that's a normal entrepreneur.
We're just not gonna payattention to that exactly I can
still do it, I'll be great I'llbe fine, yeah yeah, um, I think
it's that commitment level.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I'm'm going to go back to that commitment.
I truly did not understand thelevel of.
I was ready for the personalinvolvement.
I was ready for the work.
I'll work hard.
I've done that my whole life.
That's not a problem.
(18:59):
It's the the way to take careof yourself, because you're a
finite resource, and so I justthought my answer to everything
was work harder.
And at some point, there's onlyso much grease in the elbow,
(19:21):
and so you need to have a planon how to make this sustainable
long term.
And if the only resource you'repulling on is your own effort
and blood, sweat and tears,you're going to need to find
other resources that you canpull on, and that is something
(19:42):
that I wish somebody would havesaid and that I would have been
in a space where I listened.
Even if they said it, I'm notsure.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Yeah, that's part of that's part of growing up, Right
?
I mean it's it's just.
It's just part of the deal.
Yeah, I always say there's onlyso much you can do and so
because there's just so much ofyou, so you have to become
something different.
So you can work on becomingsomething different, but working
(20:12):
on doing more just becauseotherwise you're going to do it
the same way and it's going toget the same result.
So it's just not going tonothing.
Nothing's really going tochange, so I believe.
So it's just not going tonothing's really going to change
.
So I believe you had a fewthings that you wanted to
discuss.
So what are those?
Let's jump into those.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I did so.
I'm absolutely a long time dorkNPR listener and macroeconomics
has been one of my little pethobbies for an obnoxiously long
time, so I've really becomeinterested in what your thoughts
are about the obviously WesternNorth Carolina.
(20:50):
It has traditionally reliedreally heavy on the tourism
sector and so, as we're goingthrough and rebuilding and
there's still infrastructurethat doesn't exist, what are
your thoughts about either overreliance on tourism or
diversifying our industries orthe health of the macro economy
(21:14):
in the area?
Yeah, I think we're OK in a lotof ways the macro economy in
the area.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Yeah, I, I think we're okay.
Um, in a lot of ways, yeah,it's, it's.
Tell me why.
Well, first of all, you know,people in Western North Carolina
are, are, are pretty tough, andso I mean there's.
I mean, yeah, it's going totake a while to rebuild all the
(21:41):
infrastructure, but you know,the basic, what I'd call the
tourism infrastructure isbasically there.
I mean, the hotels are here,with the restaurants are back,
open for the most part.
I mean there's certain areas oftown that are not open.
Okay, that's fine, but for themost part, I feel like and I
(22:07):
can't speak for outlying areas,but it feels like most of them
are in the same sort of place.
We are People.
I mean, once we got water back,then people could get to work.
So I feel like this fall isgoing to be critical in that.
Can we?
(22:27):
You know what kind of recoverywill?
I mean?
I noticed that a lot of people Imean the stuff that we have
that draws people in the firstplace is still here.
We still have the outdoors.
We still I mean some of thetrails still need to be cleared,
but but we still have the, the.
I mean the mountains didn't goaway.
(22:47):
They're still there.
The rivers are still there,they're and they're back to
normal heights, not 20, somefeet over the.
You know, the things that drewpeople here in the first place
are still here.
So I think those, the draws arestill here, the leaves are
still going to change in thefall.
You know that's coming andassuming we don't have another
(23:10):
catastrophic you know,thousand-year disaster next year
, we'll, you know that's goingto draw.
I think, and I actually thinkpeople will are going to respond
and want to come, because Ithink they're going to want to
help out and one of the waysthey can help out is by bringing
their money and coming andchecking out the region.
And on the other side, like,the breweries are, for the most
(23:35):
part, still here, therestaurants are still here.
I feel like that.
I'm just optimistic about thefact that I believe people will
come back and are there less ofeverything?
Yeah, but I feel pretty.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yeah, I mean, my thoughts are we're going to be
fine and you were saying thatyou thought maybe people would
be incentivized to come thisfall.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
I think people will want to come.
I think number one, they wantto see what happened and what's
changed, and number two, I thinkthey'll because people are just
nosy.
And the other thing is that Imean, it's true, there were a
whole bunch of people that justcame in or would have come
during the storm just to seewhat was going on and a lot of
them came to help.
But that's, a lot of them cameto help, but a lot of them just
(24:22):
kind of wanted to see, holy cow,what happened up there, and
then, uh, so that's that, andthen I do think they want to
help.
So I think they'll come andstay and you know where they can
and uh, stay in hotels orAirbnbs or wherever they can,
and go to our restaurants and gosee the outdoors and, you know,
check it out.
I mean, you know, I know I waswalking around.
(24:44):
I live in Montreats.
There's a lot of neighborhoods,you know there's trails and
stuff out here and some of themare cleared and there's still a
lot of trees and whatnot downaround and you know it's just
interesting to be out.
So I think people will come.
I think it'll be good, one ofthe things we're doing and I
(25:04):
know we want your team toparticipate.
We're looking at the AshevilleBusiness Summit this fall in
September.
We want people to come from allover the country to check it
out, to see what Asheville hasto offer, to see the
entrepreneurial spirit, to seethe businesses and to learn and
(25:26):
have a good time.
And so yeah, so it's.
I think, I think that's, Ithink you're going to see a lot
of that.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Heard.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Yeah, other thoughts.
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, other thoughts?
What are your thoughts?
I agree, actually, I do thinkthat, and maybe part of it is
hope.
I'm not sure how much of it isbased on, you know, solid
economic data, solid economicdata.
But, um, you know just when youare in the community, knowing
(26:08):
so many entrepreneurs, um, it's,you know, I, I, I feel their
pain, I, I've um ownedbusinesses.
I know the, the struggle, um, sothe one of the things that, um,
I'm hopeful for is that tourismwill return.
So, but another thing is the,you know, do we take this
(26:28):
opportunity to potentiallydiversify what we're offering,
so that maybe we address a localneed instead of strictly a
tourism need, or maybe we'reable to branch out to offerings
online instead of just strictlybrick and mortar?
(26:50):
And so, while it requires a lotof flexibility, I think it
gives us the chance to take alook at our businesses and see,
okay, what else can I do, whatelse makes sense, and take a
look at our product offeringsand see what works and what
(27:13):
doesn't, and maybe sometimestrim and then sometimes add on
new offerings and then sometimesadd on new offerings?
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Yeah, and I do think.
And there is money.
I do believe that, for example,the foundation and I can't
remember the name of it, thatwas when the hospital went
private from being a publichospital created a large
foundation with a lot of moneyand there's a whole fund that's
(27:41):
dedicated to and they're tryingto figure out what to do with it
.
They have to invest it inmedical kinds of companies.
So there is an opportunity to,for example, just go ahead and
lean more into.
I mean, medical's always beenbig.
Here too, because of the age ofthe population has been skewed
to the older and we have greathealth care here.
(28:03):
So, in other words, I believethat that could be an
opportunity.
So it's not like there isn'tmoney to help bring people here.
So, from an economicdevelopment standpoint of view,
that's the kind of things that Iknow they're already working on
(28:24):
and probably should be workingon more to bring in, you know,
entrepreneurial and high growthkinds of companies, like in the
medical field, for example.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
So absolutely yeah.
And speaking of money available, I did want to, just because
it's kind of breaking news thatWNC Strong Business Initiative
grant just got another offunding, um, so that is um for
businesses that are out there.
Um, they have just um, justthis month reopened the
application process and how muchdid?
Speaker 1 (29:10):
how much did they get ?
We broke up a little bit there,so how much?
Speaker 2 (29:14):
40 million.
There's an addition.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I know it was a chunk yeah, 40 million, so there's
money there's money out there Ifyou're, if you're, if you're,
if you're in business and you'relooking for it, you need a
little bit of boost and youshould apply for that and
there's a lot of ways to apply.
You know, how do people get ahold of you?
Cause I mean, you can point.
(29:36):
I mean, if you're not the rightperson, you know everybody so
you can get them in the rightplace to get that money or to
get the right person, or topoint them in somebody who can
help.
So how do people get a hold ofyou?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Well, one of the things I love about our
Asheville area is we pretty muchwe collaborate so beautifully
together and we all reallybelieve in a no wrong door
approach.
So yes, definitely.
Even if I don't have theresources, I am happy to connect
you with all of my amazingcounterparts across the region.
(30:14):
So easiest way is our websiteand that is WNC for Western
North Carolina.
So WNC and I'm just going toget this wrong right now.
I do this all the time, pardonme, okay, sorry.
So Western Women's BusinessCenter Just don't tell my boss.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Yeah, it's fine.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
It'll be Western, so we are the Western Women's
Business Center, so it's WWBCand then NC for North Carolina.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
So, WWBCNCorg.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Yeah, that has contact.
We have multiple programs witheducation that are free.
There's links to requestcounseling and that goes
directly to my bookings, and wedo business needs assessments
and connect you to resourcesthroughout the community.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Yeah, so if you're looking for resources, just go
to WWbcncorg and, yes, you'llend up with april, so probably
yeah, we, yeah, exactly,probably, yeah, yeah, yeah,
you'll end up and she's here tohelp.
You can tell so.
Absolutely all right.
(31:39):
Well, this has been fun.
Thanks for being on.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
Thank you, bill, I really enjoyed our conversation.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Yeah, and if I can ever be of service, just let us
know.
And until next time, all thebest Likewise.
Hey there, welcome to this week's episode of Epic
Entrepreneurs, and we've got atreat.
Today.
I am with April Nash from theWestern Women's Business Center,
and so we're glad to have heron board.
We're going to talk all thingsentrepreneurs.
We're probably going to talk alittle bit about what the
government can do to help youand take it from there.
(00:24):
So, april, what is the WesternWomen's Business Center and how
did you end up there?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well, hey, bill, nice to talk to you this afternoon.
So the Western Women's BusinessCenter is a program of the
Carolina Small BusinessDevelopment Fund.
We do receive small businessadministration funding and we
work with those programs.
There's about 157 differentwomen's business centers all
(00:51):
across the nation, so no matterwhere you are, what your zip
code is, there is a women'sbusiness center that serves the
area.
We are open.
Women is in the name, butthat's required by the Small
Business Administration.
We are open to allentrepreneurs and I love working
here.
So one of my things that bringsme great joy is that this
(01:15):
position is actually a fullcircle moment for me.
When I was in my early 20s, Ireceived free assistance through
the Small Business Center inMacon, georgia, and that helped
me to launch my very firstbusiness.
So I'm a serial entrepreneur aswell, and that really impacted
(01:38):
the trajectory of my career inmy life.
And I've done I've had everyrisk management, risk mitigation
, every license you can have.
I was a FINRA registeredinvestment advisor and did some
advising for several years andalso have done some
(02:00):
entrepreneurial businessplanning and coaching.
And so you know, after youraise your kids and you get to
move into this next stage oflife.
Being able to give back withfree resources that were given
to me is just a really beautiful, so full circle moment for me,
and it's just a real pleasure toserve our community.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Yeah, and I think you know one of the challenges is
connecting people with theresources.
So give us an idea of some ofthe resources that are available
that people may or may not knowabout.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Got it, got it.
So we are a nonprofit and allof our services come at no cost
to our clients.
We are a nonprofit and all ofour services come at no cost to
our clients.
Literally anybody that lives inour geographic territory is
welcome to approach us and wehave our niche.
So Western North Carolina isknown for its entrepreneurial
(03:00):
spirit and the number of smallbusiness startups and having a
really wonderful, thrivingecosystem.
So where we fit into that istheir business journey.
So it can be early stages intime.
Anyone from you have an idea andyou're not sure if it's a
(03:24):
business idea or if it's anactual opportunity.
We can help you work throughthat all the way to really by
the time you're ready to hireyour first HR person, you've
outgrown our programs.
Our programs are really reallyspecifically focused towards
those early stage entrepreneurs.
(03:45):
Even if you've been around for30 years and maybe you don't
have a marketing strategy, wecan still be of assistance.
So we really really focus onfive main areas.
So we do how to write a businessplan.
The financial portion of thebusiness plan we place a
(04:06):
specific emphasis on becausethat is such a steep hill to
climb.
For most entrepreneurs it'svery, very specialized knowledge
so we can help with that.
We also help with marketingstrategies.
We also help with marketingstrategies, or how to reach new
clients or expand your marketshare.
(04:27):
And then we also help inbusiness networking or creating
your elevator pitch.
And we also have access tocapital any loans.
We currently offer businesscoaching for those early, early
stages in consulting, but ourhost organization does have
(04:58):
access to capital and is able toget entrepreneurs.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, awesome, that's a good summary.
That's a.
That's a good summary.
That's a lot of services forpeople.
So, um, let me ask you somequestions.
What do you think that you know?
What do you think's thechallenge right now?
So it's multifold With thephysical, natural disaster that
(05:33):
we've had.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
They've had this business, this business has been
(05:54):
in their family for ageneration or two and that
person is seen as economicallyadvantaged or very successful.
Economically advantaged or verysuccessful, when sometimes the
reality behind the scenes isthat that business has been
operating and it's an integralpart of the community, but it's
not all that profitable and sobusiness is not an easy thing to
(06:39):
go into and creating thatprofit can be, the margins can
be so tight in the best of timesthat that people have had.
In addition to the businesssetbacks.
It's just.
I mean, we all know, everyonethat lives here just knows the
(07:01):
number of challenges that we areexperiencing.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Yeah, I mean I've heard some statistics that in a
natural disaster like this, alot of times, like up to 40% of
the businesses actually don'treopen, yeah, which is in a way
sounds horrible, but you know,but it might be okay.
Uh, it's not, it's not pleasantfor the 40 that have to close.
(07:30):
But if they were close orfighting or struggling anyway,
it might've just been the thingthat just said hey, let's, let's
go ahead, and let's go ahead,and then they may, maybe, and
maybe they end up going in nowthat they've learned some stuff,
maybe they go into anotherbusiness and get started there.
I know that's how in my firstbusiness.
(07:51):
It wasn't super successful, butI learned a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
I learned so many things with that first one.
Yeah, yeah, I learned so manythings.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
So what would be your advicefor someone who maybe is you
know, maybe doesn't hasn't had abusiness yet and is getting
ready to pull the trigger?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
What should they do Like?
What are?
What are two or three thingsthat they should keep in mind
Planning, planning, planning,planning and understand the
difference between a businessidea and I mentioned this a
moment ago a business idea and abusiness opportunity, because
there are millions of greatideas out there, but not all of
(08:36):
them are going to make a profit,and so the entire purpose of
going into a business is tocreate that profit.
Of going into a business is tocreate that profit, and I'm such
a huge fan of how smallbusiness ownership and opening
your own business can be aneconomic driver for yourself,
(08:56):
your family, your community.
It's such a powerful vehicle.
The caution is our businesses,and especially on the small
business startup end, tend to beour passion projects.
They are our brainchild blood,sweat and tears, and so so many
(09:17):
entrepreneurs, their businessends up owning them instead of
they own their business.
So, before you put your life'senergy into this business, make
sure that you are going to getout of it what you need to be
successful and thrive in yourlife.
So do a business feasibilitystudy, do a business plan and
(09:44):
make sure that this amazing,powerful vehicle that you are
assembling is actually gettingyou to where you want to be in
life.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Yeah, I mean you've got to have the passion, but you
also got to have the numbers.
So yeah, so yeah, Will thething work?
Will the thing work?
I mean in some?
I mean, you know, let's face it, some of the passion projects
do, but they, they work betterwith a plan.
So yeah, that's, that's, that'sinteresting.
Let me get your thoughts onsomething.
(10:16):
So EPIC is an acronym and sothe E stands for education.
What are your thoughts aroundeducation and entrepreneurial
education in general?
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Oh, I love it.
So, because of the niche thatwe occupy in our entrepreneurial
ecosystem, we really do workwith people that have an idea or
a skill set and they have anamazing skill set.
And let's say that skill set ispottery and they make beautiful
(10:51):
pottery and they're nationallyor internationally recognized
and there are pieces in museumsand everyone loves their pottery
.
There's a difference betweenbeing amazing at your skill and
then running a business, andrunning a business is its own
skill set and so many of thepeople that you work with it's a
(11:18):
foreign concept, it's a newconcept, and so really, truly,
that is what we do.
I say we help earlyentrepreneurs with with
knowledge, education and skillbuilding.
That's what we do.
And so that foundational,formative knowledge about
business 101.
What's what's an income andexpense?
(11:41):
How do I structure my business?
That education piece I'm deeplypassionate about because it can
be the distinction betweensuccess or failure 100%, yeah,
100%.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
So that's incredible.
We believe that as well.
So the P stands for planning,and we've already talked a
little bit about planning, butwhat is your anything else you'd
like to add about planning?
I think we've covered it, yeah,yeah, I think we've covered it
All right.
What about the?
I stands for inspiration.
(12:16):
So what are your thoughts aboutinspiration and maybe finding
inspiration, or maybe even beingan inspiration?
Speaker 2 (12:27):
Okay, so this may be controversial, but it's a
double-edged sword, because thatinspiration right, it's a
personal thing.
It lights you up from theinside, outside.
It's that we've all heard thesaying do what you love and
you'll never work a day in yourlife, right, so that's
(12:48):
inspiration and at some point wehave to bring in, understand
that that's a personalinspiration.
And if you're going to create abusiness that's designed to
create a profit, you need tocheck and see if that is
(13:09):
something that is inspiring toothers, if it's something that
people are willing to pay for,and maybe this inspiration is.
Some inspirations are worldpeace, and that's wonderful, but
what's the business plan forworld peace?
And is it going to make aprofit?
Right, is this inspiration aninspiration or is it a business?
(13:34):
And so there's thatdouble-edged sword Just because
you are inspired doesn't meanit's going to make money.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah, I think that's right and I also like I take a
little bit of exception to thatthing that you're never going to
work a day in your life.
I just I mean that's the politeway to say it yeah, I, I'm uh,
yeah, I just think, yeah, yougotta work.
I mean it's, it's and and and.
Work is hard.
It's hard being in business.
You never work a day and, ofcourse, you work every day of
(14:03):
your life if you're in business.
So, I think it's.
Yeah, I get what they're saying, they enjoy what they do, but
that's different than than the,than the, than the overall thing
, All right.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
The C is commitment.
So what are your thoughts onentrepreneurial commitment?
Okay, so it's it's.
I love your.
It's not an anagram.
It's not an anagram.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Acronym Acronym yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I love your acronym because clearly you understand
this is where the rubber meetsthe road.
You can have all the education,you can do all the planning,
you can be inspired and it'salmost like commitment, right,
it's like you're choosing tostart a business.
Well, it's the same thing whenyou choose to have kids.
(15:01):
Right, this is a commitment.
It doesn't just go away.
And so I keep that analogybecause so many people don't
realize how much work isinvolved in being a parent.
If you don't already own abusiness and you're thinking
about starting one, you truly donot understand how much work is
(15:24):
involved and the commitmentlevel required.
And even when you're sick, whenyou're having a bad day, you
have got to show up because yourcommitment.
You're having a bad day?
You have got to show up becauseyour commitment.
You have to be the mostcommitted person.
It's just a requirement, andyour business and life will show
(15:48):
you and remind you repeatedlyabout how much work it is.
And if that, about how muchwork it is, and if that it
cannot be a lark, it cannot be apassing fancy.
It has that commitment, has tobe there.
For the rest of it doesn'tmatter.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Yeah, it's pretty.
Yeah, that's what I found.
You got to stick in there.
I mean, I think we I think whenI first started my first
business, we moved, we started abusiness and had a baby all at
the same time.
So I think that's the way mostpeople do it something like that
just to, because you just don'tknow what you don't know.
(16:29):
So you just go do it, you do,and so it's something to it,
which actually I don't usuallybring this into it, but the B
actually does.
It stands for bring the energy.
So we have the B.
Epic is the full thing.
So give us your thoughts onenergy and energy management,
since we're going through thefull acronym.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
So one of the things that I regularly go over with
clients that come to us is takethe time to educate and to plan
so that you own the business,that it doesn't own you.
My first business, I trulyworked 20 hours a day, seven
(17:12):
days a week, and I didn't getsleep and there were so many
things that I did not do rightin all of those lessons.
And so when you bring theenergy, you take that time as a
gift to yourself to plan and howam I going to make this work
(17:37):
for the long haul?
That commitment, Because ifyour business requires that
level of energy, you're going toburn out.
And so be realistic, bring theenergy, but also bring the logic
.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Yeah.
Yeah, it's an.
It's an interesting one.
Let me.
Let me ask you um, this is aquestion I usually ask towards
the end, but I know we want tohave some time for some
discussion about some otherthings.
Um, what do you wish someonehad told you that they didn't
before you went into business?
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Hmm, hmm.
Well, I was told several thingsthat I absolutely ignored, so
that's on me that's normal.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah that's a normal entrepreneur.
We're just not gonna payattention to that exactly I can
still do it, I'll be great I'llbe fine, yeah yeah, um, I think
it's that commitment level.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
I'm'm going to go back to that commitment.
I truly did not understand thelevel of.
I was ready for the personalinvolvement.
I was ready for the work.
I'll work hard.
I've done that my whole life.
That's not a problem.
(18:59):
It's the the way to take careof yourself, because you're a
finite resource, and so I justthought my answer to everything
was work harder.
And at some point, there's onlyso much grease in the elbow,
(19:21):
and so you need to have a planon how to make this sustainable
long term.
And if the only resource you'repulling on is your own effort
and blood, sweat and tears,you're going to need to find
other resources that you canpull on, and that is something
(19:42):
that I wish somebody would havesaid and that I would have been
in a space where I listened.
Even if they said it, I'm notsure.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Yeah, that's part of that's part of growing up, Right
?
I mean it's it's just.
It's just part of the deal.
Yeah, I always say there's onlyso much you can do and so
because there's just so much ofyou, so you have to become
something different.
So you can work on becomingsomething different, but working
(20:12):
on doing more just becauseotherwise you're going to do it
the same way and it's going toget the same result.
So it's just not going tonothing.
Nothing's really going tochange, so I believe.
So it's just not going tonothing's really going to change
.
So I believe you had a fewthings that you wanted to
discuss.
So what are those?
Let's jump into those.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
I did so.
I'm absolutely a long time dorkNPR listener and macroeconomics
has been one of my little pethobbies for an obnoxiously long
time, so I've really becomeinterested in what your thoughts
are about the obviously WesternNorth Carolina.
(20:50):
It has traditionally reliedreally heavy on the tourism
sector and so, as we're goingthrough and rebuilding and
there's still infrastructurethat doesn't exist, what are
your thoughts about either overreliance on tourism or
diversifying our industries orthe health of the macro economy
(21:14):
in the area?
Yeah, I think we're OK in a lotof ways the macro economy in
the area.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Yeah, I, I think we're okay.
Um, in a lot of ways, yeah,it's, it's.
Tell me why.
Well, first of all, you know,people in Western North Carolina
are, are, are pretty tough, andso I mean there's.
I mean, yeah, it's going totake a while to rebuild all the
(21:41):
infrastructure, but you know,the basic, what I'd call the
tourism infrastructure isbasically there.
I mean, the hotels are here,with the restaurants are back,
open for the most part.
I mean there's certain areas oftown that are not open.
Okay, that's fine, but for themost part, I feel like and I
(22:07):
can't speak for outlying areas,but it feels like most of them
are in the same sort of place.
We are People.
I mean, once we got water back,then people could get to work.
So I feel like this fall isgoing to be critical in that.
Can we?
(22:27):
You know what kind of recoverywill?
I mean?
I noticed that a lot of people Imean the stuff that we have
that draws people in the firstplace is still here.
We still have the outdoors.
We still I mean some of thetrails still need to be cleared,
but but we still have the, the.
I mean the mountains didn't goaway.
(22:47):
They're still there.
The rivers are still there,they're and they're back to
normal heights, not 20, somefeet over the.
You know, the things that drewpeople here in the first place
are still here.
So I think those, the draws arestill here, the leaves are
still going to change in thefall.
You know that's coming andassuming we don't have another
(23:10):
catastrophic you know,thousand-year disaster next year
, we'll, you know that's goingto draw.
I think, and I actually thinkpeople will are going to respond
and want to come, because Ithink they're going to want to
help out and one of the waysthey can help out is by bringing
their money and coming andchecking out the region.
And on the other side, like,the breweries are, for the most
(23:35):
part, still here, therestaurants are still here.
I feel like that.
I'm just optimistic about thefact that I believe people will
come back and are there less ofeverything?
Yeah, but I feel pretty.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yeah, I mean, my thoughts are we're going to be
fine and you were saying thatyou thought maybe people would
be incentivized to come thisfall.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
I think people will want to come.
I think number one, they wantto see what happened and what's
changed, and number two, I thinkthey'll because people are just
nosy.
And the other thing is that Imean, it's true, there were a
whole bunch of people that justcame in or would have come
during the storm just to seewhat was going on and a lot of
them came to help.
But that's, a lot of them cameto help, but a lot of them just
(24:22):
kind of wanted to see, holy cow,what happened up there, and
then, uh, so that's that, andthen I do think they want to
help.
So I think they'll come andstay and you know where they can
and uh, stay in hotels orAirbnbs or wherever they can,
and go to our restaurants and gosee the outdoors and, you know,
check it out.
I mean, you know, I know I waswalking around.
(24:44):
I live in Montreats.
There's a lot of neighborhoods,you know there's trails and
stuff out here and some of themare cleared and there's still a
lot of trees and whatnot downaround and you know it's just
interesting to be out.
So I think people will come.
I think it'll be good, one ofthe things we're doing and I
(25:04):
know we want your team toparticipate.
We're looking at the AshevilleBusiness Summit this fall in
September.
We want people to come from allover the country to check it
out, to see what Asheville hasto offer, to see the
entrepreneurial spirit, to seethe businesses and to learn and
(25:26):
have a good time.
And so yeah, so it's.
I think, I think that's, Ithink you're going to see a lot
of that.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Heard.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Yeah, other thoughts.
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, other thoughts?
What are your thoughts?
I agree, actually, I do thinkthat, and maybe part of it is
hope.
I'm not sure how much of it isbased on, you know, solid
economic data, solid economicdata.
But, um, you know just when youare in the community, knowing
(26:08):
so many entrepreneurs, um, it's,you know, I, I, I feel their
pain, I, I've um ownedbusinesses.
I know the, the struggle, um, sothe one of the things that, um,
I'm hopeful for is that tourismwill return.
So, but another thing is the,you know, do we take this
(26:28):
opportunity to potentiallydiversify what we're offering,
so that maybe we address a localneed instead of strictly a
tourism need, or maybe we'reable to branch out to offerings
online instead of just strictlybrick and mortar?
(26:50):
And so, while it requires a lotof flexibility, I think it
gives us the chance to take alook at our businesses and see,
okay, what else can I do, whatelse makes sense, and take a
look at our product offeringsand see what works and what
(27:13):
doesn't, and maybe sometimestrim and then sometimes add on
new offerings and then sometimesadd on new offerings?
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Yeah, and I do think.
And there is money.
I do believe that, for example,the foundation and I can't
remember the name of it, thatwas when the hospital went
private from being a publichospital created a large
foundation with a lot of moneyand there's a whole fund that's
(27:41):
dedicated to and they're tryingto figure out what to do with it
.
They have to invest it inmedical kinds of companies.
So there is an opportunity to,for example, just go ahead and
lean more into.
I mean, medical's always beenbig.
Here too, because of the age ofthe population has been skewed
to the older and we have greathealth care here.
(28:03):
So, in other words, I believethat that could be an
opportunity.
So it's not like there isn'tmoney to help bring people here.
So, from an economicdevelopment standpoint of view,
that's the kind of things that Iknow they're already working on
(28:24):
and probably should be workingon more to bring in, you know,
entrepreneurial and high growthkinds of companies, like in the
medical field, for example.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
So absolutely yeah.
And speaking of money available, I did want to, just because
it's kind of breaking news thatWNC Strong Business Initiative
grant just got another offunding, um, so that is um for
businesses that are out there.
Um, they have just um, justthis month reopened the
application process and how muchdid?
Speaker 1 (29:10):
how much did they get ?
We broke up a little bit there,so how much?
Speaker 2 (29:14):
40 million.
There's an addition.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I know it was a chunk yeah, 40 million, so there's
money there's money out there Ifyou're, if you're, if you're,
if you're in business and you'relooking for it, you need a
little bit of boost and youshould apply for that and
there's a lot of ways to apply.
You know, how do people get ahold of you?
Cause I mean, you can point.
(29:36):
I mean, if you're not the rightperson, you know everybody so
you can get them in the rightplace to get that money or to
get the right person, or topoint them in somebody who can
help.
So how do people get a hold ofyou?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Well, one of the things I love about our
Asheville area is we pretty muchwe collaborate so beautifully
together and we all reallybelieve in a no wrong door
approach.
So yes, definitely.
Even if I don't have theresources, I am happy to connect
you with all of my amazingcounterparts across the region.
(30:14):
So easiest way is our websiteand that is WNC for Western
North Carolina.
So WNC and I'm just going toget this wrong right now.
I do this all the time, pardonme, okay, sorry.
So Western Women's BusinessCenter Just don't tell my boss.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Yeah, it's fine.
Speaker 2 (30:41):
It'll be Western, so we are the Western Women's
Business Center, so it's WWBCand then NC for North Carolina.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
So, WWBCNCorg.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
Yeah, that has contact.
We have multiple programs witheducation that are free.
There's links to requestcounseling and that goes
directly to my bookings, and wedo business needs assessments
and connect you to resourcesthroughout the community.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Yeah, so if you're looking for resources, just go
to WWbcncorg and, yes, you'llend up with april, so probably
yeah, we, yeah, exactly,probably, yeah, yeah, yeah,
you'll end up and she's here tohelp.
You can tell so.
Absolutely all right.
(31:39):
Well, this has been fun.
Thanks for being on.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
Thank you, bill, I really enjoyed our conversation.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Yeah, and if I can ever be of service, just let us
know.
And until next time, all thebest Likewise.
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