Today we’d like to introduce you to Theodore Skipper
Hi Theodore, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have worked in several corporate settings. I had the pleasure of working with Franchisee’s of these companies and helping open their business. I got to see the business being built from the bottom all the way to the opening process. I was apart of making sure their business started off right, they got the training they needed, and made sure they had the knowledge of the business from top to bottom.I loved being able to help people come in to inquire about opening up something then finishing with them actually opening their shop, hiring employees and making their business’ work.
I saw so many people in my community that had these great ideas but simply did not know how to get started, how to do a business plan, how to negotiate, where to start looking for the real estate, how to form their LLC’s, where to apply for programs for financial assistance, and more. I knew that with all the knowledge I was soaking up in the corporate settings I could help people in the communities I serve take the next step. Sometimes all you need is someone to point you in the right direction and sincerely want to help you and your idea thrive and come to fruition.
I started Elevate Advisory Group off of wanting to help those around me. In the three years I have been in business I have helped open a dog grooming salon, several coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, food trucks, clothing boutiques, and done over 300 business plans. I sit on a board that helps inspiring entrepreneurs get ready for that life. I mainly help them with business plans as I believe that is the foundation of your business. Once you have that the next steps with your idea fully realized set you up for success!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A smooth road? What is that? Ha! Everything is hard but persistence is key. It is not easy to be a business owner. You want to quit everyday when things seem bleak, but it’s the fire inside that must burn brightly and hot that outweighs the hard days. For myself, some of the struggles I faced in the beginning was, confidence in what I was doing because you want to give your full self to your clients. I had dealt with corporate settings with process’s, procedures, and a system of doing things. Now I have this business where I am responsible and I have to build everything from the ground up. I second guessed myself often but I had to remind myself that I have done this for more than a decade, I needed draw on all the experiences and things I have learned and apply them to my clients YOU CAN DO THIS.
I never stopped learning, The internet and networking are your friends. I watched and attended many seminars, I put myself in rooms where other people could uplift me and give me advice, I watched YouTube videos, and really immersed myself in all things consulting and gaining knowledge in things that I wanted to implement and learn to give my clients the best service possible. I also believe honesty is key. Hard conversations are never easy but I found that my time and yours is valuable. I had to learn that you have to come to me and be ready and hungry to do your business, you have to be committed. Some of the people that I worked with in the beginning were not committed and I had to have that tough conversation of “hey… this may not be for you or I may not be the right person to help you formulate your ideas. Sometimes that’s the biggest challenge. So many people want to open a business and they do not fully know or understand all that goes with it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Senior Business Consultant! I specialize in all things business. I am a training and operations lover at heart. I love being out in the field helping people organize their business, looking at trends and helping becoming profitable. I am a people person and love talking to people. I think we have lost the art of talking to people when it is so easy to use social media to communicate. WI love being face to face with someone where I can gage body language, voice, and facial expressions to really see and feel their needs. I love looking at Profit and Loss statements to see where I can help cut costs or regulate your Cost of Goods. I go into locations and look at operations, are things efficient? Is your customer service top notch? I believe you have to WOW your customer as soon as they walk into your location to the moment they leave. People do not have to come into your business to support it, you must give them a reason to keep returning.
I have been to 5 star restaurants where the food was good but I had terrible customer service and I’ll never return. I have been to the local mom and pop restaurant where the food was not as good but the customer service was dynamite and the atmosphere was amazing. I’ll keep returning to that restaurant because of the experience. People remember how you treat them and I try to make sure you remember coming in. People spend money where they are valued.
I am really known to help people with their business plans. I believe when you see everything on paper and you can speak exactly to your vision of your company this is what sets the foundation and the tone for how you move forward. When you go to a bank to take out a loan for your business they may want to know exactly what their return is on their investment. You need to be able to speak to that in your business plan and give your rollout of how that will happen. Business plans really excite me and I love working with people on these. I can really see the excitement of them seeing their vision come to life, as well as their wheels turning on things they may have not thought about. I feel like a good business plan creates the type of owner you will be and really dive deeply into what’s required of you to run your business. This foundation is what really makes me proud, helping someone formulate this plan to help them execute the next steps makes me smile the most because I know both your feet are now firmly placed on the ground and you know exactly what you’re getting into. Think about it, when you plan a trip you have to book your flight, book your hotel, book an excursions you may want to do, plan your outfits, make sure everyone has their passport, and everything is in order before you make your trip. It’s the same starting a business planning is key!
I would say I am also known for helping underserved communities. This is why I started my business in the first place. People don’t know what they don’t know! If I can help elevate your knowledge and understanding of something that is exactly what I will do. Great ideas come from the smallest of places, you just might need someone to take that chance on you and give you the knowledge to move you to the next step!
What sets me apart from most is you’re not just a person that is hiring me, you’re not just another client. You are coming into full support, your are becoming a friend of my company. I check up on my clients often I go support their business, I’m still asking if there is anything I can do to help you even when you’re off to the races. I like to see you do well, I like to make sure my work is complete and thorough. I like to give you my full attention and be able to answer anything you may want to know. I also am very aware I do not know everything but my network is vast. If I do not know likely I have someone I can talk to that can give me the knowledge or connect you with someone who I feel may have a better expertise than me. I realize that we all need each other to pull each other up! I am not afraid to call on others and plug other consultants or business’ that may give you the best service in their field. When you work with me believe I use all resources around me to elevate you!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that there are so many people willing to help and so many resources but with that there are so many gate keepers. There are so many people that have the knowledge that are not willing to give it out. People love to see you do well, just not better than them. Everything is for a show for social media, how many likes can I get? How many responses? How can I be recognized and clapped for? What some do not realize is the very people you look up to for things do not practice what they preach.
I myself am not about that at all. Doing this was never about money or notoriety. This was about helping the community, helping the people in that community, and giving my expertise to you! I truly am about the people and helping those who need it. I encourage everyone to help your fellow neighbor especially in the climate we are in. Elevating someone else does not diminish anything you have accomplished!
Contact Info:
- Email: info.elevateadvisorygroup@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083285114052
Image Credits
Nakiya Harris
