Episode 3: From Corporate HR to Entrepreneurship: Erin Colvin's Journey | Business & HR Consulting
Erin's Journey to Self-Employment
Erin Colvon discussed her journey to becoming a self-employed consultant. She initially considered starting her own business after about 10 years in the corporate HR world, but her plans changed when her role ended earlier than expected, providing her with a severance package and some comfort to start her business.
The defining moment for her was the unexpected sale of the business she was working for, which forced her to reconsider her plans.
Initially, she tried to balance starting her business with a full-time job search, but she found this approach unfulfilling.
She decided to focus solely on her business in January, which allowed her to be more intentional and strategic.
She acknowledged the discomfort of stepping outside her comfort zone and the importance of mental shifts to overcome this.
Erin's Business Strategy and Networking
Erin discussed her past experience in reaching out to potential clients and how it has helped her in her current business.
She expressed her ideal client as innovative companies looking to grow and expand quickly, particularly startups in technology, financial services, and software development.
Erin's goal is to solve people problems in these companies, focusing on employee engagement and communication.
She shared her daily routine, which includes interacting on LinkedIn, writing a weekly blog, and reaching out to five people a day.
Erin plans to expand her business to a national or regional level, with a focus on face-to-face networking.
She acknowledged the challenge of balancing business operations, client work, and sales and marketing, and expressed her intention to be disciplined in cultivating relationships and building business for the future.
Erin's Marketing Strategies and Business Goals
Erin and AJ discussed Erin's marketing strategies and her plans for her consulting business. Erin mentioned that she has more followers on LinkedIn than she expected and plans to take courses to improve her marketing skills. She also shared her goal of growing her business to a self-sustaining level, with a focus on embedding in businesses as their personal HR department and offering value-added project work.
Erin estimated it would take her a full year to see if her business is successful, after which she would reassess her strategy.
AJ encouraged Erin to focus on her strengths and not be limited by self-doubt, and they both agreed on the importance of taking calculated risks in business.
HR's Role in Small Business Growth
Erin discussed her role as a team leader and developer, with a focus on high-impact projects such as organizational design, change management, talent development, and compensation equity. She expressed her desire to help small businesses develop their people and provide meaningful careers.
AJ suggested that small businesses often lack a people-focused approach, which Erin agreed with, emphasizing the importance of HR in aligning business strategies with people efforts.
Erin advised self-employed consultants to connect with others and ensure their offerings are viable. She also encouraged business owners to recognize the importance of HR in their organizations and treat HR professionals as partners to achieve business objectives.
Connect with Erin