Jackie O’Dowd thrives on working through the challenges that come with making a business succeed. Jackie saw time and time again how many technology services were failing businesses and with her expertise working with an ICT service company she believed that she could do it better and actually help businesses succeed. This lead her to create her business, Realising-Potential.
“I started Realising-Potential so that with our help, other business could realise their potential. We could assist businesses both large and small to select and implement technologies that would enable their business to differentiate and succeed.”
Drawing from her own experience as well as others, Jackie has managed to align technology, process, people and information to deliver the desired business performance. Through Jackie’s business methodology, she is driven to create a strategic plan with clients and to watch their success unfold.
Jackie’s favourite entrepreneur:
“Seth Godin is a serial entrepreneur who is happy to share the lessons he has learned. He is not afraid of failure, in fact he expects it. His summer school podcast series should be mandatory for every person looking to start a business.”
Three pieces of advice Jackie wishes she’d been given when she started her business:
- Trust in yourself – don’t look for external validation.
- Don’t let perfection get in the way of good.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
Don’t be afraid to try and fail. Just make sure you fail fast so you can pick yourself up and try again.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
- Cash flow – incoming and outgoing. Cash is King!
- How to secure and retain customers, as without them you don’t have a business.
- You can always outsource the things you don’t know, don’t do well, or don’t interest you.
Jackie on HerBusiness:
“Being a Premium Member of HerBusiness provides a forum for learning and sharing with like-minded business owners. The BOOKED for Lunch series, is a great opportunity to take time out and gain insight into new authors and approaches. The Marketing Mastermind is a great forum for challenging and testing new ideas and better practices.”
Read Jackie’s insights into the Marketing Success Mastermind program here.
Learn more about Jackie here.
This post was co-authored by Chantel Shuman. Chantel is completing a journalism internship program at HerBusiness. She studies Strategic Communications at West Virginia University in The United States.
