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The Path To Leadership
We podcast about strong leaders, loyal employees, avoiding burnout, and raising profits building strong cultures. Everyone is a leader, but the path isn't always easy. Developing critical skills to build stronger, more successful and profitable organizations.
The Path To Leadership
Navigating Small Business Challenges with Expert Insights from Jill Hathaway
Ready to shatter the myths surrounding entrepreneurship? Join us as we sit down with Jill Hathaway, the dynamic Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center. Jill opens up about her transition from corporate sales to entrepreneurship, detailing her experiences with a family manufacturing business and the closure of her own retail venture in 2014. We'll uncover the often misunderstood realities of small business ownership, the illusion of free time, and the weighty responsibilities that come with being your own boss. Jill's heartfelt reflections on control, empowerment, and the joy and challenges of her current role are sure to inspire and enlighten.
Explore Missouri SBDC's multi-faceted approach to supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses. We delve into the invaluable benefits of no-cost, one-to-one counseling and specialized training programs that cater to every stage of the business lifecycle, from pre-concept to growth and exit planning. With experienced entrepreneurs serving as consultants, you'll gain unparalleled real-world insights into tech, marketing, and financials.
The episode also emphasizes the significance of peer networking and shared experiences, introducing programs like TechVenture and Scale Up Kansas City, which provide critical support for early-stage tech ventures and established businesses looking to scale. Tune in for a wealth of insights and support to fuel your entrepreneurial journey!
Learn more at https://sbdc.umkc.edu/
Connect with Jill at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-hathaway-8a360318/
Follow Catalyst Development on LinkedIn @catalystdevelopment, @drkatieervin, @jennascott
www.cdleaders.com
Learn more about Supervisor 101 at www.cdleaders.com/supervisor101
Learn about LEADERs Institute at www.katieervin.com/leaders
Theme music by Emma Jo https://emmajo.rocks/
Hi everyone, welcome back to the path to leadership. I'm really excited about today's guest. A little spoiler we were just chatting before and I think a lot of people are going to learn so much from this conversation, as well as myself. So I'm excited to welcome Jill Hathaway. Hey Jill, hi Katie, how are you? I am doing okay. I'm doing all right. How is everything in your world Well?
Jill Hathaway:I tell you it's the Friday before Labor Day, so things are, deadlines are happening, people want to get out of here, but we are going to be here and we're going to finish our projects and really look forward to a relaxing weekend.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, I love that. And the fun thing about us is we met through driving pursuits. So we met the first time, you know, on the golf course, and the next time we saw each other we both had our hair done and and looked, looked like we had, you know, cleaned ourselves up and I was like I'm not sure I met you and you're like, yes, you have. We know each other really well.
Jill Hathaway:So we played in a little golf tournament too, and may not have played really well, but had a lot of fun.
Dr. Katie:That's right. It was the chicks with sticks, wasn't it?
Jill Hathaway:Yep, yes, it was Now those right oh my gosh, so fun.
Dr. Katie:Well, so will you introduce yourself to everyone. Who are you? What do you do? All that good stuff?
Jill Hathaway:Thanks for having me, katie. I'm Jill Hathaway. I am the regional director of the Small Business Development Center and director of projects and programs entrepreneurial education at the UMKC Innovation Center. But I'm also an entrepreneur. I have had businesses, grew up in a family manufacturing business and then started a business back in 98. Had that business for 16 years. I'm a banker and economist by education. I'm a salesperson by passion and love and I'm a counselor, a coach, a listener and a strategist.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, I love that, so can you tell us a little bit? So how long have you been in your current role and what kind of led you to take it? What was that? I?
Jill Hathaway:actually closed my retail business in 2014 and was lost, had no idea. Why did I close? Why did I have to close what happened? I'm a smart woman and you know new numbers grew up in a family business and just thought I need some guidance, and so I found. I have no idea where I found them, but I found UMKC's Small Business Development Center, a class that they were hosting, entrepreneurial Mindset. Took the class and my instructor, who's still definitely one of my favorite people and just is like Jill, you are real, we'd love to have you.
Jill Hathaway:So I started contract coaching with them for a couple of years and have been full time with them since 2016. So I've been here for eight plus years and I'm one of those crazy people that some people may not like, because I wake up every morning and I love what I do. I love going to work. I still love it, even as a director managing people, and every day is different. So it's just. I'm very passionate about what we do here, and I know my whole team is too. They're the stars of the group and they're just super passionate about helping everybody.
Dr. Katie:Yeah Well, and I think that's kind of the ultimate goal for all of us as we're going through our career journey like get to that spot where work doesn't feel like work. I mean, there's some days when you're like trying to get out for a long weekend that it feels like work, but most days it's it's happiness and joy, and I think that's really important.
Jill Hathaway:That wasn't always the case, though, katie. I mean, when I had my business, I went from a corporate sales position and then started our family from a corporate sales position and then started our family and I worked for a very generational white male business.
Jill Hathaway:I was the first female rep with the company and this was a New England shoe company. I was a wholesale rep, was one of their top reps. But when I got pregnant, they're like you can't work here anymore, but they still. They gave me a severance. This was back in the nineties. Oh girl, yeah, this is back in the 90s. They gave me a severance and I'm like, oh, I'll be pregnant and still make some money.
Jill Hathaway:And that's when my husband decided to start the business and then I stepped in because he's a good salesperson but I knew the financials. You know can do the operations and finances a little bit better. So I mean and sometimes I just was talking to somebody the other day about this that a lot of people think that being a small business owner gives you more time, gives you some freedom. Right, you know that you don't have to work that 40 hour work week. Well, I think you know we tell people and we share and I think a lot of our entrepreneurs that have experienced things do share that it's more than 40, right, it's 60, it's 80, because this is your baby, it's another child and you put more energy into it typically than you would in a salaried job elsewhere.
Dr. Katie:Yeah Well, and I tell people all the time for know for me, I've never had more pressure in my life starting my own business and I've never had more stress in my life, but I've also never slept better, which is really weird, but I think it's because it's. It's mine, it is, it is I. I control some of it. I can't control all of it, but I can't control when clients pay wish I could but I can control the types of clients we work with. I can control the types of people we go into partnership with. Those are the things that cause me stress in a corporate world.
Jill Hathaway:Yeah, control is a huge word with entrepreneurship and it's a good word yet and it's a killer word. You know, when you don't give up that control and delegate, then you will run yourself ragged and you will not have that balance whatsoever. And yeah, we need to meet because I can help you maybe not control, but figure out when people can pay a little bit better and make it a little bit easier for them to pay Right. You know, there's definitely resources and and opportunities out there. Give a little incentive.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, I love that, I love that. Well, and I will say and I'm going to, what I'm going to ask you to do is talk a little bit about the work that you all do. I will say, when I started my company, I think some entrepreneurs just wake up one day and are like I'm going to open a company and here we go and others do all this wonderful research and search out all the amazing programs that we have in the area. And I was kind of in the middle of it, where I was kind of thinking about it, and then where I was, was like, hey, here's a really insulting offer and a bag of beans if you want to leave. You know, anyone who wants to leave can leave. And I thought, well, the bag of beans will feed my family for a couple months. So I didn't do the research on all the cool programs that we have. So can you talk a little bit about the Small Business Development Center at UMKC?
Jill Hathaway:Absolutely, and I'm with you, girl. I did not do the research either. In fact we hung a sign and said, hey, you build it, they're going to come, but they didn't come. So I am super excited about entrepreneurial support organizations, which the Small Business Development Center, sbdc, is one of those. We are blessed to be funded by the Small Business Administration. So you know, our goal is to strive to build businesses that are profitable right, because when you're profitable you tend to pay taxes. Plus, you also probably win a loan, because you can't get a loan without being profitable. But you know, you pay taxes and those taxes go to the government, which then the SBA is one of the buckets where a lot of that funding goes. And then it's distributed through veteran business outreach centers, the small business development centers, women business centers and SCORE for retired executives. Those are the four entities that get funded through the SBA monies. But here at UMKC we are one of 12 centers in the state of Missouri. We cover 11 counties from Jackson County here in the KC Metro all the way up to Trenton, missouri, by the Iowa border.
Jill Hathaway:We work with pre-concept, you have an idea. We work with a lot of workforce development and businesses or corporations that have dislocated their workers, laid them off, you know, in severance, because that's a good time for people to decide. You know, this is something I really wanted to do. Let me go vet that idea. So we do programs and trainings as well as one-to-one counseling. So three things really strongly no cost, one-to-one counseling, and then training programs that are from pre-concept, early stage startup all the way through growth scale and now a lot more exit and succession planning because of the silver tsunami, business owners that are wanting to retire and sell and get out of their businesses, and we do core programs with that. And then we are part of the Innovation Center here at UMKC with TechVenture Studios and KC, sourcelink and TalentLink as our partners, and so we have a plethora of resources and connectivity, as well as our own professional partners through anywhere from legal to insurance, bookkeeping all of that.
Jill Hathaway:We have eight consultants. All of us have been entrepreneurs. All of us have been entrepreneurs and I think that's the differential for our particular center is that, you know, we're not just the academia within the learning and certifications with entrepreneurship and trainings. We all have literally been boots on the ground, entrepreneurs, and understand the struggles, the ups and downs. You know, like we were talking about a moment ago, just the challenges and and that makes it real for our clients, I think that they feel that we are real. Hopefully we are everything's confidential and so you know, we work through appointments and then getting you into a system to just really get set up and then you can work with whichever consultant that you need.
Jill Hathaway:We do a lot of co-counseling because not everybody knows everything. We're generalists, truly, you know, but we have a great group that may be more focused on tech, more focused on public speaking or insurance or marketing or financials, you know, or government procurement or certifications. So we do a lot of co-counseling with our clients. And then the trainings they love because we do in-person trainings. We have a handful of virtual, but the in-person is really that peer-to-peer networking, because you learn so much from your peers and each other and you don't feel so alone on the island. Yeah.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, and I think that's so powerful because, as an entrepreneur, you're trying to figure out everything and trying to not feel alone, but also trying to protect what you have. And it's this kind of battle of trying to figure it all out and have that confidence to do it, but also that humility and the vulnerability to share with others, that, hey, I need help and I need support, and it sounds like you all do a great job at that.
Jill Hathaway:Yeah, I can speak for myself and the team as well. But you know I've been down that path very vulnerable.
Dr. Katie:I failed, but failed forward with business and that's as long as you learn you know, then you can move forward and progress not just in the entrepreneur setting, but part of the goals of the work that I do and the podcast and the stories I tell is, you know, our path is not a straight and narrow clean every check the box. Okay, Move to the next. It is this windy road of success and failure and lane changes and things like that, and I think the more we talk about it, the better it is for all of us.
Jill Hathaway:I agree.
Jill Hathaway:I think so many people perceive these corporations or these larger entities or mentors that they look up to, that they're there and they've achieved success, and yet do they truly know the backstory of what they went through in order to achieve that? A lot of people that go through some of our programs. In fact, right now we're in our 14th cohort, ninth year of Scale Up Kansas City, longest running program of its kind, and one of the first things I say to all the participants is you probably are going to take 10 steps backwards and you're really going to question and you've been in this business for several years you're going to question do I still want to be in this business? And they're scalers, you know, looking at new trajectories, and yet they really appreciate it. It kind of just it breaks them down a little bit in the sense of I don't know everything and that's why I'm here the 10 steps backwards, because if you don't set your foundation, then you can't scale, you can't take that trajectory and it'll get you there that much faster if you set that foundation.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, yeah, well, and so I know you have the scale up program Can you talk about? You know it sounds weird to say, but you know I'm sure you guys are working on 2025 programming, so what do you all have left going on this year and coming up next year? Certainly?
Jill Hathaway:My team actually was just meeting right now and they're like Jill, get in here and talk about trainings. I'm like you guys figure it out, you're the ones who are facilitating and just share with me and we'll put it all out there. First off, we've got a wonderful team, as I mentioned, but right now we literally did just start most of our programs for the year. In fact, last night was TechVenture, which that is, a 10-week program. So that's early stage tech. Same thing You've got an idea with technology. It could be any type of technology SaaS, digital web, whatever product commercialization and they will walk you through vetting that idea right and different methods of you know the value proposition, the business model, canvas, marketing, branding, pitching, how to pitch to investors. So a whole program of looking at what. Can it be a product or service or a tech that is viable in the market? And they end that particular program with a pitch and they have judges that come in to help give some feedback with the pitch, because normally with that particular program, people will either go to Digital Sandbox through a partner of ours, techventure Studios here, and then pitch for a $20,000 grant, you know, to then get that coding and their tech started, or through other pathways in the Kansas City area that are available.
Jill Hathaway:We're also doing Growth 360. We do a growth program that we're licensed certified curriculum. With this particular one, we've partnered with a local ESO and so we're retail focused, which is really fun and interesting, because that was my background, but you know, so it's. We've got several clients. We can go anywhere from two clients up to about 25. So this class has quite a few in it, and all of our classes typically do. We work by application registration. We work by application registration and so we bring in subject matter speakers that complement the curriculum that we facilitate, and these are key people that have been retail, not just retail owners, but also retail speakers. I know one of the gentlemen that's coming in that I worked with on a national retail board and he's in town here, which I think it's fun to have. We've got another speaker in who's really going to dive deep into e-commerce because, honestly, if you have retail, you need to have e-commerce, and he will share the best practices with eBay and Walmart and Amazon.
Jill Hathaway:So, like I said, we don't know everything, but we surround ourselves, as every business should, with those that know more. We also do a great program called Formula 8, which is based on an entrepreneurial mindset and eight light skill areas that really adjust. Or you can look at do I have the mindset to be a business owner, right To be an entrepreneur, because it's not easy, and do I have the chutzpah to move forward with it and be successful with it Truly? And then we always do financials. Financials are all of our courses spend several weeks, so typically in a 10 week program we're spending at least 30 to 40% of the time in financials, and a lot of people don't want to hear that, but we all need it, no matter what you need it. Financials and a lot of people don't want to hear that, but we all need it, no matter what you need it Right. And there's many types of looking at financials and we do one mouth programs too.
Jill Hathaway:So I just did a franchise panel on Tuesday, brought in attorneys and clients who are franchisors now and funders and statewide are actually a regional wide speaker, and it was a great panel with a full training room of people interested in franchising and learning. Do I want to do this, do I not? How hard is it? How expensive is it? You know how much is an FTT or an agreement right, and so we listen all the time to our clients. But some of the things that we're working on for 25 is we'll always have our core programs pre-concept, startup, tech, growth scale. We have been doing several programs on succession and exit, doing some valuation work on what is that value in the company? And then how can I build value in my company in order to prepare it to sell. We brought on a new consultant who's certified in some of that programming and super exciting to work with. That You're in leadership and I know that everybody does all sorts of assessments in that she's also part of Working Genius, which we actually just yes, isn't that great.
Jill Hathaway:I'm a tenacity galvanizer. So you know I love that because it's been once introduced, it's really cool to see what frustrates you. But then also, who are the people in your team that can get things over the finish line? Who are the ideation people? You know we use the terminology, we use it to work conducively, you know, with everybody and get things done truly so.
Jill Hathaway:But the other thing that we're doing for next year, which I'm super proud of, just signed the deal on this last week, is one of our curriculum that we use for growth. They have a learning management software system. So we have been using that Great modules. They have a dozen modules on it, it and we can add our own modules to it and you can sign up. So it's somebody nationwide, worldwide, can sign up to learn from that system.
Jill Hathaway:We're converting all of it into Spanish as well, so we're translating the whole, all the modules, into Spanish so that you know our partners throughout the state and the US, you know, but definitely the region and the state can work in multiple languages. So we're starting in Spanish for this next year and then we're going to add five more languages throughout the next three years in the key languages that are in our region because we do have a large refugee and immigrant population and 6% of business owners are refugee and immigrant and do not speak English. So we want to give everyone the opportunity to understand entrepreneurship in a language that they're comfortable with. And then we're also working with interpretation and other services with our organization, so when they come in we can be more accommodating.
Dr. Katie:Who you all a lot, so much, so much. I'm like, yep, I need that, I need that. Yep, I need that. Um, I have to say I love working genius. So I've been a working genius um certified facilitator for almost four years now and I'm galvanized in a discernment. But people will say like, oh my gosh, catalyst development, you all do so much and it's like because we live in our geniuses like 95% of the time, and so I'm galvanizing discernment, jenna is galvanizing tenacity, emma who's kind of stepped away from full-time, but she's wondering enablement. So we had everything covered and I think that is such a powerful tool. I just sent it to one of my good friends who he's a serial entrepreneur and he's constantly doing it and he's got a new business partner and I was like you both need to take the working genius before you set up anything more. You need to understand this.
Jill Hathaway:Yeah, no, it's been very enlightening and we're the exact same way. We have a full team, we have several ideation and discernment, a couple wander, but, yes, the tenacity and galvanizing. You know, it's really cool and we map it and then it's out on our front wall so that other people can see it as well too, and it's a reminder of where we each are. So they did this. Oh, no wonder. That's a reminder of where we each are. So they did this. Oh, no wonder. That's a little bit of a frustration. So, yeah, it helps you work together as a team, definitely.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, and I think for an entrepreneur like knowing I'm frustrated by tenacity, which is sit down, checklist, get things done. I change the way I do work, so I schedule my tenacity work. I'm very I work very hard knowing that that's a frustration and that it doesn't excite me. I have to really lean into that and I think it's an important tool. I there's all kinds of great assessments out there, but I think this one is is really powerful.
Jill Hathaway:I agree too. It's funny I'm just going to say really quickly, because sometimes clients tell me that you know what I don't like you, but I realize I need you and I realized with working genius it's because of the tenacity, because I make them do the work and hold them accountable, and that's what entrepreneurs need is that accountability and focus. And that's just part of my genius. Now we have others they can work with if they don't want to.
Dr. Katie:That is so funny. Well, and it's. You know, entrepreneurship really is this journey. Like I, we talked about this before we jumped on. I tell people all the time it's a roller coaster and you know, some days it's really high and some days it's really low, and some moments it's really low and other, you know it's just earlier this morning, my husband and I were having this like stressful conversation of you know, just this is hard and it's year three and it's really hard. And then, like 15 minutes later, I had this like really amazing call with a client and it's like okay, we're going to be fine, everything's going to be fine, and so it's just this rollercoaster. So what would you say to entrepreneurs and want to be entrepreneurs? Like, so what would you say to entrepreneurs and wannabe entrepreneurs? Like, what should we know?
Jill Hathaway:What is kind of a nugget that we should have. I think the biggest thing when you had asked me that or I saw that question too is I go back to COVID and everybody was coming up with ideas and to try to pivot their business, but they wanted them to be just right. And to try to pivot their business, but they wanted them to be just right. And I would say, any day, any way, moving forward with your journey, no matter what. It is progress, not perfection, because we're going to give people grace and we should give people grace. It's progress. Let's move forward, because if we wait, wait, wait, oh, it's not right, it's not perfect, it's not exactly what I envision it to be, then will we ever truly get there.
Jill Hathaway:So that's. I really saw that a lot in the past four years, but definitely see it. Going forward is just take that step. And that's the same way with our classes when they're in a training. There's so much fire hose of information and we tell them just one little nugget, one little action item, progress. Don't have to take everything that you learned today. Just one thing, and it's that next step forward on down the path.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, yeah, that is such great advice. And on good days and even decent days, it's like you can remember that. And it's those hard days. It's like you just need that plastered on the wall, absolutely.
Jill Hathaway:Absolutely.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, so you have all of these fantastic programs, but that have already started. But so, for someone who's missed the programs, how can they interact with you all? What should they do Like?
Jill Hathaway:how do they, how do they use your services? All right, so they can jump on our website, sbdcumkcedu. We will be updating our website to bring it up to more current standards. Progress, not perfection, right. But I would also jump on Missouri SBDC, at UMKC, on LinkedIn, on our Facebook or Instagram, and then on our website, though, too, you can get our newsletter. So, on the very first homepage, at the bottom, too, you can get our newsletter. So, on the very first homepage, at the bottom, you can sign up for our newsletter, and that will always let you know what new programs are out there, and even tidbits tidbits from our partners, from the SBA, some grants that may be out there, irs tidbits you know just different things that they can link to to gather more information. So, truly, I would start there and then get into our system. So what that means is to go through the website or call, you know, 816-235-6063. And our program coordinator will get you set up with an SBA form we need to track, because that's one of our funders and then they will put you in with one-to-one with one of our counselors is appropriate for the stage and the type of business that you're looking at or that you currently have and that way you can work one-to-one initially and then potentially, if a training is more applicable, register with the training. If it's the one-to-one, then get with the counselor.
Jill Hathaway:But really the biggest thing is, katie, be proactive. We always see people that it's almost too late. You know. They're reactive and they're like I'm in trouble. You know, and unfortunately unfortunately it tends to be, you know, financial and or HR, you know, and that I'm in trouble and you know we'll look at. We look through everything with a fine tooth comb and I work with them on different things. But, gosh, if you had known about us, or if you had gotten into the system, or if you had made the call or set the appointment or came, you know, registered for a class.
Jill Hathaway:The things that I know today, that I didn't know, that I thought I knew from 98 to 2014 with the business, are just, I mean, a complete differential, and I wish that I had taken the step and somebody had told me about organizations like this that were, you know, here to mentor and help people, because I wouldn't. I don't regret anything by any means. You know we're all on a journey for a purpose and but yet it's it's advice and mentoring and coaching that's available, so take advantage of it. And Kansas City has so much and you know what? There is not one specific source either. I always tell everybody voices, voices. Listen to Katie on this, you know, and on other things, right, listen to this organization or that you know. Find other people. Look to people that you look up to and reach out to them. We are Midwest Nice. There's and people will give if you ask. But if you don't ask and you think you're going to do it all on your own because you want to control your own destiny, then you're responsible for your own destiny.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, yeah, and you're so right. I mean there are so many great programs and people and resources and connections. I mean there's never been I shouldn't say never, that's a really massive term but very rarely do I ever reach out to someone in Kansas City and they're not either willing to help or willing to listen or willing to make a connection.
Jill Hathaway:No, I think we're great about that. Yes, yeah, absolutely.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, Awesome. Well, we will put all of the information in the show notes so people can connect. I appreciate you sharing so much of what you've experienced and gone through and so, um, as we're closing out the show, um, to the level you're comfortable sharing what is probably one of the kind of leadership or career missteps, mistakes, learning that you've done.
Jill Hathaway:I had a little bit difficult one with that because I was like, wow, there's probably quite a few. I think that the biggest thing is to take action, and I always tell my kids every time I mean, they're in their 20s, now, they're young adults and on their own but I'm like make good choices. And I think part of that is because, you know, I look back, did I make good choices? You know, probably not, and that's personally and professionally and with my business too. Probably not. And what is that good choice? You know, what is that? People define success differently as well too. I would have people, just, you know, make, make good choices and be confident or comfortable in those choices so that you can back them up. Don't be irrational and, like I said, I'm quick to do things gather all the information necessary so that you at least have data and information to then make that good choice.
Dr. Katie:Yeah, yeah, I. I think that's so important and it's learning from the mistakes we make and the misstep, I think is so powerful and just being open and willing to do that. So yeah. Absolutely you're doing and I can't wait to lean into some of the programs that you have and I just think that you're doing such great things and I appreciate you sharing with us and sharing with our community. Thanks.
Jill Hathaway:Katie, you guys are doing wonderful things too. I hear catalysts all over and I'm really proud of what you guys are doing. But, yes, definitely reach out to us anyone and we're here to help and we've got a lot of good things on the horizon. But just walk into the doors now and come in and we'll start working with you one-to-one that is awesome, that is awesome.
Dr. Katie:All right, everyone, I'm going to put Jill's contact information in the show notes. You can reach out and get support and, as she said, get in sooner rather than later, figure out what's out there, and with that, I will see you all next time. Thanks everyone for tuning in, bye, bye.
