In this ongoing series, we share advice, suggestions and insights from real entrepreneurs who fight business battles every day. (Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.)
Who are you and what do you do?
my name is Anitra Mecadon. I’m an interior designer with over 20 years of experience in designing business and residential facilities. I have been involved in TV renovation since 2010, hosting and appearing on series reminiscent of DIY Network’s Mega DensHGTV All American handymanand most recently HGTV What does Lil Jon wish to do?where I’m a co-star and co-executive producer. Adam Bretmy husband and business partner also appears alongside me on the show and together we own and operate a successful interior design and consulting company based in Atlanta, Georgia.
How did you get into this business?
I’m the fifth generation in the world of homes and investments. I grew up watching my family grow and build homes in the Poconos. My aha moment goes back to when I skipped school just to observe home renovation shows on TV. Therefore, starting an interior design company was a completely natural evolution for me.
What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
Let’s be honest, we’re working parents, right? This actually has its challenges. However, one of the biggest challenges is finding and building a network of reliable strategic partners that we trust. In our industry, who you are taking with you to work on projects is crucial.
How do you balance being married and being business partners?
Don’t hate us, but truthfully, for us it’s totally natural and smooth. We each know our paths and understand how one can leverage our individual knowledge and experience for our mutual profit and the advantage of our clients. For us, being married is an advantage – we are able to gain additional time together outside of working hours. But PS: don’t take your organization to bed with you!
What advice would you give to other couples who are learning this balance?
You have to be honest with yourself and support each other. It’s more like a sports team where everyone works together to realize the same goals. You have to be able to pinch your partner. When one of us runs out of juice, we add the other one. This also applies to contacts with customers. When it involves personality, some people get along higher with others. When it involves relationships with clients and suppliers, I rely completely on Adam.
Are you bootstrap or have you raised capital?
We are lucky that we didn’t have to boost capital to begin our business. Customers contacted us even before we formally established the company. From day one, our business grew organically, which was extremely helpful.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking for financing?
Make sure you have a solid marketing strategy and at least provide proof of concept so potential investors can see your vision in motion.
How to organize for a conversation with recent clients?
Honestly, no. It has to be the right fit. We come in and check whether we are going to fit the project and the client. If this is not suitable for them, we are going to advise the client to take one other route.
What does the word “entrepreneur” mean to you?
An entrepreneur is a go-getter. Visionary. Stand-alone starter. Someone who desires to take a likelihood. They are believers. Dreamer. It’s a never-ending pursuit of success.
What many aspiring business owners think they need but actually don’t need
Perfect plan! Just start. Get the ball rolling. Along the way, you’ll naturally make course corrections and select what you are promoting model. We strongly consider in the power of “Yes!” It means saying yes to the whole lot. If you do not know exactly how one can move forward, just know that you’ll figure it out. And remember, you do not have to do the whole lot yourself.
Is there a specific quote or saying that you just use as personal motivation?
Legendary comedian and actor Steve Martin he once said, “Be so good that they can’t ignore you!” This ranges from our design work to our television careers. This is an overwhelming motivation for us. We have sticky notes at home with this on them. No matter what is happening around you or what people are saying, the proof is in the pudding. “Be so good that they can’t ignore you!”