(This column originally appeared in the Inquirer)
Want to start a business or grow your existing business?
It can help to lean on lessons learned by other successful small-business owners. Here are some tips from several in the Philadelphia region.
Work on the business, not in the business
The details are important. But it’s also important not to get caught up in too many details.
Stu Eli, who co-owns Three Potato Four, a vintage gift shop in Media, learned this lesson early on.
“When you’re in the weeds, all you see is the weeds,” he said. “Once I learned this lesson, I realized that I had to start hiring, delegating, and focusing on the big-picture stuff. That shift completely changed how I operate — and honestly, probably saved the business more than once.”
Mark Ryan, who owns catering firm Robert Ryan Catering & Design in Collegeville, said it can be easy for small-business owners “to get caught up in the daily grind,” but it’s better to delegate.
“True growth comes when you step back and focus on the bigger picture: developing strategy, identifying new opportunities, and leading your business forward,” Ryan said. “Taking ownership means thinking beyond the day-to-day and building something sustainable and scalable.”
The customer really does come first
It’s true that the customer isn’t always right. But it’s also important to learn from your customers.
Clint Weiler, who owns Fun Dungeon, a medieval-themed all-you-can-play brewery and arcade in Phoenixville, goes out of his way to know his customers.
“I’ve learned to treat every customer like they’re my first, with curiosity, respect, and a genuine desire to impress,” he said.
Ryan learned from his father — namesake of his catering business — to always stay in conversation with his customers and listen to their feedback, be it good or bad. This, he said, is “the lifeblood of any business.”
“Regularly engaging with your clients and customers ensures that the product or service you’re delivering continues to meet their evolving needs,” Ryan said. “Staying connected helps you adapt, innovate, and build trust — ultimately creating a better experience for them and a stronger business for you.”
It’s all about resilience
Running a business like Weiler’s isn’t easy, but he’s not afraid to test new ideas. He’s learned not to fear failure because it “often brings about positive changes and helps your business grow and develop.”
Bruce and Sabrina Jackson, who own pest-control service Square One Pest Solutions in Chestnut Hill, said running a small business requires resilience.
“We’ve learned to stay grounded and give ourselves time to reflect, recharge, and stay connected to our purpose,” they said. “That allows us to lead with clarity and serve our community with heart.”
Failing is part of running a business. But sometimes business owners let failure get them down. Det Ansinn, who runs software development firm Bricksimple in Doylestown, says he would tell a business owner to “give yourself some grace.”
“Everything that you do every day won’t be perfect,” he said. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be patient with your professional and business growth.”
Show quality and be proud
Many of the successful business owners I’ve met have become successful because they’ve emphasized the importance of delivering quality.
“People may forget that your product or service was late but they won’t forget that it was broken,” Ansinn said. “I’ve learned that if the choice is delivering a poor product on Friday vs. a quality product with a few more days’ effort, it’s better to communicate and take that time to get it right.”
Fun Dungeon’s Weiler agrees.
“Build something unique that you yourself would be impressed with,” he said. “I’ve learned that it’s important to walk into the world I’ve created every day and be proud.”
Solve problems, make decisions
Successful small-business owners have learned that their customers come to them for answers to their problems. And to do well, you’ve got to be a problem solver.
“If you’re bringing a problem to someone, you should already have a solution in mind,” Ansinn said. “Giving the problem some thought is far better than just dropping a problem in someone’s lap.”
Ansinn has also learned how to separate the serious problems from the less-serious.
“As you gain experience, you understand what’s actually critical and what you can overcome.”
Keep it simple and remember your purpose
Sometimes it’s easy to make something more complicated than it needs to be. Weiler was taught to always follow the KISS method — that stands for “Keep it simple, stupid!”
“Start simple and get your bearings,” he said. ”Perfect the basics before adding more complex offerings.”
Jenn Richey Nicholas, the co-owner of Philadelphia-based design firm Pixel Parlor, said the best advice she’s received is to “stop overthinking and just do it!”
People start businesses for all sorts of reasons. It’s important to know yours.
Nicholas said for her business, that’s not just making money.
“From the beginning, success for us meant more than growing a profitable design studio,” Nicholas said. ”Taking the advice of others, we wanted to express our commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility through our business practices, studio culture, and community involvement.”
