KISH: Tell us about you…
My name is Brittany Yates and I’m the owner of Grind On The Go, a coffee and tea company and community. I am also a PhD student at the Chicago School of Business, with a concentration in organizational leadership.
Pursuing my passions – grinding – hence my company name, has always been an important part of who I am. I’ve been in business since 2011, when I started providing consulting services to nonprofits.
KISH: What is your dream and how will accomplishing your dream benefit you and others?
Brittany: My ultimate dream is to help other people pursue and achieve their dreams. I’ve always been passionate about encouraging people to go after their goals! I truly believe that you can do anything you set your mind to. Oftentimes people don’t believe in themselves, which causes mental and physical roadblocks to achieving their dreams. I’ve found that people sometimes just need someone to believe in them.
KISH: Who or what inspired you to pursue this dream?
Brittany: My family and friends inspire me to pursue my dreams. I’ve always known what I wanted to do and went for it. But having the support of my family and friends is priceless. No matter what ideas I share, they are always eager to show their support. During tough moments, knowing that I have people who want to see my win and shine is a huge motivator for me to keep going.
KISH: What challenges have you encountered while pursuing your dream?
Brittany: The most challenging part of pursuing my dreams has been the lack of resources for business owners. There is a ton of generic information, but it’s hard to find the specific answers you need for your business. One of the toughest parts of being a business owner is that you often feel like you’re winging it, which can be costly. Figuring out things like pricing and manufacturing can be overwhelming as a business owner. There were so many times I wished I had a business mentor to guide me through these challenging lessons.
KISH: Who or what inspired you to keep pushing regardless of the challenges you’ve encountered?
Brittany: My friends and family inspire me to keep moving forward regardless of the challenges I’ve encountered. When there are challenging moments, like being in school and a business owner, their love and support always motivates me to keep moving forward.
KISH: Please provide final thoughts/advice for others by finishing this sentence… dream.
Brittany:You really have to believe in yourself in order to be successful. There may be times when others don’t see or understand your vision. But your responsibility is to stay committed to your calling despite outside opinions. I also think it’s important to stay steadfast and not allow people to discourage you. Entrepreneurship is rewarding, but it’s very challenging. Social media tends to glamorize the life of an entrepreneur. Yes, it can be fun and there’s flexibility, but we don’t often talk about the difficult parts like decision-making, working capital, imposter syndrome, and so much more.
