The Entrepreneurial Way... By Kathryn McHenry
weVenture program taught her skills about lean startup method and building a business model canvas.
Orlando, now known for its growing arts community; artisanal food ventures; and a developing hub for entrepreneurs and technology didn ' t start out that way. First known for its attractions and vacation destinations, the world is coming to be familiar with more than meets the eye.
My path first crossed with Mika Gainer back in 2014 at a local art gallery showing in Downtown Orlando. Being one of two aspiring entrepreneurs I met that evening, I remember her strong determination when I asked what she did for a living – speaking more about her vision and less about her day job. For certain, her intentions were set as an Orlando-preneur. It was during that time Orlando was quickly emerging as a dominant force in the local business movement. In addition, the once unknown co-working concept was making headway as a valuable resource for entrepreneurs to collaborate in a social environment with like- minded individuals. Think tanks rose to the occasion helping startups reduce operating costs; stimulate innovation; and build brands along the way.
Mika had always been interested in building her own brand. A departure from Corporate America had its pros by allowing her to actively engage in pursuing her longtime dreams. She envisioned a more collaborative and innovative environment to foster her goals-- shortly thereafter achieving acceptance into the Startup Quest pilot program. Team members rallied together to build a business plan around real-world technology and pitched their business ideas to a panel of active, seasoned investors.
Meetup. com and Orlando Tech were top influencers of Mika ' s further immersion into the Orlando startup scene – along with delving deeper into the arts community through volunteering. Through these experiences, she overcame two concerns: having 1) brand recognition; and 2) job titles / positions not as commonplace.
And then there was Catalyst Spaces--. a co-working space where lots of intentional and serendipitous introductions occurred with other entrepreneurs. THE BENEFITS: new friendships, a tight-knit professional network, and an even deeper understanding of communal landscapes in nearby local business resources. Mika struggled to concretely outline the true purpose of her business ideas. With each entrepreneurial resource she discovered, each one made her vision clearer. Mika loved building a company and managing the process along the way. The Orlando
Pieces of the puzzle further came together by attending numerous workshops held at Canvs; classes at the Orlando Public Library; participating in online resources; and receiving tips and advice from professional mentors. Through fine tuning her vision, chasing her passions and overcoming her fears, Mezzodots LLC was born – a company to help people learn to live better together. Her sister company Circa Dot Vintage, an eclectic vintage-inspired accessory brand, later emerged in honor of her Mom, Dot, as a compilation of her artistic creations in conjunction with her Mom’ s jewelry and collectibles showcasing her hobbies and style.
The brand centers around the connectivity of human beings in the form of energy; purposefully creating a rich environment where shoppers resonate with the delicate, earthy warmth and underlying ancestral spirit woven into her designs. Circa Dot Vintage has proved many important lessons: navigating eCommerce through the Etsy platform; the demands of digital marketing; and the potential hidden costs of running a business. Her associations with other experienced business owners has proven invaluable to learning more efficient processes and finding her niche market.
Entrepreneurship requires grit and Mika found her assumptions surfaced in different forms. She pressed on, however, to take a different approach to her business plan – imagining that her first step would be to grow a thriving customer base in order to implement the real heart of the business requiring robust resources.
The new business model offers immediate value yet still aligned with her intended mission statement. After arranging her work schedule to attend a marketing session at the National Entrepreneur Center, Mika is now actively receiving regular guidance from a strategic business coach through the Score Business Development Center journey. Mika is excitedly launching an extension of Mezzodots in Fall 2017. This new add-on spawns from a culmination of all that she has learned and sacrifices made in the process of her entrepreneurial ventures.
The growing world of solopreneurs has its own set of challenges – the hardest lesson being that entrepreneurs can be their own biggest critics. The visions of Mezzodots and Circa Dot Vintage are no different – self-discovery as a solo woman entrepreneur and granting credit where due for being a resilient and creative risk-taker. With the support and leadership training received with Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute, Mika has been recharged with insight to decisively handle life ' s hurdles:
“ It sometimes seems challenging to get the attention you need, unless you’ re able to go big and loud and successful all at once. I put a lot of pressure on myself to know all the boxes on my business model canvas because that’ s what everyone around me seemed to be doing. But really it’ s a combination of planning and doing and planning and doing until you’ re right at the spot where you should be.” – Mika Gainer