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