Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Hoeft.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I’ve worked in behind-the-scenes roles since I was 13. My mom brought me to her office one day, and I ended up helping her most of that summer. I helped a quilter and a Mary Kay Director in college with their bookkeeping while taking classes and waitressing. I’ve always been a hard worker with an entrepreneurial spirit. After I got married and moved to MN, I worked a corporate job, but once I started having kids, I knew I didn’t want to send them to daycare, so I needed to figure out what to do next. Luckily, at the time, I had a boss who fought for me to be able to work from home. I stayed there through another baby but then was struggling to keep up with 2 young kids at home. This is where I discovered my love for systems at work and home.
I had started a direct sales side business and was earning more, so I decided to quit my full-time job and do my side gig. That was such a fun time; I got to travel and meet some fantastic people, but unfortunately, the company did not last, and they filed for bankruptcy. It was a big hit for all of us in that business; we lost what we had built overnight. During that time, I realized a few things. First, I didn’t want to go through that again; I wanted to make something that was mine. Second, I had skills that needed to be used in that industry. I knew it was time for another change. I wanted to work an hour and get paid for an hour; that’s only sometimes the case for anyone in a sales role. In January of 2019, I renewed my love of behind-the-scenes tasks and became a Virtual Assistant. I took on a couple of clients but quickly realized that my skills, due to my experience, needed to fully align with just admin work, so about 7 months in, I pivoted again to align more as an Operations Strategist. I still did several admin tasks for most of my clients but started to say yes to more systems, operations, and management roles. As a mom of 4, I have to balance the amount of work I take on, so as I’ve grown, I’ve shifted more into a mini agency, and I’ve been able to bring on other freelancers, many moms, to help support our clients. It’s been a journey I’m grateful for and has grown organically over the last 5 years.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My road could have been smoother and quicker, for that matter. If we hustle as hard as possible, we often get into business thinking that it will be worth it. And many times, it is, but one thing I’ve been trying to focus on is the journey. How do I enjoy the phase of business I’m in right now while also looking at my goals and vision and working towards where I want to go? My biggest struggle has been time. I have four very active kiddos. I have to be very aware of what I say yes to chores, driving, and all of the other duties on my plate. I’m a people pleaser, so it’s been hard to say no to opportunities if someone asks to pick my brain or for a Zoom coffee. My business coach reminds me daily that saying yes to someone today means I’m probably saying no to my family tomorrow, which has kept me on track to prioritize my best yeses. I’ve also realized that we need to work on the business as much as on the business. In seasons where I took my foot off the gas in networking, meeting new people, and discovery calls, there was a direct correlation about 3 months later of slow months. Finding that balance has been difficult, but it’s one of the aspects I love about being an entrepreneur, so I’m leaning into it these days.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Fierce Decorum?
Fierce Decorum is an agency that supports creative brands with their operations strategy and integration. We help our owners and founders identify, craft, and implement personalized business systems so they can ditch the hustle and step into their roles as CEOs. We create simple yet custom systems that support their goals so they can focus on harnessing their unique business superpower. We help them grow their operation – and their team – in a way that works for them. We do this with operations coaching, consulting, and back-office integration teams. Our signature offering is about identifying pain points and making a solid plan to help support their growth. This stage is about problem-solving and making killer process updates, so their business is a well-oiled and fierce machine. We assess clients as the CEO, audit their organization, analyze their priorities, align solutions, and then give our recommendations on the best next action steps for the clients and their company. Our Fractional Operations Strategist offering is a monthly consulting package for our clients who have built the foundation and want ongoing operations support but only need a part-time employee. We also have a monthly retainer and project offerings to help solve the day-to-day logistics of running a growing creative business. We step in as a behind-the-scenes executive team offering operations, content creation, administrative, and other support as needed.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’m an analytical learner. I am very risk-averse, although what’s funny is I love change. I feel stuck if things stay the same for too long and will seek out change, especially if I’m overwhelmed, which only sometimes works for me. I’m so busy; let’s add something else to my plate to change things. My husband loves that about me, haha. Stepping into a full-time entrepreneur has pushed my risk level. It’s a challenge to stay confident that every decision is correct. I’ve reminded myself that every decision could be wrong, but I’m adaptable enough to learn and adjust when necessary. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to budget my risk. If I want to take a risk, I ask myself, do I have the funds available? That includes actual money, my time, resources, and mental energy. I only risk losing what I can budget if it doesn’t end as hoped. The most significant risk I’ve taken is bringing on a team. I never worried about my business when it was just me. I have a slow month, but it’s no big deal. But now that other people count on me for their income, it adds to the stress. I am so grateful for my team, and I know I would not have grown as much as I have without them; they are my best assets.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fiercedecorum.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiercedecorum/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyhoeft/
- Other: www.tiffanyhoeft.com
Image Credits
Kaylee LaMoine
