Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carol Gavhane. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carol, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I think about what it’d be like to have a regular job all the time! I recently chaperoned my child on a field trip and my first thoughts were “I am so lucky to be here sharing this time with my kid right now” while also thinking “There is so much I need to get done today.” While I do work a lot these days (after the kids have long gone to bed), there is really nothing like owning every aspect of the business.

My background is in advertising from the corporate world, so I know firsthand what it’s like to have a traditional 9-5. I do not miss peer/360 reviews, the politics, or showing up for a meeting because it’d look bad if you didn’t. Sometimes it seemed like there’d be meetings about meetings, and that kind of thing eventually wore on me.

I feel it’s a different kind of stress when you own your own business, but since you’re in charge, you can move the needle so much faster. I really appreciate the freedom that comes with going out and embarking on your own.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Sparkle Hustle Grow is a subscription box for female entrepreneurs. Every month, you get a business or personal development book, a tech gadget, stationary and office supplies. They are fun and functional and truly aimed at helping you learn and grow as an entrepreneur.

We are so much more than the stuff though, and this is what sets us apart. As a subscriber, you get access to a private members-only community on Facebook. Here’s where you can connect with others, ask a question, get feedback, and network as much or as little as you want. This is priceless!

And, every month a training is offered – at no extra cost to you. Guest experts have included entrepreneurs like Jenna Kutcher, Susie Moore, Selena Soo, and more. Trainings are evergreen and live in a Member Hub that you can access at any time.

I was very drawn to this business because it was product-based with offerings that really spoke to my heart with the community and high caliber training.

My background is in advertising, and after a few years post the birth of my children, I dove into the entrepreneurial world and started a meaningful jewelry business. Those years are where I learned an incredible amount, not just about business, but about myself. The personal growth was phenomenal, and once I got a taste of this world, I knew it’s where I wanted to stay.

Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?

I bought Sparkle Hustle Grow! I run the business with a partner who also happens to be my spouse. We had previously started an intentional jewelry business before purchasing this one, and that venture is where we learned it all – how to market, how to sell online, how to build your email list, what to say in your emails, how to hire when the time came to hire, and so on.

We knew that season of our life was shifting as I grew a little weary of actually making the products (I made the jewelry pieces), and once we decided it was okay to move on, SHG appeared in our inbox.

The actual process was fascinating. And a ton of work on both the part of the seller and buyer. We worked directly with the seller’s broker to engage in communication and submit a letter of intent and final offer, while also hiring our team in the background (accountants and lawyers who specialize in acquisition) so their questions could be answered. Buying a business takes much patience, engagement, and genuine knowledge seeking since a lot is on the line.

From the time of initial engagement until the time the business became ours, that process was a very quick seven weeks.

We valued the mission of SHG, and I personally loved that it’s a business that offers products plus more.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Mindset by Carol Dweck was a game changer for me. I grew up with a fixed mindset (I don’t think growth was even a thing in the 80s or 90s?), and had no idea that you could actually develop skills and abilities. It sounds a little silly to say out loud, but back then, natural talent was really edified. If you didn’t have “it”, then you weren’t good at it no matter how much one worked.

My first business was hard but extra hard because I had a fixed mindset in the beginning. Then I saw an interview with Tom Bilyeu interviewing Mel Robbins (his podcast is called Impact Theory) and went down a rabbit hole that I’m still in – but I love being in this learning mode! If there’s something you want, it can be achieved.

Other books that have moved the needle for me include Atomic Habits, Everything Is Figureoutable, Can’t Hurt Me, Grit, and What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sparklehustlegrow.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparklehustlegrow
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparklehustlegrow/

Image Credits
Siqi Chen