We were lucky to catch up with Cerila Gailliard recently and have shared our conversation below.
Cerila, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
You need to first define what success means to you. Everyone has their own vision on how success means to them. Find a mentor to discuss your ideas and help guide you in the right direction. You should have a plan to help focus you on your goals. A plan will help you understand how much capital and resources you will need to be successfully in reaching your goals. Always, be willing to change and adapt to the changing business environment. For those businesses, who did not adapt and change during COVID-19 went out of business,
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I actually started my career in Information Technology. I went to the University of Phoenix to obtain my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Information Systems. While I was working on my degree program, I took a class on Project Management. After I took this class, I knew that I should pursue a career in Project Management. Actually, as part of a homework assignment, our class had to answer a question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” My answer to this question, in 2003, I was going to own a business and become a Consultant in Project Management. On December 5 of 2015, I started my own business called Orchestrating Your Success LLC in which the business offers project management services.
Orchestrating Your Success LLC works with public, private and government organizations to restructure the way they engage their projects by integrating the appropriate tools and techniques of project management.
The thing I am most proud of is that I have been in business for 5 years and 2 months. The first three years were the toughest because you trying out different strategies, you are constantly networking, and trying to find that perfect niche for your business. However, I stayed focus, consistent and confident through all the ups and downs and before I knew it, business was growing and 5 years had passed.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I built my reputation by presenting a number of FREE workshops on project management for individuals and businesses through varies organizations such as SCORE and at various co-working spaces in the Phoenix Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe. I volunteered at various organizations such as the City of Phoenix Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and the Arizona State University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
I did not want to go into debt or take out any loans to open my business. My strategy was to self-fund my business, I still was working a full-time job which had a lot of flexibility, I was working from home full-time before it became popular during COVID-19. Since I knew I was going to open up my business, I first trimmed out all the non-essentials costs out of my budget examples I canceled DIRECTV, and increase my savings because I knew one day I would have to go into my business full-time. I made it through 3 years of business with my savings before I received my first big contract.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oysllc.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOYSLLC
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cerila-gailliard/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/oysllc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=orchestrating+your+success+llc