We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Keri Salas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Keri below.

Keri, thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about one of the craziest things you’ve experienced in your journey so far.
Due to some unforeseen and out of our control circumstances, almost twenty-eight years ago, my husband and I started our first business with thirty-two dollars in our bank account. On one hand, we were terrified. Obviously, no one starts a business with that amount of money as a starting point, but we loved the idea of the freedom of working for ourselves.

We didn’t let our fear paralyze us. As panicked as we were, we introduced our new business through face-to-face interactions, and by the end of week one we had $12,000 in sales, which was a fortune to us at the time. Within 90 days, we’d paid off our first business vehicle and equipment loan and were able to hire employees.

The memory of overcoming a thirty-two dollar bank account balance gave us tremendous confidence as we grew that business and others over the years. You are only limited by what you can imagine for yourself and what you’re willing to do to accomplish your goals. “Thirty-two dollars” became our special phrase to remind us that we could overcome anything. I love that this story helps other people launch their businesses with more confidence — your business does not need to be anywhere near perfect to make the outcome successful.

That’s a great story. Before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Of course! I’m a business woman, life coach and author originally from a small town in Kansas. Through all of this, I’ve seen that people will knock your socks off with their kindness, and life is filled with miracles and serendipitous events. These are the things I like to depict in my books, It’s a Wonderful Dog — A Christmas Tail, and the upcoming sequel.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Deeply care for your employees. When your business progresses and hits important milestones, make sure their lives reflect that they were part of it that success. Listen when your staff gives suggestions, especially when a good employee has a different view than you. I’ve found that our employees will go the extra mile, and we never take that kind of loyalty for granted. No company can experience and sustain growth in the long-term without loyal and happy people. Employees are your first and most important clients in that they will buy into your culture and vision with your leadership.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
The ability to pivot is crucial to reaching dreams and goals. In 2023, I pivoted away from our businesses, thanks to my husband and key employees picking up the slack. I always wanted to write a book, and after the death of my last grandparent in 2022, I realized how very fast life goes by. I jumped into writing full-time and have loved the creativity of the endeavor. I’m surrounded by the best, most extraordinary people helping me to edit and publish. I feel so lucky and fortunate to be able to accomplish something I’m so passionate about.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kerisalas.com
• Instagram: kerisalas
• Facebook: Keri Salas