We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Quintel Harcum a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Quintel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I took a risk resigning from my full-time job of 14 years to full time entrepreneurship.
Quintel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Quintel Harcum entrepreneur, holistic health coach, and owner/founder of Good Part & Co.
I unlock business and personal success for ambitious professionals through holistic health and wellness
At Good Part & Co. cafe we make plant-based living simple and accessible for the busy, health-conscious community.
In 2021 we brought the 1st and only Black-owned plant-based health cafe to Johns Hopkins University
We have a new coaching platform offering education, community and other resources necessary for embracing, enjoying and thriving with a plant-based lifestyle.
Our ultimate vision is to see our community improve their quality of life from the inside out. And I believe that starts by adding more plants to your plates.
What I’m most proud of is helping people understand that health and wellness isn’t about perfection its about progression. Helping clients and customers embrace higher standards for heath and wellness improves their future and the future of their family, friends and surrounding community.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2022 I had to make the pivot from full-time employee for the U.S. Government to full-time entrepreneur and manager.
When I expand to my second cafe location at Johns Hopkins University I stretched myself and my business resources 2 thin. I had enough management in place to run both cafes but I still had too much responsibility between my day job and my 2 cafes.
In Spring 2022 I realized that my business needed me more than ever and that I had to pivot to full-time entrepreneurship. Most people I know said they’d keep their “good government job” for as long possible. Its not until you’re fully entrenched in your business, living it and loving it, do you understand that “as long as possible” is detrimental to you business.
I resigned from my government position, closed out my first shop and pivoted all the energy and resources to the Johns Hopkins location.
That allowed me to increase my overall sales, improve my business operations and expand the brand with new products, projects and services.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
One of the most effective strategies for growing clientele is to solve more problems for fewer people. There’s a saying that riches are in the niches. You don’t need to serve everyone. You just need to solve big enough problems for the right people.
By over-serving your ideal customers a few good things happen for your business. You develop trust likely create repeat customers. This trust also leads to referrals and that can lead to more ideal customers without the cost of marketing and promotions.
Solving more problems for fewer people also develops more expertise so you can become the go-to in your industry. The ability to problem solve at a high level for your niche may also translate to other niches, industries or products. Now you can potentially grow other businesses without doing too much or taking away from your core customers. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.goodpart.co, www.harcumholistic.com/blog
- Instagram: @goodpartandco, @harcumholistic
- Facebook: Good Part and Co, Harcum Holistic
- Linkedin: /HarcumHolistic
- Twitter: @harcumholistic
- Youtube: Good Part and Co, Harcum Holistic
- Yelp: Good Part and Co.
- Other: Join my newsletter at www.harcumholistic.com/pivotwithus
Image Credits
Photographer: Raba Abro