We were lucky to catch up with Seva Raskin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Seva, great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
I am a calculated risk taker but once I make a decision, I don’t look back on “what ifs” or regrets on the path taken. I started a photography business at 22, moved to a new state all by myself, and now have started my 2nd business after leaving many years of working in marketing for Corporate America in my ultimate happy place – a coastal beach town in NC!
I look at risk as life adventure. I think this comes from being a first born generation American and how I was raised. If your family leaves their home for a new country which is more secure, safe, and has more opportunities, I would be misguided not to take do all I can to truly live.
I have been around some unhappy, stuck, bored and misaligned people and I have had my moments of that also. There is a short amount of time we are here, so adventure is what I choose. I’ve had a much more rich and interesting life by taking the uncertain road.
Once you put yourself out there and make concerted efforts to engage, learn, and grow, life shines. I wish everyone would take more risks leading to a more fulfilling and adventurous life.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am one year into living near Emerald Isle, NC – a coastal vacation area in North Carolina, about two hours north of Myrtle Beach. I have always wanted to live at the beach and the closest I came in my early adulthood, was owning a rental property in Ocean City, MD while I lived in Washington, DC – about three hours away.
Now that I am finally living at a beach (yeah!!), I started a company I had been thinking of for many years, Living Salty Concierge LLC. My company works with my husband’s small business, JJL Safety Systems LLC, which manages HVAC, generator, diesel engines, appliances and overall maintenance. My company services homeowners for home checks when they are away for extended periods; services for owners and renters when they have property management needs, errands, deliveries, and more. It has been fun working with my husband. As a woman-owned business working with a disabled veteran-owned business, we have a unique advantage.
We look forward to integrating into our community as we have started volunteering and supporting various non-profits in the area and enjoying the amazing people here on the coast. I’m grateful to be where I am.
Looking back, what do you think were three pieces of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey?
For my journey, I think the most impactful advice I could share with those at the start of their journey include:
– Don’t get frustrated with the small things as they mostly lead to bigger things. Sometimes it could be annoying to have challenging customers or have to spend a lot of time on a small income customer, however, keep your attitude positive as that customer could become your best advocate and also a large, loyal customer down the road.
-Do get involved in the community in areas close to your heart. This will keep you engaged outside of your business and help keep you balanced and if you own a business, it will bring you rewards from the people you meet going forward. Keep doing that throughout your life.
– Get involved with business organizations where you can choose peers and mentors to get feedback and guidance. Listen carefully to their stories, thoughts, and feedback as their experience will help you. It might not at the moment but it will down the road.
-Resiliency is absolutely key. You can’t let the tough bosses or clients, or people who try to stop your progress or other tough challenges get you down. It happens to EVERYONE including people at the very top – and often! Keep going. Head up and know that you are not alone.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The challenge that my husband and I face now with our small businesses, is that we are new to a small, Southern town. It takes a bit to get to know people and integrate. Some (not all) in the area have some resentment to the growth that the area has with many from outside moving in – especially after the Pandemic. This causes some extra challenges and does push us to make sure we are doing all we can to get to know the people and what the community cares about.
We also have a local business competitor who has been upset with the start of our new business and doing some extra challenging things towards our business so we use their tactics to fuel our positive outlook and resiliency and determination to organically grow and keep on the success path.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550757766105
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550757766105
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sevaraskin/
