We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Gibbs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rachel, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I must admit, I still struggle with overcoming Imposter Syndrome. Sometimes I still second guess my abilities. I believe sometimes I am too humble and because of that, I dumb down my accomplishments even though they are a big deal. I think that comes with the territory of being an entrepreneurship especially when you develop services and products that you know your audience needs but they are hesitant to buy in. You start thinking you don’t know what you are doing and that your audience doesn’t believe in you. But that isn’t it at all. The reality is it takes a consumer 6-7 touch points or interactions to purchase. What I do is talk to my support system and they encourage me to keep going despite not seeing the results that I want. They remind me of how knowledgeable and ambitious I am. Then, I find myself thinking about all the things I have been able to do at a young age and that fuels me to keep pushing.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I had a vision to educate the community about financial literacy- something desperately needed in many under-served communities. Wanting to end the cycle of financial illiteracy in communities, I founded Gibbs Financial Firm in 2016. Gibbs Financial Firm is a unique financial consulting firm dedicated to enhancing community financial well-being. Our services encompass financial wellness, tax preparation, tax planning, and small business consulting. We stand out through our community-centric approach, emphasizing the importance of strong local economies. Our comprehensive service offerings provide clients with a one-stop solution for various financial needs. With a focus on financial wellness, we create personalized financial plans covering budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management. Our tax expertise ensures clients maximize returns while remaining compliant with tax regulations. Small business consulting empowers local entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute to economic development. What sets us apart is our commitment to a personalized approach, recognizing that each client’s financial situation is unique. We build relationships with our clients to deliver tailored solutions that align with their individual goals and circumstances. Gibbs Financial Firm is your trusted partner in strengthening your financial relationship and achieving your financial objectives.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I have gotten to where I am business wise today through many trials and errors, investing into professional development, and promoting different products and services. There is nothing easy about entrepreneurship. You must find something you are passionate about and nurture that business idea and do everything you can make it work. I have overcome a lot of entrepreneurship challenges by analyzing Key Performance Indicators and adjusting things accordingly. I have had to remove products and services that were not performing and introduce other needed services. There are times as an entrepreneur you think you have the best service or product available, but your target audience may not be interested in it. So you have to create products or services that your audience needs compared to what you think they want. Gibbs Financial Firm has become a well-respected and recognized brand. We pride ourselves on being able to empower our clients to transform their financial situations through commitment to the community, tested financial strategies, great customer service, and continuously improvement processes.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I have been surrounded by entrepreneurship my entire life. My grandfather started his entrepreneurial journey 9 years before I was born. He inspired me to be an entrepreneur even though at first that was not part of my plan. I watched him do the operations, financials, marketing, and customer service for his own company; and he was very successful. But it wasn’t until 2016 while being an Insurance Auditor for the State of South Carolina that I started my entrepreneurial journey. I birthed my business, Gibbs Financial Firm, a consumer financial services company designed to help the everyday American and Small Business owner with their finances. I ran my business as a side hustle for 2 years before going full time. Taking a deep dive into full time entrepreneurship came after spending a year as a Financial Crimes Investigator for a Big Four Accounting firm. I loved the work but the stress of the job burned me out and made me mentally and physically sick. My grandfather told me I was sick because I wasn’t designed to be an employee, I was designed to be an entrepreneur. He was absolutely correct. I will never forget the joy I felt after 6 months of leaving Corporate America, I made my yearly salary. I was definitely blown away. 2 years after leaving Corporate America, I made 6 figures in my business. Today we offer more services and are expanding to different markets.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gibbsfinancialfirm.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rachel.finlit.Gibbs/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelsgibbs/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gibbs-financial-firm-greenville
Image Credits
Aaron Smalls
