Neal Zeavy is the co-owner of Nic’s Organic Fast Food, a certified-organic restaurant with a drive-through and delivery services in Chicago. Mr. Zeavy also manages Zeavy Development, a commercial real estate firm that acquires and develops properties across the United States. Neal Zeavy enjoys being an entrepreneur and exploring new business opportunities in different industries.While being a full-time entrepreneur has its perks, not everyone is brave enough to leave their job, risk losing their savings, and start from scratch. A good way to test the waters and see if you have a future in entrepreneurship is by starting a “side hustle,” a (usually) part-time job on the side. Here are three tips for building a successful business from a side hustle:1. Treat the side hustle as a functioning business.A side hustle is a business and not a hobby. Even if you have a full-time job, the best way to gain traction on your side hustle is to set specific and measurable goals and create a detailed plan of execution. Set aside a number of hours a day or week to devote your time and energy to the side hustle, and stick to your schedule. 2. Test the product or service with a small targeted audience.Find out how a few targeted customers will respond to your product or service before you invest more money, time, and energy into it. Use the customers’ feedback to improve your offering. The sooner you can create a product or service that solves customers’ problems, the better your chance of success.3. Spend money on resources based on demand.Hiring people and buying supplies in anticipation of demand can set you back financially. Study the growth of your business and spend money only when you have customers who will pay for the product or service.
Serial entrepreneur Neal Martin Zeavy divides his time among several executive-level positions, including as the president of not only Zeavy Development, but also NZ Consulting. More recently, Neal Zeavy joined Nic’s Organic Fast Food as an angel investors and a co-owner. The first certified organic fast food restaurant in the United States, this Illinois-based company plans to expand to California and New York.Below are three signs your business is ready for expansion:1. You have loyal customers. No matter what you are selling, a steady flow of customers indicates that there is a steady demand for your product. These customers not only reward your business with a recurring revenue source, but they also promote stability and are a great indicator that you’re ready to grow. Customers may also be requesting that you open another location, thus reassuring you that the successful expansion of your business is highly probable.2. You need extra space. As your company grows, you will need more workers and space to accommodate growing demand. This is great, but it may result in your current space being too small for your operations. If you find that you are bursting at the seams to handle your current volume, it’s time to consider expanding to an additional location to balance the demand.3. You’ve enjoyed steady profits. Businesses sometimes experience sudden surges in profits. While this isn’t necessarily bad, a brief increase in profits does not automatically mean you should expand. Instead, make sure you’ve been enjoying steady profits for at least three years before adding another location. Since these profits are more long term, they are more indicative that your business model is working and that you’ll be capable of recreating it elsewhere.
Over nearly two decades, dynamic entrepreneur Neal Martin Zeavy has established several profitable ventures in various industries, including real estate, fundraising, and the food and beverage sector. Despite overseeing four thriving businesses simultaneously, Neal Martin Zeavy leverages his ability to work from home to create an ideal work-life balance and make time for his family.By planning thoughtfully and establishing routines, remote workers and entrepreneurs who work from home can remain productive and engaged in their work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Some effective suggestions are listed below.Create a Separate Space - One way to strengthen the boundary between home and work is to establish a defined workspace. Whether this space is a whole room or a cordoned-off section of another living area, the workspace should be treated like any other office and be considered by all household members as a distraction-free zone most of the time.Schedule Breaks - Entrepreneurs who blur the lines between work and home often engage in work activities even during their time off. Instead, it is best to establish a set work schedule that includes meal breaks and bans checking work emails or doing other work-related tasks after a certain time. Develop Rituals - For people who work from home, rituals can take the place of a commute and provide a transitional space between work and personal time. Some effective rituals include taking a walk before and after work or drinking coffee from a specific mug when on the clock.
An alumnus of the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a BA in community studies, Neal Martin Zeavy serves as the CEO of Nic’s Organic Fast Food, which he co-owns, and president of Zeavy Development and NZ Consulting. Involved in numerous business activities over the course of his career, Neal Martin Zeavy also mentors aspiring entrepreneurs and continuously seeks to expand his knowledge.Requiring many skills to start a business, entrepreneurs can benefit from online educational resources to help them gain new information. The following are just a few of the best online resources for entrepreneurs to support their business endeavors:AllBusiness.com provides entrepreneurs with many useful tips on a diverse array of business topics, ranging from Internet marketing to office etiquette, as does HubSpot Academy, which offers free courses on subjects such as lead nurturing, landing pages, and website optimization. Furthermore, Moz provides search engine optimization-related learning opportunities through not only its free Moz Academy, but also webinars and guides to link building, social media, and SEO.LearnVest is helpful for entrepreneurs who want to learn how to manage their business and personal incomes. Some of the site’s classes, including “How to Budget” and “Building Better Money Habits,” are free. Also beneficial for its financial-related information, CrunchBase is especially valuable for providing everything an entrepreneur needs to know about funding his or her new business.
Operating from Seattle, Neal Martin Zeavy oversees a broad spectrum of commercial real estate investments spanning the country. One of the high-profile companies Neal Martin Zeavy has helped launch and expand is Chicago-based Nic's Organic Fast Food. Featuring Quality Assurance International-certified organic ingredients, Nic’s takes pride in providing options that meet a number of dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free. As part of its commitment to gluten-free offerings, Nic’s allows customers to substitute the organic white hamburger bun with an organic gluten-free waffle bun or lettuce wrap. This meets the needs of people living with celiac disease, for whom gluten triggers a small intestine-damaging immune response. In addition, some people experience non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which features celiac disease-like symptoms, while avoiding intestinal damage.Gluten-free diets steer clear of traditional bread, pasta, and cereal products, as well as specific items such as soy sauce and beer. In order to avoid nutritional deficiencies associated with lack of fiber, those who live gluten free often consume ingredients such as quinoa, brown rice, vegetables, beans, and fruits. They also supplement with B vitamins, including folic acid, which are typically included in fortified bread products.
