Things do not always go according to plan, but what matters is what you make of those experiences. Jade, an intern at EGBI, has no interest in working a 9-5 office job and does not see herself pursuing a community-centered career. She was placed at EBGI through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) but has acquired many skills and insights about herself through her time here. Jade recalls her first day at EGBI and states it was “totally unexpected.” She walked in anticipating getting an overview of her tasks, but instead got “shoved into a 2-3 hour lunch and learn.” She expected it to be boring but found it interesting and liked the dynamic atmosphere. From there, she got to work on a variety of tasks like researching small businesses, contributing to slideshows, interviewing people, and writing blogs. These assignments highlight her ability to adapt to the environment like a shapeshifter. High school is the next big thing for Jade. She will be turning sixteen in November and has three years left in high school. She hopes to work at Half Price Books because she has a passion for reading. At EGBI, Jade discovered that she is good at writing and likes to work independently. She says, “I like to sit down and just do my own thing.” This work style contrasts with her hectic schedule and group work, which she is used to as a high school student. At work, Jade gets a change in scenery that has helped her improve time management skills. Jade got to connect with Larissa, with whom she found similar passions and had interesting conversations. Jade enjoyed getting assigned tasks and being a busy bee, always having something to do.
If you are interested in volunteering or participating in an internship with EGBI, please contact us at hello@egbi.org.
Salem M. has been an intern for about 5 weeks with Economic Growth Business Incubator(EGBI). She got into the internship by applying through Summer Youth Employment Program with Travis County. Her personal interests in business is her dream. She would like to start her own boutique.
Her future plans after the internship is to start at UT Austin studying in Textiles and Apparels. Her expectation when coming to EGBI was getting to meet small business owners and get advice for her own dreams and future plans. Some new experiences she learned at EGBI was sending professional emails and writing blogs about people. The most interesting person she met at EGBI was Nina, a fellow coworker at EGBI, they bonded through a common interest.
Her favorite activity at EGBI was the Lunch & Learns that EGBI offers with the internship. Her advice to future interns at EGBI would be to ask questions and be curious.
If you are interested in volunteering or participating in an internship with EGBI, please contact us at hello@egbi.org.
Hannah H. has been an intern at Economic Growth Business Incubator(EGBI) for about 5 weeks. She applied through Summer Youth Employment Program with Travis County to get this internship. Her personal interests involve business and she might be a business owner when she grows up.
Her plans after the internship is to focus on high school and getting a real job. Some experiences she learned at EGBI are how to interview people and how to write professional blogs. Her favorite activity at EGBI was the various Lunch & Learn because she got to eat good food while learning about valuable information.
The most interesting person she met at this internship was Marianne Renalds, because it was powerful that she started her business in a place where she didn’t know English. She still persevered and learned it because she’s passionate about what she does. Something she would say to someone starting out at EGBI is that everyone here is very welcoming and to not worry because you get all the help you need.
If you are interested in volunteering or participating in an internship with EGBI, please contact us at hello@egbi.org.
Just like a show can not run smoothly without the stage crew, bookkeepers work behind the scenes so businesses can operate confidently, grow strategically, and remain financially healthy. Daniel Luna, founder of ATX Bookkeeper, provides specialized bookkeeping services to independent medical practices. Daniel explains what sets his business apart, “I am clear on my definition of winning: to be the premier bookkeeper for Direct Primary Care ( DPCs) clinics. I chose where I wanted to compete: US-based DPCs. I decided how I would succeed: by having the most proactive, frictionless, healthcare-literate firm in the space. I identified the capabilities I needed: airtight systems and excellent communication. Finally, I developed the systems I needed: industry-leading data security, client-focused onboarding pipelines, and DPC-informed operations. Before starting this business during COVID, I was a PMI-certified Project Manager, a Six Sigma, and Lean practitioner. My background leans toward systems.” Motivated by impact, Daniel shares: “When COVID hit, I realized it was time to pivot. I wanted something that leveraged my existing skill set, was remote, and would be meaningful work for both me and my clients. I started my first firm, My Best Bookkeeper. This was an industry-agnostic company. I later formed two subsidiary companies, DPC Bookkeeper and Provider Precision Bookkeeping. DPC Bookkeeper is for newer DPCs who want an affordable and straightforward bookkeeping experience. The streamlined systems provide efficiency, and that cost savings is passed on to the end-client. Provider Precision Bookkeeping is a white-glove service for larger or more complex DPCs that desire more than just clean books; they want an ultra-responsive partner, strategic guidance, and are growth-oriented.”
With support from EGBI, Daniel successfully navigated a strategic rebrand. “During the 60-day workshop, I focused on launching my rebranding efforts, shifting my practice from marketing to a broad medical generalist population to a specialized focus on Direct Primary Care (DPC). This transition aimed to better serve a specific patient demographic and streamline my practice operations. The facilitator, Nina Choi, played a vital role throughout the process by offering valuable guidance, insights, support, and coaching, which helped make the transition smoother and easier to manage.” Learning from missteps: Daniel shares the mistakes that shaped his growth. “1. First, I took any client with a pulse, thinking that saying yes was the key to growth. It turned out to be the path to burnout. Now, I qualify clients rigorously. Why DPCs? I choose to work with DPCs because their mission is to focus on the patient and doctor, removing the insurance company from the conversation. I built a business offering my best to those matching my specialization. For new DPC firms or multi-site companies with under $20 million, options that understand DPCs better than I do are limited. The rare exception for accepting a non-DPC client is a referral within my network, which is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 2. The second mistake was underpricing my expertise. I have grown, learned, developed systems, and invested capital into those systems, but I hadn’t updated my pricing to reflect the improved experience that DPCs would receive.” Words of wisdom from Daniel: “If I had any advice for other small business owners, it would be to enjoy the ride. We all know how short life is. Build the business that you’ll be proud of. Don’t put up with abusive clients. Build your business around your life, not your life around the company.”
You can contact Daniel Luna at Daniel@ATXBookkeeper.com or at 1-866-251-2345
If you would like to know about EGBI’s workshops and how the organization can help you with your business, schedule a business coaching appointment https://egbi.org/coach/ .
How did Vicente start his business? Vicente arrived in Austin, TX when he was 23 years old. He started working at a restaurant but soon realized that it wasn’t what he wanted to do. An opportunity came up to work in landscaping, and he worked for someone else for about 25 years. During that time, he learned everything he could. He had always been interested in one day opening his own landscaping company. He understood that owning a company came with a lot of responsibilities, but he already had leadership experience — back in Mexico, he had been the leader of a group. He managed and oversaw everything except the finances, which was the only area where he lacked experience. When Vicente told me how he got started, he shared that while working in the restaurant, he didn’t like being stuck between four walls. He loves being in constant contact with nature, which gives him a great sense of positivity. Through his work, he’s had the opportunity to meet people from all nationalities, and just interacting with them has helped him grow tremendously as a person. Many of his clients are older adults, and he always makes time to chat with them. How did he hear about EGBI? “My wife and I reached out to them because she already knew Larisa, and we heard they were offering classes about small businesses. At that point, we had already been operating for about three years, but we still learned a lot of valuable lessons. EGBI is amazing, and all the people there doing their part are truly the best of the best.” Where do you see your business in five years? “In five years, I see my business thriving, with two or three teams working in Austin and the surrounding areas. Most importantly, I don’t want to forget where I come from and how I started. If someone needs help starting their own business, I’ll gladly help them.” Vicente is truly passionate about his work. If you’re looking for someone who takes the time and puts everything into your landscape, Vicente is the person for the job. As Vicente says: “IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR GARDEN, HIRE VERDE JARDÍN.” If you’d like to hire Vicente, you can reach him at (512) 994-6161. If you would like help starting or growing your business, please be sure to contact us at hello@egbi.org
