Today we’d like to introduce you to Rochelle Mason.
Hi Rochelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I come from a family of some pretty pronounced business owners. My late grandmother and grandfather owned The Mason Hotel and Restaurant in San Antonio, TX, years ago, and My uncle owned a cafe in Giddings, TX. My dad also had a few business ventures, so I grew up hearing about incorporations, Dun and Bradstreet, etc. I also remember hearing stories of how my grandmother was businesswoman of the year in San Antonio and received the key to the city! I was so young, but these stories planted seeds in my heart, and I guess you could say it’s in my blood. I told my mom at seven years old that I wanted to have a corporation, and here we are! Kids really listen hard, even if it looks like they are not listening at all.
I have an overwhelming passion for God and spent most of my time serving in my church’s youth ministry at World Changers Church in my early twenties. I later began working in ministry full time and, after several years, decided to resign and pursue my education. I went back to school and started doing contract work for a small business development center. One of the first things I did was help the CEO craft his business plan, structure, and training manual. It was one of the most fun jobs I had ever had aside from ministry. Having a hand in assisting people to achieve their dreams brought me joy and satisfied that desire to do business. So it’s pretty safe to say that my passions are a mix of business and ministry pursuits. The 2008 recession took me on a path to the business/retail world, and I worked for The Kroger Company in several Human Resources and Training positions while completing my degree in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology. I am currently pursuing my Master’s Degree in Ministry and will graduate in the summer of 2022.
Back in 2012, I decided to start my own ministry and business consulting firm, The Accomplish Group, Inc., and I did a lot of projects and meetings for free because I needed to prove to myself that I could do it. I worked the business very part-time and went full-time in 2019. It was a leap of faith for sure, but when I discovered people would pay me very well for my work, it became even more real.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Contrary to popular opinion, starting and running a business is hard work. It’s rewarding and seems impressive, but it is taxing, complex, and sometimes discouraging. You have to really want to do it, and you have to be persistent. It takes faith and a lot of it. When you work for someone, you know a check is coming to you, but you have to trust God as an entrepreneur because you cannot see the paycheck coming. You have to figure out how to make it, and in the beginning, it is a one-man show. You have to manage, market, be a bookkeeper, social media expert, and many other things. Most people only have to look at the four or five tasks of their one job, not the entire company and its ability to make money. I would not try to google your way through it. I am passionate about helping people pursue business from an educated and nurtured place. I always recommend getting a good business consultant or business mentor so you can avoid pitfalls as much as possible.
Also, having a budget for the start of your business is critical. I did not have a sufficient start-up budget, so I struggled initially. My dad always said, “it takes money to make money.” I did not understand that at first, but I learned quickly. I also struggled with my capacity to handle the workload and clientele as a solopreneur. You have to think through how much time you need to get things done and when you need to pull in contractors or employees to help maintain the quantity and quality of work. I learned the hard way by getting completely overwhelmed. Having a lot of clients and income is excellent, but not being able to handle it can be a disaster. Having the proper people and systems in place is vital.
We’ve been impressed with The Accomplish Group, Inc., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Accomplish Group, Inc. is a ministry and business consulting firm. I like to describe my team as ministry and business architects; we help clients build and grow. We focus not only on the organizational aspects but also on the business owner, their well-being, and encouragement while working on their business or ministry.
Some of the services we provide are:
– Business/Ministry Consulting
– Business Plan Development
– Incorporation Formation
– Non-Profit Formation
– Graphic/Web Design
– Social Media Consulting
– Marketing/PR Consulting
– Staff Training and Leadership Development
– Entrepreneur/Pastoral Life Coaching
– Life coaching for youth and young adults
Building a business is like building a house, and we have a team with expertise in these areas to help the company or ministry leader accomplish their goals and fulfill their most tremendous potential.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a kid, I was pretty forthright and said whatever came to mind. I was also very passionate about God at a very young age. I remember being in the second grade and trying to convince one of my schoolmates that God was real after she declared, “I don’t believe in God.” I took that very personally and tried to convince her otherwise. I also talked a lot and loved being around people from all cultures and walks of life. Consequently, people had a tendency to ask for my advice. I guess this was a sign of some of the things I was destined to do in life. I also loved writing and teaching. I ended up publishing my first book in 2019 called The Seek Challenge. The book is a 21-day devotional that outlines a method God gave me on getting to know Him and experiencing true success in life by seeking Him first. The book also outlines how my relationship with God opened doors to help me overcome some genuine obstacles. I give God all the glory for every ounce of success I experience in life.
Contact Info:
- Email: rmason@theaccomplishgroup.com
- Website: www.theaccomplishgroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaccomplishgroupinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Accomplish-Group-Inc-281163512024925
- Other: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/the-seek-challenge1
Image Credits:
Dylan Ray Studios Danialy Iglesias
