From Passion to Fulfillment – A Small Business Owner’s Journey
Owning a small business can be a life-changing experience filled with a lot of ups and downs. As a Muslim-based non-profit, we want to inspire budding entrepreneurs with success stories on their small business journey. We recently talked to Dr Salma Kiani, owner of Edmonton-based Greater Edmonton Eye Care, and shared her story on how her business came to be.
Aligning Passion and Opportunity
Dr. Kiani started her business as an answer to a growing market need for reliable and affordable eye care services. Being in the field for many years, she saw how many patients require eye care but have limited access to top-class services. As the demand aligned with her expertise as an optometrist, she took the opportunity and leaped into entrepreneurship with the creation of Greater Edmonton Eye Care.
Challenges of Starting a Small Business
As with most start-ups, Dr. Kiani faced several growing pains while starting her small business. According to the good doctor, “One of the biggest struggles I faced was navigating the initial stages of setting up the business, from securing funding to establishing a customer base.”
How did she strive through these challenges and successfully bring her ideas to reality? She said that perseverance and adaptability were key to her overcoming these hurdles. Not giving up on your goal and tailoring it to your market’s specific requirements will play a vital role in getting the job done.
She adds, “… a willingness to seek guidance from mentors and experts in the field” also helped her in getting her small business off the ground. Knowing who to listen to and what insight to follow is beneficial for any potential small business owner.
Seeing Your Small Business Grow
With the pain comes the joy and relief when your endeavors finally take fruit. When asked about the best thing about owning a small business, she shares “the sense of fulfillment that comes from building something from the ground up and seeing it thrive.”
She also enjoys the freedom that comes with being a small business owner. According to the doctor, who’s also a mother of three, “There’s also a strong sense of autonomy and control over my work and schedule, which allows for greater work-life balance.”
Tips to Starting Your Own Small Business
Mentorship has been pivotal to the success of Dr. Kiani. So, she’s sharing some ideas for aspiring entrepreneur when starting their journey:
- Do thorough market research to understand your target audience and competition.
- Develop a solid business plan outlining your goals, strategies, and financial projections.
- Surround yourself with a supportive network of mentors, advisors, and fellow entrepreneurs.
- Stay adaptable and be willing to pivot your business model based on feedback and changing market conditions.
- Prioritize customer satisfaction and strive to build strong relationships with your clients or customers.
Starting a small business requires tons of passion, determination, and guidance from industry experts. Today, Dr. Kiani’s Greater Edmonton Eye Care is one of the region’s well-known providers of eye care services. They specialize in eye exams, contact lens fitting, surgical co-management, medical and emergency eye care, as well as optical assistance. You can follow the clinic on their Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Apart from riba-free home acquisition options, Ijara CDC also offers a range of Sharia-compliant financing options aimed at helping small businesses. Get in touch with our experts to learn more.
Special thanks to Dr. Kiani for sharing her story and for being an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs.
