In this edition of the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight, we’re featuring Mandy Maleta, the founder of Assistant Solutions. With a focus on leveraging technology and creating sustainable systems, Mandy has built a business that allows her clients to grow with confidence. Her story is one of resilience, adaptability, and the courage to prioritize quality over quantity, making her a true entrepreneur at heart.
Hi, Mandy! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?
My business, Assistant Solutions, focuses on helping coaches and small businesses streamline their operations and leverage technology for growth. We provide customized tech and operations support, allowing our clients to focus on what they do best. The impact of our work is that our clients experience greater efficiency, less overwhelm, and more time to grow their business and serve their clients effectively.
Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.
The moment I truly felt like an entrepreneur was when I made the tough decision to let go of a long-time client who brought in the most revenue. Our goals had shifted, and we were no longer aligned. Following through on that decision made me realize I was unstoppable. I prioritize quality over quantity and would much rather work with clients who are a perfect fit than those who aren’t.
Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.
I started my business as a side hustle, thinking I had at least five years to grow it. Then 2020 hit, and I found myself bored out of my mind at my corporate job, so I shifted my focus to running my business. It took off faster than I could have imagined, and I finally felt like I was doing what I was meant to do all along. When my 9-to-5 started calling people back to the office, I knew I could never go back. So, I decided to go all-in on my business, and the rest is history.
Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?
ChatGPT and other AI tools have been game-changers for my business. I use them to brainstorm ideas and explore different perspectives. These tools prompt me to think more deeply and help bring out my creative side, significantly contributing to my success.
We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.
Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve been continuously refining my offers and ideal client. Realizing that I wasn’t going to instantly know my ideal client and offers from day two took a lot of pressure off. The people I thought would be ideal clients two years ago are far from ideal now, and offers I once loved are no longer part of the plan. Things change, and I love that as the CEO, I have the flexibility to make those adjustments as needed to help my company grow the way I envision.
What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?
As a Business Manager, I don’t limit myself to just one or two systems like others in my field. I enjoy working with a variety of tools and systems. My focus is on using what a client already has or implementing the right tools where needed. I specialize in building what I call 'sustainable tech'—systems and operations that work for a business now and can grow with them in size and cost. This approach is different from some of my peers, who may try to fit clients into specific systems. Instead, I design the best possible solution based on what’s available, tailored to each client's unique needs.
What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?
I wish I had known to take some of the advice out there as just that—advice, not the cold hard truth. There were many times I thought, 'This person said I have to market this way, so it must be true.' In reality, I had to forge my own path and do what worked for me, my business, budget, personality, and work style. There’s a lot of great advice out there, but you need to add your own flair to it. Just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for everyone—and that’s okay!
Want to go deeper into Mandy's work? Find more in the following links.
- Follow Assistant Solution on Instagram @assistant.solutions
- Connect with Mandy on LinkedIn: Mandy Maleta
- Visit Assistant Solution's Website assistantsolutions.biz
- Find Assistant Solutions on Facebook
- Follow Assistant Solutions on TikTok @assistantsolutions
