How Consistency Compounds: Business Success Through High Performance with Mary Seo

In this inspiring episode of The Nathan Newberry Show, we dive deep into the journey of high-performance entrepreneur Mary Seo, who shares valuable insights on business acquisition, creating systems, and maintaining faith through entrepreneurial challenges.

What Defines a High Performer in Business?

Mary Seo, co-owner of a successful construction company called "A Place to Grow" in Ventura, California, brings a refreshing perspective on high performance. For Mary, high performance isn't about superhuman achievements but rather about something more attainable yet powerful: "Someone who can set goals for themselves and accomplish them."

Her business creates custom backyard spaces, treehouses, art studios, and offices using reclaimed materials - a unique approach that combines sustainability with craftsmanship. What makes her story particularly compelling is how she and her husband acquired an existing business rather than starting from scratch.

"We looked at all the paperwork, the profit and loss statements, we talked to the owners, we toured their job site... it just kind of worked out really well. We are basically funding their retirement now, and we have a bunch of systems and processes that a lot of construction companies don't have."

This strategic approach allowed them to "start at square 20 instead of square zero" - a powerful lesson for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to accelerate their journey.

Systemizing Creativity and Operations

One of the most valuable insights Mary shares is how she discovered that even creative processes can be systematized. This revelation challenges the common misconception that design work must be purely intuitive and unstructured.

"A lot of people just assume that designing things are entirely creative and there's no process," Mary explains. "Going into it, it was really cool to see that [the previous owner] had a really easy process for designing her sheds and taking inventory."

Their organization system includes:

• Hundreds of doors and windows, each measured with photos
• A comprehensive inventory database in Airtable
• Detailed templates for design processes

This systematic approach to creativity demonstrates how even the most artistic aspects of business can benefit from clear processes - an important lesson for entrepreneurs in creative fields.

Marketing Evolution: From Traditional to Digital

When Mary and her husband relocated the business from Central to Southern California, they faced significant marketing challenges. The previous owners relied primarily on in-person events with minimal online presence.

Mary embraced modern marketing strategies, particularly focusing on Instagram and local business connections. She shares how she initially went overboard with outreach:

"I was doing like 500 daily opens and I think I got flagged because they stopped sending my messages... I looked it up on ChatGPT and was like, 'Can I get in trouble for doing this?'"

This authentic struggle resonates with many entrepreneurs navigating digital marketing for the first time. Mary's approach to building her business network also reveals a deeper insight about entrepreneurship:

"It's honestly just been fun to try to make connections and just get to know people. It's been such a blessing just talking to other business owners and going through struggles together and building friendships."

Faith and Mindset in Entrepreneurship

Perhaps the most powerful part of Mary's story is her discussion about managing anxiety and stress through faith. As a self-described "Type A control freak," Mary shares how she recently faced a significant business challenge when their landlord gave them short notice to vacate their industrial shop.

"I stressed about it for so long and lost sleep about it," Mary admits. "The thing that brought me comfort and peace was just listening to podcasts on faith and having peace in God."

Her perspective shifted from anxiety to a more balanced approach:

"If I just do my work and leave the rest to God, I can just go to sleep and have faith. I know that I am on the right path and that He's there to help me. If it doesn't go exactly how I want it to go, I think I have the tools in my tool belt to handle it."

This balance between taking action and accepting uncertainty is something many entrepreneurs struggle with, making Mary's insights particularly valuable.

The Power of Consistency Compounds

When asked for her final words of wisdom, Mary offers perhaps the most valuable insight of all - the compounding effect of consistency:

"What's been helpful for me is just the idea that consistency compounds. Whenever I lose hope or just feel like every little step is one step forward and five steps back, it's just: stay in the game. Keep your head down and work hard and it'll pay off. You'll just look back and be like 'holy crap, so much has happened and I've actually accomplished a lot.'"

This powerful reminder that entrepreneurial success isn't built on overnight breakthroughs but on steady, consistent effort provides the perfect conclusion to a conversation filled with practical wisdom.

Key Takeaways for High-Performance Entrepreneurs

1. Consider buying an existing business instead of starting from scratch
2. Create systems for everything - even creative processes
3. Balance digital and in-person marketing for maximum impact
4. Find peace in faith during challenging times
5. Trust that consistency compounds over time

Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or looking to level up your existing business, Mary's experiences offer valuable lessons on achieving high performance through systematic approaches, faith, and unwavering consistency.

Ready to implement these high-performance strategies in your own business? Share your biggest takeaway in the comments below and subscribe to The Nathan Newberry Show for more inspiring entrepreneurial conversations.