Elizabeth Dukes is the Co-Founder of iOffice, the fastest growing 100% SaaS IWMS Platform and App Marketplace dedicated to facilities management. Elizabeth champions the use of SaaS technology to empower the workforce and create the most productive workplaces on earth.With more than two decades of experience in the field, Elizabeth and co-founder Don Traweek ran Pitney Bowes Management Services providing workplace management solutions to the Fortune 1000. Together, they founded iOffice recognizing the need for a robust, but easy to use software solution to manage the complex tasks and reporting for facilities management, and co-wrote the book on the subject, Wide Open Workspace.Elizabeth is a sought-after speaker at IFMA Worldwide and at chapter meetings in Houston and Austin as well as at Tradeline Space Strategies and Realcomm. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Texas, Austin.Elizabeth shares...What motivated her to start a business in the first place?Elizabeth and her partner Don Traweek came up with a software technology concept that was used by their employer. Their employer later on decided they were not interested in the technology and Elizabeth and her partner decided to turn their concept into their own business.Did she start the business on the side or dive in full-time?Full -timeWhat were the first steps that she took?Elizabeth and her partner Don, leveraged the relationships established through their employer. Now they established their own inbound marketing platform with help from Hubspot. They hired an inbound marketing firm to handle content, graphic design and overall branding of what they were doing.What type of people does she surround herself with?When they first started, Elizabeth and Don had a third partner who handled the business side. The third partner passed away, but they managed to hire the right person to take care of that area of business.What was the low point in her entrepreneurial journey, what did she do to get back on track, and what did she learn from that experience?When the third partner passed away, they discovered that their account receivables were over extended and affected their cash flow. Elizabeth and Don had to get back into that side of business to get things back in the proper schedule. They learned to be more invested in keeping an eye on all areas of business even though it might not be their area of expertise or responsibility.One personal habit that contributed to her success?Elizabeth has a sense of urgency and responsiveness.If she were to write a letter to her pre-entrepreneur self, what would she say?Go for it. It's going to be ok. Don't worry. Don't stress. You're going to be fine. Tell your husband you don't need a business plan. You are going to make money.What book(s) would she recommend aspiring entrepreneurs read?Good to Great byPurple Cow by Seth GodinWhat advice would she give to someone who is starting their journey into entrepreneurship?Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses. If you have a great idea, be sure to enhance what you're doing with people who have other skills that you lack because your deliverables will be more robust. Don't be afraid to take the risk If you fail, you fail. At least you can apply to our nex experience.How to reach Elizabeth?Email: [email protected]: @iOfficecorpLinkedin: Elizabeth Dukes12 Week Mastery Program link planningyourleap.com/12weekmasteryThanks for listening!Thanks so much for joining me again today. Do you have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!Also, please leave an honest review for the PYLIB podcast on iTunes. Ratings and review are super helpful and very much appreciated. I read each and every one of them.If you have questions for the Ask Melin episode on the last Wednesd...