While Ryan Mortland was growing up, a Saturday visit to his father’s accounting firm’s office was nothing out of the ordinary.  So the thought of owning a business was never out of Mortland’s realm of possibility. 

In fact, it was back in his father’s office, after Mortland earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a business bachelor’s associate degree from the University of Mississippi, that his entrepreneurial instincts came to life. 

“I watched my father’s accounting firm have its IT network redone,” he says.  “IT was hot in the late 90s, and I enjoyed it.  I worked two jobs while I was learning the IT business.  Eventually I had enough clients to work in IT full time.”

For five years, Mortland ran MB Consulting, his IT infrastructure support company, on his own.  He was always in the black, but running a business and learning IT at the same time was challenging. 

Fortunately for him, he had a wealth of entrepreneurial knowledge surrounding him. 

“My father has been a mentor to me for the most years,” says Mortland.  “I also have a number of other advisers:  a business coach, a sales and executive coach, and a process and financial consulting coach.  My clients are also advisers to me.  I get 60% of my good ideas from my clients, whether it is something they do in their business or something they suggest I do.  I would tell other young entrepreneurs to seek out a couple of mentors from different industries.”

As Mortland’s business grew, hiring became a necessity.  “The transition from being a sole entrepreneur to a manager was my first great challenge,” he says.  “Having to delegate instead of just doing was something I had to learn.  It comes down to getting the right people.  That makes a big difference.  Then you are empowering people instead of telling people what they have to do.”