Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Crump.
Hi Chris, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
INTRODUCTION: In 2022, I stepped on a sea urchin while visiting my team in the Philippines. While laughing at my $3.41 Philippines emergency room bill, I had a thought—running a business is kinda like stepping on a sea urchin—it’s super painful.
THE START: Anavah Talent started by accident. Three small business owners reached out with the same painful problem—they were drowning in work but couldn’t afford to hire a high-skilled U.S. employee.
All three needed highly skilled talent—a licensed CPA, a restaurant operations manager, and an email marketing specialist.
I offered to help them hire the roles overseas in the Philippines. And if they weren’t happy, they didn’t owe a dollar—a complete satisfaction guarantee.
After a few weeks, we found them incredible teammates. All three businesses were completely satisfied and made the hires. And our first three customers referred us to more customers. A company was born!
BACKGROUND: After this experience, I realized that small businesses comprise 99% of U.S. companies. But it’s never been harder for small businesses to grow and compete in the global economy. During my time at Goldman Sachs, I realized corporations have an unfair advantage—access to lower-cost skilled labor.
At my last startup, I helped build + manage a team of overseas workers in the Philippines. These in-house teammates owned customer service, product operations, and sales enablement—and they were fantastic.
Workers in the Philippines are highly skilled, proficient in English, trustworthy, and have deep experience working for U.S. companies. And my teammates could afford a nice house, private school for their kids, and expensive technology because of their work with our company.
But most outsourcing firms are predatory for overseas workers. Their call centers are miserable, and outsourcing firms take the majority of their hourly wage. Filipinos prefer working directly with reputable U.S. businesses—and they are incredible colleagues.
MISSION: ‘Anavah’ is a Hebrew word that means ‘to take your God-given space.’ Our vision is for every person to take their God-given space—wherever that is in the World.
Our mission is to build a more connected world where opportunities have no boundaries. Overseas talent can bless American businesses with their unique talents, strengths, and skills—and American businesses can bless overseas talent with life-changing, dignified opportunities.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
After a long season of discernment, Anavah Talent was started. I got lucky—the first ten customers came quickly via referrals. We were profitable from Day 1. I felt called to start the business.
Even amidst the joys and blessings, it’s been hard. Running a business is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
– Every day is full of ambiguity.
– Every problem is your problem.
– You don’t get paid on a regular basis.
– People give you constant feedback and criticism.
– There’s no one to tell you ‘Good job’ at the end of a long week.
– It’s easy to be outcompeted by competition.
And you constantly feel like an idiot.
The line between feeling like an idiot and feeling like a genius is razor thin—and it oscillates daily. The interplay between Idiot / Genius is a feeling that unites all founders, entrepreneurs, and parents.
I view entrepreneurship as a tool to refine my heart and grow me as a leader. I’ve made some good decisions and some poor decisions (lots of mistakes!). I’ll try, iterate, fail, learn, and try again.
But there is no greater learning than taking a risk and doing something difficult.
And there’s something empowering about staring into the abyss, saying, “I have no idea what I’m doing,” and taking the first step.
It’s how you really get to know yourself—and find dependence on God.
When challenges hit, and I have no idea what to do, I just take one step at a time. Sometimes it’s a misstep, but either way I’m moving—hopefully it’s forward.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
www.anavahtalent.com
We are an agency for specialized overseas talent and a consultant for small businesses looking for expand operations.
The happiest part of the job is providing quality, dignified employment to people in the Philippines—and helping American business owners grow their company.
It’s a tough time to be a business owner. Everything is more expensive. The economy is slowing. The work still piles up.
Or a CPA who can own your bookkeeping.
Or a digital marketing expert who can grow your social media.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Entrepreneurship feels like an individual activity, but it’s a team sport.
Before starting Anavah Talent, I felt stuck—I wanted to start a business, but I felt like I was missing wisdom and guidance. Lacking wisdom and seeking discernment, I thought of an exercise:
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀?
So, I asked people to connect me. The conversations were centered around seeking discernment + hearing other people’s stories. I talked for 2 minutes, asked a few standard questions, and let the other person talk for 90% of the meeting.
Sure, there were several duds. Some rejections. I wasted a lot of time setting up meetings. Was this exercise 80/20? No—but the results were incredible.
𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟯-𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀, 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝟭𝟮𝟰 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
People kept connecting me to new people. Doors kept opening. Disparate networks started colliding.
124 people took time out of their day to give me wisdom, advice, and perspective.
Specifically, there were several Austin entrepreneurs who have been instrumental mentors in my development.
I want to thank Max Minsker at Bookmate, Jaime Carrillo at Quelly, Dilan Mistry at NativeFour, our incredible Missional Community Group at the Austin Stone, and all of the Founders who are building in Austin.
And my incredible fiancé Lauren Feitzinger who remains the smartest person I’ve ever met and my best friend.
Pricing:
- Pricing starts at $1,000/month.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anavahtalent.com
- Instagram: chriscrump15
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-crump/
- Twitter: chriscrump15
