You don't have to reinvent the wheel or the recipe! Meet Robert Armstrong from G Mommas Cookies!

Robert Armstrong took a family tradition and turned it into a thriving business in his hometown of Selma, Alabama by learning how to bake, sell and distribute his signature G Mommas Cookies, described as "the best cookie you’ll taste comin’ out of the deep south."

Robert has been winning over tastebuds and votes recently as a top 10 finalist in Small Business Big Game, so we had to learn more about the story behind starting his business and how he stays inspired day in and day out.

Take it away, Robert!

Name: Robert Armstrong

Business: G Mommas Cookies

Started: July 2009

How did you come up with the name for your business? 

G Mommas Cookies is named for my grandmother, Anice Armstrong.

We used to call her “Gammy” and the recipes that we use to make G Mommas Cookies are inspired by the chocolate chip pecan cookies she made us in junior high and high school. 

Together, she and I came up with our BuddaScotch Oatmeal recipe and it's become our biggest hit.

What has been most surprising so far about running your own small business?

Figuring out how to navigate the constant ups and downs has been the biggest surprise for me. 

I’ve had to learn how to stay positive and focus on problem solving. There is a lot of perseverance that’s required to build a business from the ground up and make it successful.

What is the most important metric you measure in your business? 

For us, we’re focusing first on getting our cookies into different stores and retailers, then our goal is to turn those stores into repeat customers. 

We look at re-orders and how often we get them as a measure of success — it means our customers love our products and they want more!

What is one of the biggest challenges you face day-to-day in running your business? 

If I had a magic wand, I would use it to make sure we always had exactly as much production as we need without any quality control issues. Keeping up with orders and making sure our cookies are always top quality is tough.

How do you stay focused and inspired as a small business owner? 

I keep my passion alive by being around other entrepreneurs. I go to conferences and meetups so that I can see what other people are doing, get new ideas and stay creative.

I also stay motivated by focusing on our sales — every time we make a sale, there’s a sense of winning that comes with that and makes me want to keep doing it again and again.

When I’m in a place where I’m not feeling particularly motivated or inspired, I get on the phone and make a couple of sales calls. That gets me motivated and excited about our business.

If you had one piece of advice to share with someone who is just starting out, what would you tell them? 

My #1 recommendation for anyone starting their own business is to surround yourself with people who are positive and encouraging.

Not only that, but find people who can give you advice on how to start your business and run your business. Find people who have been there before and who have learned through their own experiences how to tackle every single part of what it means to run a business.

I've received so much guidance and inspiration from people who have helped me get over hurdles and solve problems they'd already solved themselves.

Robert with his grandmother, Anice Armstrong, the inspiration behind G Mommas Cookies.