Check Your Receipts Sis!

by Kelly Charles-Collins, Esq.

After relaxing and washing my hair this morning, I started thinking about my entrepreneurial journey.

You know that song lyric, “how did you get here!”

Yes, I know that song was about a relationship and this journey thus far has been like a relationship.

Sometimes loving, sometimes abusive, sometimes joyful, sometimes painful.

And all times worth it.

Entrepreneuring ain’t easy.

However, I think sometimes we are a bit hard on ourselves.

I know that’s been my experience the last year and a half.

I’ve said some unkind things to myself about this journey knowing damn well I’m a total badass.

But sometimes, it just doesn’t feel that way.

So, I decided this morning to check my receipts??. Literally.

I decided to run my Profit and Loss statements (P&L) statements from January 1, 2020, when I became a full-time entrepreneur, to today.

And numbers don’t lie.

Your girl has been doing the damn thing.????????????

The numbers also don’t lie about the mistakes I’ve made/lessons learned/takeaways while doing the damn thing.

???? The money I’ve invested.

? The money I've wasted.

????♀? The ideas I thought were AHmazing but didn’t really pan out.

?? My lack of consistency because this brain is a rabbit hole.

But when I look at the numbers in terms of revenue generated ?????? for my business, I have every reason to be proud.

When I decided to become an entrepreneur, I wanted to leverage what I knew not what I do to make a life, living, and legacy.

And though in this very moment, my life, living and legacy aren’t exactly aligned with my bigger vision, I am proud of me.

???? I’m proud that I’ve bet on me.

???? I’m proud that in betting on me, I’ve stayed true to who I am.

???? I'm proud that in betting on me, I've given myself space to celebrate, vent, cry, pivot.

???? I'm proud that in betting on me, I've not allowed the disregard of others to stop my flow.

???? I’m proud that in betting on me, I’ve had the immense pleasure of elevating, affirming, and amplifying others.

????I’m proud that in betting on me, people have entrusted me to pour into their lives and open their hearts.

Damn it. I’m just proud!??

And as I get ready to publish my 5th book, The Art of Strategic Resistance, I started thinking about which of the 29 strategies, I need to lean on and leverage in this moment.

That strategy is #20 – Adapt and Advance. Adapt and Advance is all about recognizing that circumstances change, and that flexibility is essential. It means cultivating the agility to shift your approach while continuing to move forward. It means responding proactively to change, staying resilient, and using flexibility as a tool for progress.

The vision remains the same. But the path to get there might have to change.

So, as I look at my P&Ls, I know some things have to change going forward to reach the vision I’ve designed for myself.

However, I must not discount what I’ve already achieved. (Neither should you.)

Like many of you, I’m an overachiever. I want everything just so.

Unfortunately, life is not linear. My life has never been linear. So, I don’t know why I thought it would be any different now.

Success is a winding, bumpy road and I believe to the depths of my soul that everything happens for a reason.

Therefore, if I’m truly committed to my vision, which I am, here’s the starting point of my Art of Strategic Resistance Battle Plan:

?? Focus on the Endgame

?? Adapt and Advance

?? Review and Recalibrate

???? Trust My Instincts

?? Devise My Strategy

?? Develop My Playbook

?? Amplify My Strengths

?? Disrupt Expectations

???? Persist & Persevere

?? Execute With Precision

I know 2024 has been kicking some of our asses. But It might not be as bad as you think. Go check your receipts over time. Be proud of you!

Then figure out what's next.

What's your battle plan for 2025?

If you’re not sure or not sure how to even create a battle plan, here’s 3 ways I can support you:

?? Attend my FREE masterclass – How to Lead, Influence & Win in High-Stakes Situations

?? Pre-Order The Art of Strategic Resistance Book

?? Enroll in the Black Women’s LeadHERship & Legacy Accelerator

Listen, I don't have the answers for everybody but I do have the right answers for the right somebodies.

I hope this freed someone today.

Until next time, remember ...

Your voice is your superpower!

Kelly

My sisters’ keeper ...

About the Author Kelly Charles-Collins, Esq., MBA:

Kelly Charles-Collins, is a leading high-stakes communications expert and strategist who equips teams and women leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs with world-class skills to communicate with clarity, confidence and credibility. An acclaimed employment law trial attorney and award-winning TEDx speaker, her expertise, has been celebrated in media outlets like ABC, NBC, CBS, Forbes, and Fast Company, and she’s been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Public Speaking Voice and a 2-time Most Inclusive HR Influencer Award winner. Her books, including "Unapologetic AF" and "Convo Catalyst," and her soon to be released "The Art of Strategic Resistance" offer real-world and practical perspectives for growth and impact.