First, Only, Other, But Never Alone

This past week I was in Atlanta for a 4-day business coaching intensive with Rachel Rodgers as part of her inaugural business coaching training program to become a certified Hello 7 Coach.

It was ??.

I learned, laughed, cried, danced my ass off, karaoked late into the night/early morning celebrating one of my fellow trainee's birthday.

As a coach, I believe in the power of coaching and being mentored by other entrepreneurs who have already done what you want to do and who are already where you want to be. And being at this in-person intensive opened me up in a way I haven't felt in a long time.

I found myself giving an impromptu speech and proudly introduced myself as a 2nd generation Filipina American woman daughter of immigrants. I shared about my experience of often being the first, only, and other, whether that was on the playground as a child, in my former corporate offices, and even now as an entrepreneur and coach in spaces meant for BIPOC and women of color.

Apparently, the words "first, only, and other" struck a nerve. I was in a room full of pioneers, woc business owners who are building things that don't exist (yet). All week I received comments about how my words moved and inspired them and reminded them that they too are breaking generational barriers and building generational wealth for our ancestors and future ancestors.

One of the best things about in-person events is the energy XCHANGE you feel when surrounded by others, especially with folx who are values-aligned. During my trip, I got to connect with many other friends on business and life.

Even though our schedules didn't align, I finally got to chat 1:1 with someone I've been admiring from afar, Aiko Bethea, Esq., PCC (she-her) , about our million dollar journeys.

I got another chance to see and have dinner with a friend, Alicia McNease , who invited me in to for a speaking opportunity at Calendly which is now one of my favorite and highest-paying speaking gigs to date.

I finally met my accountability buddy IRL, Danielle Marshall, CDP, ACC (She/Her) , and expanded to five more women all with multiple 6-figure businesses ranging from beauty services, food blogging, DEI consulting, marketing agency, executive coaching, and real estate investing.

I was on a high all week and felt my extroverted energy returning after spending months quietly offline, detoxing from social media, building my business behind the scenes, and more importantly, resting and recovering from exhaustion and extreme burnout that sent me to the hospital earlier this year.

I'm grateful to Rachel and the Hello 7 team for throwing such a magical event. Being surrounded by so many badass women making big moves in their businesses was definitely the medicine I needed to get back to my high-vibe self.

While I'm not quite at $1M+ in revenue in my business yet, the love and care I received from my squad this week is priceless. And on the path to millions, I already am wealthy knowing that I may be the first, only, other, but I am never alone.

BUILT BY BIPOC

LinkedIn Live Q&A Tuesday

I experienced tremendous in my businesses this year but it didn't come without challenges and consequences. While my mind was ready to level up, my body and my business operations weren't quite as ready for such a large and fast growth spurt and I found myself burned out for most of Q2. This week I'll be sharing three of my biggest lessons from growing from a $100k year to a $100k quarter. Come learn how you can grow and scale sustainably and avoid the mistakes I went through to prevent burnout.

RSVP here to view live here.

LinkedIn Audio Friends & Family Friday

You only need 3 things to have a successful business: 1) A PRODUCT/SERVICE people want 2) MARKETING & and visibility to that product and 3) the ability to SELL that product.

Most of the BIPOC coaches, consultants, creatives, and online service providers I meet are afraid of the third piece - SALES.

But here's the reality... if you're good at coaching or consulting, then you're good at sales!

TRUTH!

Come join the conversation about reframing what it means to sell so you can serve your community in a way that feels heart-centered, intentional, and genuine.

RSVP to discuss with us here.

CONSCIOUSXCHANGE EVENTS - AUGUST FAM JAM

One of the exercises we did during my 4-day Hello 7 Coaching certification intensive last week was a friends audit. Many of the WOC entrepreneurs shared that they didn't have people around them they could trust or lean on for support. That makes sense when you're the first, only, and other in your family and social circles to start a business.

But that's why I created CONSCIOUSXCHANGE, to build an ecosystem of BIPOC entrepreneurs who are pursuing time, location, financial, and occupational freedom for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Are you a BIPOC coach, consultant, creative, or online service provider looking for your support system, your squad, your sounding board to talk about all things business and life?

Join my next networking event! You can register here.

Building a business is hard especially when you are the first, only, and other BIPOC entrepreneur, building something that doesn't (yet) exist. But don't forget your mission and movement! Your business has the power to make a ripple of impact for you, your family, and your community. So cheers to you my dear pioneer! Let's go design our liberatory futures, together.

In solidarity,

Carissa

About The First, The Only, The Other newsletter: The First, The Only, The Other newsletter is a weekly LinkedIn newsletter designed to help BIPOC entrepreneurs build their businesses and design their liberatory futures. If you found this newsletter to be helpful, please share it with others you feel would find value in it.

There's always a lot going on at CONSCIOUSXCHANGE so come say hi! To make sure you don't miss anything, join the CONSCIOUSXCHANGE email list here for more programs, events, and tips on product development, marketing, and sales.

This newsletter is curated by Carissa Begonia , a 2nd generation Filipina American daughter of immigrants and the first and only in her family to run her own business. Carissa is the founder of CONSCIOUSXCHANGE, a business coach for BIPOC entrepreneurs, a LinkedIn strategist and Top Voice, a certified Emotional Intelligence (EQ) coach, and a keynote speaker with a focus on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) in business and entrepreneurship. Her work has been featured in TIME Magazine and she has spoken at companies, institutions, and non-profits including Eventbrite, Calendly, Johns Hopkins, KPMG, and the YMCA.

Carissa's equity work is centered around revolutionizing how we work and creating an alternative to toxic workplaces that don't support those of racialized and marginalized identities by making entrepreneurship accessible and sustainable for BIPOC. Her vision is to create an ecosystem of BIPOC entrepreneurs who are pursuing time, location, financial, and occupational freedom for themselves, their families, and their communities. If you looking for coaching on how to build your business to 6-figures and beyond, visit the CONSCIOUSXCHANGE website to learn more about our individual and group services or book a call to discuss your specific needs.