Know Thyself: 10 Things I learned in my 1st Year of Entrepreneurship

Y'all...I made it! I made it through my first year of entrepreneurship. If you would've told my 7-year-old self that I'd be running a successful startup agency, in the middle of the world feeling like it is falling apart, and in a city in which I had to compete with hundreds of creative geniuses...I probably would've told you to 'shut up or I'll punch you in the face!' (True story, my uncle tells everybody how commanding I was at a young age).

My first year was a lot on me emotionally, physically, and financially. I was a new homeowner, was in an emotionally and financially abusive relationship, broken by agency life and corporate, and doubtful if I was really made to do what God had told me to do. There was so much that people didn't see, and some that people did see (and thankfully so).

I lost so much last year - but God kept me 'clothed and in my right mind' as my grandma says.

There were 5 pivotal moments when I had to make tough decisions - do I choose to stop, keep going, or some odd combination of both? The first blow was my estranged and ill father going missing (thanks to my network, quick research skills, and the Department of Veteran Affairs, we located him after 5 days). That was January '22. The second blow was the loss of a serious relationship. That was in March '22. The third blow was the loss of momentum on paid speaking engagements and clients. That was in May '22. The fourth blow was the loss of my sweet friend Tasheka Young, to the very thing I had just left - domestic violence. That was in July '22. The fifth blow was firing my first larger solo client, whom I respected as a mentor, after experiencing triggering and very similar experiences that I had just left - agency life and corporate. WTF?!

At this point, I had to go to a new therapist, specializing in trauma; it was very intense therapy once a week for about 2 months, then once a month for another 2 months. I couldn't handle it all - how do I lead my businesses with so much grief and anxiety?

How do I keep the faith, when I'm simultaneously questioning it? And lastly, how in the hell do I pay my bills once my savings dwindled away?

Funny thing is, those 5 pivotal moments are what led me here.

Below, I'll tell you the 10 things I learned in my first year, and how I overcame these moments - sorry they're not numbered, this newsletter is part of LinkedIn 's trial run and keeps glitching on me :(. Anyways, here goes:

• Lean into your network. When I say lean, I'm not saying be the abrasive and overbearing new entrepreneur that we talk shit about on #BlackTwitter . I mean letting your network know that you're the newest entrepreneur on the block and would like their help. There's so much support (tangibly and intangibly) that your network is willing to provide, but they have to know when, how, and why. Special thanks to Jeff Hilimire Joe Koufman Aaron King Kai K. Fuentes The A Pledge and Lauren Guerrieri - you all know why. If you don't, I haven't done a great job of showing my appreciation - ha! Also, it's way too many people to thank, so if I haven't mentioned you, it's not because your impact wasn't felt and appreciated. It's literally 100 of y'all!

• Stay ready, so you don't have to get ready. My dear friend Chasity Jones, MBA has etched this in my brain since our friendship began in 2017. It's so true. I had been prepping 3 jobs ago to take the leap; defining my goals, creating my service offerings, and making the right connections to staff my agency. These 3 things were the easiest to do in my first year because I spent 5 years in development mode. Special thanks to all my old jobs that invested in professional development and encouraged entrepreneurial spirits to learn the business.
• Be kind as you climb. I really don't have an elaboration here. Truly. Actually, I do have something to say, especially to women. Don't be a fake girl's girl...don't be weird and egotistical as you get on more stages with more money and better skincare. Seriously - be kind on the climb; you never know whom you'll need during the downfall or tough times. See what Jackee Harry and Sheryl Lee Ralph say about this.

• Have faith. I'm not here to tell you whom to believe, but I am telling you to believe. On those days when words aren't adequate to express your feelings, faith comes in. On those days when you're past due on that bill you can't escape, faith comes in. In the moments of grief, when you have to still take that client's call, faith comes in. Faith has kept me and Sundays are my off days - it's not negotiable. Whatever your faith is in, make sure it's healthy and pure.

• Meet new people, and frequently. Your network referrals will run out. Let me say that again: your network referrals will run out. A very wise coach Tim Kilroy and former coworker (and friend) Michael Strachan both asked me, at the beginning of my journey, how was I going to ensure my sales pipeline would stay flowing? I quickly said 'oh I've built my business all on referrals!' They gave me a pro tip that I needed to be thinking of my outreach efforts because leads would dry up. They were right (I mean it's not like they haven't been successful leaders of multimillion-dollar companies or anything!). Always meet new people; not just those that look like they can do something for you, but also those that may just be good folks looking out from time to time. Not just entrepreneurs, but corporate workers too. Influence is everything!
• Don't be an entrepreneur snob. PERIOD. It takes all types of people to run a successful business - from the barista at Starbucks to the CEO of a large company. You need people and entrepreneurs aren't better than anybody. You need to immerse yourself in diverse perspectives of business because specifically in marketing: you're either going to work with them, work for them, or provide content to them.

• Make time for yourself and your loved ones. Shifting to full-time entrepreneurialism is a major shift in lifestyles, but that's no excuse to miss your loved ones' biggest moments (unless it's truly worth it - that's for you to decide). Holidays and birthdays come around the same time each year; weddings are hopefully one and done. Childbirth is precious. Adjust your calendar; isn't that the perk of being an entrepreneur? Spend time with people, you'll wish you did when they're gone. I had the ability to witness life's greatest moments for my friends, and I'm really thankful I made the time to do so (even if I was secretly answering emails in the bathroom or on car rides).
• Don't be lazy, just because things appear to be less hazy. Please don't ever get too comfortable; clients cancel, subscription models for your services change, our economy fluctuates, our health changes, and so on and so on. You have to grind - not to make ends meet, but to live life abundantly.
• Ask for money when you have money!!! If only I knew this fact $80K ago - but we live and learn, right? Special thanks to my friend-mentor-sister Kai K. Fuentes for listening to me and coaching me on the business funding process. Special thanks to my sisters in business Rachael "Rai" Gethers Tamay Shannon , and Kathryn Smith for sharing grant and fellowship information consistently - no information hoarding over here!

• Give yourself a break, literally and figuratively. Y'all have already heard about my annual retreat in my last newsletter , but again: BLESSED! I really needed those 3 days of solitude, to forge a way forward. Additionally, I added fun days to conference travel, traveled to Mexico with my line sisters (on a PJ at that!), and celebrated my wins big and small. I even got to go to an amazing spa day courtesy of my friend and client Lauren Guerrieri which truly was needed at my lowest last year. I can't say thanks enough! Thanks to my mom Clara Brown for ALWAYS pulling up on me - doing my laundry, making me eat, reminding me to pause. And my 10-year-old niece, Morgan, for reminding me that she and my 20-year-old nephew (Jaylon) are the most important things in my life (LOL!). Make time for yourself or life will force you to. Would you rather your break be on a beach for a day, or in a hospital bed with work-sited stress for a week? Choose your hard, folks.

If you've read this far, I appreciate you. Thanks for allowing me to share my #foundersjourney with you. I'm sure 7-year-old me would be just as proud of myself as many of you are.

I'd love to know what you learned in your first year of entrepreneurship and what to expect in the 2nd year. Sound off in the comments squad. Thank ya!