Stop Being the Brand & the Product- Time to Build & Grow a Real Company

Ladies, can we have some real talk for a moment? This is a long one! Women of color who are founders and/or entrepreneurs who are grossing 6 figures with their businesses, yes, I want to talk to you. This advice is applicable to almost anyone, but I want to talk to you!

I LOVE that there are so many women doing the damn thing. I LOVE that so many women of color are taking their fate into their own hands and are on this journey to build legacy wealth to pass down through generations. You're bold, courageous and talented. Pre-pandemic, we were out there making it happen. But something shifted during COVID that paved the way to so many new entrepreneurs (male, female, Black, Hispanic, White, multiracial, you name it). We were all faced with having to make it happen. And people were making money.

BUT can I ask a question? Girl, why are you limiting yourself? You are riding with the brakes on. I need you to take your foot off that brake and step on that accelerator.

Let me be real here. Sometimes I can look at someone and love what their message is, their grind, their talent, and be impressed by their business. In some cases, they've taken nothing or very little of something and created a business for themselves. That's impressive. But I also know that THEY are the super ingredient in their business. If they stepped away, their revenue would stop or dramatically decrease. Their business might even shut down. I don't know about you, but I love being in a position where I can choose to work or not. And if I don't, business will continue to run without me.

Are you trying to THRIVE or merely SURVIVE?

I've had many conversations with women who have the big goal in sight, but don't know how to or are not comfortable with getting the help they need to achieve it. No, I'm not talking about a coach, mentor or other such person. I'm talking about a capable TEAM. A team that will take you out of the minutia of the daily business operations so you can focus on being an effective CEO. I'm not saying you will never work again. I am saying that your work will be different. You'll still be able to do the stuff that fulfills you, but at scale, with a team. The goal should be to build a company that can run with or without you and STILL generate revenue and profit.

So here's how the conversations with some women founders often go:

"I'm making a whole lot of money! I cleared 6 figures. And I did it all by myself." <------OK, how long can you sustain that? If you're looking to grow into or beyond 7 figures, will it be at the cost of your sanity, health, mental well being, family?

"I don't want to hire or manage anyone. It's too much to worry about." <----- Maybe. But think about what having 3-5 "you's" would do for your revenue. You could exponentially grow your company, create jobs, serve more clients....and not kill yourself doing it.

"I don't think there is anyone who can do what I do. And if there is, they may try to steal my clients or worse, my business". <-----Yeah? Well that where proper staffing planning and screening comes in. Plus if you invest in your team (professional development, keeping them happy and loyal, making them feel like they're part of something), they will be loyal to you. Having a career path is vital. Even if you're a small company, the more you grow, the more robust opportunities you can offer. And get this, they'll WANT to work for you.

"Well, I'm OK with being small. My goals are simple and I just want to make money". <----- Well why are you in BUSINESS? You can be an Independent Contractor or get a high paying job. I always ask clients to give me their revenue goals. If it's anything under $500K that's a JOB in my opinion. Nothing wrong with that. But if you're trying to build something that makes an impact and leaves a legacy for your family, that ain't it! Do you know how fast $500K goes in these days?

"Well making $350K works for me. I'm not stressed, I can do what I want, I can travel and be there for my family without being overworked. And I do it on my own terms". <----- Yeah? $350K in a year is impressive. But what about taxes, retirement, emergencies, health care? Money in and of itself should not be the main goal. But recurring revenue, retirement, and disposable income to live how you want to live don't align with $350K. And if God forbid something happens and you can't work...do I even need to finish that sentence? Especially if YOU are the product. What good is $350K if you are exhausted?

"I have a VA. She/he helps me just fine. They take care of the tasks that drag on my time. I'm doing fine". <----- Say it with me A VA is NOT your assistant. They are independent contractors who have more than you as a client so they can't dedicate their 100% to YOU. Besides, an Assistant of any kind is not going to be able to do the things you need done to bring in money. They are support personnel. (Don't get mad at me for saying it!). They don't close deals, bring in new business or execute the tasks, the secret sauce that make your clients rave about the results they've received. Yeah, I said that. Fight me!

Imagine the economic power you could have. Not just making the money, but building a team and a company that fulfills clients' needs, blazes trails in your industry, creates jobs and contributes to society in big ways. By shifting from having a business to running a COMPANY, you free yourself from so much extra s***!

Listen, there are people out here making real power moves. They understand the assignment. They are positioning themselves for real wealth and success, and they aren't killing themselves daily trying to prove they are superhuman. They are strategically building teams and alliances to achieve the end goal: serve clients at the highest level to keep them loyal and returning. They are getting funding. They are generating impressive revenue. They are moving in circles that you're not aware of let alone moving in. They are leveraging the power of teams and it allows them to focus on building mutually beneficial relationships that help them generate (and increase) revenue. They can do that because they are not the product. They have positioned the company to run whether they work work not. And I for one am not mad at them.

Stop being the brand and the product of your business! Especially if you have 7+ figure goals. I want you to have total wellness, freedom and prosperity. I want you to step into being a real CEO to build and grow a real company. That takes a different level of mindset, moves and conversations. If you're going to do it, let's do it. Step into your power, build a team you can leverage, and step into your role as a true CEO.

So what do you want in 2022? I choose freedom and profits. How about you?

Now, have I given you something to think about? If so, let's get it. Reach out to me and share your thoughts. You can leave a comment below or send a message. Let's go build some companies.

Happy Holidays!

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