Underdog is a State of Mind

I have so much to tell you! There are so many exciting things happening: my book will finally be published (still taking pre-orders for another two weeks), our State of the Underdog Report 2020 is getting traction and raising awareness around the enormous potential upside for investors - if the barriers to underdogs can be broken down. Together, that's what we need to do - align our strengths and efforts to help break down barriers.

"This report makes it clear that more can and should be done to create equitable access to capital." ~Peggy Johnson, CEO Magic Leap

I'm thinking about my journey and reflecting on where I was at this time last year. I was in Maui at a "building relationships" workshop. It was such an incredible experience to be surrounded by all that greenery and luscious landscape. Not only was the environment breathtaking and unforgettable - so were some of the incredible people that I met there.

One of those people was a CEO who had (at that time) recently retired. He'd built a business that I had admired for years, one that was worth studying so I kept a watchful eye on him and his company's efforts to learn. One of his products had a whopping 70% market share; and it wasn't the only product in his portfolio that dominated the niche in which it was positioned.

When we first began talking, he was unaware that my team had committed to an annual effort to research and release The State of the Underdog. I was hesitant about discussing it with him, what if it's perceived as a condemnation of white, male VCs by a Black woman? I wanted my intention for the report to be clear to all: I'm building bridges between underdogs - those underestimated entrepreneurs who have something to share with the world - and those who have the money and means to make it possible.

As I was speaking to him about underdogs and how we've all collectively been conditioned to think that that we're somehow not worthy of success and that a single "no" means it's time to give up, he smiled. "I'm an underdog, too." There, in that moment, I was caught totally off-guard. He'd helped build a multibillion dollar company and he was a massively successful and world renowned CEO. Yet he grew up in a less than privileged family in rural West Virginia and applied himself at 101% to everything that he did to overcome those barriers.

 Underdog is a state of mind. We can overcome it, and we can connect with that spirit in others.

His response immediately calmed my trepidation. We are never 100% ready, but sometimes we need to take the leap. Thank you everyone for supporting the report and my efforts over the last year. I encourage you to share the report and the infographic summary with everyone you know. Knowledge is power! And the more that we start having conversations to consider diversity with intention as our guiding beacon, the better off that we all are as individuals and as a society. 

What I'm Reading

The Founder and The Force Multiplier: How Entrepreneurs and Executive Assistants Achieve More Together by Adam Hergenrother with Hallie Warner. We can achieve more with a team than solo! This book changes our perspective on assistants and coins them as strategic partners who help our businesses take off and succeed. We all know this, but the level of detail and guidance in this book is fabulous! Want some serious insight? Buy it today!

What I'm Listening To

Author of The Founder and The Force Multiplier Adam Hergenrother's Chief of Staff, Hallie Warner, in this incredible podcast! The Chief of Staff Collective interviews Hallie for details on her experience in the field, invaluable tips, and ideas for strategic conversations assistants and CEOs can have. Her responses are nothing short of eye opening!  

What I'm Proud Of: a Warrior Story

A Note from James Kim

"I met Promise during one of Tony Robbins’ UPW events. She spoke on stage after one of the sessions and when she spoke, I felt like she was talking directly to me. Her experience, journey and background spoke to what I was looking for in a person and the business I was creating at the time.   

I’ve gone through lots of changes and my Warrior Story is still a work in progress. With Promise’s help and the support of my fellow Growth Warriors, I was able to identify that my original company and its mission were not aligned with my personal mission and goals. I thought I needed to make millions to become free in life to do what I wanted, to be fully with my family and maximize my contribution to make the biggest impact. 

However, I have learned that when your personal goals in life are not aligned with your business goals, no amount of drive, concentration, or money can help you scale. To truly achieve financial freedom and happiness, you must align yourself to your ultimate goal/mission before starting any business.   

The Growth Warrior mentors and mentees in many ways became my board and my team, helping me navigate and realign the realities of my role as an entrepreneur. 

As entrepreneurs, we all need that core network of people to rely on; those people who will pick us up when we’re down and place us back on our feet.  

The Growth Warrior program has provided me the partners, mentors and champions I needed in this journey to keep me focused, motivated and in tune with my purpose and passions."

As always, thank you for reading! I am always looking for Warrior Stories to share on my blogs, on my podcast and other ways to shine the light on other underdogs who are working so tirelessly to change the statistics. 

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Love,

Promise