After years of getting knocked down by the same thing over and over again.
After promising that the last time was the “last time.”
But you’ve made it over.
For today’s Founder’s Letter, we’re going to make the lesson learning a little easier for you.
Grab a notebook and a pen, we’re going to break down three lessons learned from some of the biggest failures experienced during my own entrepreneurship journey.
Join us for an insightful LinkedIn Live session with Victoria Watkins, a seasoned strategist, operator, and advisor.
Victoria will shed light on the often-misunderstood world of private investing.
She'll dispel the misconception that substantial capital is required and instead, focus on accessible entry points for individuals looking to venture into this exciting domain.
Victoria will also share her expertise on leveraging crowdfunding platforms and joining investment clubs as practical and affordable ways to get started.
Discover how these alternative routes are democratizing access to private investments, making wealth-building opportunities available to a broader audience.
My first business is the First Generation Purpose Project, an initiative designed to help first gen professionals navigate life and career by utilizing the grit and tenacity that is already in them.
I still remember the day I launched my business; with my dear friend and business coachTitilayo Tinubu-Ali supporting me, I announced that I was “open for business” and sent numerous pitches to major universities and organizations.
The pitch was simple, I would teach their students and young professionals how to succeed in Corporate America.
Indeed, after navigating the corporate landscape as a young attorney on Wall Street, I was confident my experiences in money management, self care, and boundary setting would be just the thing First Generation Professionals would need to start their career on the right foot.
But while the idea was great, the execution was rocky.
My first speaking opportunity came from Yale Law School, and that opened the door to more opportunities at the United States Department of Commerce, Northwestern Law School, and many other dynamic places.
But I had no speaker’s agreement, which meant I had to rely on the “good word” of the organizers to receive compensation for my work.
I had no systems or workflows in place, which put me at risk for appearing unprofessional and disorganized in my service delivery.
I had no intellectual property protections in place, which meant that those who were “inspired” by my work could replicate portions of my speech and disseminate them without my permission.
In launching a business, you need more than a “good idea” to succeed.
You need a structure.
Your structure is the very foundation that’ll allow you to implement, scale, and repeat.
Or you created a cool interactive game focused on sustainability, and now you’re recognized as a thought leader in the movement for net-zero carbon emissions.
Indeed, when I started Firm for the Culture, I joined dynamic mastermind groups to understand the structures, systems, and mindset required to build a law firm focused on diverse founders and social impact organizations.
But after four years of back to back (to back) coaching, I decided to take a break to focus on implementation.
While the thought of not having my weekly mastermind sessions is scary to say the least, I now have time to watch the recorded webinars gathering dust in my drop box, revisit and level up our systems, and draft standard operating procedures to support our new team members.
But most importantly, I now have the chance to reflect before I go to the next level of my purpose.
Entrepreneurship is a long and meandering marathon.
Breaks to reset, recenter, and recalibrate are necessary to stay standing in the long run.
As I continue on this entrepreneurial journey, I’ve accepted that many of the insights and lessons I’ve received could only come after undergoing hard but necessary experiences.
But even with a couple of bruises in place, I’ve become more confident, more patient, and more gracious with myself and others.
Entrepreneurship is, in the end, a personal development journey.
As you continue on your own journey, I hope you take these lessons to heart.
We atFirm for the Culture are here to guide, support, and walk alongside you every step of the way.
#ForTheCulture
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned from failure?
This is beautifully written and resonates so much with me. I appreciate your honesty and how passionate you are about sharing your personal journey both as a professional and as an Entrepreneur. I appreciate you so much! Always learning ......
This is beautifully written and resonates so much with me. I appreciate your honesty and how passionate you are about sharing your personal journey both as a professional and as an Entrepreneur. I appreciate you so much! Always learning ......