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3 Successful Boss Women Share Advice On Starting Your Own Business, Timing, & Expansion
Historically, men have held the power in the business world, but women are changing the game up - especially minority women. Starting your own business and being an entrepreneur is not easy. Most businesses fail within the first few years and some fail within the first few months.
According to a U.S. Census Bureau from 2015, women are starting businesses at one-and-a-half times the national average. More specifically, women are starting nearly 1,300 businesses a day — almost double the average from the prior year.
I recently caught up with three successful female entrepreneurs and they gave me the scoop on how they started their own business plus more much needed advice. Here are their major keys for entrepreneurial success.
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Shante Bacon, Founder & CEO, 135th Street Agency
When it's time to move on, you will know. Trust your gut.
In my past life, I worked in the music business at Def Jam for 8 years and resigned to build my current firm. I come from a really long line of entrepreneurs - my mom and grandmother both owned their own businesses. I knew it was in my blood to own my own business. Not to mention while at Def Jam I felt like after a while my genius wasn't being properly used at the label. I started having that Sunday night anxiety when I knew Sunday night was coming up and Monday wasn't too far behind. I knew I didn't want to continue working at a job that I felt that way about so I talked to my mentor about it and my mentor told me that maybe my job had run its course. She told me in life, some things just run their course.
Before I decided to officially leave Def Jam, I started my current business as a side hustle. At that same time, I was working on Kanye's album The College Dropout. I didn't do much work on my business until I left Def Jam.
Years later, my firm is 11 years old as of January 5th. My business, 135th Street Agency, is a strategic communications and experiential firm. We handle everything that is communications and PR driven. From media coaching to custom message and outreach, press releases, engagements, and ambassador recruitment just to name a few are covered under my company. Over the past 11 years, some of my clients have included Disney, Paramount, The Oprah Winfrey Network, WE tv, BET, and VH1.
If I could do it all over again, the one thing I would do differently is approach entrepreneurship more like the general market. I didn't learn this until I started raising venture capital money, taking classes, and taking professional development courses. I would also wait 1-2 yrs to build my resource plan so that I can start my business with the money that I would need to expand it when ready. One thing that I learned is that hiring is very expensive so when starting business you have to think ahead and think about what you will do if your business expands before you are ready.
For a new entrepreneur, I think that once you can, you should have the following on your team: a really organized administrative person, a really quality HR person that has your back, an attorney, a social media person that understands the science behind engagement with other people, a publicist, and a marketing person.
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Tracy Nguyen, Founder & Managing Partner at Industry Public Relations
It's never too late to start a business.
While studying fashion design in 2000 at the Fashion Institute of Technology I worked at Vivienne Westwood's flagship store at the time in SOHO. Their in-house PR office was downstairs in the same building on Greene Street so it would be frequented by celebrities, press, and stylists. I was one credit shy of completing my associate's degree when I was approached with an opportunity for an assistant position at People's Revolution. Not understanding in that moment what a publicist job was, I accepted the job offer thinking that it would only be temporary and a great way for me to learn a different side of the fashion business that I could apply towards launching my own line one day.
I ended up working at People's Revolution for 2 years where I moved up from assistant to account executive. I learned from my boss at that time that no job should ever be too small. I also learned the importance of being incredibly detailed and that clients appreciate when you over-communicate with them - and that I also needed thick skin in order to make it in this industry.
Later, after joining 5WPR where I eventually became a Senior Vice President, I was responsible for managing a team within my group, clients, and signing new businesses. A few years after that, my PR firm Industry Public Relations was created.
I have learned the importance of leading by example, always following through and that there is a difference between working hard and working smart.
15 years later still in the business, I look back and think that one of the most valuable lessons learned is the importance of having integrity in your work and being honest when you can't do something.
I also learned it's never too early to start working towards your goal of owning your own business, but make sure that while you're working for others that you are learning and absorbing as much as you can, especially from their mistakes. Last but not least, when I started my own company, I didn't have any funding. When starting a PR agency, really all that you need is a computer and a phone. There is no need to spend money on massive overhead costs such as furnishing and maintaining an expensive office. I worked from home for the first few years and as my business grew and a need for an office space and hiring of employees became necessary, I adjusted accordingly.
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Tiffany Hardin, Founder of Gild Creative Group, She Knows Now, & Social ARMM
Self-love and confidence are the keys to success.
I worked under Mona Scott Young as her assistant, and then later worked for an advertising agency under Steven Stout called Translation. I was 27 when I was at that agency and decided I would make the switch and become an entrepreneur. I felt like I was young so I should go and just fail now and fail early. If it doesn't work, I felt like I could always go back to a job. I didn't really have that much fear around it. It was more like I should do this entrepreneur thing now while I don't have life's responsibilities. I didn't have a mortgage, kid, a husband - those type of things.
I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur but I was very loyal to the agency that I was at.
For me it was a situation where I needed to decide who I was going to be loyal to - me or the company.
I started my company in 2011 and I was still working at my agency. I left the agency in the last quarter of 2012 to start Gild Creative Group (GCG). In addition to GCG, I have She Knows Now which is my women's interest organization, and my upcoming tech startup called Social ARMM ( Social Asset Research and Media Management).
With Social ARMM, it's an idea that's been in my head since 2006. I was in college at that time and really it wasn't the best timing for Social ARMM. I think that's what a lot of people have to realize - you will have inspired thoughts all the time but it may not be right time to activate those inspired thoughts.
In regards to She Knows Now, I'm really involved and I'm really grateful for my managing editor - she keeps my mind right, keeps me accountable. She also is just as passionate about the work that we are doing. The work that we are doing is so important because I believe that you can be self-conscious but still confident. You can be sort of this bad ass woman, super fly, but still not have confidence. Confidence is something that you have to truly dig deep for and it takes a lot of work to do that. You cannot fake confidence. It is or it isn't there.
I think for a lot of women, we do a good job at faking it. But at the end of the day, we need to continue to work on it. For example in work when I get anxiety, it's because I'm not confident. It means I wasn't prepared. Even when we as women go into conversations about work and salary and feel less confident, it's because we are not prepared. So having the confidence to speak about what you do well is about finding inner strength and resting on that because it's the foundation.
Self-love and confidence is the foundation and every other experience that you have is built upon that - whether that is work, love, or just knowing your worth. How can you know your worth without being confident? How? How Sway?
One of the things that I learned is that you have to write the story to your own life. You have to change your perspective. Also you have to manage your time. If your spirit is stuck on this business you want to start, then just do it. If you have a 9-5 then best believe from 6-9 and then 5-9 you should be working on that business. What are you willing to do? What is the time you are willing to give?
If you are a current entrepreneur, what advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs on starting out? Share your insights below!
Brittani Hunter is a proud PVAMU alumni and the founder of The Mogul Millennial, a business and career platform for Black Millennials. Meet Brittani on Twitter and on the Gram at @BrittaniLHunter and @mogulmillennial.
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
The Common Denominator Is You. So, Why Do You Keep Choosing The Wrong Men?
Everywhere you go, there you are. It’s one of those popular sayings (kind of like “It is what it is”) that I find myself using a lot, especially when I’m in sessions with my clients. Why? Well, it’s kind of likean article that I once read that pretty much said our culture likes to play the toxic game of blaming other people because it’s an easy way to deflect from personal accountability (check out “What It Actually Means To 'Hold Yourself Accountable'”). So true, so true,
Well, another way of saying “everywhere you go, there you are” is using the math term “common denominator” — and today, what we’re going to attempt to tackle is, why is it that some of us, if we stepped back a moment to take a very real and honest assessment of our dating life, do we always end up with the same kind of guy? One who really isn’t the best for us; sometimes, not even close.
Before getting into some questions that I think can help you get to the answer, let me just say that this is definitely one of the kinds of pieces that may step on at least your pinky toe before it’s all said and done. At the same time, although this might not be the most comfortable of reads, keep in mind what the late poet, singer, and publisher Tuli Kupferberg once said, “When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge.”
And so, if when it comes to the caliber of men you’ve dated, what you’ve been doing is revealing that your pattern is not really working for your ultimate good, spend a bit of time trying to unpack just why that could be the case — why, at the end of the day, you truly are the common denominator in it all.
How Self-Aware Are You?
About five years ago, I penned an article for the site entitled “These Are The Things Self-Aware People Do Daily.” You know, of all of the things to be in this life, prioritizing self-awareness is king because self-aware people do things like hold themselves accountable, know their strengths and weaknesses, identify their triggers, have good boundaries, self-reflect, pay attention to their own “blind spots” — and they can — eh hem — take feedback and constructive criticism pretty well.
That last one? If you’re constantly in a hamster wheel or even a cul-de-sac when it comes to men, be honest with yourself: did your family, friends, hell, even your co-workers warn you about some of the guys you dated, and you found yourself either defending, deflecting or getting offended? Yeah, self-aware people don’t get down like that because they would rather have peace and be wrong than act like they are always right and remain in chaos.
So yeah, if you’re always in some foolishness or even in relationships that are simply a counterproductive waste of time, pondering how self-aware you actually are is a really good place to start. Self-reflect. Know your weaknesses. Listen to what others have to say about your tendencies. All of this can do you a whole lot of good.
How Humble Are You?
Society is a wild place, boy. The reason why I say that is because, while it’s out here acting like humility is a bad thing, Scripture says, “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4) And why is humility such a vital spiritual attribute? Because, when you’re humble — you’re grateful; you’re teachable; you’re open to seeing things outside of your own perspective; you’re compassionate and empathetic; you’re flexible; you’re forgiving, and you’re able to release your ego so that you can accept what you need over what you want.
What you need over what you want. Chile, if that doesn’t keep some people in cyclic stuff, I honestly don’t know what does. There’s a client that I have right now who only contacts me when she’s basically blown up her life because she constantly gets caught up in a man’s looks and bedroom performance. When I tell her that she needs to stop making that #1 and #2 of things to look for in a relationship, she “uh-huh's” me and then does what she wants to do anyway — only for it to end up wreaking all sorts of havoc…again.
It’s another message for another time about how some of us could stand to look within to see if wanting a fine man above all else is more about validating some deep-rooted insecurities that we have about our own looks (ouch). For now, I’ll just say that if your ego is out here telling you that looks and sexual performance should trump things like character and consistency, it is LYING to you. If you chose to heed the humble side of yourself, you would know that.
And this actually brings me to my next question.
How Stuck Are You in Your “Type”?
The reason why I wrote “According To Experts, We All Have A ‘Type’” back in the day is because it’s true — pretty much all of us have a type which is pretty much a preference; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that either. At the same time, I’m advising, from very up close and personal experience, that it’s a good idea to spend some time pondering “the origin story” of where your type came from.
Me? I’m always gonna be down for a very tall, hella chocolate, basketball (or soccer) build Black man. However, I’m a sexual abuse survivor and my molester looked a lot like that, so during the healing process of what he did to me, I had to factor in his influence. Plus, my first love also fits the physical mold and he definitely had quite an impact on my life. So…see what I mean? My type didn’t just come out of nowhere. Yes, sometimes your type may have some trauma or drama attached to it. And yes, that might be really uncomfortable to think about; still, that doesn’t mean it’s not true.
Now my late fiancé? He was right at about 6’ and, complexion-wise, he was lighter than I am. He treated me better than most of the men of my past, though — and even though he definitely pursued me for a while to get me to consider us beyond being friends, because I took a risk outside of my type, I learned what it was like to be loved in a healthy way. And what that did for me was it taught me to remain open outside of my standard type. I still like a tall-ass Godiva man, chile (and don’t let him have a beard and be in a tailored suit!). I don’t limit myself to that package, though. To do so would be severely limiting — potentially tragic even.
How Healed Are You?
“Healed” is a word that comes up A LOT in the social media space. When it comes to relationships, specifically, it’s important to ask yourself if you are healed from your past because, if you aren’t, you very well could be reliving it over and over…and over again, whether you realize it (or choose to accept it) or not.
Just so that we’re all on the same page, the word “heal” means things like healthy, sound, and whole. Synonyms for the word include improve, restore, mend, soothe, and rehabilitate. Signs that you have healed from past hurts of a relationship (or a series of relationships) include you don’t think of them with anger or bitterness; you can see the silver linings from the experience; you’ve forgiven them for things that they did wrong (or that simply hurt you — and no, that’s not always one and the same), and you don’t pick (or avoid) other people to be in your life solely based on what someone else did to you.
What I mean by that last one is an unhealed woman may say something like, “I don’t want to do [such and such] for a first date. That’s what my ex liked to do.” The new guy isn’t him, so why does he have to be beholden to your past? Or, “I don’t trust men who won’t let me go through their phone. That’s how I found out my ex was cheating.” You know, for all of the women who like to play a non-animated form ofInspector Gadget (the real ones know), they sure don’t want their phones inspected as much as they like to do all of the inspecting. SMDH. Anyway, I don’t go through phones. For what? I don’t pay the bill and I’m not anyone’s parent. And so, your next guy not preferring it either? That doesn’t automatically mean that he’s up to no good — he may just want his boundaries respected. An unhealed person may not accept that. A healed one tends to, though.
And how can being unhealed play a direct role in you choosing the same guys over and over again? It’s weird because, sometimes you will go back to what’s familiar to you — because the new guy is such a risk, you’d prefer to “stick to the devil you know” than take a chance on someone who rolls very differently. It’s a cryptic way of remaining the common denominator in your dating dynamics. Oh, but it happens all of the time, chile.
What Makes a Man WRONG for You? Specifically?
Okay, with a lot of the inner work out of the way, how do you even come to the conclusion that someone (or several people) is wrong for you? Because you know what? Once you’ve done some real healing (and serious maturing), you can oftentimes find yourself accepting the fact that just because someone may not be right for you, that doesn’t automatically or necessarily make them a bad person. No, not at all.
Although the word “wrong” can mean that something or someone isn’t morally right, wrong also means things like erroneous, not suitable or appropriate, not in accordance with certain requirements, or — and please catch it — out of order (which sometimes consists of the right thing happening at the wrong time). So, if it does seem like you keep choosing (because it is always a choice; that is also where accountability comes in) men who aren’t appropriate, aren’t in accordance with your needs or standards, or who aren’t what you need at the time — why is that? Is it rooted in fear? Impatience? Settling? What?
I have had enough clients go through this to know that it’s not good enough to be abstract about someone being “wrong” for you. You need to set aside one weekend, get some wine and a fresh journal, and really get into what wrong looks like. For instance, if you keep lowering your standards (which is the wrong thing to do, by definition), why is that? Because no matter how wrong the guy may ultimately turn out to be, what you have to be willing to accept is — again — you chose him. Why do you choose what’s wrong? Because, more times than not, some red (or at least orange) flags were waving long before the relationship came crashing down; oftentimes, they reveal themselves within the first couple of dates. You just chose to ignore them.
One more.
Do You Know a Good Man When You See One? You Sure?
As we close all of this out, when you get a chance, please check out “Question: Is The Man In Your Life Good 'TO' You? Good 'FOR' You? Or...Both?” Learning the difference between “to” and “for” took my own relational processing to an entirely new and freeing level. And you know what? Back to the healing point, another way to know that you’ve healed is you don’t generalize men. Meaning, that if you’re out here declaring that there aren’t any good ones, that’s not true; you’re just jaded (I mean, it’s the truth), and that head and energy space is affecting your judgment and perspective.
That said, if you’re constantly selecting the wrong men, ask yourself if you even know what a good man looks like (cue India.Arie’s “Good Man”). Again, by definition, good means things like morally excellent, right, kind, friendly, benevolent, educated, financially sound (not rich, stable and responsible…goodness), genuine, reliable, dependable, responsible, attractive, warm, intimate — satisfactory to the purpose (yes, that’s a literal definition).
For a man to be good for you, you need to know what purpose he is to serve at this particular point in your life because if, for example, all men seem to do, in your eyes, is use you for sex, why are you prioritizing sex over an emotional connection if the latter is the purpose that you seek right now? A lot of women can stop being the common denominator when it comes to choosing the wrong man if they 1) become the good that they seek and 2) do not betray the purpose behind why they even desire a relationship in the first place.
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I know. When things aren’t going your way when it comes to matters of the heart, it can be easy to always say it’s the man’s fault. If there’s a pattern, though, please be a bit more self-reflective than that.
Once you do, you’d be amazed by how much about you shifts — to where the wrong guys can’t even get close to you, in the way that they used to, anymore.
Because you cease to be the “common denominator” you once were.
And how wonderful is that?
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