4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Give Up On Your Business
No matter what you do to a slinky, it will bounce right back to its original form. It stretches, it bends, it travels down stairs and can probably hit a clean milly rock on any block.
If you're not prepared to be this flexible or resilient in your pursuit of entrepreneurship, then maybe it isn't for you.
When we as entrepreneurs run into a wall, some easily break and never bounce back, abandoning business ideas and settling to "play it safe". However, success requires you to get out of your comfort zone.
Before you quit chasing your dream, give your journey in entrepreneurship an honest evaluation by answering these questions.
1.Am I In The Right Industry?
It is torture for me to watch people operate outside of their authentic selves. So many times I've seen women announce that they work in the beauty industry, but when they post pictures of their work… those pictures scream a thousand words – and beauty isn't one of them!
So my question to you is, are you doing something because it aligns with your talent and purpose? Or are you jumping on a bandwagon that you thought would take you places simply because it did for others?
I have several friends who are doing exceptionally well as hairstylists, photographers, fashion designers, and makeup artists. While I am a creative person, these jobs require a hands-on, artistic creativity that I am not qualified to charge customers for. Moral of the story? Don't go chasing waterfalls; stick to the rivers and the lakes that YOU are used to.
2.Have I Found A Solid Mentor?
Iron sharpens iron and if you want to excel in your craft, you've got to associate with people who are where you desire to be someday.
Even though friends and family mean well, they can't always pour into your vision. We live in the era of social media, so there's no excuse as to why you can't connect with a seasoned person in your field from the comfort of your home. Finding a mentor is easier than you think. Join Facebook groups that include professionals in your industry and search hashtags that are relevant to the type of people you want to commune with. It's the magic of social media!
3.Am I Overwhelmed?
Are you trying to plan a book launch, book speaking engagements, handle client invoices, diagnose website issues, design a flyer, and run your business at the same time?
You may be feeling burned out and suddenly not enthused from all the extra responsibility. Some folks can do all of these things effortlessly, but some of us (myself included) never will. That's okay because you can always outsource work to other entrepreneurs or employ interns. In addition to that, there are systems and apps to make your work life easier like Dubsado and Canva.
4.Am I Focused?
Sadly, sometimes the reason business doesn't pop the way we expect is because we're minding everyone's business except our own! When you work for yourself, there's no way to fake productivity.
You can't take 10 breaks a day, check text messages, and expect money to show up in your PayPal account. If you lack focus, you're probably lacking in finances – which means you have a hobby, not a business. To see the results you want in income, social media engagement, or event attendance, spend more time developing business and branding strategies. Friday nights will have to be sacrificed until you get things in order, but it will be all be worth it!
Originally published on CocoCurator.com.
Featured image by Getty Images
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A media maven somewhere in between Whitley Gilbert, Maxine Shaw, and Sandra Clark. I tell stories like Nas and Terry McMillian on April Fool's Day. Follow me on IG @cococurator.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage