Well, apparently, it's in the mind, chicas. It all happens in our minds first.
The mind is a powerful tool that, depending on how we choose to use it, has the power to make or break us. This is a fact that the bomb business owners I had the opportunity to interview as part of this feature said to have learned the hard way while on the path to acquiring their Boss badges. The four ladies got real on the struggles that they've faced in the past which almost prevented them from becoming who they are today, the mindset shifts that helped overcome them, and more.
Befriending Fear To Unlock a World of Luxury
For the longest, I followed the 'American dream.' I studied mechanical engineering in undergrad, received my MBA by the age of 23, and transitioned into a job in Corporate America [and] began earning six figures. However, despite all the benefits of working that job, I knew after a little time that it wasn't what I wanted to do forever. Corporate America, I felt, deprived me of being the master of my own time. My time was theirs and I had little to no say on that.
Many times, I found myself wiping my tears because I had to work extra hours or on the weekends to complete the tasks that I was asked to do at the last minute, all while my personal life and loved ones were waiting on me. When September 2017 came, the moment finally came for me to reclaim my freedom. Although I was deathly afraid and almost talked myself out of it, I decided to quit my job and pursue my dreams.
Fear, I must say, is the companion that's been following me throughout this whole journey from giving up on a six-figure salary to building my own six-figure company. It's still there, to be honest, but I've learned how to tame it.
In the beginning, I feared wandering in the unknown. While we do know what we decide to walk away from, there's no certainty that what we'll find on our path will be any better. And then, once I became my own boss, the fear that my finances would never advance as much as my career did quickly took over me.
A year before taking this leap of faith, I launched Epic Fab Girl, "a community for women entrepreneurs who want to build profitable brands and grow their faith." The latter initially started as a blog but after I quit, I had to figure out a way to monetize it to generate revenues. On top of that, in January 2018, I launched my own marketing agency. I wanted to offer my target audience coaching services and digital courses to help them scale their businesses to six figures. Funny thing is, I was nowhere near earning such an amount of money myself, even after giving my business more than a year to grow and flourish.
While my clients were getting the desired results, on my end, I was struggling financially; I faced difficulties paying my bills, my car had been repossessed and I'd received foreclosure papers on my home as a Christmas present. Earning six figures has never been a requirement for me, but it was somewhat mandatory if I wanted to maintain the level of comfort I was living in. All of which ultimately had me contemplating [whether or not] to go back to Corporate America. However, while it's a move that my entourage encouraged me to make, I never received any signs from God that meant this was what He wanted for me. So, as a woman of faith, I continued walking the path that I was already on.
As soon as 2020 rolled around and the pandemic hit, that's when everything changed for the better. Within the first semester of the year, my revenues reached six figures for the first time—which wouldn't have happened had I decided to take some steps back or had I simply not shifted my mindset to believe that my services are worth the luxury price point.
Image courtesy of Candace Junée
It probably wouldn't have happened either if I hadn't invested in a coach to help me make the shift on top of using affirmations and visualization to help me own my abilities and brilliance when I'm doubting.
Here again, fear made me doubt whether I was making the right decision or not because I wasn't fully convinced that my audience would pay those prices—although some of my clients were already paying me four figures monthly for some of the services that I offer. But because I'd managed to reach a level of self-confidence high enough to recognize that I was excellent at what I was doing and understand that my financial situation was only the consequence of me undercharging for my services, I was ready for those who want to work with me to pay premium prices.
The best thing was to realize that I wasn't insane for believing that numbers don't necessarily throw people off. Quite the contrary, they attract the right clients, the kind that can afford your expertise, and therefore make a way for money to flow to you easily.
Wherever you find yourself in your journey, fear is going to rear its ugly head. To me, it's a sign that you're on the right path. You've probably read somewhere that, "If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough." I believe that it couldn't be more true. Be willing to bet on yourself and know your value. Trust that anything is possible.
Follow Candace on Instagram @candacejunee.
Unlearning Scarcity To Discover Absolute Abundance
One of the biggest personal breakthroughs I've experienced thus far is realizing the vital value of unlearning. Unlearning the things that hold you back is just as important as learning new [things]. It's necessary to be successful and unlock your potential.
I was a mother at the age of 16 and was raised by a single mother solely responsible for five children. Needless to say, I had to unlearn the scarcity mindset engraved in my head from childhood. Becoming a mother before I became a woman also played a major role in the endless struggles that prevented me from exploring the boss lady hibernating within. Like many, I didn't have a direct example of entrepreneurship; I was raised to play safe and to think that financial stability was something that only Corporate America could offer.
With age and an evolved self-awareness, I began to take risks and explore opportunities I normally wouldn't as a way to overcome those struggles.
In 2012, I relocated from Los Angeles to Arizona after being laid off from a corporate position that I occupied for five years. This move that I considered to be bold truly cultivated the opportunity for me to discover what my passion was. Thanks to Arizona's low cost of living, I was able to quit the new job that I'd found after working there for a year to live off of savings and explore revenue-generating opportunities which I'd hoped would unveil my purpose and passion. Moment of transparency, I must give credit to my supportive husband and his steady income. Without him, I wouldn't have been able to do so.
I tried fashion blogging and freelance writing for local publications. I even dabbled in fashion event production. Although all of that was fun, it wasn't what ignited the fire in me, which is truly what I was seeking. After many failed attempts, I found myself enrolled in a lash extension training class—a $1,300 investment. My lash artist at the time encouraged me to do so because I'd always ask her thousands of questions about how she did mine. Unexpectedly, this training class is where I found my spark.
Back in the day, I wasn't aware of all the doors that would open from just trying something new.
Image courtesy of Chris Bible
Never would I have thought that I'd one day run my own business, let alone work in the beauty industry. But it turned out that lashing was a service that quickly led to the creation of my own training academy and a full-fledged lash product line.
Seeing the revenue that I was generating is partly what helped break the scarcity mindset that I earlier mentioned I was suffering from. What was truly life-changing, I'd say, was practicing daily affirmations as well as investing in a mentor, Pauleanna Reid for instance, salon staff and marketing experts. This is what truly propelled me to my current level of success and showed me that taking control of your daily rituals on top of having an organized process for goal-setting is the difference between having a side hustle and running a six-figure business.
A boss, in my world, is a leader. She has clear morals and values, yet balances that with an attitude that gets ish done by any means necessary. Sacrifice, hard work, and patience are the ingredients to achieve success.
I didn't reach boss status before I made countless mindset shifts, alleviated excuses, welcomed uncertainty with confidence, and followed an unorthodox schedule. Most importantly, I had to embrace that I was worthy and capable of reaching a certain level of success and that it could be done all on my own. Of course, some of these shifts were easier to implement than others, while some were made out of necessity. The hardest changes dealt with inner work and self-love. I struggle with imposter syndrome and reminding myself that I am worthy is a constant fight. Having to embrace who you're meant to be can be frightening but growth never comes from comfort; it thrives in the newest version of ourselves.
Follow Chris on Instagram @sheluvslashes.
When Failure Serves as an Expensive Stepping Stone to Success
I had a huge mindset shift in my early 30s when I launched a business that failed—but from which I recovered. That experience taught me a ton from bringing a dream to fruition to pivoting and iterating.
Five years or so ago, I launched a business with two friends and partners whose purpose was to encourage college students, particularly HBCUs students, to travel the world. My friends and I who are all HBCU grads have had the opportunity to travel abroad when we were younger and being aware of the benefits of doing so, our desire was to give that opportunity to an audience that didn't have the same ability as we did.
We made a ton of mistakes during the launching process. We firmly believed that this project would be the solving of an issue, however, we didn't succeed to shed light on the said issue in a way that resonated with our target audience. We failed to properly grab their attention. And then, we launched too big, way too big—and we actually paid for it.
Looking back, that situation was ironic considering that prior to that, I'd spent a significant amount of time teaching as a product manager—and now as a product management career coach and business coach to women of color entrepreneurs—to actually not do this [launching too big]. It's always best to start small and test your audience first, which is a fact that I was proven once again when I later found myself launching another venture with a pair of two other friends.
For years, we'd casually played a game about dating deal breakers during our girls' nights and wondered if it would be commercially viable. We wanted to create it and then sell it to the public. However, despite how good we thought this idea was, having learned from my past mistakes the hard way, I made it clear from the start that spending any money was out of the question for me; an announcement that caused my friends to glance at me with a confused stare stating that it would therefore not be feasible. But I knew we would figure something out. And we did.
We managed to come up with the simplest launching strategy which cost us the bare minimum but enabled us to maximize our success.
Image courtesy of Miranda Mader
To introduce the game to our audience and test both, we decided to organize a small gathering with our friends. The plan was to play with them so they could see how much fun it is and therefore potentially turn those friends into customers. As for the cards' prototype, my partners and I had opted for at-home printing, a cheap and efficient solution. When the ladies validated our concept that night, we were given the green light to start the next step of our launching process: social media promotion. There again, we'd only invested a few dimes in marketing, just enough to get a decent number of customers to pre-order the deck and allow the real production of our card game to finally begin. We suddenly had the cash to order inventory to cover the pre-orders and more, without taking a hit upfront.
While my initial attempt at entrepreneurship was a complete failure, the lessons that I've learned from our mistakes [not building proper brand awareness and launching too big] are the main reasons why my other partners and I managed to turn this second endeavor into a complete success. I told them that I wouldn't risk losing any more money and adopting such a sales strategy that spared us from buying in bulk without being sure whether we'd sell allowed me to honor my vow.
As I previously briefly mentioned, I now work as a business and career coach. I've been self-employed for approximately two years now, and the services that I offer allow me to generate a six-figure revenue. I believe it's worth noting that the journey hasn't been linear and didn't come without low-grade anxiety. Self-doubt was also ubiquitous; the "will-I-be-able-to-sustain-this-long-term" fear was real. But the thing that I did and which today allows me to say that I'm living a life beyond my dreams was pairing my ability to execute, my vivid imagination, and Godly faith. It's been equal parts of each: envisioning an outcome, believing that it's available to me—which has been difficult because as a young girl, I hadn't met many black women entrepreneurs who independently monetized their talent for the personal and professional benefit of others—, and creating and executing a plan to achieve.
Shifting from fear to possibility has gotten easier over time. I equate it to the first time you tackle a small fear. It's nerve-wracking at first but through repeated actions, it becomes a part of your muscle memory.
Follow Blair on Instagram @blairpres.
Learning How To Cope With Introversion and Impostor Syndrome
My name is Bola Sokunbi, I'm the founder and CEO of Clever Girl Finance, "a mission-driven financial empowerment platform aimed at providing women with the right products and services as well as financial guidance." I'm also a super introverted individual who happens to suffer from impostor syndrome, all of which can be a tad bit problematic when you have high professional ambitions. I wish I could say that these feelings fade away with time and experience, but they don't. However, what the former and the latter did help with was to figure out my coping mechanisms.
Before I started my business, I remember how much of a struggle it was for me to make myself seen and heard when I found myself in important rooms. Instead of being as aggressive as my colleagues were in the pursuit of coveted promotions, I was trying to stay as quiet and as little as possible. I was unable to position myself for further opportunities—and had my advisor not convinced me that the founder of a brand is as important as the brand itself, my inner struggles would've probably prevented my company from growing as well.
One of my biggest challenges was to believe that my story—the story of how I managed to save $100,000, for instance—and accomplishments are valuable enough to be shared with the world. The question that would always pop up in my head was, "Who are you to actually say these things?" When I finally had the guts to put it out two years after the launch of my business, it turned out it became a huge anchor in terms of brand awareness. The exposure my story was given by other media outlets showed me that my fears of being judged were unfounded for people were actually inspired by it, and it also made me realize that what I'm doing is bigger than me.
When I first launched Clever Girl Finance, I used to decline all public speaking appearances and big events that would make me the focal point. Now, because my mindset shifted to thinking of purpose before self and I've learned how to cope with them, I'm able to seize those opportunities.
My secret when it comes to surviving being an introvert plus impostor syndrome as a business owner is to step out of my comfort zone when I need to and step back into it when I can.
When I step out of it, I prepare by repeating affirmations out loud, hyping myself up. I look for an accountability partner, whether it's a friend or my husband so that I have someone to push me and make sure that I do whatever it is that I'm supposed to do. And then, once it's done, I allow myself to rest. Keyword: rest.
Image courtesy of Caroline Beffa Photography
I came to realize that being an introvert was so much of a struggle for me—not just as a professional but in my daily life as well—because I never took the time to recover after I do an event. Or a video. Or a webinar. Basically, anything that puts me in a place where I'm surrounded by a lot of people.
By not giving myself time to recover, I was just compounding the effect of how much I disliked being out there and being the face of my business. But when I allow myself to step back into my comfort zone and sit there in silence for as long as I need to, I feel rejuvenated and motivated enough to go out and do it again.
Since I discovered the benefits that this technique has on me, 'recovery day' made it to my weekly calendar. It usually occurs on Fridays and to make it possible, I hired a team to help me alleviate the work, take the pressure off of me and allow me to hide for a short amount of time. My staff has been the best at pointing out when I need them to take specific tasks off my plate. Because one thing about introverts, when they don't feel like doing something, that's when a whole nonessential delay game begins and time gets wasted, which is a fortune that as business owners, we cannot afford to lose.
On top of my team, I can also count on my three advisors to help me to be my best self. These ladies, whom I consider my sisters and aunties in my head, make sure to speak life and words of encouragement into me. They also make me uncomfortable, but I like it because the discomfort is private. It's not happening on the public stage, but one thing that's for sure is that it prepares me to stand with confidence in front of my public.
As I said earlier, impostor syndrome and introversion are unfortunately not easy to get rid of—provided it's possible. For me, these are uneasy feelings I'll always have to deal with and I can tell from experience that they evolve with each level that you reach throughout your journey. But there are going to be times when you'll have to tell them to sh*t up because you have work to do. You have a purpose to serve—and recovery day is coming soon anyway, so you can do it.
Follow Bola on Instagram @clevergirlfinance.
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Featured image courtesy of Candace Junée
Originally published on February 19, 2021
There are indeed high-paying jobs in other fields, and not all of them are executive positions that require spending decades in Corporate America in order to qualify. Check out a few options, where the education requirements range up to a master's degree and have average salaries that could potentially hit $100,000 or more:
Nurse Practitioner
The median income for this job is a little more than $111,000, and you'd be performing similar duties as a doctor, such as prescribing medication and performing procedures. The education requirement is a master's degree and nurse practitioners usually specialize in certain populations such as women's health.
Physician Assistant
You can expect to earn $115,390 in this role, and you'll be able to carry out duties such as diagnosing illnesses. You'll also work with a team to cultivate treatment plans. The role requires a master's degree.
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Marketing Manager
From social media to traditional campaigning, professionals in this field stand to make $150,000 or more depending on the role and the market. Corporate communications, product marketing, and market research are booming areas within this industry. A bachelor's or master's degree is often a plus, but if you have savvy and experience, you could easily bypass those.
Fashion Sustainability Manager
With this job, you could earn more than $184,000, and you'd be responsible for researching and developing environmental strategies for a brand or company. You can find success in landing this gig with a high school diploma, technical training, and experience for some companies, while others require an advanced degree.
Makeup Artist
In markets like New York or when working in industries like entertainment or mortuary, a makeup artist can bring in anywhere between $115,000 to $235,000 per year. If you're taking on clients as an independent contractor, you can definitely make a lucrative living doing this. Talent can often trump experience, but it helps when you've gotten technical training, especially if working in specialized industries.
Art Director
Talented art directors' salaries start at more than $120,000 and the great thing about this job is that it lends flexibility due to the fact that many companies hire freelancers for the position. A bachelor's degree and skills in research and design are often required for this role.
Financial Analyst
Within just one year of being in this position, you could hit $100,000 or more in yearly earnings. This profession requires a master's degree and you'll be analyzing investments and other financials for clients or companies.
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With many becoming a part of that post-pandemic shift from the hustle mentality to the soft life movement, quiet quitting can be part of that journey.
What exactly is quiet quitting?
No, quiet quitting is not just never showing up at your job ever again, with no notice. And it has nothing to do with ghosting your company or shooting your manager a quick but politely written resignation email. It involves reducing your enthusiasm for doing your work and offering the bare minimum in terms of effort in completing tasks. It's not exactly slacking because you're fulfilling the duties your job requires, but there's no going above and beyond to be exemplary, innovative, or helpful other than doing the job you're paid to do and going home.
You've mentally checked out and just don't want to put in any extra effort toward thriving in your position or at your company.
pixdeluxe/Getty Images
Why do people quietly quit?
The Great Resignation has led professionals to leave their jobs in record numbers during the aftermath of the pandemic, seeking more work-life balance, following their career dreams, and making more time for family and leisure, and those who might want to join that wave but can't for various reasons, are turning to quiet quitting. Researchers have found that the desire to quit or basically check out from even wanting to work for a company includes a "toxic" work culture as well as "failure to promote diversity," and "abusive managers."
Oftentimes, because of financial reasons, a quiet quitter won't actually leave their job. They simply can't just get up and walk out because they haven't yet found a better opportunity. They might also be pursuing a certain goal such as purchasing a home, financing a child's education, or supporting elders. They're building up their savings, using a job as a stepping stone, or simply aren't in a position to hit send on that resignation email.
Professionals have also expressed feelings of burnout, dissatisfaction or simply wanting to do other things, and they want to mentally focus on efforts to transition into a new job or lifestyle, so quiet quitting is also something they turn to in order to fill the gap while they're doing so.
Delmaine Donson/Getty Images
There's another side to quiet quitting as well: protest. Some professionals quietly quit because they don't feel valued and they want someone to know just how much value they actually do bring to the table. They withhold their best and no longer put in the additional work. It's like being in a lackluster relationship and refusing to do certain things you did at the beginning when your spouse seemed to cherish you. Instead of breaking up, you hold back, whether it's no longer sending those mid-day "I love you" texts, making homecooked meals, bringing them coffee in bed in the morning, or leaving little gifts around the house for no reason at all. In the case of a job, maybe you don't help that team member with the research for the next presentation, you're not coming in early, or you're literally clocking out at 4:59 p.m.
It may be a sign you need to actually...well, quit.
If you're finding yourself resenting your boss or job, coasting by with hardly any motivation, interacting with team members, clients, or customers with little to no enthusiasm, or finding ways out of even going to work, you might not want to quietly quit. It may be time to find another job or reevaluate what you want out of a career. The longer you stay at a job or in a position that's not advancing your intellect, skills, and life experience, the more disservice you're doing to your own mental well-being and career future.
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While the risk for recession is "high" according to forecasters, there are indeed things you can do today to ensure peace of mind and that you're able to thrive whether there's a recession or not.
First recognize, it's not all gloom and doom.
Some forecasters are stating that, while experts are justifiably bracing for the possibility, a recession is "less likely" than people think and that rising interest rates don't necessarily solely mean a recession is coming. Recessions also aren't uncommon and are a consistent phenomenon, thus you can't really fret too much over something that not only has occurred before but something that will likely occur again in the coming years.
On another note, the job market is booming, especially with the recent mass exodus of professionals (a la the Great Resignation), so if you're looking for a new opportunity, that prime moment to ask for a promotion, or a change in career, now is an amazing time to go for it.
Also, other positive aspects of the economy include gas prices in select markets decreasing and a 48% growth in entrepreneurship among women.
So, it's good to think in a balanced, more realistic way, taking several factors into account.
Check your finances and adjust your budget.
If you haven't already, it's a good time to get more familiar with your finances, especially your budget. Take stock of the money you're earning, the money you're saving, the money you're investing, and how you're spending. Experts also recommend reviewing your bills and lifestyle to see where there might be money drains or waste. Make the needed choices or shifts to either increase your savings, cut back on expenses that aren't super-necessary, or shift funds to save more.
(If you don't have a budget or need inspiration for updating the one you have, there are a few great options here and here.)
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Tap into the assistance and resources afforded to you.
If you're already struggling financially, there are resources available to you such as rental assistance, scholarships, grants, and programs. Also, if you qualify for income-related assistance, don't hesitate to apply, especially in relation to housing or coverage of everyday education, food, or childcare expenses.
If you've reached certain financial milestones (or you're hoping to), get a financial adviser or coach and map out a plan to either meet those goals or get on a path to be able to meet those goals even if a recession hits. Find out how you can leverage the money you have to make more or invest in something that will garner wealth in the long run.
It's always good to be proactive in seeking help, especially if it's something that will help take a financial burden off your mind.
Review your sources of income—or lack thereof.
If you're unemployed, you'll need to really get serious about maximizing your unemployment benefits and getting a job. Think outside the box, let go of a few boundaries, and try out new experiences or positions that might be outside of your comfort zone. Be very deliberate with how you spend your money and time, and focus on strategies that will lead to a new job or employment you enjoy.
If you're underemployed (i.e. at a job that either doesn't match your educational or practical skills or talents, or one that pays a salary that is below the current market rate), it might be a good time to either apply for a new job or take on another that not only will supplement your income but will allow you to be your best self.
If you're happily employed and bring home a nice salary (good for you, sis), but always wanted to start that side gig, now might be the best time to do that as well. Maximizing other ways to earn and accumulate money is a great way to ensure that you have a cushion for times like a recession.
No matter what stage you are in the employment game, be sure to pay close attention to the return on investment of your time and how your salary aligns with the lifestyle you have or aspire to have, recession or not.
Keep a positive attitude and focus on solutions and vision.
Remember, while you can't really control what happens in an economy nor can you control what might happen in the future, you can plan today for financial freedom. Taking the steps to be strategic, keeping a positive and balanced outlook, and prioritizing what's important in life is the key to getting through any rough patches.
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We caught up with a couple of power women to talk about the money lessons they learned from their fathers, and the lessons they hope to pass on to their children:
Instagram/simply.savonne
SaVonne Anderson, Founder & CEO, Aya Paper Co.
SaVonne Anderson's father, James Anderson, was an entrepreneur who graduated from Rutgers University and would later launch Anderson Aquariums. "He worked full-time in public education until 2007 when he pursued his aquarium maintenance business full time," she recalls. "I watched him successfully transition his hobby into a side gig, into a successful career that provided for our family."
Anderson got bit by the entrepreneurial bug as well, and now runs her own brand, Aya Paper Co., offering eco-friendly stationery. It's a product that reflects her passion for advocating for the environment and creating sustainability that will decrease waste.
She says one of the best pieces of advice she received from her father was when she landed her first job, working at a summer camp at 14. "My dad helped me set up my first checking and savings accounts, and the first thing he taught me was to put something in my savings all the time. It’s a simple habit that I still remind myself of to this day to make sure I’m always planning for the future," she said.
Anderson also would accompany her father to work as a child and would be tasked with handling checkbook balancing and keeping receipts. "As I got older, he helped me set up my first investment account and create a plan for how to pay student loans. Now as an adult with my own six-figure business and family to plan for, he is my No. 1 supporter from the sidelines and always reminds me that I have a lot of lessons and experience to rely on when things get hard."
She also learned a key lesson about enjoying the money you earn and the freedom it can bring. "Growing up, he worked very hard to make sure our family was always taken care of, often at the expense of doing things for himself. However, in recent years I’ve seen him slow down, and spend more time and money on things that bring him joy. He showed me that managing money doesn’t mean simply hoarding it, but using it to create a life I love."
Courtesy of Aryis T. Scales
Aryis T. Scales, President, Walker's Legacy Foundation
Aryis T. Scales spent her early years living with her father after her parents' divorce. She describes him as a "free spirit" who advocated for Black pride and power. One prolific memory she has of her father when it comes to money advice involved a real-life lesson on values that she got when she was 10 years old. "He said, ‘Never sell your soul to the devil.’ And I remember this conversation like it was yesterday," she recalled. "We were in the bathroom, and I had the hot water on and I said ‘Daddy, what if somebody offered you [money], would you place your hand under this hot water and let it burn you?’ And he said ‘Little Bit, no. And don’t you ever sell your soul to the devil.’ As soon as you start doing things that are in that nature or vein, you’re selling your soul and you don’t want to do that. As I think about my journey and relationship with money, I always strive to have a relationship that’s healthy, and a relationship that allows me to be authentic and true to who I am."
Her father passed away when she was a teen, and she is grateful for that early memory and other moments she was able to share with him. "He was a renaissance man, true and true. Just very eclectic, a non-conformist, not traditional and he was a Black nationalist," she added. "Growing up for me was my norm but it was unique compared to my friends and other kids in the neighborhood. I’d be in the house and he’d always be having these intellectual circles at the house. At any given day, it would be men and women sitting around talking about building Black economic power or Black liberation. He volunteered and had a center called the African Center where they did a lot of educational classes for people in the community."
She also remembers her father struggling to keep a job due to his free-spirited nature. "He was definitely a nonconformist. He was always in and out of work. Part of that is what also influenced me in the way that it did because I wanted to make sure that I always had financial security and stability."
Today, Scales balances her 9-to-5 as the president of a foundation whose legacy stems from hair industry pioneer Madam C.J. Walker, advocating for Black women in business. She's also become a successful entrepreneur in her own right, founding Abel Vision Enterprises, an organizational consultancy.
"I like to enjoy myself, but I just never want to be someone whose lifestyle is contingent upon me, essentially selling my soul. Always having to think about chasing money just to have a certain car, live in a certain neighborhood or to have certain clothes. I have all of that but I still do it in a way that’s below my means," she shared. "I make sure I pay myself first. Whatever I make, I don’t care if it’s from a paycheck, a contract, or a speaking engagement, 30% of that off top goes to me and goes to an investment or a savings or a new venture because I want to make sure I have security and freedom."
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