Entrepreneurship 10-01
Entrepreneurship is so empowering. I remember sitting at a desk dreading the dialer and the people who answered. I knew this job was a means to have shelter, food, gas, and entertainment but it never brought me fulfillment or joy.
I was born into a family of influencers and I had a degree that put me no where fast. I was completely shocked at the real world demands and wanted another chance at life! Trust me, being stuck at a job that only feeds your life but not your spirit will take its tole in due time.
So I took a leap of faith and started my business Tenth Child Inc. Woohoo!!! When I received my articles of incorporation I was fueled with excitement. It was all I could do to keep this accomplishment to myself until my official launch. Immediately I began securing clients, making announcements, and putting myself in the path of what I wanted. No more weekday shopping for shoes for me! It was time to put that money into a website, point of sale options, and innovation.
I was so confident. And then I began to notice that my client retention was trash 😔 once the work ended so did the working relationship and evidence of my work and influence. I was completely floored that all of the time and resources spent to build careers left me in the same position as when I started.
So I went to my mentors and began coaching and feedback sessions. I was determined not give up. You wanna know what each scenario lacked? A contract, clearly identified expectations of my company and client responsibilities, and a peaceful exit strategy.
Listen.... I know what you’re thinking... how on earth do you start a business and not know that you need contracts 🗣 I know I know... here’s where you insert the “zealous w/o knowledge” judgement. Ok now that we’ve gotten past my eager ignorance hear me out ‼️ My company offers artist management as a flagship service. This means our primary revenue would come from our work under this model. And my first goal was to sell myself as trustworthy due to industry stigmas regarding crooked & thieving managers. I was fighting negativity that I had not yet experienced or been guilty of and I based my approach with my clients out of that fear. I allowed people to make promises, commitments, and plans with no tangible rate of return. A good faith model If you will. All that did was invite confusion, secrets, and frustration to enter a intimate working relationship.
How’d you fix it Faith? Once I had realized my company would fail I enrolled my behind 🍑 in school at Full Sail University! During that time I would engage and inherit a family of learning, working, and influential people who would help shape my business acumen. I came to the realization that in order to define my service I would need to be able to define my customer introspectively.
Artist are beautiful creatives filled with a higher expression of stellar talent & social anxieties... and if you know anything about the talent + anxiety balance you know that any imbalance can be wildly successful with God Like manifestations or manic.
So with that in mind can anyone see why it’s important to set the appropriate boundaries for the artist management relationship ⁉️Either party can fail if there are not clear boundaries to define roles, expectations, investments, returns, compensation, and ultimately partnership.
A few of my followers have asked:
“How to face your fears of starting your own business?”
Developing my confidence was key! Being a female in a male dominated industry constantly greeted by gatekeepers saving a spot for their boy is tough. Especially when you know you have what it takes! Having confidence in yourself will get you into those same doors held for others and put you into position for now! What you do until then is keep a “Stay Ready” mindset so you don’t have to get ready when the time comes! That means:
Get Educated
Know Your Industry and Your Specific Contribution
Establish Your Business Legally
Build w/ Mentors
Take inventory of lessons learn
Grow in grace
Marry Humility
Kill every opportunity with excellence
Once you’ve mastered these attributes know your worth and they’ll see your value 💯
For more information on Tenth Child Inc. + our business click here.