In everything we do in life and business we are committed to excellence. Although the goal in life and business is to drive profit and success, we are not always driven by money or external praise and accomplishments to determine our worth and value.  Sustainability is more than money.  It is a holistic approach to what and how you do things to get to your destination or goal.  This is the foundation I am building at Black Family Business.  It has been a journey of self discovery the last six years figuring out my purpose to serve revolutionary Black and Brown women entrepreneurs who are rebuilding and reinventing a sustainable life and business so they can live their wildest dreams, honor God, and build a legacy for their family and community. 

My evolution continues as I build a sustainable foundation in my life and business.  I received an email from a former colleague where I was a licensed clinical social worker providing therapy to Black mothers – about an opportunity to be a part of the inaugural JUST JETA group for Black women entrepreneurs. Their program started its work with Hispanic and Latina women entrepreneurs. Just Entrepreneur Trust Agents (JETA) are Just community leaders that help other ambitious entrepreneurs build community through peer support and provide access to capital.

 Just is a nonprofit organization that invests in ambitious Texas women that want to improve their financial health or grow their business.  Through this organization I was able to meet 6 other ambitious Black women entrepreneurs in Austin, Texas and be in a genuine community that felt like family.  We’re on track to start our own JETA tribe, a group of 2-5 members, to offer peer support, access to business or personal loans to grow their business or rebuild their credit and a growing community of women entrepreneurs. After graduating this past week from the first JETA cohort, I wanted to share words of wisdom from the divine 7 Black women entrepreneurs and project managers of JUST.

Words of Wisdom

  1. Determined
  2. Excited
  3. Gratitude
  4. Faith
  5. Patience
  6. Emotional
  7. Accomplished
  8. Believe
  9. Divine #7
  10. Celebration

JUST CFO, Haydee Moreno, poses with her book From Exile to EMBRACE by Alicia Beatrice, LCSW, LCDC

Stop procrastinating on your big dreams.  Align with the right people to get help and support.

Give yourself time, at least one year to work your plan or goal.  God’s timing is perfect. 

Do entrepreneurship God’s way and put People first, then Profits and follow the plan.

Stick with your passion in what you do. Age doesn’t matter.  This is the perfect time now. You are where you need to be.

We are our own competition. Stay in your own lane. Do things the way you would do them.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and learn from others.

Collaborate with other people based on their strengths. You go farther with others than doing it alone.

Trust the process. The journey is divine.

How you define success determines your goal setting process. Automate your process. Post more so people can find you.

Slow down and hear what your assignment is. Wider base equals a strong foundation.

What if you don’t crush your goals? Do you give up or re-evaluate your successes?

Do a 360 assessment of your business.  Would you fire or re-hire yourself?

Use a 360 app and do a one-on-one with yourself to keep yourself accountable.

Be vulnerable alone.

Put incentives in place for yourself especially if you are a solopreneur/solo entrepreneur.

Treat yourself like a real business and not a hobby. Promote yourself often.

Think like a real entrepreneur.

Redirect or reset based on your 360 results to set yourself up for success.

Don’t forget about your business. While you are busy networking, applying for funding, acquiring business assets and developing processes, remember the bottom line is to make profits through your service.

Celebrate every success along the way.

Remember your story is not about you.  

Your blessings are for someone else. 

What you have been through has set the stage for where you are going.

Life is hard, we face challenges, and are sometimes pressed on every side.

Don’t give up.

Don’t let your dreams die.

Keep fighting for your life and business.

The path for each Black woman’s journey is different but this is the right time. 

7 Black women entrepreneurs.

Inaugural JUST JETA cohort in Austin, Texas.

We are divine. 

Whew!

Take a deep breath.

Witness what you just experienced after reading this post.

Take a moment to journal and reflect on these words of wisdom:

  • What legacy are you building?
  • Who are you honoring?
  • Who is your biggest supporter(s)?
  • Who is most proud of you?
  • What resonates with you?

 

 

 

Are you ready to take action and get support?

Join the Black Family Business Tribe