The Savvy Boss is a column in partnership with BossTalks where we sit down for a morning coffee chat with some of the savviest lady bosses from around the globe.
Entrepreneurship is not a one size fits all. We all have different journeys that help us to start. Some of us start because we want to solve a problem, others from necessity. These past few years, we have seen the great resignation with a record number of people, especially women, leave the corporate workforce.
What are those women doing to bring in an income? A majority of them have started their own business. For Makini Smith, she was a woman who started her own business out of necessity and she has become very successful in her own right.
We had the opportunity to sit down with her to learn more about how she started and the tips she uses to be a successful woman in business.
What were the biggest challenges you had to overcome at the beginning of your career journey?
At the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey in 2009, I was going through a divorce. As a mother of 3 with a dog and a mortgage, I had a sense of urgency. I experienced many challenges, including needing more patience—the patience required to build a business and wait for the profit to come. Things naturally began to progress when I concentrated on the work and service. I’ve learned to allow things to happen and not force them. What we focus on grows.
I also had to learn in the beginning that your family and friends are different from your niche. I needed more business support and felt my loved ones should be more helpful. The expectation led to disappointment. That assumption took my focus off of building my network and leads. Realizing that your loved ones may care for you deeply, but that doesn’t equate to them supporting your business saved me from further stress.
When I first started, I came from being a stay-at-home mother for five years. I was timid and had a small circle of friends. It was a challenge to ask for sales and put myself out there to gain exposure. Personal and business development taught me the importance of perspectives and paradigms.
It was shifting from the perspective of selling to providing solutions and being of service. I also had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable to evolve. Networking was complex for me, so I had to build relationships on and offline intentionally. I eventually got comfortable building meaningful relationships to grow and attract opportunities.
What’s one thing you’ve done (good or bad) in your life where you look back and say, “I can’t believe I actually did that?
I can’t believe I jumped straight into being self-employed 14 years ago as a single mom, and I’m still doing it! I was going through a divorce, and everyone around me thought it would be safe for me to get a job for a more secure life.
I had about three months of expenses saved up and had faith that I would do whatever I needed to do not to go broke. I didn’t make a dime for eight months. Family and friends were concerned and helped where they could. My hard work eventually paid off, and I made six figures in 4 months. Since then, I’ve been determined to succeed on my own terms.
Did you have any mentors? Do you believe they are important when starting a business or in the business world?
I have had many mentors. Some I’ve learned from personally and some virtually. I believe in having mentors in different areas of my life. In business, they have helped me progress faster and saved me from the pitfalls of painful trial and error. My mentor Bob Proctor changed my perspective of life as a whole, specifically in tapping into my potential and being a servant leader.
What entrepreneurial hacks have you developed to stay focused and productive in your day-to-day?
Having a consistent schedule has helped with time management. I time block everything, so I can also schedule breaks and rest. I separate client work days and creative workdays to get into a flow state without interruptions.
I have systems and formulas set up with most things to save time. Everything has checklists and templates that can make delegation easier if needed.
Consistency is key. Although everyday events can differ, knowing the steps or plan for the activities helps me stay productive and focused.
What three tips can you give someone who feels stuck in their career/business?
- Remember your why and reflect if the goal still aligns with your values
- Celebrate and be grateful for the small wins
- Delegate tasks outside of your area of expertise to keep things moving forward
How do you define success?
Everyone’s definition is different based on their values and goals. For me, the priority is a healthy family, and our bills paid, a supportive community, being of service and feeling fulfilled. I feel successful because all these things are being accomplished.
What do you want to leave as a legacy?
I want to be remembered as someone that helped others feel seen, heard, and understood. I want my legacy to be the woman that helped others own their stories and document them through books and podcasts as a blueprint to accomplish their dreams.
What is your definition of a Savvy Boss?
A Savvy Boss, to me, is someone leading by example; A servant leader empowering others through action.
| Related Post: The Savvy Boss with Alina Mehrle of AMEON
