Three Things I Learned From BeHer Summit About the Purposeful Pursuit of Entrepreneurship
Three Things I Learned From BeHer Summit About the Purposeful Pursuit of EntrepreneurshipBy Kim M. Barfield of Pish Posh Perfect
BeHer Summit Presents: BeHer Talks, a series of conversations with women of color entrepreneurs, sponsored by Comcast RISE, had all the elements of an intimate talk with a good girlfriend: a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, a spirit of sharing–even the messy and challenging stories, the exchange of encouraging words, and offers of sisterly advice.
BeHer Talks took us behind the curtain and into the businesses of three successful women of color: Angela Yee, Briana Thompson, and Angelica Varela, each of whom has navigated through her own specific set of entrepreneurial challenges, and all of whom left me with invaluable lessons learned about the power of pursuing my passion with purpose.
Here are 3 lessons I learned from BeHer Summit Presents: BeHer Talks, sponsored by Comcast RISE
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“If you don’t invest in yourself, you can’t expect anybody else to do that.”
With thriving businesses including Juices For Life, Drink Fresh and Coffee Uplifts People, and a 9-5 career, Angela Yee certainly has the notion of investing in herself down pat. And as she shared with moderator, CurlyNikki, it’s not just about her having successful businesses, it’s about having successful businesses that are meaningful to her. One of the things that helps her to stay sane while drinking from such a full cup has been having a business partner whose skills complement her own. Knowing that if you’re an ideas person, you need an executor; or if you’re a creative person that you need someone who can focus on the business side, is savvy advice for any aspiring entrepreneur looking to build multiple streams of income like Angela has done.
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If I had previously subscribed to the idea that there can ever be true balance among the many roles we take on as women, Sheila Marmon’s talk with Spiked Spin owner, Briana Thompson, certainly encouraged me to reconsider. The idea of harmony over balance sounds like sage advice coming from this successful self-starter who has amassed a wellness community of over 4,000 members, that caters specifically to allowing populations who have been historically excluded from the wellness industry to show up as their authentic selves, as they are bettering themselves. As an entrepreneur, mother and wife, Briana’s key to maintaining wellness, and the advice she offers to us all, is to take a holistic approach, making sure that all aspects of life–physical, mental, relational, financial–are in alignment and protected by firm boundaries.
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It’s important to think that some things are probably gonna go wrong, and to prepare to fail.
As Angelica Varela, owner of Semillas Plant Studio, so eloquently put it in her interview with I B Majekodunmi, “I’d rather me fail, but at least I know that I tried”. The idea of being sure to leave everything on the table, and giving my best effort even through adversity is one that resonates, especially from this determined small business owner who, like the plants she sells, is now thriving—despite having had to close her shop and survive without income for 5 months during the early pandemic. Her “what do I have to lose?” mantra and her creativity were assets that led her to execute on several smart collaborations with other local Chicago businesses, expand her reach, and continue to create space for people of color in her community.
These stories shared by the featured guests are positive examples of what it looks like to pursue entrepreneurship with passion and vigor, despite the related challenges and growing pains. That’s why it’s so important for people of color-owned and women-owned businesses to have resources like those provided by Comcast RISE. To date, nearly 8,000 recipients in 590 cities across 34 states have been selected as Comcast RISE recipients, including a diverse roster from restaurants and barber shops, to professional services, childcare centers and retail shops!
Comcast RISE is a multi-year, multi-faceted initiative launched in October 2020 to help strengthen small businesses hard hit by COVID-19. Qualifying businesses, like yours, can apply to receive consulting, media and creative production services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or technology upgrades from Comcast Business. Head over to Comcast Rise to apply for this amazing – and FREE – opportunity to level up your business.
