Lessons in Business & Life
Hey y'all! Welcome back to NNKB.
Today, I want to share a bit about my journey as an entrepreneur here in Southeast Tennessee. Grab a glass of sweet tea and settle in, because we’re about to dive into the wild ride that is business and life.
The Early Days: From Dream to Reality
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Picture this: a young woman with a heart full of dreams, a head full of ideas, and absolutely no clue where to start. Yep, that was me. I knew I wanted to make a difference, to create something meaningful, but the path was anything but clear. At that point in time, I really just needed to help provide for my family. When I say I have done it all, trust me, I have done it all! I have done many different direct sales, made bows and tutus, and yes…. sold Mary Kay. (Plug, I don’t anyone more, but I know a gal!)
Enter faith. As a Christian, I leaned heavily on prayer and guidance from the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 became my mantra: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” If I’m being honest, this makes me sound entirely too dedicated. When truthfully, I was a mess most of the time and tried to do it all own my own, A LOT! And let me tell you, there were a lot of crooked paths before things started to straighten out.
Lessons Learned (The Hard Way)
Fast forward a few years, and I’m juggling multiple roles: entrepreneur, event coordinator, project manager, and let’s not forget, mom of four. Here are some lessons I’ve learned along the way:
Embrace Failure: I’ve had more failed attempts than I can count. But here’s the thing—each failure was a stepping stone to success. Romans 8:28 reminds us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Even when things go south, trust that He has a plan. FAILURE BUILDS CHARACTER!
Stay Humble and Hungry: The minute you think you’ve got it all figured out; life has a funny way of knocking you down a peg. Stay humble, keep learning, and always strive for more. But remember, humility doesn’t mean downplaying your successes. Celebrate the wins, big and small. (Be careful who you let in your circle! Don’t keep people around that want to tear you down!)
Community is Key: In the South, we’re all about community. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, challenge you, and hold you accountable. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” Find your tribe and hold them close. Champion those who champion you!
The Balancing Act
Balancing work and family is no joke. There are days when I feel like I’m failing at everything, but then I remember I can do all things through Christ. Lean on your faith, take one step at a time, and give yourself grace. No one is perfect, and that’s okay. There is not a perfect, sure route to success.
So, here’s to all my fellow entrepreneurs, dreamers, and doers. Life is a crazy, beautiful mess, but with faith, humor, and a bit of courage, we can navigate it together. Remember, God’s got you, and so do we here at NNKB. Keep pushing forward, stay true to yourself, and never forget to have fun along the way.
Until next time, y’all keep shining!
