Be Your Own Boss With Devin, Entrepreneur

BE YOUR OWN BOSS

WITH DEVIN, ENTREPRENEUR

by Tammy Stanard

Have you ever dreamed of becoming your own boss and calling the shots? Most of us, whether at a large or small company, dream of becoming our own boss at some point in our career. Let’s face it, after years of 8:00am to 5:00pm we’ve all fantasized about going off on our own. Some of us are in a job performing work that we just don’t enjoy and we’d simply rather be doing something else. For these and many more reasons, we think about setting off on our own and becoming an entrepreneur.

Junior League of Charlotte member Devin Black started her entrepreneurial venture, BalanceByDevin. com on a part-time basis four years ago, and recently left her full-time corporate position to become a fulltime entrepreneur.

Black understands the importance of treating your body well after watching family members struggle with diabetes and cancer. Her personal experience fueled her passion and she wanted to “bring that to other people” through her business. Black offers one on one coaching on nutrition and fitness, helping her clients find their balance.

So what holds us back and keeps us in the 8-5 rut we’ve fallen further and further into?

Fear of Failure: The fear of failure is one reason that keeps people from starting their own business. No one wants to put themselves, their finances and their dreams out in public only to go up in flames. Black stressed, “progress over perfection.”

Fear of Poverty: This fear stems from not being able to pay your bills, and losing what you have earned and

are accustomed to earning. Black says the toughest part of her transition was losing security and stability by giving up her “everyday job and paycheck.” Having a safety net and making sure you are comfortable with risk are key to moving forward as a business owner. Black supplements her income by working in her industry part-time, which also allows her to continue learning from other businesses.

Fear of the Unknown: Losing control without the ability to manage potential outcomes scares us. When stepping out into your own business, be truthful about how your success will be defined. Setting SMART goals will help you deal with the unknowns, so prepare and understand what will make you successful. Black suggests connecting with other small business owners in the same industry and “get a lot of advice.” She also suggests getting involved in entrepreneur groups to

meet and network with other business owners.

Determining what will really make you happy can push you forward or it may help you to understand that the stability that comes from a position inside a company is really best for you. Sometimes you won’t know unless you give it a try. In Black’s situation, her four years of preparation helped her answer many questions so many of us have before taking the leap.

Dipping your toe in the water may be just what it takes to help you determine if you should jump in. The JLC supports women who are interested in taking the next step in their journey to becoming an entrepreneur. JLC members who are interested should watch for upcoming events with the JLC Entrepreneurship Group.