4 Things I’ve Learned in 4 Years of Entrepreneurship

May 9

So - the reality is, I’ve been in the social service field for 14 years, so maybe I should be writing about that instead but I’ve learned something from two lovely friends of mine, Phylicia Masonheimer and Courtney Mitchell. They often say, “Teaching women about motherhood when you’re in it is a powerful way to minister to people because you’re experiencing it right then and there”. I paraphrased but since they’ve said that to me, it has stuck. They explain that veteran moms are incredibly helpful too but can you remember the details of something you did 20 or 30 years ago? Probably not so much - so sharing with people when you’re in something can be a powerful teaching and ministering tool.

Full Collective (which most people call We Are Full because of this Instagram name…. hahaha) just turned 4-years-old and little sis has just left the toddler age. She’s almost ready for kindergarten and I don’t even know how to handle that - truly. But when I hit year 4 this past April 2022, I took a moment to reflect. And in praying, remembering, and reflecting on the past 4 years - I came up with 4 things I would want to share with any new or growing entrepreneur, creator, or leader. I’m not a veteran entrepreneur but I’m currently in the thick of it and I think a few things I’ve learned in the past 4 years could potentially help, teach, and minister to you!

This may have stung someone of you as you read it but let me explain before you stop reading. We care about A LOT OF THINGS but we aren’t called to everything we care about. Let me give you an example - I care about the cleanliness of my neighborhood, I care about women having longer than 3-months of maternity leave, I care about gentrification and how it negatively affects communities of color, I care about children who grow up in the foster care system, I care about people having access to clean water and healthy food. As you can see, I could go on forever - but I won’t. The reason for that is because my list of caring about things is endless but the things God has specifically called me to isn’t. What He has called us ALL to is very specific to our story, our life, our gifts, and our impact. So you can and should continue to care about a lot of things but never confuse all the things you care about with what you’ve been called to or you’ll find yourself juggling too many things or not serving well the areas God has called you to minister to the most.

So try to remember this:

Calling over caring - Live out the things you care about but build the things you’re called to. If you care about children - serve and love the ones you know well. If you’re called to children - start a school or work in a place where you can serve them. Those are two different things - both make an impact but just in a different way.
Purpose over passion - What God has purposed you for isn’t going to be connected to ALL you’re passionate about. Following all your passions at once may put you in a predicament but God’s purpose for you will always lead you to the place you belong. Where He created you to be and serve.
For God, not your gain - Remember always that God has called you to certain things for His glory and the good of others - not for your own personal gain. When it becomes that, you’re headed in a direction that will lead to worldly successes and likely spiritual weariness.

Entrepreneurship is a challenging road because you’re choosing to be the person that holds yourself accountable to deadlines, structures, finances, etc. But just because it’s challenging doesn’t mean it’s impossible. One of the best ways to set ourselves up for success around this is by setting boundaries.

Early on in this journey - I learned that if I didn’t set boundaries I would get burnout. Boundaries are not something that is easy for all or most people to place in their lives but it’s essential to living healthy lives. While starting off on my entrepreneur journey, I would notice many people would text me directly, if they knew me or had my number - about retreat things or events I was planning or products I was selling. I used to answer all the time and then I remembered - If you’re looking to order something from a business - you’re like to contact them via email or their business phone number and if they aren’t OPEN then you’ll leave a message or wait to contact when they are open. So since I have a business, I too had to have open and closed hours. When you’re an entrepreneur, they aren’t always officially communicated to the world but set the boundaries anyways. This is just one of the examples of how I’ve set boundaries to avoid burn out.

Here are a few others:
1. Time: Expanding more on what I just shared - make sure you have a work time and non-work time when it comes to your business. Set the hours in your mind and communicate them as often as you can. If someone texts me on the weekend about my business and I’m not working - I won’t respond until Monday OR I’ll respond by telling them to email me. Some people also DM certain things about the business, which is okay but sometimes I also direct them to email me or my team.
2. Say no sometimes: Or maybe but don’t say yes to everything because not everything is for you. Even if it seems like a big or good opportunity - pause and pray about it before you respond.
3. Access: Be careful to remember that all your customers are just that. They may be people you’re serving and ministering to closely but if they are paying - they are still your customers and a boundary within your relationship must be set, no matter the relationship you have with them yourself in that sale/service/purchase.
4. Know your who/what/why: When you are confident and firm in what you’re called to do - then you won’t be swayed to just do anything anywhere. Set the boundaries around what you’ve been called to do and stick to that. Know what God has given you wisdom for and who you are called to minister to. We are called to love and serve all but we have been appointed to minister to specific people in our lifetime.

When I’m coaching my clients and we are talking about finances - I often tell them, PICK YOUR THREE. This is especially if they aren’t really making any money yet or very little. What do I mean by pick your 3? It’s three things you’re willing to invest in for your business at the moment. So I always tell them, you’ve already picked 1 - and that’s coaching. You’ve signed up for my coaching services so that means you’ve picked 1 thing you’re investing in for both yourself and business. Now what will be the other 2? Sometimes they say canva, or Squarespace, or a graphic designer, etc. no matter what it is - I encourage them to pick something that won’t be high cost and will be a consistent help for their business.

When we start off our entrepreneur journey not willing to spend any money - we are choosing the more difficult and long path to success. And that’s investing in your business directly - but a big part of investing in your business is also investing in others and yourself.

Investing in others: Who are the others? The people you will serve, the people who do things similar to you (yes, I mean what others would call your competitors - instead collaborate and support them), other women who want to perhaps do similar things than you, and using part of your profits to serve organizations doing hands-on work to impact the world in a kingdom-like way. This also looks like doing things for free. Everything you do, share, and provide shouldn’t be something you charge on. Find a balance of what you’ll give for free and what you’ll charge for - this is another way you get to invest in others while they also invest in you.

Investing in your business through/with:

Time: spend time planning for and around your business. Don’t just go week by week doing whatever pops into your head. Have a plan and pray around it consistently while also being flexible.
Knowledge: seek to always grow and know more about your area and calling. If you teach about the Bible - take a theology course, if you speak - take a speech course, if you have a business - register with iFund Women, if you write - send your writing to a trusted writer for feedback, etc. the more you know the more you grow!
Money: this is probably the hardest thing for people - especially when they aren’t making income yet but investing in your business responsibly will produce good fruit. The first thing I spent money on for my entrepreneur journey was $700 for a business coach and it transformed my entire entrepreneurial path. And that wasn’t the only time I sought out that kind of support.

Can I tell you something?

YOU AREN’T EVERYTHING PEOPLE HAVE SAID YOU ARE. Y O U ‘ R E M O R E!

Right before I began my entrepreneur journey, I was in the process from healing from an abusive church environment and specifically had stopped dreaming and planning. I didn’t know what it was like to use my gifts anymore and thought I was only useful when I was overworked and doing administrative work (because that’s what my spiritual gifts assessment said….).

But then I surprised myself. I launched a ministry that became a small business. I took over 100 women around the world on 8 retreats in a span of a year and a half, I launched an online shop, I released Bible studies and guides for Christian living, I launched a podcast, I designed my businesses and my personal website myself, I began coaching services and teaching the Bible to women, and all the while Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez was only known for (or actually just seen for) administrative tasks and operational development.

I love both those things and yes, I’m gifted in them and respect people who do them but did you know your admin person can do a lot more than send emails? Did you know that operations person you know can do a lot more than develop a healthy organizational structure? Both those things are essential and good for any space but everybody can do more than what others know them to be able to do.

So on this entrepreneur journey - I surprised myself and much of surprising myself was stepping out of my comfort zone, taking risks, and believing God had shaped, formed, and created me for M O R E.

Do you know how many times I worked on my Squarespace website at the very beginning of my business and messed it up and got stressed for how it looked or how long it would take me to make a landing page? Well, at this point I’ve now made 6 websites (including this one). Do you know how much I DON’T LOVE REELS (amen anybody? lol) but I decided to surprise myself and half fun with them instead of dreading them? Do you know how terrifying it was to plan a retreat to take women across the world and be in charge or their safety and well-being while we were on these retreats?

I can do these things because I can do hard things AND because I have the Holy Spirit.

So be willing to surprise yourself, take risks, step out of your comfort zone, and do things BEYOND what you spirit gifts assessment
says and what your position at work says and what others have said you are.

Be willing to be and do ALL the things God has called you to - your business, your clients/customers/community, and you will be blessed for it. And God will be glorified through it!

And of course - be discerning and knowing what you actually can’t do and aren’t called to.

We can do many things but we don’t gotta do all the things.

I hope these words encourage you in your journey, empower you to walk in your God-given gifts, ignite you to start if you’ve been delaying, and help you set up structures that are God-glorifying and helpful for you now and in the future. And if you haven’t already called yourself this - Y O U A R E A N E N T R E P R E N E U R.

Oh and here are 6 B O N U S things to always remember: