I wanted to update this post because dun dun dun…I’m taking the leap again! Dec 31 was my last day as a full-time employee. While I will be working part-time until the end of the first quarter to wrap up a couple of things, I will officially be a full-time solopreneur starting April 1. This post was originally published in 2020 and shared about me moving into full-time entrepreneurship after grad school when I couldn’t find a job for over a year. It was all about making lemonade outta lemons. Because of this new move, I wanted to update it to share why I made this decision again, what I’ll be doing, and how you can support me.
This post contains affiliate links (read my disclaimer). Thanks for helping me adult!
PHOTOS BY: DORESE JENAE PORTRAITS
WHY I DECIDED TO TAKE THE LEAP AGAIN TO FULL-TIME ENTREPRENEURSHIP
IT WAS TIME
Y’all. It was time. It was time to move on and try something new. Originally, the ‘something new’ wasn’t full-time entrepreneurship but a new job. However, as I contemplated what I wanted to do next, the draw to working for myself kept growing stronger and stronger. I always wanted to try full-time entrepreneurship again. Last time, I did it out of necessity, and now I’m doing it out of curiosity. Can I run another successful business with more money and more idea of what I’m doing? The last stint, I didn’t know what the heck I was doing but did it anyways beacuse it was what needed to happen to survive.
Also, my year of being bold helped make this decision so much easier. Ultimately, I didn’t want to look back on this time when I could have made the leap and regretted not doing it because I was scared of the unknown. If I could put together a business with barely enough to get by, and do it successfully, there’s no way that I can’t do it again with more resources.
I DIDN’T WANT TO WORK FOR ANYONE ELSE/NAVIGATE NEW SPACES
The more jobs I applied and interviewed for, the less likely I wanted to actually accept any of those positions for several reasons. Working for a Black organization has skewed my idea of working in an organization. I knew I wasn’t ready to head back into a world of macro and microaggressions; I just don’t have that fight in me anymore. I just knew that the first time a Karen decided to say something to me at work, it wouldn’t be good for her or me. Also, I didn’t want to go through the sometimes steep learning curve that comes with a new organization. I didn’t want to look up 2 months from accepting a new position and realize that I made the biggest mistake.
WHAT I WILL BE DOING
Because I know that’s the next question brewing on everyone’s mind! I will be doing a little of everything to keep myself busy and paid.
CONSULTING
The consulting is very similar to what I did in my full-time gig. The consulting wing of my business – the Ardelle Group – will focus on nonprofit data work, systems change work, and Political image consulting.
ONLINE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
See Cancan Work, the original and first business that I started, will focus on the backend of small businesses and provide online business management and project management for different aspects of their business.
PERSONAL STYLING
Styled By Can, something I already shared on the blog, will focus on my styling business. Exclusively providing styling services to individuals who are looking for personal styling, photoshoot styling, and bridal styling.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE BLOG?
Absolutely nothing. Honestly, I decided to share this on the blog as accountability and to share with my audience that my books are open for business! Also, the more money I can bring in through the blog, the more I will be able to support myself. With this new leap, I know I’ll love having so much more flexibility to put more effort into the content and things I want to do with the blog that I couldn’t do with all my time constraints. While I’m still busy, I love that I can schedule blog photos on a weekday rather than trying to cram it all in during my very short weekend.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT ME?
HIRE ME
You had to know this was coming, right? The entire purpose of writing this post is to share my journey but also for you to know that I’m open to taking clients. Especially those who have reached out to me and asked if I would ever consider styling folks. Well, ask and you shall receive (and please don’t ask for a discount). 😊
SHARE MY BUSINESS WITH FOLKS YOU KNOW
This is free99. If you don’t want to spend money, sharing my business with folks you know will help get my name out there. When you refer your friends, they are more likely to value your opinion than if I were to approach them directly.
CLICK THESE LINKS
This goes to my Black bottom line. Clicking my affiliate links that I share on the blog and on social media brings in money to support me and help me pay these bills.
Full-time entrepreneurship has its ups and downs, but I enjoy the work I do and am glad that I get to set my own pace, hours, and income. I can say that it keeps me on my toes and there’s never a dull day.
I’m excited to see where this journey takes me, again, and I will let you know how it’s going.
IF YOU ARE NOT A FULL-TIME ENTREPRENEUR, WOULD YOU CONSIDER MAKING THE SWITCH? WHY OR WHY NOT?
SHOP THE LOOK!
Ofuure Blazer || Target Tank Top || Old Navy Jeans (similar) || Rothy’s The Point || Amazon Necklace || Etsy Ring || The Lip Bar Bawse Lady || Earrings (similar) || Garmin watch
