Blackburn Boss
By Audrey Blackburn
Blackburn BossOct 08, 2019
Vision, Mission and Purpose - What's the difference?
This week marks two years that I've been in my new space. So for those who don't know, seven years ago, I started my business. And two years ago, into the middle of the pandemic, in August of 2020, I moved into an office space outside of my home, and I hired my first employee.
And so two years has went by. And during this whole time, I've been asked many times, like, What possessed you to lease an office in the middle of a pandemic?
Well, in short, it was a vision that I had, when I started the business seven years ago, I, you know, whenever any of us are thinking about what we want to do, as a business owner, we have an idea, we have that vision, whether we call it that or not, that's what it is. It's the vision of what our business is going to be. And I had this vision of what I wanted this business to be and to become.
Now I knew I was a really long way from that vision. But my background is heavily a nonprofit organizations and small businesses. And because of that, I've been exposed over the years, so many times, to retreats, and workshops on mission, vision and purpose. So I'm going to share with you a little bit about what that is, and why you need a mission, vision and purpose...
https://davidburkus.com/2020/05/whats-the-difference-between-vision-mission-and-purpose/
Goal Setting-what you must do
Lessons Learned: Staffing
There have been so many lessons I've learned in these past 21 months. Journey along with me as I talk through the hard things I've learned and how I'm using them to improve my business.
Hiring and retaining staff is probably one of the hardest things you will ever do in your business. It will require you to grow and get crystal clear on where you want your business to go. You have to be ok with making mistakes, starting over and trying again until you get it right. If you are going to succeed in business you will have to make mistakes.
I'm Back!
After taking a huge break from the podcast (my last episode was in August 2020), I'm back. My business has been in growth mode for the past 20 months and something had to give so I let the podcast sit while I grew my business. I've learned so many lessons that I want to share with you.
Step into courageous
I've been MIA on the podcast for almost a month. Right after the last podcast posted I made a life altering decision for my business. Well, actually I made two life altering decisions. I quickly started down a new path. One that feels so right and in alignment with who I am and where I want to go with my business. Have you ever done something so completely scary that you had no choice but to be courageous? Follow along as I share my journey for the past month and what I have been up to in the absence.
Chat with Authentic LadyBoss Chisa Pennix-Brown
With over 19 years of experience in business coaching, community outreach, and social media insight, Chisa Pennix-Brown has transformed her love of learning into Lady Bizness She is the #1 Small Business Facilitator in North Carolina and she continues to foster environments for small business development, community partnerships, business growth, and events for Entrepreneurs throughout the state. Her most notable accomplishment is opening Pod Biz Studios, the first Black Woman Owned Podcast Studio in North Carolina. Chisa is also the author of The 90 Day Focus: Your Action Plan for Success, a book that helps to transform your mindset towards prioritization and goal setting to help you complete your passion project. She has also founded a 501c3 nonprofit women's organization, called Real Glow Getters to help women start, stay and slay in business. She thrives around women who aren't afraid to shine, but thrive on sharing their #GlowUp with others. She can always be found Giving it to the People! Please put your hands together for Chisa Pennix-Brown.
You can find her here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chisapennixbrown/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChisaPennixBrownMBA/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ladybizness
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladybizness/
Website: https://www.ladybizness.com/
Build the Biz You Want - Get rid of the things you don't like
Have you ever wished you could simply start your business over? What are you doing that you love to do? What are you doing that you hate or maybe you simply dislike? Let's talk about what it would look like if we built the business that we want.
Building the Biz You Want: Work on your business not in it
Have you thought about taking two weeks off to simply work on your business instead of in it? That's exactly what I have planned in September. A mini retreat just for me to get creative and ignite my passion again.
Dealing with Overwhelm
We all face it from time to time and some weeks I feel like I simply live there. How do you deal with overwhelm? I share my tips and hope you will share yours too.
Do the work
When I was in my 20's I never could have believed that I would be able to live the life that I do today. I woke up the other morning with a wash of gratitude. This is the life I get to live. It didn't get this way from nothing. I did the work. I worked on my mind, my heart, my thoughts, my healing. The biggest struggle to running a business is getting out of your own way.
Being a woman business owner during COVID-19
Andrea Johnson and I took a bit of time to record a conversation between us. Technology was not our friend that day but you will find it is well worth the listen. We shared lots of tips on how to get through these trying times, what we are doing, our thoughts on SBA loans, and all the things.
Marketing during COVID-19
Have you wondered what you can do to pivot your marketing during COVID-19? Join me and guest Terri Watkins as we discuss the different ways you can still market your business and how to pivot.
Beware of the swirl
A friend of mine talked of the swirl going on right now. Too much information, too much on social media, too much of everything. Decision fatigue abounds. The flood of information is exhausting. We hear from so many different groups as to what their life is like right now but there is a group that has remained very silent.
The Pivot
Things are hard. You just had to close your business. You don't know if you will be closed a short while, a long time, or if you will ever reopen. What do you do next?
Uncertain Times
Schedules tossed around. Kids at home with no school. Working from home. How have you made the pivot in your business? Are you surviving or just thriving? Here is my experience this week.
Podcast Guest Amy Bull
www.theupfrequency.com
Facebook Link:
www.facebook.com/theupfrequency/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/theupfrequency/
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/amy-bull1/
Growing your business - Watch out for the pitfalls
Is all growth good? We hear that we must grow our businesses but is there such a thing as bad growth? Can we grow too fast? We explore in depth the things we must think about when growing our businesses.
The Side Hustle with guest, Sonia Karina
I welcomed my first ever podcast guest, Sonia Karina to my podcast. We talked about what it was like working a full-time job and staying motivated with your side hustle. Sonia talks all things essential oils, women's wellness and the what it is like working your passion.
6 Reasons Small Businesses Fail
This episode is the start of an in depth series where we will explore the six reasons that businesses fail and what we can do to learn the lessons so we don't become a statistic.
Just start
Sometimes things don't go as planned in our businesses. Sometimes we listen to others who tell us that we must do this or that to have a successful business. What is holding you back from starting a business? Where are you fearful?
The real deal of being an entrepreneur
My experience with Unplugging
Unplugged
Do you ever want to go off grid? I am wanting to get away. To unplug and go where no one can find me and I 'm going to do just that this week. It is important to unplug frequently and recharge.
Just take the baby steps
We only have less than six weeks left in 2019. Are you regretting the time you have wasted this year? You still have time. You can still achieve your goals. Even if it is only one goal you achieve between now and the end of the year you will be that much closer to checking them off your list. Are you going to sit around wishing you had or just take the baby steps to make it happen?
Be Your Own Damn Hero
I am a big believer in you can do, be, or say anything that you want to be. So many people applaud me for standing up for what I believe in, calling people on their sh** and setting boundaries, but they stop short of doing it for themselves. And again I ask, why? Lean in to the hard things. Set the boundaries, speak up for yourself, call yourself on your bs. Be your own hero.
Renew Your Mind
I know you have heard this phrase before that you must “renew your mind”. But, what does that really mean? When I started my #business I didn’t realize how my thoughts created my reality. How the very things I thought about called in more of those things into my life and my business. We talk so much about marketing your business, networking, and social media for your business. However, the most critical aspect of my business is me. How I think on any given day directly affects my business. So four years ago when I started this crazy journey into owning my own business I quickly figured out that I must focus on growing me, changing my thoughts, which in turn would change my reality. Here are three ways I have found to “renew my mind”.
Just STOP!
For years I struggled to fit in with others. I would go out of my way to be nice to people I honestly didn’t like simply to be friendly and welcoming to others because I thought that was how you were kind. Many times I was treated like sh&t and other times I was simply shunned or ignored. Those times burned into my soul no matter how much I pretended they didn’t.. Here what I did to turn all of this around.
The Homepreneur
Do you work from home in your business? Are you caught up in the work from home trap. Hear some steps you can take to make life better for you!
Last 90 Days of 2019
The last 90 days of 2019 is quickly approaching. How are you going to use them?
Cash is Queen
Are you a business owner struggling with cash issues? If so, you are not alone. Listen as I tell the story of one of my clients and how we changed things quickly. Walk away with things you can do to make a difference in your business today.