A worldwide pandemic shook the world, and if you were one of the lucky ones, you were able to remain employed and work remotely. However, that has not been the case for many. There are a ton of people that lost their jobs. Some didn’t lose their jobs but experienced furloughs and drops in business revenue or employment income because of COVID-19. If you were one of them, or even if you weren’t- you likely realized that one stream of income wasn’t going to cut it anymore.
We are in the midst of a worldwide shift, where side hustles and entrepreneurship are newly awakened. As a serial entrepreneur, it makes me shake my head at times. I see people now embracing being an entrepreneur and creating their brands, seeking out advice from us that have been doing it for years. These are the “how’s that little business of yours doing?” types.
Think about it, though. These businesses that we work for-, how did they begin? Through entrepreneurship. Someone had an idea that a product or a service would fill a gap in a specific industry. Then, they put balls to the wall and did something about it! That is pretty much what it boils down to.
Consider the traits of an entrepreneur. They are an independent thinker and innovative. An entrepreneur is always learning, identifying ways to get into new markets and reach a broader consumer base. An entrepreneur knows what they are good at, improves on those skills, and pushes forward until they succeed!
Nowadays, small businesses and side hustles are abundant. Social media has been instrumental in helping people sell their products and services. If you’ve been thinking about starting a business, writing a book, a screenplay, starting a television show or a podcast- what’s stopping you?
When you can identify a critical skill that you hold, you can discipline yourself to the point of turning this skill into a business by finding a way to monetize that skill. That’s when the fun really begins, and your confidence as an entrepreneur will increase.
J. Alexander Martin, one of the four founders of megabrand F.U.B.U., talks with Mz. Melony about his journey into entrepreneurship. He touches on his partners and how they have remained a team for almost twenty years. Mr. Martin discusses their humble beginnings creating a streetwear-inspired brand that would influence the entire hip-hop culture and people of color. He also touches on the things they fight about- especially in his role as Creative Director for the brand. The story is hugely inspiring.
Everyone’s not going to become an entrepreneur, but if you’ve been considering it- Y.O.L.O.!