Still maneuvering through this entrepreneur life and honestly, the only thing that I have to complain about is money. Obviously that’s the biggest part of pursuing your own dreams – leaving those stable checks to make something out of what starts as nothing. At this point, I think I spend so much time worrying about the money that it stunts my creative process. At the same time, working that comfy job and trying to find time to create has also stunted my process. Just like anything else in life, I’m learning that it’s about finding a healthy balance, which looks different from one person to the next.

The other test of time is a lack of mentorship and network. Personally, I’m learning that networking is kind of weird for me although I have no problem being outspoken. I probably just don’t know how to network, honestly. I’m a little too cool if that makes any sense (currently trying to see if I need to humble myself or this is really just me *shruggs*). Socially, I’d say that I just have to do better. Being around the right people and in the right rooms will undoubtedly spark ideas and create those opportunities that we’re looking for. 

Last but not least, I’m learning the truth behind the very cliché phrase, ”it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Idk how it is for you but for me, these days go by so fast. Some days I spend more time in my mind than doing anything physically or creating tangibly. It’s important to keep in mind that those days are part of the process as well. I came across a quote recently that read, ”If you do things too early, it’s actually just as bad as doing them too late” – Fraser Cooke (Sr. Director, Nike). This put a whole lot into perspective. 

Learn to play the game. Don’t let the game play you.

All of my people out here creating their own 9-5’s, I love you 💙

**Keep in mind that all of what you read comes from the wisdom that I’ve gained through my own experience**

With Love,

TASHE’

It’s now about 8 months since I left my super comfy, well paid job. I’m probably not the first person you’ve heard this from, but in no way can you really prepare for this journey. In fact, you spend so much time looking for ways to further your stability that you don’t even notice if you’ve met your comfort level. I think in the beginning, as an entrepreneur, nothing is enough because you’re always anticipating that what you have will run out. When I say what you have, I don’t just mean physically / materialistic – I’m talking about ideas, projects, resources, relationships, etc. Rarely do us entrepreneurs realize that we can use everything I just mentioned to navigate where we ultimately plan to end up. 

More than anything, I don’t think entrepreneurs need money, but what we need is strength of mind and character. We need to be able to stand firm on our beliefs and vulnerabilities. We need to move with unrelenting confidence in every decision made, while also being wise enough to accept wisdom. We need patience and lots of faith. We need less pride and more opportunity. 

This journey, just like life, was never said to be easy. It was never said to be an overnight success, it was never said to look exactly like what you see with your own eyes. The only thing that it is – is yours. So make the best of it. Do what you want with it. Allow God to have his way with it.

Why? Because “it” will be all worth it in the end.

I always say “it’s crazy how the universe works.” Here I am, dragging myself in my own mind, while simultaneously trying to stay focused and faithful when I fell into one of those moments where I just felt like I needed to ‘re-center.’ I hopped on YouTube and tuned in to a long overdue episode of the “Pull Up” series, hosted by Joe Budden with Teyana Taylor as the guest. Long story short, Teyana goes into detail about how at some point she felt like the music industry wasn’t yielding the results she felt like she deserved, which lead to her focusing on and developing other talents and interests. In the midst of conversation, she says: “I’m here to do right now and try it my way and if it doesn’t work, then I just know that it’s not for me. I’m a big believer in exhausting all options with anything in life.”

Those words really struck something within me.

Really think about if you “exhausted all of your options” before you made that tough decision. Like moving on from something that you still feel connected to on this day. Or not believing in yourself enough to face and overcome your own challenges. To me, exhaust all options means to give your absolute everything to everything. It leaves a minimum amount of room for quitting because you’re spending so much time finding other options, enhancing your ideas and simply giving yourself a chance to be exactly what and who you know you can be. Sometimes we give the world far more chances than we would ever give ourselves. After today, make the decision to be ten toes down. Exhaust all of your options and give that situation everything you’ve got, until you know that you know that you know – whatever it is isn’t meant for you. Our elders tell us all the time – “when you know, you know.”

I write this with full transparency and authenticity. I spent this entire day grinding, but in my head calculating. Every dollar spent and every dollar earned – trying to make sure my expenses stay far below my income. Then praying right behind those calculations, like God is in any way concerned with such small things. Not stressed, but pressed.

So now I’m sitting here and this lyric comes to mind:

”was dead broke but rich in soul, was we really that poor? Was we really that dumb?”

Damn. Like way to set me straight, Meek. For every dollar I ever spend or earn, my wisdom and soul will always supersede its value infinitely. As if I hadn’t witnessed greatness come with hard work time and time again.

Don’t be anxious, be patient.

Be not weary in your well doing. For in due season we shall reap.

All that to say, it’s far more beneficial to shift our focus to things that we know and have witnessed as opposed to those that are unknown and that we fear.

B O S S U P !

If you’re anything like me – you have moments when you feel like you can take over the world, but you also have moments when you feel like the world has taken you over. No motivation, lack of drive, routine days .. basically, a mood that feels like depression but really you’re just in a slump. It’s one of those moods where almost nothing will make it better while just about everything can make it worse.

The most challenging aspect of the slump is understanding what got you there to begin with. Like literally, it was all good just a week ago. The faith in me suggests that the small voice on the inside of you knows that it may be time for something new. Just when the going got good, things changed. Not your circumstances, but the way you’re thinking about them. On one hand, you could be seeking more than what you have and you may very well deserve more but you haven’t necessarily figured out how to get it. On another hand, you may want more but have failed to reap the benefits of where you are. Thus, God has not made clear the path for you to find your way out.

Not only do you not know how you got in this slump, now you have no idea how to get out of it. Has anyone ever suggested that you let go and let God? Life doesn’t just happen to us. It happens for us – with full intention. Check on your faith and check on your perspective.

Key Takeaways:

There is a dynamic relationship between loss and gain – loss is the backdrop for gain

We are always concerned with what someone gains but never do we consider what they had to lose – Jesus’ greatest miracle happened under circumstances of great loss

You will always have a calling on your life as you’re trying to figure out who you are. You get 3 groups of people in life:
1. Those that want to keep you small – you’re easier for the world to ignore when you’re small but you can’t let bitterness take over your life
2. Those that try to make you big – these people see more in you than you see in yourself.
3. Those who are wondering where they fit in – they just want to be connected to you

You have to acknowledge and accept the new standard when you elevate from something because expectations are fostered and you are expected to show up

For every bit of elevation, you must consider the 3 groups of people that you will encounter

Your purpose will make you isolate yourself and realize that your gift has made room for you. At this point, you have to figure out who you are NOW, because it’s not who you were before

When elevation is released onto you, you must identify with it because there are miracles that happen before other miracles although you may not recognize them as miracles

Purpose will CHASE YOU DOWN. Right when you thought you were going to fail, purpose just sneaks up and forces a ‘but when’ moment (“I was about to give up on that thing BUT WHEN …”) There is always a ‘but when’ moment connected to deserted places.

Purpose will chase you even when you want to be left alone. Purpose knows those who will look outside of what they are feeling and do what needs to be done. You have to see that the world needs you more than you need to be by yourself

God will bless you with things prematurely, forcing you to step out of your comfort zone.

You have to recognize when you’re standing in a miracle. It should make you want to dig so deep that you have to pull something out of yourself in order to feed/nurture what’s in front of you

Stop waiting on the confirmation of others to use and fix your gifts and talents

Ignore the people with old news and old facts about how to fix your miracle

You can’t use practical knowledge when God is giving you a miracle opportunity

Unnecessary miracle – when there is a more practical option but because you had the courage to dig deep down and try anyway, God grants you a miracle that wasn’t even necessary

You have to be like the blind who know that unless God does it, their situation won’t be better

When you go from a deserted place to comfort, be sure not to stop asking God for miracles

There are miracles attached to every deserted place that you find yourself in

The unnecessary miracle is necessary for everyone else to see

You want the mindset of unnecessary miracles so that you can do exceedingly and abundantly and everyone around you can learn from your journey. So your faith can be made stronger

We are most powerful when we live in deserted places because we have to dig deeper over and over again

God won’t allow your destiny to pass you by. He will make everything wait on you

When you pass things out, God will refill your hand because you’ve tapped into a well that will never run dry. As you give, he gives

Share your life, talent, and gifts with the multitude (the world)