Enjoy this week’s guest post by Felicia Jackson, CEO and inventor of CPRWrap, on overcoming challenges and adversity, particularly as a female founder and entrepreneur!
When I started my company December 17th, 2016, I never would’ve imagined the many hurdles I’d face just to see my dreams realized. My life’s plan did not include owning my own company. After all, I was the epitome of being an introvert. To get out of selling candy at my child’s school, I would purchase the entire box of chocolates. For me, being an entrepreneur, which required selling investors and customers on a daily basis, seemed very unlikely but here I am.
Imagine these scenarios:
- You and your employee, who happens to be a male, go to a networking event. As people walk up, they shake your hand but direct the conversation to your male employee.
- During a board meeting, you make a great, justifiable statement and get no response but when the male member makes the same statement, the accolades are abundant.
- During an investor pitch presentation, you are asked questions regarding failures of your company and not the successes or asked about your family life interfering with your commitment to the company.
These scenarios are not imagined and have happened to me and countless others through-out the years. The question is, how do you overcome these challenges while building your business?
- Recognize your value and what you are building. Ideas are a dime a dozen but executing is the real accomplishment. Celebrate your successes and advocate for yourself. You are doing what many people wish they could do and that alone is valuable.
- Acknowledge biases still exist. Learn to recognize them and redirect into positive feedback. You will be asked to change who you are to conform to the status quo but you must be true to yourself.
- Remember your WHY! When barriers become too much to handle, remember the reason you started your business in the first place. Your Passion, Purpose, and Determination will get you through any adversity.
- Mentors/ Advisors and Friends OH MY! Starting a company is a large task and can be really isolating and lonely, especially if you are a Sole-Founder. It is very important in the early stages to foster connections and introductions that can help grow your business and increase your growth as a founder.
- Overcoming the Fear Factor. There is a reasonable chance your company will not survive. I don’t know about you but if a person told me they NEVER failed at anything, I would be hard pressed to believe they were from this planet. Learn that making mistakes and failing is a rite of passage for entrepreneurs. Embrace what went wrong, learn from your mistakes and keep it moving.
- Make your health a KPI (Key Performance Indicator). We are considered natural caretakers and problem-solvers in our personal lives and in business, many times neglecting our own health. You have worked hard to build and grow your business only to lose it all due to a heart attack! Nurture yourself just as you would your business, you deserve it.
During my time in Techstars Austin, I had to introduce myself several times to potential investors and mentors. I was asked why I never introduced myself as the CEO. After thinking long and hard I realized I never saw myself as a CEO or someone that could lead. My way of thinking has changed dramatically and I now see my gender as an asset. The entrepreneurial world is rapidly growing and experiencing a paradigm shift as more female entrepreneurs start businesses and acquire C-Level positions. It’s about being part of the change for an all-inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Felicia Jackson, a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, is the CEO and inventor of CPRWrap, a disposable CPR template that protects and guides non-medical responders during respiratory and cardiac emergencies. Felicia has over 20 years of experience in the medical field and worked as a Physical Therapist Assistant for 10 years. After experiencing a traumatic choking incident with her 2-year-old son, Felicia had a vision of a product that could help save lives. Felicia is currently working hard to make CPRWrap accessible to every man, woman, and child so that performing CPR is less intimidating.
Follow Felicia at her website, CPRWrap, Inc., or on Facebook and Instagram. Felicia recently launched her new venture, CPRCanine, a CPR template for Dogs, via IFUNDWOMEN. Visit her fundraising page Here!