My Big Leap of Faith & A Lifetime of Learning

bigleap

I never thought this day would come but it’s officially here, guys. Your girl is officially a self-employed entrepreneur! After some months going back and forth over whether or not I could do this and make this my full time job, I finally decided to take a leap of faith and pursue entrepreneurship without restraint. *breathes out sigh of relief*

Guys, I’m not going to lie, this is scary! Since the day LoveBrownSugar was created, it has been a huge part of my life. I’ve seen it grow from just a handful of followers to now a sizable and loyal group of fans (whom are irreplaceable really, I love you guys). It’s like my first child. And after a few years working in the media industry, I’m now officially ready to take this site to the next level by devoting 100% of my time and energy to it. It’s scary just typing it, let alone thinking about it! But to actually be living it, is beyond my wildest dreams. 

I’ve always kept it one hundred with you guys from the day I started LBS. You’re on this journey with me like my cyber besties and so in the interest of sharing my life’s goals and aspirations as well as the tough lessons that have gotten me where I am now, I want to share 4 important intangibles I had before taking this big leap and pursuing my dreams full time. I’m hoping these tips help inspire someone out there who is on the fence about their career or any important decision in their life:

1. Education
gradpic
Graduating from UPenn in 2009

Whether you’re 9 or 59, pursuing your dreams is about becoming knowledgeable on the industry of your choice. Education is so very important! I can’t stress enough to you how my education has prepared me for what I’ve been able to accomplish. The amazing thing about the world we live in is that the quest for education never really ceases. There is no way you can ever know everything. So there are lifelong opportunities to learn. Whatever your passions, hopes and dreams are, education can help get you one step closer to accomplishing them. Just to give you guys some background, I started out in undergrad as a business school major. Most of my classmates went on to pursue careers in Finance, Accounting and Consulting among other things. What did I do after graduation? I started working at BET Networks and then went on to be an editor at Honey Magazine and UPTOWN Magazine. Complete disconnect right?? Wrong. 

Each position I took gave me opportunities to use my educational background in business, even though there were no direct parallels. My concentration in Marketing at business school really helped give me perspective on the consumer’s mind and how brands operate. This then gave me an understanding of how to position products and entities I represented (even myself and my own brand LoveBrownSugar!) in the digital landscape. I also learned to do alot of analytical work in business school. Researching trends, sifting through data, drawing conclusions. All of that helps me now as I’m figuring out what direction to take my brand and the ones I consult for. It all makes sense now, but if I had taken my education for granted, I would never know how much it could benefit me when pursuing my passion. No matter what stage in life you’re at, whether you’re a working Mom, fresh-out-of-college or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, there are always new opportunities to learn. Don’t ever think new knowledge will go to waste.

2. Experience
lovebrownsugar heels
I’ve been out of college now for 4 years and within those 4 years I’ve amassed some substantial years of work experience. Each position I’ve had and project I’ve worked on has prepared me for this step. Yep, that’s me in the picture sweeping up confetti after a cover shoot for Honey Magazine. Back then I was an intern and I did what I needed to do to progress in my career. If I didn’t have the background, if I hadn’t been able to learn from the brilliant people I have, I wouldn’t be prepared to branch out on my own. Be courageous, but don’t jump the gun! Make sure you have enough experience and skills to pursue your next step.


3. Passion

When the money isn’t flowing the way you think it should, when the hard work seems daunting, the only thing that will truly keep you motivated is your passion for the field you’re in. This is why, for me, it makes no sense to spend years and years working a job or a position that makes you miserable. Now understand sometimes you have to do what you “have” to do so you can eventually do what you “want” to do. But having a passion and vigor for your work makes life so much better. You do something you’re passionate about, and you’ll never “work” a day in your life.

 4. Faith
justdoit

No risk, no reward. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs have had to make decisions that, to others, made them look crazy! When it comes time to take the big leap, faith has to be at the forefront of your decision. You have to know undoubtedly that you’re making the right decision and that despite what might go wrong, things will work out for your good.

What are you passionate about? Has your passion been manifested in your education and career?

Change is inevitable. But, making change happen when you want it to can be hard. And when you want to make a real change, you need to learn something new. Because education is the key to change. Kaplan has spent 75 years re-writing the rules of education. Because they believe that education is not one size fits all. A system focused on the needs of individuals can give students the power to change their lives. Kaplan wasn’t satisfied with the status quo, and you shouldn’t be either. To jumpstart your change, we encourage you to watch Kaplan’s video series, Visionary Voices, to hear the latest insights on emerging trends from notable thought leaders; participate in Kaplan’s ADVANCE: Career. Education. You. group on LinkedIn to connect with professionals committed to life-long learning; and connect with students, alumni and educational professionals at StudentAdvisor.com, Kaplan’s one-stop-shop for the latest education news, reviews, and advice.
 
I’d love to hear from you and learn how education has given you the power to change! Leave a comment below and be entered to win a $100 VISA gift card on behalf of LoveBrownSugar!

Rules:

No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 3/7/2013-3/31/2013. Be sure to visit the Kaplan Brand Page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Christina Brown

Lifestyle influencer and digital mompreneur Christina S. Brown is a New York native, LA resident, and the founder of LoveBrownSugar.com and BrownGirlsLove. She's an award-winning storyteller, a motivational speaker and an advocate for confident millennial black women.

130 Comments

  1. So proud of all your accomplishments Christina!!

    Thanks to international education opportunities, I pursued a Masters degree abroad and achieved my dream of living in France!!

  2. This is an amazing post Christina!! I really needed to read this, and I thank you for sharing your journey! I know you’ll be extremely succesful! Nice people finish first.

  3. My passion is definitely writing/blogging and fashion. I’ve recently made the choice to go back for my Masters in Fashion Merchandising because I feel like there’s so much still for me to learn since I went for my Associates degree. I certainly want to make sure that I am constantly putting myself in a position to grow my brand positively.

  5. Even though I’m a stay at home mom now, I am really proud of the undergraduate and graduate degrees I earned. I think it sets a good example for my children to follow.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

  6. Congratulations to you on taking this leap of faith and I wish you many blessings! This is a great giveaway!

    For me, I grew up in a small town. Even though the town was small, my teachers recognized the gift God gave me in writing at an early age. I took my experience in writing and went on to get my Bachelors degree because despite of what I knew, I knew I wanted to grow and be better. When I graduated, I wasn’t quite sure how I would apply writing to a job because writing jobs were so far and few between.

    I decided at the advice of friends to begin a blog. There are so many blogs out there, but I wanted it to be different. I wanted it to help people be fabulous on a budget. I’ve been blogging for two years now. I know that education helped me see that I could learn so much more about writing and that I didn’t have to fit into a molded job. I could create my own!

    Tweet: https://twitter.com/missfabellis/status/309731212052815872

  7. 8 years ago I graduated with my BA in Communications and for almost 7.5 years I’ve been an employee at BET Networks. In the last year after doing a brief internship with a Artist Management and Production Company I’ve decided to get my Masters in Music Business to pursue my dream of working at a music label in A&R and eventually starting my own company.

  8. I was pregnant with my third son while finishing my first semester of college courses. I thought it was important to finish no matter how hard it was at the time. It helped me get a good job afterward getting my degree and give my kids a better life

  17. Education has given me the power to change by learning how to interact with co-workers, agents, and clients due to my job. I’ve had the pleasure to work in the insurance industry for over 20 years. In fact my first professional job paid for my college degree in Business Management.
    tweety800265(at)yahoo(dot)com

  20. My business degree opened many doors for me and opportunities, which allowed me much personal growth and change.
    jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com

  23. My education empowered me to make choices, which definitely changed my life. I have chosen to stay home with my children now and when they are older and in school I can choose to work part or full time. I have more choices with the education I have.

    s2s2 at comcast dot net

  26. Helping me make better choices, giving me more opportunities, opening more doors, and setting a great example for my kids

    Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!

    lola_violets_2010 at yahoo dot com

  28. Higher education has given me more choices of life and work, I am able to do what I love while earning the living.

  30. My higher eduction has given me the opportunity to provide for my son and I in a way I couldn’t without it.
    reklaw422 at hotmail dot com

  33. I learned mostly from on the job training and I did go to a computer school for about 4 months. I learned alot about business. It made me become more confident!

  39. Getting my degree in a specialized field of education (and a master’s degree in another specialized area) has allowed me to focus on a niche area.

  40. Education gives me the power to realize that I have talent and that I can stick to something so I’m not afraid to try new things. 🙂 Thanks for a chance to win and have a great day!
    kmassmanATgmailDOTcom

  41. Having an education took me from being a secretary to an accountant! It really gives you a chance to boost your career and definitely gave me more options.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    wildorchid985 @ gmail dot com

  43. What an inspiring post. I love it. Yes, education has given me the power to change. More so to change my family’s life. I’m a stay at home mom now, but I’m proud to have the undergrad degree to let me kids know how important it is to get a better education.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  46. Instead of being a woman who is dependent on others, education has given me the power to be my own independent person who is confident and capable.

  48. Christina, how I adore you…let me count the ways! You gave me my first real shot at an insider’s look into the world of fashion when I was your fashion assistant in 2011! I have always used my education to pursue truth and as a journalist/writer that is what I do daily. My creative spirit coupled with my education allows me to design marketing materials, websites, etc. My real passion is the business of fashion. I am always looking for learning experiences to move one step closer to taking the GIGANTIC leap you just took. Faith is acting like it is so, even if it ain’t so, until it is so, just because God said so.
    https://twitter.com/IDreamInChanel

  49. education has given me the ability to make strong, well-thought-out decisions, and also the power of persuasion when change needs a little helping along.
    stigay at comcast.net

  53. First, congratulations on your leap of faith in becoming an elite sistapreneur!! You will do it big! Education, experience, passion, and most importantly faith and encouragement from close fam/friends led my sister and I to go for it, so we opened our heart, Brown Sugar Bakeshop in March 2009. BSB has become it’s affectionate moniker around town! We offer gourmet, old-fashioned style desserts in an updated, yet retro atmosphere. Cupcakes, cookies, cheesecakes, doughnuts, if it’s sweet, we bake it! My sister, April and I still do all the baking and do everything in small batches just like our granmomms taught us! We must admit, our cupcakes are so addictive, people have driven from over 12 hours to get to Little Rock, Arkansas just to get their mouth on one, okay maybe two! Thanks for reading!!! Best wishes to LoveBrownSugar!

    Mucho xoxoxo,

    Kris W.
    Baking Goddess
    Brown Sugar Bakeshop
    419 E. 3rd Street
    Little Rock, AR 72201
    (501) 372-4009

    http://www.brownsugarbakeshop.com
    http://www.facebook.com/THEBrownSugarBakeshop
    Twitter (@BrownSugarLR)

  54. my education has gotten me inspired to go into a field i love and have been extremely successful at!!!
    tamarsweeps-at-gmail-dot-com

  55. Education (and putting myself through undergrad at UC Berkeley and graduate school) is the whole reason I have a career, am confident and diverse, and can lead my family and career in forward motions — to change whenever life demands it!
    tvollowitz at aol dot com

  62. Education has given me the power to change by exposing me to many people from very different backgrounds and lifestyles, with differing viewpoints, and helped me learn how to not just coexist with them but be in community with them as well.

  64. Education has given me the power to change because after attaining my MBA, many doors were opened in the workplace. This allowed me to move up within my career and I was able to put my ideas to use and have my opinions heard.

    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

  68. I got my job at my university’s recruiting event, my degree probably helped too, and I’m able to move to the us because of my job, I’m pretty happy about it.
    songyueyu at gmail

  75. Both of my parents are immigrants. I am a first generation college student studying healthcare. I hope to change the world by helping patients get better and providing for my parents so they can have the retirement they deserve.

    rawrms at gmail dot com

  77. I work in an industry (insurance) that is constantly changing and unless you keep yourself educated about those changes, you will be left behind.

  80. Education has given me the power to adapt to the changing landscape of the workforce which is less manufacturing and more computer know how.
    Thanks for a super giveaway!
    My email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com

  82. The cliche that education is power is so true! Before college I was smart but ignorant. After college I was smart and informed. This education in life and learning completely changed who I am and I like to think for the better. The #1 thing that it changed about me is that I am no longer afraid to stand up for what I believe in.
    Angie
    14earth at gmail dot com

  85. I was the first in my family to get a college education, and I am so glad I did. I was formerly a spec. ed. teacher and now a school psychologist. Without higher education, I would not have the opportunity to work at a job I love. I get to inspire kids everyday. Life is good.

    seanm 1999 at hotmail dot com

  86. My education has provided me with the communication skills to interact with and understand the wide variety of people I come in contact with during my work day.

  90. At age 64 I continue to take classes and learn new things. Lately it’s been about essential oils and gardening.
    Thanks for the contest.

    slehan at juno dot com

  96. Education has opened many doors for me and given me many opportunities. It has also made me a stronger more dependent person.

    brat52101 at yahoo dot com

  103. My master’s has opened up new doors for me professionally. I get 40 hours of continuing professional education a year to keep up my CPA.
    aleksnearing gmail com

  104. Education has given me power to change by giving me the confidence and perseverance for applying myself and going after what I want in life.

    darkmysticnight(at)hotmail(dot)com

  105. Education has opened many doors for me. It also gave me the confidence to strike out on my own and know that I will always be able to support myself.

  107. I didn’t take the easy way of obtaining my college education, but my company was really supportive, paid most of my tuition and allowed me to attend toward the end during work hours. It’s allowed me the ability to get some increases in pay and promotions into management positions. As a single mom, it’s great knowing that I can support my family on my own.
    pauline15_01(at)Hotmail(dot)com

  108. inspiring!!!
    im hoping to go back to school…also hoping many new doors will open b/c of it!
    howardreviews atgmail dot com

  119. Education has given me the power to change because of the self confidence it has given to me.
    I know that I will be making educated decisions and that always helps.
    Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com

  120. I’m going to school now to be a rad tech. It’s a two year program and its hard, I’m not going to lie. Thankfully I graduate in May but I’ve gotten to know myself better during this program than I ever have before and I think its made me stronger and a little more confident.

    pokergrl8 at gmail.com

  128. Thank you so much for the inspiration! I learned everything I know at an amazing experimental high school called Middle College, on the UW campus. First high school in America to take place on a university campus! They have since lost funding sadly.
    I am currently attempting to muster up the courage to ask my husband if we can survive on 1 income for a while, so I can go back and get some kind of degree from Seattle Central community college.

    sahairah at gmail dot com <---- my email 🙂

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