Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lakeisha Bell Cadogan, a book coach and editor based in Waldorf, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a writer and writing coach and an editor for fantasy and sci-fi novelists. Through my coaching, I help creative writers remove frustration and bust through creative blocks so they can get back to confidently making progress on their writing projects. I love to nerd out with my fellow wordsmiths on their writing journeys.
Tell us about yourself
I'm obsessed with journaling and tarot! Not only are they a big part of my daily and spiritual life, but I have also incorporated them into my business. Writing and sharing your words takes guts and grit. Many writers want to use their stories to speak their truth and make an impact, but that can be scary. I know firsthand what that feels like. By using creative tools like journaling and tarot, I can help them unpack the hard questions of their stories and their writing mindset — questions that, on their own, tend to get ignored because they're too complicated or too overwhelming.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Starting a business at the height of the pandemic! Like many, I lost my corporate job when the pandemic first started. Companies weren't hiring, and for the first time in my life, I had no plan and three kids to provide for. All I knew was that I didn't want to go back to doing the same thing I was doing before. So, I took a chance and started freelancing as a proofreader. Now I'm coaching writers, and I haven't looked back since.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I'm a solopreneur and a single mom. As a result, I wear a lot of hats: CEO, bookkeeper, content creator, mom-taxi, teacher, sales + marketing, legal advisor (I have a paralegal degree), and visionary. It can be very overwhelming at times. I feel as if I'll never get it all done. What helps is automating certain tasks, as well as time blocking to do similar tasks in the same time window to avoid my brain having to switch to different things.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Grab your journal and figure out what it is that you really want to do. And once you figure that out, stay in your lane and ignore everything else. There's a lot of comparison syndrome and "expert" advice in the online business space about what we "should" and "shouldn't" be focusing on. The online world is noisy, hustle-centric, and very good at pulling our attention away from what we really want. You do not have to do business like everyone else is doing business. There's no one way... only the way that works for you.
- Find a community of like-minded business owners you can network with and just talk. Our family and friends mean well, but many times, they just don't understand the struggles we experience as small business owners. Find some biz besties who get it because they've been there and can help you through it.
- Prioritize relationships over numbers. The number of Instagram followers you have is not important in the grand scheme of things. But the relationships you build with your clients, colleagues, audience, and community will far outweigh your social stats. Building community and collaborating with my peers is something I've heavily focused on this year. This is what makes being in business fun and fulfilling.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.lakeishabellcadogan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakeisha.cadogan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abookenchantress/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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