Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanine Lett.
Jeanine, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset. When I was about five years old, I decided I would take the utensils from our kitchen drawer and sell them to my neighbors. After all, who doesn’t need a spoon and who would say no to a kid? Needless to say, that was my earliest introduction to understanding the importance of thorough market research when selling a product. Since then, I’ve learned A LOT, made more mistakes and have several accomplishments under my belt, yet my world domination goal is still hanging over my head.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Has it been a smooth road, hell no! If you cannot learn to love the struggle, the moments when you stumble and fall flat on your face and then jump back up to do it all over again this isn’t the path for you. Being an entrepreneur is a winding road you are driving blindfolded with a flat tire and no spare tire. You can wake up one morning and pivot in your business in ways you never set out to when you first started out. Learn to embrace change and the road will feel a bit less bumpy.
The struggles change as my businesses evolve. In business, there is no such thing as a struggle-free stage. As your company grows so can the issues. Currently, I am at a point where I am hiring staff and it is a scary thing! To give up pieces of my daily to-do list is not hard. Trusting I have hired the right person to execute in a way that makes my clients feel cared for is the hard part. I try to allow my staff to do their own thing without me micromanaging. Trusting their abilities and their desire to thrive. However, as a business owner, all the flaws, mistakes, and hiccups ultimately fall on me.
For any woman who is starting out on her journey, my best piece of advice is believe in your vision. You will make a million changes along the way and that is OKAY! Do not wait for others to give you permission to live your life. The world needs your voice, your vision, and your gift! Do not let the phrase, “what if…” become fear for you, instead, let “what if” be the place you start from and see what you can create.
We’d love to hear more about The Business Ref.
I am a small business consultant who works with entrepreneurs to scale their business via E.P.I.C. (empowering, positive, interactions, with customers) customer service. I’m known for helping my clients diversify their revenue streams while building strong lasting relationships with their target audience leading to increased sales.
I am most proud of my Women’s Business Empowerment Seminar Series which is a multi-city and state tour traveling across the U.S. May through December 2019. This has been a true labor of love. I’ve worked myself to the bone bringing this idea to life and I could not be more proud. I longed for a way to connect with other female entrepreneurs and have honest, raw, vulnerable conversations about the struggles we as women face when building our business. We face obstacles our male contemporaries do not. We struggle to balance motherhood, being wives, and showing up for ourselves. We face stifling antiquated societal stigmas that keep us from moving forward. If we want to eradicate these injustices we must first start at a community level and that is what I aim to do with The Women’s Business Empowerment Seminar Series.
I firmly believe that true growth happens in our most uncomfortable and vulnerable seasons. It is this belief that sparked the vision for this seminar series. I wanted to share real stories from real women building their businesses within their respective communities. The beginning of building relationships is founded on how we are alike. By highlighting real struggles we as women face and by sharing our various methods of overcoming said obstacles is where the foundation of empowerment begins. Building a business and forging our own path in life can be overwhelming and lonely at times. Finding a tribe of like-minded sisters to help you overcome those moments of doubt, frustration, and loneliness is key.
It is absolutely crazy to me that in 2019, I am still telling women, “you can be the rockstar mom/spouse you want to be AND have a healthy, thriving business. YES, you deserve your chance to pursue your dreams!” If we as women want the judgmental societal narrative to change (you cannot be a good mom and work full-time, you can have a successful career but not a healthy marriage at the same time, you should wait until your kids are older and then you can do X), we must rise up together and make that change.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
My go-to life guide book is The Bible. As a Christian, it is my guiding light. Being a true San Diegan, I spend a good amount of time driving around and have the chance to listen to a ton of podcasts. I am a huge fan of several podcasts including, The Jocko Podcast by Jocko Wilink, Mike Drop by Mike Ritland, and Team Never Quit. All of which have incredible episodes that focus heavily on leadership, accountability, and the importance of living with integrity. Business-wise, my go-to app is Asana. I love being able to stay organized on the go.
Pricing:
- The Women’s Business Empowerment Seminar Series General Admission – $175 (two-day ticket)
- The Women’s Business Empowerment Seminar Series VIP – $375 (two-day ticket)
- 90-Minute Business Strategy Session – $175
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebusinessref.com
- Phone: 858-746-9591
- Email: refj@thebusinessref.com
- Instagram: @TheBusinessRef
- Facebook: @TheBusinessRef
- Other: https://thebusinessref.lpages.co/womens-business-empowerment-seminar
Image Credit:
Shae Stromme-Cannon
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
