One year ago today, I decided that taking a leap and starting my own business was the right decision. I realized that if I wanted to help create change and cultivate important conversations, I had to be brave, put my name on the door, decide what I stand for and then try to implement those standards everyday for everyone. One year later, I'm really proud of the work I have done at Kate Lumpkin Casting and am so excited for the amazing opportunities I have around the corner.
Here are the five most important things I learned this year:
- Empathy, kindness, understanding, and sharing knowledge are the keys to both humanity and good business practices. Use them always and often.
- Nobody is going to run your business for you when you are an entrepreneur. {And every artists is!} If you don't do the work --- it doesn't get done. Hire a good team --- but know that nobody will care as deeply as you do about your goals. So show up early, stay late, and treat your team with the respect they deserve for helping you meet your goals.
- If you show no willingness to change, communicate, or compromise you will be left behind. Experience is of utmost importance, but if it starts to inhibit your ability to do your job you must listen to the other people around you. Business and art are both team sports who need very strong captains.
- You cannot be scared to ask for what you want. Someone saying NO is not actually a death sentence. If a job doesn't exist then there is an opportunity to create it and get it. Look for the disruption or the empty space and attempt to fill it in.
- When you share of yourself the world shows up. Vulnerability is not weakness it is the most aggressive form of strength.