When I made the decision that I would make a move and start my own business, it was not in a space that most people are in when you hear stories from other entrepreneurs about why they became one. I had an excellent job, married, had my first child, and completed my dual master’s degree from Webster University. Before graduating I was already working in the field, I wanted performing the tasks I wanted and was on my way toward working up the corporate ladder. When I made this decision, we were in the middle of a pandemic and duri-
ng this time, the future was uncertain. Heck the present was uncertain. This did not seem like the right time to start anything. By 2020, during my short lifetime here in this world, I had lived through some historical moments that my child will read about. The 2000k scare, Oklahoma bombing, 2008-09 crises, Barack Obama becoming president, Donal Trump becoming president, and now a pandemic. In the grand scheme of things, I would say I have survived through all those life altering economic events that did impact and affect my future, and yet I still prevailed and accomplished a lot of personal goals and dreams.
At the time the company I was working for was an amazing. I had 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, 40 hour of vacation time allotted, great benefits, great manager, and working a hybrid schedule. There really was not a problem. For some people, they would say you have struck gold in corporate America. You are living the ideal job and situation. So why would I want to jump and join the “rat race” if you will of the entrepreneurship world. Well, lots of reasons, create my own freedoms, work my own schedule, spend more time with family and friends and financial reward. But truthfully the main reason, was I had a vision that implanted in me. The kind where it would not leave me no matter how hard I tried to convince myself otherwise.
I have been in the finance and accounting industry for nearly 10 years. I have acquired a wealth of knowledge about money management, financial statements, stocks, bonds, equity, credit, accounting, life insurance, trading, etc. As I have progressed in my career, I also noticed that in the black minority communities there was a significant lack in small businesses being able to set themselves up in a position to truly grow and scale their business. We see how immigrants from all over, come to America and some manage to come together and build what seem like small communities and even cities. As I was observing this, I thought to myself, I need answers, there has to be something that can be done about this. While I know I can save the world, I felt there was something I could do, and it was taking my love for numbers, research, information, teaching, and finance and find ways to help small business owners understand how to truly growth and build businesses. I
Why am I telling you, this, what does this mean? Well, I had asked myself is entrepreneurship really for someone like me. I had pondered this question for a few years before I made the leap and took a chance. I started reading books about entrepreneurship, following those who I
admired, and I learned one thing from them all. All of them just decided this is what they wanted and never looked back.
As I began learning I suddenly realized, entrepreneurship is more than about securing financial wealth, and passing on a legacy to your children, and having free time. It’s bigger than you. It’s literally about changing the world for the good. You are either solving a problem, fixing a problem, or creating a problem to be solved.
If you have something deep inside you that you feel you are called to do, DO IT. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity, because there will never be one. Don’t wait until you think you have it all figured out, because you never will. But if it is something you can commit to and stick to it and see it through until there is no more left in you then go for it. I hope this piece is encouraging to someone out there who is thinking, "AM I READY?". Let me tell you, YOU ARE! The world needs better, and the world need you, or you would not be here in this moment.
Be Well, Be Blessed, Be Empowered.
Erington Boyd – Founder, CEO
The Black Diamond Accounting Group, LLC
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