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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...EMPOWER!
Edition 036
Jessica Murray
May 08, 2025
Tomorrow marks one year since launching Empower! It’s been a ride. Equal parts energizing and humbling.
To commemorate the milestone, we’re mixing things up with the newsletter.
Here’s what’s new:
New name: The Empower Edit. After a year of growth and clarity, it felt like the right time to give this newsletter a name that better reflects its role in Empower’s journey. A commitment to delivering focused, thoughtful insights that help emerging entrepreneurs cut through the noise and build with clarity.
New series: Behind the Build. In the past year, I’ve seen how much energy and perspective entrepreneurs gain from hearing others' real stories, regardless of industry or stage.
A refreshed lineup:
In Focus: A featured article and operator’s lens.
Behind the Build: The entrepreneur’s spotlight.
One Small Move: An approachable tip designed for impact.
Fuel for Thought: Curated reads and listens.
Just Because: Pure fun.
I sincerely appreciate your ongoing support (and feedback). Keep it coming.
Our featured article either offers a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re up to at Empower or provides a fresh lens on how to grow, operate or think differently about business.
12 MONTHS. 12 LESSONS. WHAT I’VE LEARNED IN ONE YEAR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
One year…already?
Wow, how has one year already flown by?
So much has happened, and there’s still plenty to do.
Can you relate?
When I announced this venture, I said I set out to cut through the chaos and empower our partners to create both the business and life they envisioned when they started on their entrepreneurial journey.
I’m still chasing that purpose.
Milestones like this are markers for reflection. We’re often moving so quickly in the early days that it can be challenging to do a thorough lookback. But it’s important. Those initial learnings, even the painful ones, become the ones that propel you forward.
So, I took a pause (not too long, though) to capture 12 lessons I’ve accumulated from my first 12 months as a solo business owner. I hope they resonate with and encourage many of you.
Image generated by ChatGPT
The 12 lessons
Be structured, but flexible. Have a plan, but stay open. What you envision on Day 0 may not be how things look on Day 365. That’s OK.
Clarity accelerates momentum. When you’re clear on your offer, ideal partners and value, traction will follow.
Things will take longer than you expect (and want). Progress isn’t always linear. Persistence and consistency compound over time.
Refill your cup. You won’t be able to pour into your business when you’re running on empty. Find intentional ways to take a step back and refuel.
Community and relationships matter. Find your people; cultivate those connections.
The market can shift under you. Stay nimble to adjust when the goalpost moves.
Give first. Lead with generosity and watch what builds from there.
The space outside your comfort zone is where the magic happens. Push yourself there.
You’re going to get ghosted. It’s going to suck. Try not to take the silence personally. Focus on what you can control and keep showing up.
Profit first. Treat profit as a foundation rather than a reward for a healthier business long term.
Education matters. Operations isn’t “sexy,” but it’s a growth engine. People get it when you take the time to help them understand.
The LinkedIn algorithm will giveth and taketh away. Content is a long game. Stay consistent. Deliver value. More people will notice than you think.
Turning the page
I haven’t smashed every goal. There have been plenty of peaks and valleys already. But I’m so glad I made this leap a year ago, and I’m grateful for the experiences so far.
Cheers to continuing to build the businesses we set out to create!
A peek into another entrepreneurial journey. The wins, challenges, pivots and lessons.
In the inaugural post in this series, I’ll be featuring someone influential in my first year of business. She’s been a trusted thought partner, networking wing woman, SXSW road warrior and, coming soon, workshop partner!
I’m excited to share a snippet of Melissa’s story and lessons learned. I’m also thrilled about the lineup to come. The queue of entrepreneurs opening up to share their stories is building!
Interested in sharing your story? Reply, and I’ll share next steps.
Without further ado, meet Melissa Jones, CEO & owner of 3816 Creative.
MEET MELISSA JONES, CEO & OWNER OF 3816 CREATIVE
Q: When did you know you were destined to build a business?
A: “It started young. From nannying and cleaning houses for my mother's friends, I always wanted to create something out of nothing.”
Q: What’s the most unexpected thing (+/-) that’s happened along your entrepreneurial journey?
A: “There's a highlight reel we see among founders. Rarely do we see the wild roller coaster ride of high highs and low lows that are entrepreneurship.”
Q: When did you hit your first scaling challenge, and how did you overcome it?
A: “We launched during the week of the pandemic. It was an absolutely wild ride and forced us to scale immediately as everyone was taking their businesses online.”
Q: If you were starting all over, what’s one piece of advice you would give yourself?
A: “Start with what you have. Perfect it later.”
Q: A fun one, what’s your all-time favorite restaurant, and where is it located?
A: “Arpège, Paris, France”
Q: Do you have one ask or offer you would like to share with the Empower community?
A: “If you’re looking to audit your brand this year, meet The Happy Hour. It’s our take on a 1-hour consultation that goes in-depth into a particular aspect of your brand to discover what you’re doing well and what you need to improve on. At the end of the call, we'll discuss three action steps to get you back on track so you can hit the ground running. You can book a consultation here.”
Want to learn more?
Visit 3816’s website to see more of Melissa’s team’s work, set up that consultation or reach out directly.
An approachable tip designed for incremental improvement with outsized impact.
ASK YOURSELF: HOW CLOSE IS ‘IT’ TO THE REVENUE?
Do you find yourself struggling with prioritization?
Take inventory of all the tasks and initiatives on your plate and assess how directly each drives or protects revenue.
Small teams are often stretched thin and overwhelmed by competing priorities, so this framing can ensure you’re optimizing resources towards the activities that will impact the top and bottom lines of the business fastest.
Need a gut check?
The following examples should help get you in the mindset of ‘revenue proximity.’
✅
Following up on open proposals.
Streamlining customer onboarding to improve retention.
Reaching out to past clients with a new product or service.
❌
Reorganizing your Google Drive.
Tweaking website copy.
Developing over-complicated processes before you have leads and/or clients (YES, an Ops person is telling you this!).
Remember, this isn’t about ignoring all these activities forever. It’s about using a new lens to protect precious bandwidth.
Curated reads or listens to spark new ideas or expand your thinking.
BECOME A BETTER COMMUNICATOR FROM LENNY’S PODCAST
TL;DR
Two people whose newsletter/podcast I regularly follow recently came together, and it was 1.5 hours of golden nuggets sprinkled everywhere. Lenny Rachitsky invited Wes Kao on his podcast last month. They talked about all things effective communication and improving influence.
Whether you’re an individual contributor, manager, business leader or entrepreneur, all of the topics they discussed are relevant for you.
Enough said. Have a listen!
Playful and purely for enjoyment.
MAY IS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES
It’s National Small Business Month! Time to celebrate and support everything local entrepreneurs do to lift up our communities.
This week, I’m highlighting five local businesses I’ve enjoyed discovering this year.
What are yours? Reply and I’ll share responses in the next edition!
LOOKING FOR MORE EMPOWERMENT?
You’ve worked hard to build your business. Let’s work together to make it last. We want to be your partner in the journey to develop the business that lives into your vision.
There are four primary ways Empower can partner with you to support getting your business to the next level. Click the image below to learn more about our core offerings.
If you’re ready to take the step, reach out to discuss how we can support your goals.
If you were forwarded this newsletter and enjoyed it, I encourage you to subscribe and join the Empower community.
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