On being BOLD as a Mamapreneur: Lessons from a Tech Summit

IT’S NOT EVERY DAY YOU MEET SOMEONE WHO’S TRANSFORMED AN IDEA INTO A $1.8 BILLION BUSINESS.

Earlier this year I did, and we shook hands.

Josh James, Founder and CEO of Domo, gave me a compliment every female entrepreneur wants to hear. Here's what he said and what I learned from it.

We were at the Silicon Slopes Tech Summit, a two-day event for Utah’s booming technology industry. The inaugural event was held at The Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, and nearly 5,000 attendees heard from tech and business experts. 

I walked in wearing an emerald green dress and new boots, ready to find new clients. I came prepared, with a curated target list of potential clients and business cards at the ready. I told myself, “I’m getting three new clients out of this. Ready, go!” 

Looking at the crowd, I’d guess only 1 in 10 were women.

THE PERK OF BEING A GAL IN A SEA OF DARK-SUITED MEN IS YOU STAND OUT. WITH THE GOAL OF MEETING NEW CLIENTS, I DIDN’T MIND BEING NOTICED.

In my first five minutes there, I practically bumped into Domo’s Josh James, a visionary business leader who took his company from inception to IPO to $1.8B sale. I knew his face from Twitter and had seen him in the news. He's something of a legend in Utah. Later that day I would see him on the main stage, interviewing the President of Pandora, but this was our 10 seconds together. I wasn’t going to miss it.

“Oh, it’s you. Hi, Josh James. I'm Crystalee,” I said, trying to sound brave as I extended my hand. 

“Well, that’s a bold dress,” he smiled at me.

It was such a simple sentence, but I walked away feeling as if he’d handed me a $100 bill.

How’d he know that’s the word I was going for?

BOLD.

That interaction spurred me to approach a CEO of another big company, one on my target list, letting him know about my services. I passed my card out to potential collaborators, clients, and old friends. It felt good.

More than a year in, business ownership is still a brave new world for me, but I believe in being fearless, even when fear may be bubbling under the surface. I believe we’re stronger than what frightens us. I believe that conquering fear is where the real fun starts in life.

Last year I decided I was done with letting fear stand in my way. It was time to spread my entrepreneurial wings.

 Letting go of fear leaves a wide open space for freedom. I’ve never been more excited about my work. I wake up on Mondays looking forward to helping my clients. I love what I do. I love the challenge of learning new things, the variety in my schedule, and living on my terms. I love that because I manage my time and talents, my kids get the best of me.

BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR HAS LIT A FIRE THAT LIGHTS UP ALL SORTS OF SPACES IN MY SOUL.

By no means do I have business ownership all figured out. I'm making mistakes and learning new things every day. I think that's part of the fun.

I DO believe in myself and my ability to help others creatively tell their story. I do this through the written word and strategic celebratory events. I feel confident about that, and others are noticing. Even a billion-dollar-company leader. 

So that’s the lesson for the business-owning ladies out there:

BE BOLD, GIRL.

Dress the part. Act the part. Show up like you mean it. Fake it for now if you have to.

You got this. And know that you don’t always need to feel bold. Sometimes it’s scary starting a business. We wrote an eBook to help you with that! Check it out here.

3 Rookie Advantages: Why You Don’t Need To Know Everything To Start A Business

Thinking about starting a business, but not sure how? No worries, Mama. Here are wise words from mama of four, and bestselling author and president of the Wiseman Group, Liz Wiseman, on how you can use being a rookie to your advantage.
 
Earlier this year, on the hunt for a helpful business title, “Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Game of Work” jumped off the bookshelf. It offered validation for my learn-as-I-go method.
 
I'd seen the author speak before, but imagine my surprise when I saw she'd be a keynote at the Silicon Slopes Tech Summit, which I planned to attend. So I did the natural thing. I tweeted her.
 
To my delighted surprise, she tweeted back the next day, inviting me to lunch. WOW! What an honor. (Take note: Twitter works!)

The power of your “Rookie Smarts”

There’s liberation in not needing to know everything. Even more, Liz’s book argues it is better for business. Here are some takeaways for anyone who has a desire to start a business (or apply for a different work position or tackle a graduate program – whatever it is!) but isn’t sure how.

ROOKIES HAVEN’T BUILT UP A LAYER OF FEAR.

“People fresh to a problem haven’t convinced themselves that they can’t solve it.” (pg. 53) For those of us who are figuring out business as we go, there’s fearless freedom in admitting we don’t know it all. (Who does?!)

ROOKIES ACCESS MORE KNOW-HOW.

“Rookies, with little to lose and everything to gain, seek out help and reach out to experts who can guide them and augment their deficiencies.” (pg. 87) In fact, Laz shares how they ask many more people, much more often. “When you ask an expert, you get one expert. When you ask a rookie, you get a network of experts.” (pg. 79)

ROOKIES FIND WORK TO BE PLAYFUL.

“Perpetual rookies have a different mindset. When they grow up they want to be a kid—permanently young of heart and mind.” (pg. 160) My three-year-old is currently learning her numbers and letters and I see how thrilled she is to learn. It’s FUN. I'm also having so much fun learning new business skills.
 
Liz’s book isn’t just for those “new” to owning a business or working for a great brand. Those who’ve been at it for years can turn up the dial on their curiosity and become what she calls “Perpetual Rookies.” But that’s another post.

Lunch with author and executive advisor, Liz Wiseman

When you've admired someone from afar, it's always interesting to meet them in person. I watched Liz deliver her successful Silicon Slopes keynote, tweeting her many gems on leadership. Anyone with kids will appreciate this one: “Parenting is the ultimate leadership … you don’t get to hire or fire them.”
 
Afterwards, Liz was as enjoyable up close as on the keynote stage. I ate lunch with Liz, her husband, and a small group of friends from different stages of her life. She shared great stories. I noticed how she had learning apps on her phone, was fully present, and her ability to help everyone at the table feel important. She really lives her message. She’s a true multiplier.
 
Liz taught me to embrace being an entrepreneur rookie. I'm owning it! Business “mistakes” merely mean I’m taking action and learning. And learning is a lifelong pursuit I never plan to stop.
 
So carry on, friend, in whatever new business venture you want to try. Have fun! And don't be surprised if you discover real advantages to NOT knowing what you're doing in business.

Still feeling scared about starting a business? Check out our eBook, made just for you, Mama!