We recently connected with Tearea Turner and have shared our conversation below.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the most defining pivots in my journey happened in 2023, when I made the difficult decision to stop production of Te’Shea.

From the outside, it may have looked like things were progressing, but internally, I was exhausted. I had been pouring into my business, my clients, my community, and everyone around me, and at some point, I realized I had nothing left to give to myself. I was burnt out, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

As entrepreneurs, especially as Black women, we are often praised for pushing through, for being strong, for carrying everything. But no one really talks about what it costs.

Stopping wasn’t easy. It felt like I was pausing something I had worked so hard to build. There was fear, uncertainty, and honestly, a lot of self reflection. I had to ask myself some hard questions about sustainability, alignment, and what I actually wanted my life and my business to look like.

But that pause became necessary.

It gave me space to reset, to heal, and to rebuild with intention instead of pressure.

During that time, I focused on other areas of my life and career. I leaned into my work in consulting, strategy, and leadership. I grew in ways that I didn’t expect. And most importantly, I reconnected with my “why.”

Now, I’m stepping back into Te’Shea from a completely different place.

This isn’t just a restart, it’s a realignment.

I’m building with more clarity, stronger boundaries, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to sustain both a business and myself. The vision is bigger, the foundation is stronger, and the intention is clearer.

That pivot taught me that stepping back is not failure.

Sometimes, it’s the very thing that allows you to come back stronger, more focused, and more aligned than ever.

And that’s exactly where I am now.

Conversations about M&A are often focused on multibillion dollar transactions – but M&A can be an important part of a small or medium business owner’s journey. We’d love to hear about your experience with selling businesses.

Yes, I have sold a business, and it was one of the most educational experiences of my entrepreneurial journey.

I was involved in an adult care home called Family First, where I essentially stepped in, helped build and stabilize the business, and partnered with investors to bring the vision to life. It wasn’t something I started from scratch in the traditional sense, but I treated it like I did. I helped operationalize the business, put structure in place, and contributed to making it sustainable.

At a certain point, I made the decision to sell my portion of the business back to the investors.

That decision wasn’t easy, but it was intentional.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that not every business you build is meant to be a forever hold. Some opportunities are meant to be built, scaled, and exited. And there is power in knowing when to step away, especially when it aligns with your long term vision and personal growth.

I also learned the importance of ownership structure, clear agreements, and understanding your role from the very beginning. When you’re working with investors or partners, clarity is everything. You have to know what you own, how decisions are made, and what your exit options look like before you even get started.

Another key takeaway was emotional discipline.

As entrepreneurs, we pour so much into what we build, and it can feel personal. But business decisions require you to step back and think strategically. Selling my portion allowed me to create space for new opportunities that were more aligned with where I was going.

For entrepreneurs who are thinking about selling one day, I would say this:

Build with intention.
Document everything.
Understand your value.
And don’t be afraid to exit when it makes sense.

Selling a business isn’t always about walking away, sometimes it’s about leveling up.

And that experience definitely leveled me up.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.teshea.com
• Instagram: teshea__
• Linkedin: tearea turner

Image Credits
Tearea Turner