We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keshia Butler-Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Keshia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later
When I began LCK Consulting Services (which has had other names), I was in a c-suite position doing well for myself. I had worked my way up and ultimately afforded myself a comfortable life. All of that changed September 11, 2015 when my father suddenly passed away. Due to his passing, it caused me to change courses in life and become a full-time entrepreneur taking over family businesses and opening my own through recognizing I had a passion to do so.
Starting a business earlier in life can offer certain advantages. For instance, having fewer responsibilities or financial commitments can provide more flexibility and lower risk. When I began my business I was well into my corporate career and use to making a certain wage. In business, those wages are not guaranteed immediately and required me to scale back tremendously on the things I once found value in. Additionally, starting early allows for more time to learn from mistakes, build experience, and potentially recover from failures. I felt that because I started later that I did not have as much margin for error.
Looking back, I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I believe it was fear and ultimately imposter syndrome that kept me from launching my company sooner. I do believe that had I began when it was first on my heart to do so, I would have taken larger risk and gotten further faster. I am however; a true believer in the old adage “when the time is right” and so I believe that all things considered, and despite my thoughts of wanting to begin sooner, it happened for me right on time.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Keshia Butler-Thomas is a dynamic entrepreneur, educator, and visionary leader in the field of digital marketing. As the Founder and CEO of LCK Consulting Services, a prominent digital marketing agency, Keshia has been instrumental in helping businesses navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape and achieve remarkable growth.
With a profound passion for innovation and technology, Keshia also serves as the Director of Business, eSports Management, and Media and Technology at Esperanza College of Eastern University. In this role, she brings her expertise to empower students with the knowledge and skills required to excel in the rapidly expanding digital realm.
Additionally, Keshia’s dedication to education extends to her role as an adjunct professor of Social Media at Temple University. By sharing her industry insights and real-world experiences, she inspires and equips the next generation of digital marketing professionals to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Prior to her successful career in the digital marketing industry, Keshia captivated audiences on television as a host and personality. Her charisma and ability to connect with people allowed her to build a strong presence in the media world.
In addition, Keshia is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated, a sisterhood dedicated to empowering women and serving the community through education, leadership, and service.
With her diverse background, entrepreneurial spirit, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Keshia Butler-Thomas is an inspiring force in the digital marketing industry. Her ability to blend creativity, business acumen, and a genuine passion for helping others sets her apart as a true leader and influencer. Through her innovative strategies, mentorship, and community involvement, Keshia continues to make a lasting impact on the world around her.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was being a perfectionist. As an entrepreneur you make a lot of mistakes. In fact, you make mistakes more often than you get things right. As a recovering perfectionist, that would make me feel so my anxiety as I am always striving for the best. I can remember in school putting myself on “punishment” when I did not get perfect scores on assignments. It was at an early age that I felt this strong desire to be the best at everything I did. Humbling is putting it lightly when entrepreneurship meets perfectionism.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
The most important thing to remember is that it cost money to make money. When I began my business, it was on the heels of my father’s passing. I was blessed to have a parent who planned for the future and through him passing I was able to fund my business. Being able to avoid loans was a blessing initially and then you realize that you are not making money as quickly as you are spending. The initial investment into my company was approximately $20,000.00 which did not even include office space! It was quite expensive; however, I was able to fund the company debt free.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lckconsultingservices.com
- Instagram: @lckconsultingservices @keshiabutlerthomas
- Facebook: LCK Consulting Services
- Linkedin: Keshia Butler-Thomas