We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittany Franklin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittany, thanks for joining us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I think I started You’re Not Finished at the right time. If I had started sooner without the mental or emotional capacity to run it, I would have given up. If I would have waited, I would have never started it. When I decided to legitimize You’re Not Finished in March of last year, I was finishing my last semester at Azusa Pacific University, working full-time, and getting lots of therapy to undo the things that I knew would hold me back from moving forward in my purpose. I didn’t have much support or interest in You’re Not Finished at the time, but I knew that starting this business would be a necessary step toward making a positive impact in my community and helping to decrease mental health stigma.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

You’re Not Finished was actually conceptualized in February 2012, following a mental health crisis 5 months prior. During that time, I didn’t have the support needed as a person struggling with severe depression, anxiety, and an addiction to alcohol, nor did I know where to find it. As a Christian, I tried looking to the church but unfortunately, that was met with judgment and misunderstanding. Stigma in the church, especially, was much worse in 2012. Because I couldn’t find a community, I had it in mind to create one. I had a dream that included the name and blueprint of what would eventually be the company that exists today and 2 weeks following that dream, the website was live.

Initially, it was just a community for people to have the space to share their stories as survivors of suicide and those who struggle with mental illness and distress. A safe space to be seen and heard. It wasn’t until I was able to get the therapy, education, and resources in 2021 that You’re Not Finished started to become what it is today. I needed to work on myself in order to be consistent with providing content and resources. Now, it is a business that provides mental health support, testimonies, and resources for those in need.

You’re Not Finished is a blog, podcast, and organization that helps people through quarterly giveaways for those who cannot afford them, and as of this month (May 2023), I’ve made inspirational merchandise available for people to wear as a reminder to continue to move forward in their lives and finish well. 10% of merchandise profits will be going to mental health organizations The Steve Fund and Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. Additionally, I have released a mental health devotional called “You’re Not Finished: Using Stories of Survival to Save Lives” which is available as an eBook on Gumroad, and printed copies will be available where books are sold on June 6th.

It’s important to always have something to offer because my primary focus is to encourage others, help empower them to be mentally well in a world that is difficult to live in, and end stigma – especially within the context of the church. Typically, the church tends to shy away from speaking about mental health/mood disorders or distances itself from the mental health field in general. But there are many Biblical references that make the point of how important mental health is to the life of a Christian and how God cares for those who experience mental distress. This is why it would be advantageous for the body of Christ to work with mental health professionals to get a better understanding of humanity, our triggers, and the harmful environments that cause or contribute to our mental health (when applicable).

Although I make content that integrates Christian theology and mental health research, people do not have to subscribe to Christianity in order to benefit from anything You’re Not Finished has to offer. That would be withholding help from people, and I’m not in the business of doing that.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

There a many lessons/beliefs I had to unlearn, but I think the biggest one is that I wasn’t worthy or competent enough to start a business. For starters, this isn’t something I was encouraged to do. With words of affirmation being something I enjoy, being affirmed in my purpose is not something I’ve experienced much of (although huge shout out to the few who remind me who I am). I had to completely remove myself from people/communities who encouraged me to pursue what THEY thought I should do as opposed to what God created me to do. So I went into a period of isolation as I was going to school and therapy. I had to face who I allowed myself to become and allow God to remove the layers of that so I could be where I am today. With the spiritual wisdom, therapy, and education I received, I realized it all comes down to belief. I was stagnant and inconsistent because I did not fully believe in God or myself but as I move forward, my belief grows every day.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are many resources, but one huge resource has been the Small Business Development Center. They offer many opportunities to attend workshops and apply for grants and loans, as well as provide you with a mentor if you choose to have one. I’ve learned so much about business in general because of SBDC, but I continue to realize how important continuing on myself is to running a successful business. I’m increasingly mindful of how any decisions I make will impact You’re Not Finished and I’m thankful for the guidance I’ve been receiving thus far.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yourenotfinished.com/
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• Other: https://ynfstore.com/