We recently connected with Kimbreli Flournoy and have shared our conversation below.

Kimbreli, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

I started my business as a hobby so I didn’t have the slightest idea about investing in myself or taking my business to the next level. I saw success initially, but I learned a lot too if I could start over from scratch.

If I had to start from scratch there are so many things I would have done differently. The first thing I would have done was get very clear on who I wanted to work with and what I wanted to offer. I used to run my business like a cheap buffet, letting people pick and choose what they wanted from me for a low cost. This caused a lot of stress and burnout.

Secondly, I would have invested in myself earlier. If your craft is something that you are serious about, then don’t be afraid to invest in yourself. I spent years stuck and frustrated because I did not know what to do. I was afraid to invest in myself because I wasn’t confident in my abilities. Once I invested in myself, my business grew, as did my confidence.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I like to consider myself your favorite employee turned entrepreneur. I am a 9-5 entrepreneur and designer who is passionate about helping creative entrepreneurs grow their online presence and showcase their authenticity and authority.

In other words, I focus on building strategy-packed brands that allow you to sell with confidence without sacrificing your uniqueness.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson that I had to unlearn while running my business is take you are not responsible for someone else’s success. As a business owner whose business is built around assisting your clients in elevating their brand, you may become more invested than they are. It can take a toll on your confidence and mental health when you want something more than your client.

Early on in my business, I took on roles and responsibilities that were out of my scope of work because I wanted to see them win so badly. I’m talking about photographing their products, helping them price their services, on-call 24/7 and so much more. This led to extreme burn-out and frustration because boundaries were always crossed and it never felt like enough.

As a business owner, you need to be okay with knowing that you did your part to the best of your ability and that you delivered. Think about it, a gym is only responsible for providing the tools and resources to better your health, the gym is not responsible for people eating healthy, working out, and getting in shape. It’s up to them to take ownership.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, I don’t believe that I was born to just to school, get a good education, find a good job, and work until I retire. I couldn’t allow my creativity to be dimmed because of a job. I absolutely love designing and helping others and when found something that allowed me to do both, I was hooked. The journey is not easy and there are days that I often question myself, but this is what excites me to get up in the morning, this is what keeps me up at night, this is what drives me and I can’t give it up no matter the obstacles.

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