We were lucky to catch up with Lovely Marshall recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lovely, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?
From Failure to Facebook: The Catalyst for My Powerhouse Journey
The most important lesson I learned in a job—the one that shaped me as a business owner—came during my time as a Product Manager at Facebook. It was the WORST and yet the best experience of my life, one that pushed me from rejection to resilience and ultimately to the success I lead today.
Before landing at Facebook, I faced 75 job rejections. Seventy-five. I didn’t have a degree, and my confidence was shaken. I felt overlooked and undervalued and like no one would ever aspire to be me. But when I received an unexpected invitation through LinkedIn to interview for a role at Facebook—a role that would turn into a job offer without a degree—it changed everything.
Landing that role was over $500K, a half-a-million-dollar offer in salary and perks, and I was assigned to Meta Business Suite—a billion-dollar product—where I contributed to implementing Meta Verified, the iconic blue checkmark. I went from feeling like a failure to sitting at the table with giants. Yet, the fire wasn’t over; it had just begun.
Facebook is a company of intensity. And when Mark Zuckerberg publicly declared that “intensity is the new directive,” he meant it. My workdays stretched from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., sometimes 11 p.m. What I call the “worst experience”—the chaos, the pressure, the demand for nothing short of excellence—was, in truth, the perfect training ground for becoming a business owner.
Because in those moments of unrelenting pressure, I learned the power of efficiency. Efficiency isn’t just about doing more; it’s about prioritization. I learned to say no to good things so I could say yes to exceptional ones. I learned that being “busy” was useless unless my work was driving impact.
But here’s why it was also the best experience: People would joke, “How did you land a job at Facebook WITHOUT a degree?!” It wasn’t an insult—it was curiosity. That curiosity sparked conversations, and those conversations led to questions: How did you do it? Can you show me how?
And I did. My story of resilience became my business. I started coaching others to navigate their careers, just like I had, and soon, I was helping people land roles at Google, LinkedIn, Amazon, Microsoft, and more. What began as a punchline turned into a calling: to empower others to break through the obstacles they thought disqualified them, just as I had done.
Mark Zuckerberg’s lesson was clear: success requires focus, intensity, and efficiency. It’s a formula that has driven my business forward and empowered hundreds of others.
So yes, Facebook was intense and a nightmare sometime. Chaotic. Overwhelming. But it was also the ultimate gift. It taught me that excellence isn’t optional—it’s a standard. And now, as a business owner and coach, I pass that standard on.
From 75 rejections to Facebook to Forbes, I learned this: your setbacks are just the training ground for your comeback. Intensity, done right, isn’t pressure—it’s training to become a powerhouse!
Lovely, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
For those who haven’t met me yet, let me introduce myself:
I’m Lovely Marshall, the founder of Lovely is YOUR Story, a coaching company dedicated to empowering overlooked and undervalued professionals and business owners to stop being the best-kept secret. I help them eliminate that invisible obstacle, elevate their visibility, and ultimately add another zero to their bank accounts—while creating purpose-driven careers and businesses.
How did I get here?
Well, I didn’t wake up one day and think, “Let me become the solution for people tired of being overlooked.” Nope. It literally stumbled into my lap.
Here’s how it went: I got a job at Facebook… without a degree. Yes, you read that right. People couldn’t wrap their heads around it. They’d joke, “Wait, how did YOU land a job at Facebook?” And I’d laugh, too, because it felt like a punchline.
But spoiler alert: it’s not. It’s my story. And what those jokes led to was something bigger—people started asking me, “How did you do it? Can you help me?” That’s when I realized: My rejection-filled journey was the blueprint others needed.
Before I got to Facebook, I was rejected 75 times. Seventy. Five. Times. I didn’t have a degree. I didn’t feel like a success. I didn’t feel “inspiring.” But when I finally got the opportunity through LinkedIn—and when I finally heard yes—it wasn’t luck. It was strategy.
I leveraged LinkedIn, worked my network, and showed up relentlessly. And when I landed at Facebook, not only was it the job of a lifetime, but it was also the lesson of a lifetime.
What problems do I solve?
Let me ask you this: Who wants to be invisible? Nobody.
The reason you didn’t get that job isn’t because you weren’t qualified. It’s because they didn’t know you existed. The reason your clients aren’t coming to you? Same thing. You’re the world’s best-kept secret.
At Lovely is YOUR Story, we eliminate that obstacle. I’m like a GPS for overlooked talent and businesses—I’ll take you from “Who are you?” to “Oh, we’ve been looking for you!”
I draw inspiration from Muhammad Ali, who boldly said, “I am the greatest.” Because here’s the truth: If you don’t make people aware of your greatness, how will they ever know?
What sets me apart?
Simple: I’ve been where my clients are. I know the sting of rejection. I’ve sat in the dark corners of doubt. But I also know the thrill of being seen. Of being valued. Of walking into a room and owning it.
My coaching, The Powerhouse Journey, is more than just advice—it’s a transformation. Whether it’s a strategy-packed hour, a VIP session, or the full 90-day suite, my clients leave knowing: I belong here. I’m good enough. And the world will know it.
What am I most proud of?
Without a doubt, my podcast, The Powerhouses of the Global Corporate Stage.
Here’s the drama: You see these people working at Google, Facebook, or Cigna, driving their BMWs, living their six-figure lives, and you think, “Wow, they’ve got it made.”
But the twist? Every single one of them has faced rejection.
One guest? Rejected over 100 times—for the same company. She didn’t give up. She kept showing up, and now she’s not only thriving—she’s been promoted twice.
Rejection isn’t a period; it’s a comma. The only way to build resilience is to experience resistance. And the stories I share on the podcast prove this: rejection is the prequel to success.
What’s the most important thing I want you to know?
I created Lovely is YOUR Story not just because of my name, but because I know what it’s like to feel like your story is anything but lovely. My story? It felt like a nightmare. A disaster.
But here’s what I learned: You can rewrite it.
Now, I want you to say it with me: Lovely is YOUR Story.
Because you matter. What you have to offer this world matters. And the obstacles standing in your way? We’ll remove them—together.
If you’re tired of playing small, hiding in the shadows, or letting the naysayers block you, you have two choices:
Block the doubt, or let it block you.
Find me on all platforms at @IamLovelyMarshall—because the world needs to hear your story.
And trust me: it’s going to be lovely.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
Funding My Business: From Beanies and Weenies to Steak and Lobster
Let’s be honest—most business owners start as failures. Fired, laid off, sick of a problem they couldn’t ignore anymore, or just desperate for reinvention. I’ve seen it, and as a Product Manager at Facebook, I also knew why most businesses fail: money. It’s not that clients weren’t there—it’s that nobody was paying. Even giant companies like Toys R Us don’t crumble from lack of ideas. They fall because the money stops flowing.
So when I decided to start my own business, I told myself: I refuse to be that business owner.
Now, picture this: I’m sitting with my husband, and I say, “Babe, I’m quitting my job at Facebook—this half-a-million-dollar job—to start my business.” His face? Priceless. His response? “No, you’re not. But if you do, you better replace that salary.”
Translation: “Don’t come to me when the clients don’t pay and you can’t make rent.”
And he was right. If I was going to leave my “dream” job, I needed to fund my real dream—with intention, strategy, and discipline.
So here’s what I did:
I let Facebook fund my dream.
To be clear, working at Facebook sometimes felt like a nightmare (let’s call that my “bad dream”), but I realized that Facebook could bankroll the good dream. The dream where I could build something extraordinary without loans, without struggle, and without excuses.
Here’s the dramatic part: While I was making over half a million dollars, I was eating beanies and weenies like I was broke. I kept the same car, the same house, no luxury purses, no lavish upgrades. I didn’t let my paycheck fool me into thinking I “needed” more. My house was big enough. My car ran just fine. I worked from home—I didn’t even need a car half the time!
Facebook’s stock investments? Saved.
My 401k? Invested over 8%.
Luxury living? Delayed.
Because I knew that every penny I saved was a ticket to freedom. I wasn’t buying things—I was buying my future. I wasn’t funding temporary pleasure; I was funding lifetime fulfillment.
And while I sat in my “minimalist phase,” eating beanies and weenies, I reminded myself: This is temporary. Soon, I’ll be sitting at tables where steak and lobster are paid for—because I earned my spot as a keynote speaker, a coach, and a business leader.
To ensure I wasn’t another failed statistic, I used every resource available: SCORE, SBA, SBDC—you name it. I didn’t just fund my business; I created a plan. I mapped out my yearly expenses, forecasted what I’d need, and ensured I wouldn’t go begging for a loan. I already had enough student loans—I wasn’t about to add “business debt” to that mess.
I saw Facebook for what it was: my biggest client. Facebook funded my exit plan.
Fast forward to today, and that decision has paid off tenfold. I’ve launched Lovely is YOUR Story, I’ve been featured in Forbes seven times, I’ve spoken on international podcasts from Dubai to Spain, and I’ve created opportunities that my old job couldn’t have dreamed up for me.
So yes, funding my business took sacrifice. It took saying no to the shiny things so I could say yes to a future of purpose and freedom. It took staring my husband’s “No, you can’t quit” square in the face and replying, “Watch me.”
I ate beanies and weenies to fund a life where I now dine on steak and lobster—paid for by purpose.
And let me tell you this: It was worth every single bite.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
The Books, Videos, and Resources That Shaped My Entrepreneurial Journey
If there’s one book that didn’t just change how I think about management and entrepreneurship—but my entire life—it’s The Magic by Rhonda Byrne. Rhonda, who also wrote The Secret, knows how to shake your perspective, but The Magic takes it further: gratitude on steroids.
Here’s the concept—start every day with “thank you, thank you, thank you,” as if the amazing things you want already happened. And let me tell you, when I started saying, “Thank you, thank you, thank you for the people reading this magazine and reaching out to become my clients,” things started shifting. Suddenly, it wasn’t about wishful thinking—it was about EXPECTING what I wanted to happen. I don’t wait for blessings anymore; I count them. And guess what? I’ve lost count because the blessings keep piling up.
The Videos That Blew My Mind and My Goals
Then came Steve Harvey. YouTube Steve, not Family Feud Steve. In one of his videos, he says, “Your vision board needs 300 goals.” At first, I laughed—300 goals? Steve, are you kidding me? Most people can barely think of 10. But he was right.
Goal #1: Get featured in a magazine (✔️, we’re here).
Goal #20: Speak on 25 stages in 2025 (we’re working on it).
Goal #100: Build a $100M dynasty and fund a Boys and Girls Club in my hometown.
And that’s when it hit me: Goals aren’t just about you. They’re about what you can do for others. Writing 300 goals forced me to think bigger—beyond the house, the cars, and the “success.” It’s about the people I’ll employ, the lives I’ll change, the impact I’ll make.
Today, I can proudly say I hit all 300. Well, I wrote all 300; hitting them is a work in progress—but I can see it. And that’s the magic of Steve Harvey: He dared me to put it all on paper so I could dare the world to see it.
The Resource Most People Overlook
Now let’s talk about TED Talks. Free. Accessible. Life-changing. Simon Sinek’s talk on “Start with Why” will humble you. He shares how Martin Luther King brought 250,000 people to hear him speak without the Internet. How? People believed in his why.
And that’s what shaped my company. At Lovely is YOUR Story, we don’t just work with clients; we work with people who believe in what we believe: That the overlooked deserve to be seen, that the undervalued deserve to thrive, and that what you have to offer this world MATTERS.
Quotes That Changed My Philosophy
I live by three quotes, and these quotes don’t just hang on my walls—they’re in my bloodstream:
Maya Angelou: “I come as one but stand as 10,000.”
Entrepreneurship feels lonely. You’re the marketer, accountant, coach, and janitor all in one. But Maya’s words remind me: I don’t come alone. Every teacher, every failure, every moment of pain—they’re my 10,000. My rejections at Facebook? My 10,000. The relationships that hurt? My 10,000. I use them as fuel to push my mission forward.
Muhammad Ali: “Don’t be afraid to take that first step—because even the greatest started as beginners.”
People love the greats. Steve Jobs. Tony Robbins. Ali himself. But every single one of them took a first step. I remind myself that starting my podcast, Powerhouses of the Global Corporate Stage, and being featured in magazines all began with me saying, “What’s step one?”
My uncle: “You matter, and what you have to offer this world also matters.”
This is my North Star. On days when I feel like throwing in the towel, I remind myself: Someone out there needs me. Someone is stuck, invisible, and undervalued, and they need me to help them rise. I tell my clients the same thing: Don’t let the naysayers, the setbacks, or the voices in your head convince you otherwise. You matter. Your work matters. Your story matters.
In Summary: My entrepreneurial thinking isn’t fueled by just books or videos—it’s fueled by a belief system. A system that says gratitude creates magic, goals create vision, rejection creates resilience, and the world doesn’t need another best-kept secret.
If I can count blessings instead of troubles, set 300 goals instead of 3, and take that first step as a beginner, then so can you. Because trust me: What you have to offer this world matters.
And if you need someone to remind you? I’ll say it again: You matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lovelymarshall.com
- Instagram: @iamlovelymarshall
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamlovelymarshall/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamlovelymarshall
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamlovelymarshall
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/132xJqShxgjF67UQBvB8q3Masterclass: https://lovelymarshall.eventbrite.com
Image Credits
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