We were lucky to catch up with Shinika Crawley Brittany Onley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shinika Crawley , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

From a DM to a Movement: How We Turned an Idea Into a Thriving Business

It all started with a simple Instagram DM. At the time, I (Shinika) was running Girls Like Us, an organization dedicated to uplifting and empowering women. I made it a habit to reach out to women doing incredible things in their communities and invite them to speak to my audience. That’s how I connected with Brittany who, at the time, had a blog called Fab Ambitious. She accepted my invite, showed up, and delivered an amazing talk.

Key Takeaway: The Power of Relationships & Taking the First Step

Opportunities often start with a single ask. If you see someone aligned with your vision, reach out. Whether it’s a DM, email, or in-person conversation never underestimate the power of making a connection.

Some time later, Brittany reached back out to me with an idea: what if we collaborated on a small workshop for women looking to start their own businesses? It was a simple thought, but one we both believed had potential. So we met up at Del Pez near the riverfront, ordered some nachos and margaritas, and started brainstorming.

Key Takeaway: Your First Idea Doesn’t Have to Be Your Final Idea

What we initially envisioned as a small workshop quickly turned into something much bigger. The more we talked, the more we realized that women needed more than just a one-time session they needed real guidance, community, and a space where they could see what’s possible for them. That night, we went from planning a small workshop to laying the foundation for a full-scale conference.

Now, let’s be real having the idea is the easy part. The real work started the moment we committed to making it happen.

From Idea to Execution: What We Had to Figure Out

Clarifying the Vision & Audience – We asked ourselves: Who is this for? What do we want them to walk away with? Before anything else, we had to be clear on our mission.

Finding the Right Format – We looked at workshops, panels, keynotes, what made the most sense? How could we create something valuable and engaging?

Securing the Logistics – Venue, speakers, ticketing, marketing it was a whirlwind of planning. We had to get strategic with our resources and leverage our networks to bring it all together.

Building an Audience Before the Event – We didn’t wait until everything was ‘perfect’ to start talking about it. We shared behind-the-scenes updates, brought people along for the journey, and made them part of the process.

Key Takeaway: Execution Happens in Stages

We didn’t have it all figured out from day one. We took small, consistent steps focusing on one thing at a time while keeping our bigger vision in mind.

That first conference? It exceeded our expectations. Women showed up, engaged, and left with the confidence to take action in their own businesses. And from that, MadeHerselfABoss was born.

Final Lesson: Start Before You’re Ready

If we had waited for the “perfect” moment, the perfect plan, or the perfect resources, none of this would exist today. The magic happened because we took a chance, started where we were, and allowed the vision to evolve.

So if you have an idea, the real question is: What’s the first move you can make today?

Shinika Crawley , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

If this is your first time hearing about us, We are MadeHerselfABoss, a movement, a mentorship space, and a business designed to help female entrepreneurs grow their businesses with clarity, confidence, and without the grind.

We focus on part-time service-based entrepreneurs, the women juggling a 9-5 while building their dream on the side. The ones who know they’re meant for more but aren’t sure how to actually make their business work. That’s where we come in.
We help women take their businesses from an inconsistent side hustle to a profitable and sustainable business that actually supports their lifestyle. And we do it in a way that doesn’t rely on hustle culture or burnout.

Our Programs & Services Include:
✔️ The Society Membership – A space for women making under $10K in their business to get the clarity, strategy, and support they need to grow
✔️ Workshops & Live Events – Focused on business growth, money strategy, and community building
✔️ The MadeHerselfABoss Podcast – Real, no-fluff conversations about what it really takes to build a business
✔️ Planning & Growth Tools – Like our Grow Your Biz Planner and Fire Your Full-Time Roadmap to help women map out their success
✔️ Business Audits & Strategy – Helping women pinpoint exactly what’s keeping them stuck and how to fix it
Which can all be found on Growthwithoutgrind.com

We’re not about generic business advice or “just post more content” strategies. We understand that most women aren’t trying to build a billion-dollar empire yet, they’re trying to build a business that lets them live life on their own terms.

What makes us different?
We are transparent – No fluff, no fake inspiration. Just real strategies that work.
We focus on clarity before content – Instead of throwing marketing tactics at the wall, we help women focus on the right moves for their business.
We’re for the underdogs – The part-time entrepreneur, the woman still figuring things out, the one who wants success but doesn’t know where to start.

What We’re Most Proud Of
The biggest flex? The women we’ve helped. Seeing women go from feeling stuck to making more money, quitting their jobs, or finally having a business that supports their life, that’s what fuels us.
We’ve also built a thriving community where women feel supported, seen, and empowered. Our events, programs, and content don’t just teach strategies, they help women shift how they see themselves and what’s possible.

If you’ve been struggling to grow your business, you don’t need more grind you need the right strategy and the right support. MadeHerselfABoss was created for women like you because we’ve been where you are.

So if you’re ready to grow your business without the overwhelm, you’re in the right place.

Join the community and Grow without grind.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The Lesson We Had to Unlearn: Making Money Isn’t Hard, But Your Mindset Can Make It Feel That Way When we (Team MadeHerselfABoss) look back, one of the biggest lessons we had to unlearn was the belief that making money had to be hard. That if we weren’t grinding, overworking, or sacrificing our peace, then we weren’t earning it. And because we held onto that belief for so long, we made things way harder than they needed to be.

Brittany’s Take: When Hard Work Becomes a Money Block “I used to think that if I wasn’t doing everything saying yes to every opportunity, constantly creating, constantly ‘proving’ myself then I wasn’t doing enough to deserve success. I watched people work long hours for little return, and I took that as proof that this is just how money works. So when I stepped into entrepreneurship, I carried that same mindset.I undercharged. I overdelivered. I made things harder than they needed to be. And the worst part? Even when money started coming in, I felt guilty. If something felt too easy, I found a way to make it complicated again because I didn’t believe success could come without the struggle. And that right there? That was the real block.

“Shinika’s Take: How Forgiveness Opened the Flow “For me, the hardest part wasn’t just unlearning the grind it was forgiving myself for playing small for so long. I had to forgive myself for all the times I let fear keep me from charging what I was worth. For the moments I gave discounts before a client even asked. For the times I felt like I had to prove why I deserved to be paid. And beyond that, I had to forgive money itself. Because at one point, I had made money the enemy. I told myself it was unreliable, that it didn’t come easily, that I had to fight for it. But money was never the problem my relationship with it was. The moment I stopped treating money like something I had to struggle for and started treating it like something that naturally flows? Everything changed.

“The Shift: Making More Money Starts With Unlearning We had to shift from effort-based income (thinking the harder we worked, the more we deserved) to value-based income (getting paid for the transformation we provide, not just the time we put in). We had to stop discounting ourselves literally and figuratively. We had to give ourselves permission to receive money with ease. And the biggest lesson? Money isn’t hard to make, but believing it is will keep you stuck. So if you’re feeling like you have to prove, overwork, or grind your way to success, ask yourself where that belief came from. Who told you that making money had to be a struggle? What past experiences shaped your relationship with wealth? And most importantly what do you need to release to start making money with ease? Because trust us once you stop fighting money and start welcoming it, everything shifts. 

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Making Sure Women Feel Seen, Safe, and Heard is at the Core of What We Do At MadeHerselfABoss, we don’t just teach strategy, we create a space where women feel seen, safe, and heard. Because we know firsthand how easy it is to feel overlooked in the entrepreneurial space, especially when you’re just starting out, juggling a full-time job, or trying to figure things out on your own.

Brittany’s Take: We’ve Been Where You Are
“I remember feeling like I was talking to no one in the beginning. Like my business, my voice, and my dreams didn’t matter because I wasn’t ‘big enough’ yet. But the truth is you matter from day one. You don’t need to hit a certain income level, have a perfect brand, or have it all figured out to be worthy of support, community, and success. That’s why we created MadeHerselfABoss so that no woman ever feels like she’s building alone.”

Shinika’s Take: A Safe Space to Grow Without Judgment
“For me, feeling safe in business means having a space where I don’t have to pretend. Where I can ask the ‘dumb’ questions, admit when I’m struggling, and know I won’t be judged for it. Too often, women feel like they have to have it all together before they can ask for help but that’s exactly what holds them back.

At MadeHerselfABoss, we’ve built a space where you don’t have to prove yourself to belong. You belong here because you’re committed to growing, and that’s enough.”

What This Means Inside Our Community
✔️ We create spaces where women can show up as they are no fluff, no faking, no pressure to be “perfect.”
✔️ We teach in a way that makes everyone feel supported, not overwhelmed.
✔️ We celebrate small wins just as much as big ones because every step forward matters.
✔️ We keep it real, no gatekeeping, no “mean girl” energy, just genuine guidance and connection.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not enough, too late, or too lost to make this work we see you. We built this space for you. And we’ll keep reminding you that your voice, your business, and your success matter.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://madeherselfaboss.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/madeherselfaboss
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madeherselfaboss
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeherselfaboss/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@madeherselfaboss
• Other: For more resources to grow: http://growthwithoutgrind.com/