Ricki Crowley’s Post

Turning 23 tomorrow and still, this one question troubles me... Will I reach my full potential or end up somewhere in the middle 🙄? I dropped out of college to pursue my interests (it was a difficult decision) Even in 2024 - where we're living in the information age & the creator's economy is booming, society still doubts the emerging career paths. If you're an undergraduate or a dropout building something, or doing something that's not traditional, you need to know one truth & i.e society will treat you differently. I've experienced it. You might have too. Somehow one can manage the societal pressure. But you know what? There's something even more difficult. It's the Self-doubt. It's the What if? Ask any founder, entrepreneur, solopreneur, or even creator (these days), everyone has self-doubts at some point in their journey. → Should I take on a job or continue building ...? → Should I take on formal studies? → Should I quit now? But still, you keep going. Despite the doubts & lack of certainty, you continue. And that's all you need to do. They say these startups, businesses & freelancing are hard. I agree. But nothing's easy. Whether you're building a personal brand or business, ↳ it's all a game of time & patience. I haven't done anything great yet, but I believe I'll do it. Sure, I don't have much clarity about where I'll end up, but I know one thing for sure & that is I'll take pride in it as I choose it. So, if you are struggling today or don’t know your worth - Keep working. Keep designing. Keep writing. Keep dancing. Keep building. Self-belief over self-doubt. P.S. - What's that one question that troubles you? #Founder #Startup #Creator #PersonalStory #Solopreneur #Entrepreneurship #Story #Challenge

🚀 Feeling frustrated at work and yearning for something more fulfilling? It's time to consider the leap into entrepreneurship or freelancing! 🌟 You deserve a healthier work/life balance, respect, and value for your efforts. If you're still on the fence about leaving your job, here are some signs that it might be time to take the first step towards your own venture: Lack of Motivation: You’re not excited about your work anymore. Desire for Flexibility: You crave control over your schedule and projects. Recognition and Respect: You want to be acknowledged for your contributions. Passion for Innovation: You have ideas that you’re eager to bring to life. Take that first step and start building the future you’ve been dreaming of! 🌱✨ #Entrepreneurship #Freelancing #CareerChange #WorkLifeBalance #StartUpLife https://lnkd.in/dTvRWYVX

Embracing the Leap: When to Take the Entrepreneurial Plunge 🎢 The entrepreneurial itch – that persistent pull to turn your passion into your profession, to be your own boss, to make a difference on your own terms. But taking the leap from stable job to startup is scary. How do you know when it's time? How do you mitigate the risk? 😰 The truth is, there's never a perfect time. But there are signs that you're ready: a robust business plan, a financial safety net, a network of support, and an unwavering belief in your vision. 💪 Start by validating your idea. Test, iterate, and gather feedback. Build your skills and your resilience. Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. 🏃♀️ Remember, the leap is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Consider a side hustle, freelancing, or part-time entrepreneurship as a way to ease the transition. 🌇 🌠 Embracing the entrepreneurial leap is equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. But for those called to forge their own path, the rewards – autonomy, impact, growth – are worth the risk. #entrepreneurship #startuplife #taketheleap

💥💥𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗜𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, 𝗜𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆…𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄.👌 I was at a point in my life where I had to ask myself - do I want to continue with the daily grind for the rest of my life to make a living without the time to enjoy the fruits of my labor? I'm I really getting what I need and meeting my goals with my current income source? 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀 “𝗡𝗢.” Hi there, my name is Adebola - an Entrepreneur and a Financial Professional. A little while ago, I was looking for a way to supplement my family's income without having to trade more of my precious time for another job. I needed more family time, to follow my dreams, and just be able to use my time on my own terms doing the things I love. Then I came across a 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 opportunity that is for everyday folks like me looking for change; with the goal of helping families, changing lives, and a potential great source of income. A bit uneasy at first, but decided to check it out, did my own research, and got answers. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 + 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 = 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀! That spark lit a fire in me, I followed my instinct, decided to give it a try, and became determined to make it work. Guess what? I did just that and not too long afterward, 𝗜 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗥 𝗝𝗢𝗕 𝗢𝗙 𝟭𝟰 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 for full-time entrepreneurship. 𝗬𝗘𝗦, 𝗜'𝗠 𝗕𝗢𝗦𝗦-𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘!!💃 I am so grateful to God that I did; only wished I had done it earlier. I am now a proud business owner, enjoying the present, securing the future, and passionately ready to help others like me achieve the same. 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗶𝘁? The fact that I'm able to work in a safe and legitimate way without compromising my 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗚𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬 was quite exciting for me. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲: 👌Largest and fastest growing Industry. 👌Flexible startup options. 👌Solid Culture (Family Friendly). 👌Everybody needs what we offer. 👌Direct Mentorship (25+ years of experience). 👌Uncapped earning potential. 👌A Network of Supportive Partners. 👌No Inventory to deal with. 👌No Product Demonstration. 👌No prior business experience required. 👌No need to be tech-savvy. If you are ready to make the same change happen, yours truly, Adebola is here to help you get started right away.👍 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 👇 ✅DM me here 📩 ✅Call/WhatsApp at +𝟭 𝟲𝟯𝟭-𝟱𝟯𝟯-𝟯𝟳𝟰𝟳📞 ✅Email: [email protected]📧 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘰.... 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵. 𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙨, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙨!

Running a startup is far from a 9-6 gig. 🕘 It's a 24/7, all-weather, all-mood job. 🌦️😌 As founders, we're not experts; we're the least qualified for the task. What we excel at is finding ways to get the job done. 🛠️ There are more lows than highs, no regular increments, and a constant stream of criticism. 📉🗣️ Numerous tests, few successes. 📚💼 Limited time for family and oneself. ⌛👨👩👧👦 Mountains of stress, scarcity of breaks. 🏔️🤯 Yet, what fuels us (entrepreneurs) is the desire to 'fix.' 🔥 To address problems. To discover innovative solutions. 💡 We don't settle; we find newer ways to ease the journey. 🚀 If you're an entrepreneur, chances are you can relate. I'd love to hear your stories. 🚀💡

You don't HAVE to be an #Entrepreneur 🤯 In a world where every ☕ shop is filled with aspiring entrepreneurs with MacBooks full of funky stickers and headphones I don't know how they afford, it's easy to feel like you're missing out if you're not brainstorming the next big thing. But here's a little secret: not everyone needs to be the next Brian Chesky or Jensen Huang. In fact, some of us are much better off enjoying the perks of a good, stable job. First off, not every market needs disruption. Do we really need a machine that helps us put on our socks? I mean 🧦 have been around for a while, and we've managed just fine. Sometimes, innovation for the sake of innovation leads to solutions for problems that never existed. There's beauty in simplicity, and some things are best left untouched. Now, let’s talk about the whole "be your own boss" thing 🧐. Sure, it sounds great on paper—flexible hours, calling the shots, and potentially striking it rich. But the reality? 24/7 hustle with no guaranteed paycheck at the end of the month, in fact you will most likely have to dip into your savings quite a lot. Meanwhile, that "cushiony" job comes with paid vacation, healthcare benefits, and the sweet, sweet security of knowing that paycheck will hit your bank account at the end of each month. And let's not forget about the stress, oh good lord the stress 🤒. As an entrepreneur, you're the CEO, marketing department, accountant, and sometimes even the janitor. Every decision, from product launch to choosing the toilet paper, falls on your shoulders. If that sounds thrilling, then entrepreneurship might be your calling. But if you prefer the idea of clocking out at 5 PM and spending your evenings binging Netflix, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. 🍻 In conclusion, while entrepreneurship is a noble and rewarding path, it’s not the only path. The world needs innovators, but it also needs people who excel within existing structures—those who keep businesses running smoothly, provide value, and yes, enjoy their weekends. So, next time you feel pressured to "disrupt the market," just remember: sometimes the best disruption is not disrupting at all. #innovation #startups

An earn out is such a weird experience. Overnight you gain significant wealth, but lose significant control. You become an employee. Which you probably haven't been for a long time. For me, the thing that created anxiety was the ticking clock. Suddenly hitting annual targets wasn't a nice-to-have. But a necessity. I wish I had spoken to more people that had done an earn out before embarking on mine. But actually, it's a quite small pool of people. So I wanted to share my own learnings in case you can't find someone to ask. A blog about my earn out experience - https://lnkd.in/etWb-X_5 A blog about what I'd do differently - https://lnkd.in/euZbTNRB // I've started working 1:1 with a handful of super ambitious agency owners. In some cases it's to help redefine the service proposition and turn it into an inbound and outbound new business machine. And for others it's to help with all of the growing pains that come with relentless growth. I'll be honest, I love doing it. Which is why I focussed on how low I could make my monthly fee, rather than how much I could get away with charging. One of the benefits of selling a business I guess. Check out https://lnkd.in/eRzUfy6Y if you're running an agency and fancy some support from someone that's been there and done it. I promise you'll be able to afford my fee. #startups #founder #entrepreneur #agency

Starting up is wild. Entrepreneurship isn't for you. It doesn't run in the family, don't ruin your life, and start earning - settle down. This is what most of my family members and friends told me. They we're wrong - well! not completely. But, they didn't know I had mastered the one strength that's the most important for any entrepreneur. Perseverence. The reality is, one month you could be killing with payments and partnerships; the next, low by 90%. This really isn’t talked about when people get on social media and encourage others to quit their jobs. It’s real - and you've to choose wisely. Read and analyse these before you plan to quit your job, As a first-time entrepreneur, I encountered various obstacles and setbacks and here are some of them I'd love to share; ++ Uncertainty and Self-Doubt You'll face challenges in validating your business idea, navigating market dynamics, and making crucial decisions that can impact the success of your venture. You've got to be rock-solid. ++ Wearing Multiple Hats Juggling various aspects of your business, from marketing and sales to operations and finance. You might even be the janitor sometimes - you've got to let your ego packup and start learning. ++ Financial Constraints From a business standpoint it may restrict your ability to invest in marketing, hire talent, and acquire necessary resources but from a personal standpoint you'll have to let go your luxuries and lower your lifestyle. Maybe, even pick up an extra job while building. ++ Balancing Work and Life There's no balance at the beginning. It comes with realisation but do take care of your health and relationships - that doesn't come back easy. ++ Emotional Breakdowns Becoming an entrepreneur can be a fulfilling and enriching experience. Remember that if doesn't workout as well or faster than you expected it to you'll cry a lot - alone. But, yeah. Finding the right person to start with, a right partner to support you and having a clear mindset for yourself are key to starting up - if you don't come from a similar background. #chalkmeout #career #startup #entrepreneurship #motivation #lessons #ownyourlife Follow your favorite coach, Narayanan S. and if you liked what I shared - do repost to help someone from your connections.

Here we are again, nose to the grindstone as we surge ahead in the quest for progress! Have you ever wondered about the thrill and fulfillment of starting your own business or side hustle?🤔 The journey of entrepreneurship, while challenging, is packed with invaluable benefits that often transcend the traditional 9 to 5 routine. This venture might seem mighty intimidating, but let's examine some of the outstanding perks that you could harvest 🌾. 🔵 Autonomy: Being your own boss comes with the power of decision making, allowing you to steer your business in the direction YOU envision. It’s liberating and invigorating! 🔵Flexibility: If balancing life and work matters to you, as it does for many of us, the boulevard of business ownership might just be your ideal path. Tailoring your work hours around personal obligations? Priceless. 🔵Personal Growth: Take a plunge into the endless pool of skills and knowledge that comes with running a business. You'll be amazed at how much you can learn and grow in the process! 🔵 Financial Potential: While it might not be instant, the financial gains of a successful enterprise often outweigh the glass ceiling of a conventional job. And guess what? I have the perfect resource to help you kick-start this exciting journey! 🎉 Take a peek at www.successwithketones.com. This treasure trove is brimming with insights, tips, and guidance tailored towards helping you build a successful side hustle or business. Remember, the venture into entrepreneurship might seem overwhelming but with the right mindset, resources, and persistence, it becomes less daunting. Consider it an intriguing journey rather than a battle. 🚀 Embrace it. Love it. Tailor it. It's your venture, after all. Don't just exist, LIVE! Life is too short to be spent living someone else's dream. Let's get out there and make some waves.🌊 Your dreams are valid and worth pursuing. What better time than now to nurture them? 🌱 So gear up, friends! Let’s carve those paths, navigate those trails, and toast to the many fruitful journeys we are about to embark on. Here’s to our dreams and our journeys! 🥂 Dream big, make it happen.💡 #Entrepreneurship #SideHustle #StartYourJourney #DreamBig

Startup Dreams vs. Daily Responsibilities: Finding the Balance for Success! Many aspiring entrepreneurs face a common dilemma: having a groundbreaking startup idea but being tied down by home EMIs and family responsibilities. The question often arises, "How can I pursue my dream without jeopardizing my financial stability?" From my experience, the key is preparation. Before diving into your startup journey, it's crucial to ensure your responsibilities are well-managed. Here's my approach: Financial Cushion: Create a safety net. Make sure that for at least one year, you can manage without earning from your startup. This could mean building up savings, having a passive income source, or setting up investments that provide regular returns. Passive Income: Look for ways to generate income that doesn't require significant time commitment. This could be through investments, rental income, or part-time freelance work that allows you to focus on your startup while still providing financial security. Solid Financial Planning: Practice sound financial management. This means budgeting, cutting unnecessary expenses, and ensuring you have enough runway to support your startup efforts without compromising your personal responsibilities. Embarking on the entrepreneurial path often presents a balancing act between managing current liabilities and scaling your business. Proper planning and financial discipline can help navigate these challenges and set you on the path to success. Remember, the first step in entrepreneurship is not just about having a great idea, but also ensuring you are financially prepared to bring that idea to life. #Entrepreneurship #StartupJourney #FinancialPlanning #Balance #StartupLife