Author, Podcast Host, and Entrepreneur Alisha Small on Turning Hustlers into Business Owners
Author, Podcast Host, and Entrepreneur Alisha Small on Turning Hustlers into Business Owners
Brooklyn-born Alisha Small never expected to become the founder of multiple businesses. Alisha shares her journey of personal resilience, how she turned an idea into a successful business, and why we should all invest in our personal development.
GETTING INTO THE ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE. WHAT WAS THE TURNING POINT FOR YOU?
It was a few years ago, when I was working a city job for the department of education and essentially working to get my pension. One day, I remember my husband asking me — Can you live without living your dreams? I was offended at first, but then took the time to reflect on that question. At the time, I had 2 small children, a 7-year-old son and a newborn baby. Starting a business seemed difficult to reach. I was fearful to jump into the unknown, but my heart was telling me I wasn’t in the right place professionally.
I wouldn't recommend people to do what I did, but I quit my job and immediately embarked on my first business idea, Dreamer Transportation, a private van service helping students get from home to school. I told my self I would test out the idea at my son's school. If no parents showed interest, I would go back to my day job.
Two weeks after an email blast had gone out, I had no requests from parents. I was demoralized and feeling immense regret. But by some incredible turn in fate, by the third week, I was inundated with parent requests. We had no idea that it was this type of demand. There happened to be many people living outside of the regular bus service, even for the free service for public school services. We had 100 inquiries, and just 1 car. I started the carpooling service with 5 children, bought my first 12-passenger can in March 2016, and by 2018, was able to hire my first set of staff.
Author, Podcast Host, and Entrepreneur Alisha Small on Turning Hustlers into Business Owners
AFTER YOUR FIRST BUSINESS, YOU LAUNCHED A SERIES OF PROJECTS FOCUSED ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT. WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION?
I love everything about being a woman, down to our strength and resilience. We are the creators, we give life, we nurture, we run businesses, all while taking care of our families. I am also a proud plus-size woman. I asked myself, how can we help women feel good in their skin? In 2019, I decided to merge my love of empowering women with fashion and launch Keyz Kloset Boutique.
I came up with my line of motivational shirts - Worthy, and Flawed and Favored, and I recently launched an Empowering Women Collection.
Besides my fashion business, I have a coaching business, a podcast called Living Fulfilled, and a book From Hustler to Business Woman inspired by my experience as a first-generation businesswoman.
Author, Podcast Host, and Entrepreneur Alisha Small on Turning Hustlers into Business Owners
WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST ADVICE TO ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS?
Invest heavily in your personal development. I ask all of my coaching clients: Are your current actions matching up to your personal goals? What if you show up as the best version of yourself for the next 6 months in all parts of your life?
Who you are as a woman will determine who you are in all your avenues of your life, personally and professionally. Think about redefining success in terms of your morals, your integrity, your heart, and how you handle difficult situations.
Being an entrepreneur is one of the scariest things you can do in your life. You can choose to worry and focus on the now, or focus on who you are striving to become.