With 2018 on the horizon, it’s time for some motivation and inspiration on this here blog! I thought it’d be a good idea to shine some light on a woman I like to internet stalk and someone who’s Twitter account has given me life all 2017. She’s one of those people who appeal to the “I like pretty stuff” in me and if you check out her Instagram page, you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about! And the fact that she and I have the same first initial middle name is just the icing on the cake, YASSSS to all the fellow A. Nicoles out there! Let’s get to know Alisha Nicole Robertson.
For those who may not know you, can you introduce yourself? What do you do? How long have you been in your career field? Where are you from and where do you reside?
I am Alisha Robertson, author, business coach and founder of Living Over Existing. I help creative women to gain clarity in their purpose and provide them with the resources they need to successfully navigate through life as an entrepreneur. I have been a business coach for over 4 years through my personal brand TheAlishaNicole.com and recently launched LivingOverExisting.com this past August. I currently reside in Raleigh, NC with my husband and beagle, Porkchop!
You’re a pretty big deal in my internet world, like every single thing you do is so cool and pretty! What made you focus on helping others build their businesses? Can you give us a little more information about how you got started as a business coach and what made you pursue your career as an author?
Thank you so much! It really all started out with providing resources that I wish I would have had when I first took the leap into starting my first business. Before I was a business coach I ran an online shop where I created and sold jewelry. I would search the internet for hours looking for advice that was geared towards creative entrepreneurs who were in the beginning stages of building their brand and found it hard to find anything that really fit where I was at the time. While I was building that business I decided to blog about my journey. I would write about my failures, what I was learning and what seemed to be working for me. The more I wrote, the more questions I began to receive from other women who were interested in starting their own online business. It got to a point where my inbox would be filled with questions! While I loved helping people, I knew that if I wanted to continue, I needed to figure out a way to monetize it. From there my coaching business was born!
As far as becoming an author, I have always loved to write since I was a small child. I was the kid who would rather stalk the stationary isle than toys and I always could be found working on a short story. Somewhere throughout college, I let go of that dream because everyone would tell me that print was dead and that I wouldn’t be able to find a “good job” as a writer. But I guess after starting my own business, it made me realize that I didn’t have to go the traditional route in order to make a living for myself. So I’ve set a goal to pursue all the things that I dreamed of doing as a kid, including being an author!
What made you decide to take the plunge into entrepreneurship? Was it scary? How did you prepare to make this move?
I honestly have never liked working for someone else but always felt like getting a good job was the only way to be a real “adult”. I graduated college towards the end of the recession, so when no one was hiring I thought that maybe starting a business could hold me over until I landed a real job. I worked odd jobs that I absolutely hated just to make ends meet but I didn’t take the leap until one of those jobs caused me to have a full on panic attack. I was terrified but I felt like I had to choose between my sanity or a paycheck. Ultimately I chose my sanity! I didn’t prepare at all, I literally came back in, put in my two weeks notice and leaped.
What are some of the challenges you face as an entrepreneur? How have you been able to combat them?
Really just finding the balance between being creative and being strategic. I love to create and would much rather spend my days designing and coming up with new ideas, but I know that I can’t make money if I don’t have a strategy behind what I create. Now whenever I think of an idea, I don’t move to anything else until I have created an entire launch and promo strategy for the project. That way I know that it can effectively increase my income while I’m working on other things.
Let’s talk about #LivingOverExisting and how it’s right on time for my life! (Sidenote: My book will be ordered this month, I’ve dropped more than enough hints to convince my husband/Santa Clause to get it for me.) What inspired this movement and how can folks get involved with it?
Let me say that LOE was not supposed to be what it is today! It was honestly just supposed to be the book but has since spiraled into a brand of its own including written content and the podcast! I felt like the book allowed me to share my journey so I wanted to provide a space for other women to share theirs. Also, with the book I talk about how fear and doubt have held me back in the past but as I was sharing my journey more and more women began to tell me about the different aspects of their life that they feel they are struggling to juggle along with entrepreneurship. Like anxiety, parenthood, managing their dating life and more. So Living Over Existing not only equips women with the resources they need to build their brand but to also navigate through life as an entrepreneur.
My purpose for starting this #LiveYourBestLife series on my blog is so I can shine a light on some of the fabulous people I come across who I believe are living their best life. What do you love most about your life? And if you could change one thing about your life, what would you change? I love that I have the freedom to pursue my God given purpose. I get to wake up everyday and genuinely do something that I enjoy. I honestly wouldn’t change anything unless it was possible to add in a few more hours to my days!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? My mom once told me, “If you don’t appreciate what you have how can you expect to be blessed with more?” at the time that piece of advice was about my car but it can easily be applied to your life and business. If you can’t appreciate and make the most out of your small beginnings, how can you expect to be blessed with bigger opportunities?
Bonus Question:
I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t beg for some free advice… What’s a tip you’d give to people who are trying to develop a brand or start their own business? Are there any online resources for people who aren’t as talented as you in design but still want to develop a cute brand?
I would definitely start out with a clear vision. So many people dive into branding or starting their business without even thinking about what they really want for it! I would also to say to focus on what you want versus what you see is working for everyone else. The internet has a way of making us feel like there is only one path to success but that isn’t true at all. You have been given a special gift and purpose and it would be a disadvantage to you and your audience to ignore that! As far as resources for your visible brand, YouTube will be your best friend! I have learned pretty much everything I know up until this point with the help of YouTube!