So You Want To Start A Business

I remember the day I threw in my 9 to 5 hat into the ring and put on my entrepreneur pants. It was at the onset of the pandemic. Schools closed, supermarkets had caps on occupancy, businesses had to figure out how to make things work remotely and nannies had to go home as lockdowns were initiated. Until that time I had been a part-time freelancer and part-time nanny. My clients were not plentiful, but I was doing what I loved and my charge was a 2-year old who stole my

So many business ideas...so little time!

heart the minute I met him. I was walking the center line and having the best of both of the worlds I loved.

But life had other plans for me.

Two weeks into lockdown it was apparent that this was going to be our normal for at least a couple of months. Then in a couple of months, it became even more apparent that this was going to be out normal for way longer. I looked at my kids and the roof above my head and knew I had to figure out a way to make a substantial income and maintain the flexibility necessary in the unpredictable time that was ahead.

So what did this single momma do?

Well the title and intro kind of gave it away, but I will tell you anyway. I turned my freelancing into a full business. On paper, it made sense—I was already a published author, a freelance writer, and I had picked up website design along the way. But I still had some groundwork to lay before stepping fully into that role:

• Make notes - I sat with pen and paper and begin jotting down my strengths.

• Draft a list - Then I made a list of the type of freelance options that most interest me in the area of writing.

• Connect the dots - Next, I had to connect the dots and see where my strengths and interest overlapped to find which area I would most fit in the freelance writing space.

• Did some digging - I researched that market and attended free seminars geared toward my freelance focus,

• Utilized my resources - I tapped my sister (a marketing executive) to navigate me through my nemesis (better known as marketing).

• Plan - Then I built a business plan.

  
  

Now, it wouldn't be fair of me not to mention that my area of study in college was Business, so I do have a background in business which made it a little easier to navigate this space.

What is really the point of this blog?

Simple, I am a single mom, with few resources at my disposal. My business Sobe Kreative is new and I am going through the rigors of being a new business owner. I want to help business dreamers and owners realize the possibilities of entrepreneurship while keeping it all as transparent and honest as possible.

I will share with you every pitfall, blockage, and celebration that I will undoubtedly incur along the way, in hopes that you are a little more informed and prepared.

Do I have it all together? Am I super successful? Heck no. But we all start somewhere, and if you want to start a business, you’ve got to do the work. Ups and downs are part of the process. You’ll pivot. You’ll learn. And if you’re ready to buckle up, you won’t regret the ride.

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Five Years Later…

Here’s where that leap has taken me:

• Rebranded – now operating as Sharllah Brewster | Expressively Coded Ink

• 11 websites built & published

• 6 sites edited

• 10 custom templates designed

• 3 businesses guided through my consultation services

• Expanded into book publishing – collaborating with editors

• Ventured into NFT creation

• Developing educational materials (coming soon)

• Achieved Icon status for my design work

• Published my children’s book on Amazon

• Preparing for my first public speaking engagement

• Launching something new (announcement coming soon)

This isn’t a brag list—it’s proof. Proof that when you take the leap, you may not know exactly where you’ll land, but the experience will shape you in ways you can’t predict. You can’t map it all out in advance—you have to live it to see it unfold.