Episode 88
Accidental Entrepreneur | LAYC 88
Isabel shares her journey of becoming an entrepreneur, a path she didn't plan but embraced out of necessity. After her employer went bankrupt, she found herself in the role of the primary breadwinner for her family. Motivated by her circumstances, she took the plunge into entrepreneurship, learning the ropes on the job. Starting from her dining room table, she became the "chief cook and bottle washer," handling every aspect of her business.
Through her experiences, Isabel learned valuable lessons about entrepreneurship, including the importance of seeking help, building a trusted network, and not being too hard on oneself. She emphasizes the significance of reaching out to advisors, coaches, and mentors and creating a circle of trusted individuals who can provide diverse perspectives.
Isabel's podcast aims to share her experiences, lessons learned, and wisdom gained from her entrepreneurial journey, offering valuable insights and advice to women entrepreneurs and business owners.
To register for a coaching with Isabel
About the Host:
Isabel Alexander
Your Next Business Strategist and Transformation Catalyst
Isabel Alexander's journey from modest beginnings to global recognition epitomizes entrepreneurial resilience and innovation. With over five decades of experience spanning diverse industries, she has become a driving force in shaping economic landscapes worldwide. Noteworthy accomplishments include founding a multimillion-dollar global chemical wholesale business and earning accolades such as Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women.
As a mentor and advocate, Isabel empowers women entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Lift As You Climb Movement and podcasts, guiding them from startup to maturity. Serving as Chief Encore Officer of The Encore Catalyst, she dedicates herself to coaching and educating emerging entrepreneurs. Her involvement in organizations like RenegadesReinventing.com and Femme on Fire underscores her commitment to leadership and business development.
Additionally, Isabel's advisory roles with government bodies and trade associations, such as Chair of the Canadian Association of Importers & Exporters, highlight her influence in shaping trade policies and fostering international relations.
Driven by her mantra, "Lift As You Climb," Isabel embodies the ethos of mutual growth and empowerment. With dual citizenship in Canada and the United States, she values her extensive family and embraces global connections through travel and professional engagements. Isabel Alexander's narrative serves as a beacon of inspiration, illustrating how visionary leadership and strategic advising can drive global entrepreneurship and economic independence forward.
Founder:
The Encore Catalyst Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/TheEncoreCatalyst )
and
Chief Encore Officer, The Encore Catalyst (www.theencorecatalyst.com) – an accelerator for feminine wisdom, influence, and impact.
also
Author & Speaker ‘Who Am I Now? – Feminine Wisdom Unmasked Uncensored’ https://whoaminowbook.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelannalexander/
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Transcript
I didn't set out to build an empire.
Isabel:In fact, it was quite accidental.
Isabel:I was working for a company that went bankrupt.
Isabel:I was highly motivated because I was the primary breadwinner in my family,
Isabel:and I had some clients who gave me a nudge along with the universe that
Isabel:said, Hey, can you do this for us?
Isabel:And As I said, being highly motivated to feed my kids, I learned
Isabel:on the job how to be a CEO, a business owner, an entrepreneur,
Isabel:whatever you want to call it.
Isabel:In fact, I learned how to be the chief cook and bottle washer
Isabel:because in the beginning it was just me at my dining room table.
Isabel:Asking for help where I could, figuring it out as I went along,
Isabel:and just doing this, leaning in and having conversations with people.
Isabel:Who knew that would give me the experience to become a podcaster later in my life?
Isabel:But what it also did was give me the experience.
Isabel:The real hands on, not from a textbook experience to help
Isabel:other women entrepreneurs.
Isabel:Because over the course of that journey, I learned so much.
Isabel:I also learned a lot.
Isabel:about what not to do, what not to do in business, what not to do in my
Isabel:personal life, in relationships, and about not being so hard on myself.
Isabel:Every time I did learn not to do it all on my own, to reach out and find
Isabel:trusted people that I could go to, advisors, coaches, consultants, and to
Isabel:build a very tight knit inner circle of advisors, other business owners, and
Isabel:individuals who are a little farther ahead of me on the curve of life.
Isabel:And had a different perspective and that's one of the things that I really
Isabel:love to do as a give back now is to be able to share with others another
Isabel:perspective and I really encourage you as a woman business owner, as an
Isabel:entrepreneur in all aspects, or an entrepreneur within your organization.
Isabel:Don't just sit there with your nose pressed up against your own windshield
Isabel:because it gives you a very limited vision of what is possible, what is going on
Isabel:around you 360 and that's why I encourage people to reach out and create and
Isabel:cultivate a network of what I refer to as my certified, trusted, and smart circle.
Isabel:So if I can do that for you, by sharing on these episodes, my experiences and
Isabel:my lessons learned, my pearls of wisdom, and my Oh Jesus, don't do that again,
Isabel:or don't do that because I did it and
Isabel:OUCH!
Isabel:, Isabel: I'm really glad that I can be here for you to do that.
Isabel:And if you want to have a more personal, confidential, one on
Isabel:one conversation, yes, yes, I am here for you to do that too.
Isabel:Because.
Isabel:I do believe that the better we become ourselves, the more confident we are,
Isabel:the more we know about ourselves, the more that we up level and get closer
Isabel:to our next best self, future self, the more we have, the more value we
Isabel:create, the more we're able to help others and give others a hand up.
Isabel:And that's really, what Lift As You Climb is about.
Isabel:It's about that ability, that knowledge, that Not only can we, but we should be.
Isabel:We are responsible to continue to up level ourselves and then that
Isabel:empowers us to empower others in their success and their confidence.
Isabel:Let's talk, let me know what you'd like to hear about, what honest to gosh,
Isabel:candid, real raw stuff, the questions that you have as an entrepreneur, as an
Isabel:entrepreneur in your 40s, 50s, 60, 70s and beyond about what is possible Because so
Isabel:much is, once we stop limiting ourselves and believing some of our own bullshit.
Isabel:Hope to hear from you soon.
