How I Overcame an ALL BUSINESSES MATTER Mentality in My Business

There I was, sitting and staring at the cursor blinking at me against the white backdrop of my computer screen, waiting for me to make a move -- or better yet, to type a word. About me. I was working on updating the "About me" page on elaynefluker.com and I was stuck on what to write. Not because of any lack of information to share about my 20-plus-year career in media or about my consulting business today; but because, for the first time in a long time, I really thought: What is it about me -- and more than that, what is it about my business?

I have been reflecting on this quite a bit over the last few months while we have all been enduring a global pandemic, a massive shift in our way of life and a reckoning when it comes to systemic racism, social injustice, disenfranchisement and a dire need for police reform. What is it about me, about the work that I do and about how I show up that’s going to make an impactful difference in the world during this critical time and beyond?

I launched my current business, the content and consulting agency -- Chic Rebellion Media, in 2012, a business that is firmly planted in the notion of women supporting women, particularly along the entrepreneurial journey, and creating spaces for us to share our stories. I have found my sweet spot: a consulting business I love, doing what I do best as a coach, and working with brilliant women who I want to see be successful and fulfilled in every aspect of their lives. I’ve also been blessed to interview more than 500 diverse women entrepreneurs around the world on my podcast, Support is Sexy, and connect with hundreds more women — of all cultures, backgrounds and experiences — who are a part of my powerful community today.

That remains. But in these times, I feel called to be even more intentional, even more focused, and to do even more to lift up women and help them create successful businesses and income they didn't have before. Entrepreneurship, in my opinion, is one of the greatest tools of empowerment for women. And after taking time and space for reflection, I realized that this moment calls for me to turn my attention keenly toward Black women, who want to launch their businesses and to help them overcome the very real mental, emotional and societal obstacles they have to navigate daily so that they may find their sweet spot and do work that they love.

Seems simple enough, right? You might say I was just wisely "niching down." But for me this shift felt...complicated. I was fighting an "All Businesses Matter" mentality. As a Black woman, I have always been intentional about centering our stories and experiences throughout my work; however, I worried that to focus my attention as a coach and an agency solely on Black women entrepreneurs, I might alienate women of other cultures who are also an active part of my community. After all, I know how it feels to sense that you're left out of the conversation or as if you don't belong, and that alienation is not something I ever want any woman to feel. I didn't want them to think I was abandoning them.

For me, that looks like turning my attention keenly toward Black women, who want to launch their businesses...

That was fear getting the best of me. Until I remembered, my network consists of powerful allies of women, who want to see all women be successful, and who recognize that Black women -- the fastest growing segment of new entrepreneurs in the U.S. -- face particular challenges that these allies also want to help them overcome. In fact, I've had incredible non-Black women reach out to me and say , "what can I do?" "how can I help?" "I want to set up something through my business" when thinking of ways to support Black women. I've realized that in addition to personally coaching Black women entrepreneurs, I can be that connective tissue between them and genuine allies, organizations and opportunities that support them.

When you're making a shift or pivot in your business, for whatever reason, trust yourself. Don't let fear get the best of you. I trust that I am leading with love and intention for creating a better, more equal world with access to information, resources and opportunities for all women, not just some. There may be some who decide this new direction is not for them. And maybe it isn’t. But I am confident that the women who truly embrace the idea that Support is Sexy for ALL women, and who want to see all women win, are the SiSters I want standing beside me. 

Now, watch us work.

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Elayne Fluker is a coach and advisor for Black women who want to make entrepreneurship part of their next chapter. She specializes in helping you navigate this transition, and she empathizes with many of the challenges you may face in taking those courageous first steps. Together, you'll confront your fears, discover your zone of genius, adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, overcome limiting beliefs and take on those challenges so you can set yourself and your business up for success!

Elayne is also the founder of the content and consulting agency, Chic Rebellion Media, and she is creator of Support is Sexy, her beloved podcast featuring interviews with more than 500 diverse women entrepreneurs around the world. In 2019, Elayne founded SiS.Academy -- an online learning platform with video workshops taught by top women entrepreneurs and experts -- to help women have access to information that will help them grow their businesses. Her first book, Get Over I Got It, which encourages unapologetically ambitious women to get over "I Got It!" Syndrome and embrace support as their super power, will be published by HarperCollins Leadership in May 2021.

Want to get in touch with Elayne Fluker? Just send her a text. Really! Send a text to +1 (908) 955-9422 or just click here to enter your details into her phonebook, and she'll text you back. Ask a question, reconnect or just say, "hello."