Originally Published Mar. 22, 2019.
The idea of being in control of your earning power is a huge draw for those looking to soar to new heights. Koereyelle DuBose has been empowering women to live a life they love through her lifestyle brand, GrownWomanTV. In an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, DuBose speaks about unlocking one’s earning power.
How is earning power calculated?
I always talk about work with an e (werk) because of the effort and the energy you dedicate to your own business. Your earning power is not defined by anyone outside of yourself. It’s the one thing you are in control of when transitioning from being a full-time employee to a full-time entrepreneur. A lot of times, we think that it comes down to our credentials, degrees, or a specific skill set, but I
have come across so many people with different gifts, skills, and talents who have embraced the mindset that they have unlimited earning potential. That is how they created opportunities to create revenue and increase their earning potential.What are the first steps to identifying a skill set that can be turned into a side hustle that can be monetized?
Make a list of your skills. I live by lists. Any time I am stuck on something or need clarity, I make lists. One of the lists that you can make is one of your skills. List the things that you are doing on a daily basis on your 9-to-5 and are transferable skills that you have extensive knowledge of. Those are some of the things that you can make side hustles of and generate revenue from. A lot of things that you can start a side hustle with may not be related to your degree or career but they can be things that you have skills in.
List out your passions. There are things that you’ve probably been doing since childhood that you’ve been interested in, naturally good at, or passionate about. Think about your passions, what you’re naturally drawn to, and how you can combine your talents and service or product that you can provide that’s aligned with the things that you already know how to do and you’re already interested in. I find that when we develop a business that we’re actually excited and passionate about, it will propel us when the obstacles come up and you truly have to fight for what you want.
Can you speak more about how people can leverage who they are to tap into more earning power?
Authenticity is something that I truly want to represent. You can carve out your own lane and live a successful life beyond society’s standards, doing things your own way while being able to make money, be happy, and live life on your own terms. I think for entrepreneurs, it’s scary to be authentic…especially in the world of social media and reality TV, when you only want people to know the good stuff. I had no choice but to be authentic. No matter what it is that I’m offering, my people trust me, and I think it’s because of that authenticity piece.
What advice do you have for people to unlock their earning power today?
Read the book The Game of Life and How to Play It
by Florence Scovel Shinn. It will help you set a solid foundation for your personal or professional growth.Get real about where you are right now versus where you want to be. From there, you can create an action plan for how you’re going to get there.
Find an accountability partner. Share your goal and ask them to check in with you and hold you accountable.
Meditate. We’re living in an age where we have access to too much information. And a lot of people look outside of themselves for answers. I’ve found that when I meditate that’s when God gives me my answers instead of looking outside of myself for all of the answers.
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