Experience the Valley (How I Almost Went Bankrupt)

05/14/24 • 52 min

Professional Troublemaker with Luvvie Ajayi Jones

In this episode, Luvvie dives deep into 'The Crumbling' - the most tumultuous period of Awe Luv Media - as it faces operational chaos, underperformance, and financial distress in the first half of 2023. Luvvie recounts experiences of unexpected challenges, including unmet deadlines, poor productivity, and critical financial losses that brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. Despite overemphasizing core values, setting clear priorities, and empowering the team, mistakes continued left and right, leading to the firing of all but one of seven internal team members.

In the midst of these challenges, Luvvie also celebrates the successful launch of her fourth book, 'Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess,' which, in spite of all the seemingly insurmountable hurdles, becomes a New York Times bestseller, providing a glimmer of hope and validation amidst the crisis. The episode reflects on leadership, the importance of trust within a team, and the personal and professional toll of navigating business failures, setting the stage for the next episode: recovery and rebuilding.

Podcast Producer: Letisha Bereola (Paradigm Media Group)

📕 Grab a copy of Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual

🔗 Connect with Luvvie Ajayi Jones

🗣️ Engage

Share your thoughts about the episode using the hashtag #ProfessionalTroublemaker.
For episode transcripts, check out Luvvie.org/podcast

If you're an aspiring writer, explore The Book Academy, Luvvie's masterclass for aspiring authors! 📚✨

Podcast Producer: Letisha Bereola (Paradigm Media Group)

📕 Grab a copy of Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual

🔗 Connect with Luvvie Ajayi Jones

🗣️ Engage

Share your thoughts about the episode using the hashtag #ProfessionalTroublemaker.
For episode transcripts, check out Luvvie.org/podcast

If you're an aspiring writer, explore The Book Academy, Luvvie's masterclass for aspiring authors! 📚✨

Previous Episode

Build the Foundation (How I Built a Team)

In this episode, Luvvie pulls back the curtain on the rollercoaster of transitioning from being a solopreneur to running a 7-figure business. Needing to diversify revenue streams, she went from having one executive assistant to 7 full-time salaried employees (with benefits!). And all the plans she had for 2023, with strategy. How she created systems, strategy and plans to double her revenue. She walks us through her business transformation, from the highs of scaling up to a multimillion-dollar company, to the lows of shrinking down her 'dream' team.

Podcast Producer: Letisha Bereola (Paradigm Media Group)

📕 Grab a copy of Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual

🔗 Connect with Luvvie Ajayi Jones

🗣️ Engage

Share your thoughts about the episode using the hashtag #ProfessionalTroublemaker.
For episode transcripts, check out Luvvie.org/podcast

If you're an aspiring writer, explore The Book Academy, Luvvie's masterclass for aspiring authors! 📚✨

Next Episode

Pull the Weeds (with Sally Thornton, Team Gardener)

In this episode, Luvvie is joined by Sally Thornton, HR Consultant and the Founder of Forshay, to give her insider perspective as 'team gardener' on the dysfunction, blind spots, and the necessary overhaul of Awe Luv Media. Luvvie and Sally explore the complexities of leadership, the importance of truth-telling in business, and managing team dynamics through turbulent transitions. They share insights on the significance of financial management, the challenges of scaling, maintaining productivity amidst internal conflicts, and the journey of rebuilding a more intentional and focused company. Sally emphasizes the importance of aligning work with energy and passion, and shares practical tips on team building for solopreneurs and small business owners.

📣 Podcast Producer: Letisha Bereola (Paradigm Media Group)

More About Sally:

Sally is the CEO & Founder of Forshay, a firm that takes a holistic lens on how hard work can accomplished more easily, as it’s essential to have both the right players on the team, and the culture and organizational structure that enables people to do their best work. Forshay does this in two ways – with a modern approach to executive recruiting, and by supporting overworked teams with interim experts in the People/HR and Marketing domains -- all grounded with inclusion, diversity, equity and belonging. Sally has done two TEDx talks and has been featured in numerous media including Wall Street Journal, BBC, and Harvard Business Review, aside from her regular lectures at Stanford and UC Berkeley.

Connect with Sally:

📕 Grab a copy of Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual

🔗 Connect with Luvvie Ajayi Jones

🗣️ Engage