Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in training and education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Calvin Littlejohn, President, and Co-Founder of CareerLIFE, located in Birmingham, AL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We seek to end the generational cycle of wealth inequality and declining personal wellness of underserved students through specific and targeted training, coaching and development programs preparing them for the workforce in which to create sustainable neighborhood economies and result in better family living. The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of underserved K-12 and post-secondary students graduating unemployed, under-employed, and underpaid while increasing personal wealth and wellness.

It is our duty and responsibility to prepare our participants to escape underemployment and guide them to increase their probability of securing an internship or a full-time career opportunity. We use a blended approach which includes unique training workshops and one-on-one professional coaching sessions facilitated in both in-person and virtual environments. Additionally, we ensure that participants gain early access to career & industry exploration and gain invaluable exposure to corporations and industry professionals.

Tell us about yourself

In the past, we struggled with gangs, racism, drugs, and being raised in single-parent or grandparent households. As students, we were exposed to non-profit programs that helped us overcome potential challenges through training, coaching, and networking. However, it didn't address the need for a balanced foundation for long-term personal and professional wellness. It wasn't enough to break the generational cycle of constant struggles we face as minorities with financial literacy, common health risks, and under-resourced educational institutions.

Though we have attained some success in corporate America and a comfortable family lifestyle, there is so much we didn't know or learned too late about building net worth and navigating workplaces and board rooms where the faces weren't a mirror image or representation of our community. We want our children to have a fighting chance to compete for the same opportunities afforded to others.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our biggest accomplishment as business owners was securing our first major contract with a city government to develop a year-long internship program that includes career readiness training for both high school and college-aged students. This was significant for two reasons. The first is because our company was so young. Although we had plenty of career experience in this space, we didn't have a long client list, and our financial history was limited. However, the city council took a chance!

The final reason is that, at the end of the program, we exceeded their expectations on set key performance indicators. All of the students received a "meet or exceed expectations" on their performance reviews, over half of the students were retained to work as part-time employees, and all graduating college seniors secured a full-time job opportunity with varying companies, including city government! And, of course, we stayed on budget.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest thing that comes with being an entrepreneur is embracing that our organizational growth is a marathon and not a sprint. All too often, we've succumbed to the notion that we are not "where we're supposed to be," and it's in those moments that we focus our attention and efforts on the social impact that we make for those we serve.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Take care of home first - Be sure you have a supportive family and a means for covering bills and basic living expenses for a period of time (ideally 6-9 months). It sounds simple, but I've seen many peers suffer personally and professionally. Having your own business is a long, unpaved journey that feels like a roller coaster ride - fast with plenty of highs and lows, twists and turns!
  2. Don't forget to use your network - We kept forgetting in the beginning. Reviewing, building, utilizing, and nurturing your network, can save you time and money while reducing mistakes and unnecessary stress.
  3. It's not about perfection - Most people are afraid to move forward with their business ideas until everything is in its proper place and is squeaky clean to present to the world. The real beauty of business is learning from your mistakes and the relationships being built with clients along the way and tweaking it as you go.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.mycareerlife.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-littlejohn-60118016/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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