Caviar Dreams on a Tuna Fish Budget: Doing What I Can With What I Have

Entrepreneurship. I see it as the vast opportunity to make my mark on the world on my own terms. An opportunity to change the world while simultaneously making money as I slumber (whenever that is). However, scrolling though LinkedIn can be intimidating. Although I am inspired by so many people doing wondrous, amazing things, I am instantly disheartened because I think to myself, “how can I ever possibly compete with these people?”

I am a single mom with a full-time job (which especially these days I am extremely grateful for) at a not-for-profit organization where it is no secret that you are “in it for the outcome, not the income.” My entrepreneurial endeavors at most right now can be considered a “side-hustle” at best.

I had to come to the realization that I indeed can’t compete. I CAN, however, do the absolute best I can with what I have.

I have to often close my eyes and believe this in my soul, because right now, my efforts are to supplement my income to provide for my daughter and myself without going into further debt. This means, there isn’t a lot of extra money to subscribe to fancy services or purchase high end equipment. Right now, if it isn’t a free or extremely low cost service, it’s not happening. Which means, I am doing a lot of the grunt work because I also don’t have the luxury of paying the web designer, the scheduler, the production person, the graphic designer or simply even working on my own business 3–5 full days a week.

There is something, however that doesn’t have a tangible cost that I CAN afford; to strive for excellence. I have convinced myself of this; I need to do what I can on a tuna fish budget for the tangibles, but have a caviar mindset for the intangibles like integrity, honesty, work ethic and striving for excellence.

I tell myself that if I operate on a “caviar” level with these intangibles, the money will eventually manifest so that I can upgrade the tangibles to rise to the standard of my character. I have to tell myself that; I have to BELIEVE it, otherwise how else will I convince myself that I will ever have a fighting chance? What does working on one’s character cost? Perhaps a bit of pride here and there? Hmm, now that I think of it, which is actually more costly… “caviar” equipment or a “tuna fish” character? Whew, that is a blog post for another day.

Anyway, I have drawn the line in the sand and have decided to not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the great. I am working to launch a new podcast in August, doing what I can with what I have. Combining my radio background with the access to the tools and time that I have. I understand that I have to present myself as professional as possible, and I also have to START somewhere. If I wait until it is perfect to start, that day will never come.

It may not be the best quality that money can buy, but it will be the absolute best that I can offer with what I have, pouring my heart and soul into it…and for now, that is going to HAVE to be enough.

I will trust and have faith that everything will work out as it should. I hope you tune in. I hope you watch from the inception to witness the transformation as my caterpillar of a project evolves into a butterfly.

Will you join me?

Details coming soon!

Nicole is a Panamanian-American, single mother, workforce development specialist, dancer, motivational speaker and published author of many inspirational note-taking journals including 101 Affirmations for Entrepreneurs, Professional Women and Single Mothers. She attended Oral Roberts University on a Division I full-ride track scholarship. After graduating, she founded Step It Up! Inc., a non-profit dance organization. Her experience in sports and entertainment, radio, TV and the performing arts has spanned nearly 20 years covering the Chicago, Houston and Miami markets. She has prepared more than 500 interns to enter the workforce and has inspired crowds upwards of 2000. In 2019 she was listed as one of WLRN’s “Local Women Who Inspire You”, she was selected as one of Legacy Miami’s Most Prominent and Influential Black Women In Business and Industry of 2019 and became a contributing writer for The Life of a Single Mom. Her mission is based on Proverbs 13:19: A dream fulfilled is sweet to the soul. Her desire is to maximize and empower the potential of the invaluable workforce. Connect with her at www.nicolersmith.net and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.