Learn About Entrepreneurial Mindset In The African Diaspora Community With Deborah Crowley
Are you standing at a crossroads, comfortable in the security of a steady paycheck but yearning for the freedom of entrepreneurship? Many professionals, especially within the African diaspora, feel trapped in this golden cage. The path of a salaried employee feels safe, predictable, and guaranteed. But what if the greatest risk isn’t in leaving, but in staying? What if the comfort zone is the most dangerous place for your life and legacy?
Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.
In a recent conversation on The Obehi Podcast, host Obehi Ewanfoh sat down with Deborah Crowley, a dynamic business strategist who made the courageous leap from a high-flying corporate career to building a million-dollar company from scratch.
Her journey offers a powerful blueprint for anyone looking to transition from employee to owner. She reminds us that the most important battle you’ll ever fight is the one within. It’s you versus you.
See the full interview with Deborah Crowley
Using the Corporate World as Your Ultimate Training Ground
Before she became a CEO, Deborah Crowley spent years navigating the corridors of Corporate America, working with giants like McDonald’s Corporation and Xerox. Many people view their corporate jobs as a necessary evil, a place to bide time before their “real life” begins. Deborah saw it differently. She viewed it as her university.
“I love corporate,” she shared, “I love everything they stand for.” She wasn’t just collecting a paycheck; she was collecting knowledge. She embraced the structure, the discipline, and the invaluable lessons in management, finance, and operations. She explained, “All that I’ve learned before, I use now in my business.”
This is the first crucial mindset shift. Your current position, no matter how disconnected it may seem from your dream, is a training ground.
It’s an opportunity to learn on someone else’s dime. By mastering every task and understanding the systems at play, you are building the foundation for your own enterprise. You are learning how to turn your story into an asset.
The Leap of Faith: When Your Time is Up
Despite her love for the corporate structure, Deborah knew her destiny was elsewhere. The turning point wasn’t a dramatic fallout but a quiet, profound realization.
“I walked around the whole place… I looked at everybody I onboarded on two floors, and I said, ‘You know what? I’m never going to see these people again.’ I went back to my desk, I packed all my boxes, and within two weeks, I left on faith and opened up my cleaning company. Never look back.”
Her departure wasn’t reckless; it was a calculated act of faith. She had a plan, using her 401(k) to fund her venture, but more importantly, she had an unshakeable belief in her purpose. “When you walk into your purpose, doors open,” Deborah insists.
This belief was validated almost immediately when she met a woman who owned a franchise of the very business she wanted to start.
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This stranger gave her the complete blueprint, from paperwork to employee management, saving her thousands and confirming she was on the right path. This is the power of connection when you align with your purpose.
Curate Your Circle: The Power of Five
One of the most profound lessons Deborah shared is the concept of the “Circle of Champions.” The journey of an entrepreneur, she warns, can be lonely. The people who were with you in one season of life may not be equipped to support you in the next.
“You have to create your circle,” she advises. “You have to create five people that can help you in your business.”
This isn’t about transactional relationships. It’s about building a support system based on the principles of Ubuntu: I am because we are. Your circle should consist of people who can lift you up in four key areas:
- Mentally: People who challenge your thinking.
- Physically: People who encourage you to maintain your health and energy.
- Spiritually: People who align with your core values and purpose.
- Financially: People who understand the language of money and can offer sound advice.
She had to make tough decisions, letting go of old friends who couldn’t see her vision. “As I mentioned, it’s lonely at the top… so you have to create your circle.” This act of intentional collaboration is not selfish; it’s essential for survival and growth.
The Final Action: Win the Battle of the Mind
Ultimately, the transition from employee to entrepreneur is an inside job. It’s about winning the internal war against fear, doubt, and procrastination. Deborah’s final message is a powerful call to action.
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- Work on You: “You have to work on personal development,” she stresses. Your business will only grow to the extent that you do.
- Know Your Purpose: “If you don’t figure out what your purpose is, you’re just walking around here doing nothing.” Your purpose is your fuel.
- Stop Making Excuses: The “I don’t have money” or “I have obstacles” narrative is a trap. Start with a plan and take the first step.
- Own Your Story: Your journey, from your roots in poverty or your time in corporate, is not a liability. It’s your unique advantage. It’s about moving from roots to relevance.
The battle is, and always will be, you versus you. By mastering your mindset, building a powerful circle of champions, and taking calculated leaps of faith, you can build a business that not only generates wealth but also creates a lasting legacy.
Deborah’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when you decide to own your story. To hear more inspirational interviews with professionals and entrepreneurs from the African diaspora and beyond, subscribe to The Obehi Podcast.
