LESSONS FROM MADAM CJ WALKER.
I have known Madam CJ Walker for some time now but it wasn't after the Netflix series Self Made that I delved into history to find out about her. Who was she, what was her driving force, what was her motivation and most importantly why? Why did she fight for her empire and why did she want change among her people.
I have found quite a bunch about the first black female self-made billionaire and these are the lessons learnt from my findings. From her immaculate approach to business family and community, Madam CJ Walker can be said to have had it all. She was holistic in her approach to life. Still and calm even in the face of adversity. In addition to being a determined businesswoman, Walker was an activist and philanthropist, using her success as a platform to help her community. Today, her legacy lives on. In 2016, Sundial Brands launched the Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture product line with Sephora.
If you are shopping around for a role model then add her to your cart, and thank me later.
1. Find solutions to problems.
Aspire to solve problems in the community as this is how many people Madam CJ Walker being among them make money. When a need is provided people will gravitate towards it and in turn, you get your money. You will have fostered a change in your community while earning. Like many women of her day, Madame CJ Walker suffered from dandruff and other scalp ailments. As a woman of African descent during this time, the attention of doctors towards the health of skin and scalp would be extremely uncommon. Walker was, as they say, “the change she wanted to see in the world.”
2. Work for leaders in your field.
Madame CJ Walker expanded her knowledge by working for Annie Turnbo Malone, who in 1904 was a thriving African American hair care business owner. Walker helped Malone brand her product as, “Poro,” a West African brand meaning physical and spiritual growth. While still under her wing, Madame Cj Walker learnt a lot about hair products, marketing and branding which came in handy when she started her business. The lesson here is that you have to learn from the big dogs, be it an internship or an entry-level position as the skills gotten from the job will be of use one day.
3. Let your day job support your side hustle.
Until your side hustle is stable enough to be your main hustle. Walker continued working for Malone, taking care of her laundry while she developed her own brand on the side. It was not until she had made enough to cater for not only her business but also her needs that she decided to quit working for Malone. The lesson here is that One's day job should always have another means of generating income and when pays off then you can hang up your boots.
4. Engage with your customer base.
To promote her brand, Walker went door to door selling products and teaching women how to groom and style their hair. When one's business excels in having the best customer service the entire business excels because customers bring in revenue and revenue is what it's needed for a business to stand on its feet.
I hope you have gained some insight on Madame CJs legacy of entrepreneurship and philanthropy, one that can be carried on to other generations
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