Team Work is Dream Work
When I left my full time job in December 2020, I had little appreciation for what it takes to build a consulting business and support all my side hustles. And now that many women of color are part of the Great Attrition and going out on their own, I wanted to reflect on what that’s been like for me.
I love the life I have now–a portfolio life, rich with writing, art, board memberships, coaching and leadership development–but it took time to build. And it brings different challenges than leading an organization. I don’t spend much time managing staff, for example, but I do have a lot more administrative needs, like filing expense reimbursements, scheduling and creating contracts. In an organization, especially one that’s functional and staffed at capacity, a wide range of responsibilities fall on a wide range of people.
There’s the cliche that none of us are an island. And the overused sentiment that it takes a village. We hear them often because they are true. And especially because we No. 1s tend to overfunction, we need the reminder that we don’t have to do it all ourselves. (we also don’t have to do it all, period.)
As a No. 1, I struggled to see that I needed help once I left an organizational role. For a while, I was doing the core work I wanted to do AND filing invoices, paying bills, drafting contracts and anything else that came up. Over time, I learned to rely on others to support me so I can focus on the things I love and am good at. That meant looking around for people who could provide support for work that’s not my expertise.
Four women of color are part of Team Sayu. Leslie Cao has been saving my a*$ ever since we started working together. She’s a salsa teacher, a branding consultant and the glue that holds so many aspects of my life together. I call Nina Spensley my “life chief of staff” because she helps me process my ideas to see if there’s any “there there” and when there is, she’s a cheerleader, project manager, critic and more. Melanie Mattingly, a fellow Belizean American, makes sure I get paid by various clients and don’t get in trouble with the IRS. Rolisa Twyler of CCMNT Speakers, represents me for speaking engagements and is a strategist and supporter.
I feel so fortunate to be supported by these women. I highlight them to make it clear that I couldn’t be who I want to be in this world without their help, and without the support of friends, family and caregivers.
You’re likely a leader in some if not all capacities of your life, no matter what your job title is. And I hope you have the infrastructure you need to do your best work. If so, acknowledge them for being part of your success. If not, I hope this is inspiration to find yourself the village we all need.
Sayu