false choices

2-min read: tales of a student-founder

Hi friends 👋🏾

Happy New Year! ✨

This week and as we go into Chapter 4 of the decade, I was reminded of the last few weeks of 2023. I was confronted with many choices- in many areas.

But as the days went by, I leaned into the wisdom of the people around me and kaboom!

False Choices

I’ll tell you what- 2023 was great, awesome, and beyond no cap. 😇

But I’ll also tell you that it wasn’t perfect. Hidden behind the praises were huge sacrifices—one of them was my academic performance. 🤷🏾‍♀️

But before I get into that, let’s take a detour. ✋🏾

A wise man recently made me understand that life will demand you to be your best at so many things at the same time.🫨

For example, You can’t say because you want to be an A student in your marriage then you’ll be a D student in your job. 🙅🏾‍♀️

You can’t say you have to be a D student in eating to be an A student in drinking (water).  💁🏾‍♀️

You don’t have to be an F student in driving to be an A student in singing. 🤷🏾‍♀️

So to back the truck up, I didn’t fail any of my classes lol. I just didn’t get a good enough grade on one of them to have the class as a prerequisite. 😭

But here’s the kicker, I’m actually very excited to retake the class. Tell you what? I’m more excited to retake this class than the classes I got an A in. 😃

So what’s my point?

When life throws shoes at you, make Nikes out of them. 👌🏾

Does it hurt to retake a class? Duh!

But beyond that is an opportunity to learn, unlearn, and relearn. In fact, it’s a rare opportunity. 😃

Bottom line: You don’t have to be a D student in college to be an A student in your student-founder journey.  💯

Going from zero to one as a student-founder is not about being a rockstar in the boardroom and a flop in the classroom.🙅🏾‍♀️

Going to school and being an entrepreneur doesn’t have to be word and opposite- as long as you have the right support and environment. 🤌🏾

Being a student-founder isn't a binary battle.

It can be a beautiful, messy dance where startup hustle meets Calculus homework and midnight deadlines clash with fundraising dreams. 😃

Life will demand you to be good at multiple things and wear multiple hats anyway. 🤷🏾‍♀️

So why not practice that as a student-entrepreneur when you still can? 💁🏾‍♀️

And if life throws two shoes at you, make one an Air Max 90 and make the second one Air Force. 😁

Some final takeaways…

Ditch the ‘but” mentality

I want to do this but is one of the fastest killers of the flower moon (sorry Netflix keeps showing me trailers 😂).

My point is that at times you can have your cake and eat it too. 😇

You don’t have to give up your deadlines for your dreams. 🫣

Embrace the “both-and” mentality

"I'm going to do this and..." is a simple yet powerful shift in language that foces you to see possibilities instead of limitations.

You're not a student vs. entrepreneur. 🙅🏾‍♀️

You're a student-entrepreneur- period! 😌

Lean into your Kitchen Table

If you’re wondering what’s a Kitchen Table. Say no more my friend, read it up here. 😁

Be comfortable with saying ‘no’

Not everything that comes your way will deserve your time, attention, and energy. 🙅🏾‍♀️

In fact, legend has it that your ‘nos’ are more powerful than your ‘yes’. 🕺🏾

‘No, thank you’ is only three words but it carries more meaning and power than “I’ll give it a shot or I promise to do my best”. 🫣

Someone once said “"Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough".”

Lastly…

In the words of Reid Hoffman, 🤌🏾 “When presented with two compelling options, consider whether it's a choice at all. Sometimes, the answer is both.”

As we enter Chapter 4 of John Wick (phew! is there gonna be a spinoff?) 🤔

Sorry, as we begin Chapter 4 of this decade, here’s to being a student and a founder. 💯

Oh one more thing. Since I already got some shoes thrown at me, now’s the time to make some Nike out of them. 😌

Proceed to checkout: Nike Air Max 90 11.5. Use saved address; express shipping. 

Whatttt? I’m practicing what I just preached lol. 😅

Until next time,

Don’t Forget to be Awesome!

Dulra ❤️

Founder/CEO, Dot.