Entrepreneurship means different things to different people. For some, it’s the chance to be your own boss and make your own schedule. For others, it’s a way to financial independence and freedom. Whatever it may mean to the individual, entrepreneurship requires grit, hard work, and determination. To achieve success, learning from other leaders who have made it as an entrepreneur can be an effective way to scale and grow your business. In this article, the Founder and CEO of DIGIDECK by Sportsdigita as well as Wall Street-turned sports-tech-entrepreneur Angelina Lawton shares her insights on entrepreneurship and success.
Define your identity
Your identity is unique to you. It is important to define what your identity is and what it stands for in order to stay focused as an entrepreneur. For Lawton, defining her identity, her niche, was crucial to achieving optimal results with her DIGIDECK product. She says, “I think the biggest thing that entrepreneurs try to do, you know, is chase two rabbits at once and catch neither. I think you have to really own your niche before you can own the world.”
“The reason I’ve been successful is I’ve figured out my area of focus, and then built out from there. Too many people are just trying to be everything to everybody, especially when they’re in selling mode at the beginning.
Develop the right mindset
The right mindset is the single most important thing to determining success. During her transition from the Financial world to Sports, Lawton realized the common setback in mindset as an entrepreneur. She says, “Everyone always asks, What’s the hardest part about working in sports or finance? It’s really yourself. You are your biggest obstacle, honestly, as far as whether you think you can do it or not. You have to be confident and not hold yourself back.”Lawton shares how her mindset helped her in moments that seemed scary. “Whether you’re okay, being the only woman in the room, whether you’re okay not knowing some things about your business because others do, you have to find the confidence to be hanging around in the right places. And go to the meetings that you’re scared to go to or do interviews that might seem intimidating to the press. I just kept doing it. And that was how I just kind of kept moving through it. But I think that in both scenarios, we can often be our own worst enemies. But in that, there’s an opportunity to also be your own BEST source of success.” Lawton hopes to bring this mindset to other women who are pursuing ventures in male-dominated industries. “I want young women to know they can succeed and be a leader in a sea of men. It just takes practice, the right mindset, and the right focus.”
Outside of Lawton’s office, a sign reads “Feel the fear & do it anyway” the perfect reminder of the mindset needed to make it happen.