A mum who grew up in ‘Britain’s biggest hellhole’ has revealed how she had to make ‘unpopular’ decisions to get where she is today.
At just 36 years old, ‘mumpreneur’ Jessica Crane has already made a fortune as a salon business coach, real estate guru, wealth and business coach and public speaker.
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She regularly travels to Dubai with her husband Jordan, son Hunter, eight, and daughter Harley, 10.
But Jessica admits she took an “unpopular” business approach to get where she is today.
According to Jessica, effective leadership is the most important thing.
Sometimes this requires making difficult decisions, such as letting go of underperforming team members or using resources judiciously.
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“We have had to make difficult choices and let go of team members who are not performing,” she says.
“It’s not a popular decision, or a decision I want to make. But honestly, if your communication and management of your team are strong, they will support and understand you.
“If you want to build a successful business, you’re going to have to make tough choices, and not all of them will be popular. Be prepared to be hated occasionally on the road to success.”
It’s not just employees Jessica fired.
Growing up in Ward End, Birmingham – described by one newspaper as ‘Britain’s biggest hell’, Jessica left her old life, including her family members, behind to strive for success.
“The area was known for knife crime, drugs, guns and pit bull fighting,” she says.
“The police stopped responding to calls and at night I had trouble sleeping due to the sound of sirens and fighting outside.
“I saw the women on the estate being abused financially, physically and emotionally by men.”
Because of her harsh upbringing, Jessica learned from the age of 12 that hard work was the only way out of a life full of poverty and violence.
“After years of witnessing men being violent towards women and being made to feel ‘not enough’, I became emotionally burned out and stopped trusting people,” she previously admitted.
“I felt disconnected and guarded in my relationships.”
Now that she has a family of her own, Jessica decided that in order to move forward, she had to distance herself from her previous life.
She admits it was a difficult choice, but felt it was her only option when it came to moving on.
“When I became a mother, the pain and betrayal I felt increased as I realized that people I trusted were willing to hurt me,” Jessica explains.
“I made several attempts to repair damaged relationships, but when I received rejection and belittling responses, I knew it was time to prioritize my own well-being.”
Jessica tries to rebuild her life away from her family, explaining that she has found a new sense of connection with her “chosen family” and friends.
She explains: “I have always been self-sufficient and focused on creating my own environment.
“I never felt like I belonged in that family, and I found support and love in my husband, children and close friends.
“My husband is very family oriented and our children are our top priority.
“We have a lot of good friends who I consider more like family, who we enjoy being around and spending time with.
“I think it’s healthy to choose to be among the people who fill your cup.”
Jessica explains that while her decision to cut ties with her family may be controversial, in her eyes it was completely justified.
Releasing generational trauma can bring on feelings of guilt and obligation, but Jessica says it gets easier over time.
She now coaches female entrepreneurs and often advises clients struggling with similar issues to set firm boundaries and consider taking a break from toxic relationships when necessary.
WHAT JESSICA LEARNED ON THE WAY TO THE TOP
Investing in yourself is a must
Jessica emphasizes the importance of investing in yourself. She says personal investment is a key factor in achieving success.
“Successful people invest in themselves because they understand that their business is powered by them and their knowledge. So the more they grow, the more the company will grow.”
Jessica also emphasizes that personal growth and development are essential components in building a thriving business.
“This is now the first release I’m planning, and it’s a top priority to be around mentors in masterminds and gain the skills and knowledge I need.
Over the years I’d say I’ve easily invested over £250,000 in mentors, coaching and learning – this is the ONLY shortcut to success. In my first few months of business, when I wanted to change my business model from face-to-face to online, I quickly got stuck, my money mindset was holding me back and I could hear my grandparents saying, “It doesn’t matter what you ‘deserved it’, so I struggled to invest money I didn’t already have. I eventually hired a coach, and from that initial investment my ROI was huge and I never looked back or ever doubted investing in myself. It’s an absolute must.
Most people wait ‘for the right time’ – but the truth is that there will never be a right time. I think the universe rewards us when we take risks and put ourselves out there. It’s like a test of how willing you really are to achieve the results you want.”
You’ll have to put a lot into it before you see anything out
Jessica recognizes the challenges and setbacks that typically come with entrepreneurship and emphasizes the need for perseverance and dedication. Jessica’s own experience of working tirelessly on her business, even in the face of obstacles and personal responsibilities, is a testament to her unwavering dedication to success.
“Sometimes you will spend a lot of time building something and at the same time learning how to build it. It can take hours and hours, weeks even months. Without any guarantee that it will work.
When I launched my business to an online model, it took months for me to turn on my sales funnels and run the ads. Was it frustrating? Absolute. Did I want to give up multiple times? Absolute.
At the time, I had a newborn, a toddler, and had just moved to a new city with no friends, no family, no child care or support. I was up all night, took care of the kids during the day, and worked all night to get my online model working.
I think everyone these days is looking for short-term gratification. You are made to believe that if you are not successful at 25, you are a failure. You have to be able to sacrifice the short term for the long term, and building a successful business requires long-term thinking.”
“I’ve noticed that many women I coach experience the same thing; some are the first in their families to own a business, create significant wealth, or end domestic violence and substance abuse,” she says.
“Wherever possible, a relationship can continue if there are healthy roots.
“The first step would be to set some firm boundaries to protect you, your space, energy and environment.
“If the relationships are toxic and your boundaries aren’t being respected, it might be time to take a break.
“If it’s less painful, you can tell yourself that this is a short-term break at first, but the important thing is that this decision should benefit you and your mental well-being.
“You can live your life, and they can live theirs. Your paths may not align, and that’s okay.”
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