I used to say that I went from a hustler to an entrepreneur, but the truth is, I was an entrepreneur the entire time. An entrepreneur is someone who takes value from one state to another, creating something greater in the process. I didn’t realize it back then, but even when I was hustling, I was laying the groundwork for something bigger.

Back then, my business model was simple: take 24 tees, flip them, flip them again, then flip them again. That hustle taught me tenacity, but it only got me so far. I was one of those people who swore “cash is king.” I didn’t understand credit, and honestly, I didn’t care about it. Growing up, I never even wanted a house my only goal was to build my business.

But as I got older and my vision got bigger, I realized I needed to know more. I got a coach to teach me about credit. She walked me through the process and broke down terms I had never paid attention to:

    •    Utilization: How much of your credit limit you’re using.

    •    History: How long you’ve had credit.

    •    Inquiries: The requests made to check your credit score.

    •    Hard pulls vs. soft pulls: Hard pulls affect your score, while soft pulls don’t.

That season of flipping tees had its place it led me to a point where I was making $3,000 a day. But imagine what happens when you combine that same hustle with a 750 credit score that gets you an $80,000 business card. Imagine the possibilities if your business was structured right. Your “why” was clear, your brand story was solid, your trademark was protected, and you fully understood how business really works.

A greater starting point changes everything.

Sometimes, when we’re getting into business, we think we know it all. But the truth is, we don’t and that’s okay. The key is being willing to pause, seek guidance, and learn what we need to know to execute at our highest level.

Understanding credit changed everything for me. It wasn’t just about flipping tees anymoreit was about building something sustainable, something that could grow beyond me. Don’t be afraid to invest in knowledge. Whether it’s credit, e-commerce, or any part of your business journey, that foundation can take you further than you can imagine.

God Bless The Entrepreneur.