Entrepreneurial spirit knows no age limit – as the compelling narrative of Stacey Brass-Russell, a New York-based former waitress turned successful entrepreneur, clearly shows. At 54, she’s now in the six-figure income club, a triumph achieved after launching a profitable enterprise at the ripe age of 50.
Brass-Russell’s career has been nothing short of diverse, meandering through waitressing, acting, and yoga instruction before arriving at her present venture. However, it wasn’t until she turned the half-century mark that she found her path – a journey that has brought her monumental success.
Speaking candidly in a YouTube interview on Shera, a digital hub focused on women’s empowerment, Brass-Russell divulged the genesis of her business – a life and business coaching service aimed at helping others find their footing both personally and professionally. Starting her enterprise four years ago, she had little inkling of its imminent success. Yet, less than two years later, it morphed into a ‘multiple six-figure’ company.
In the interview, Brass-Russell shared the core ‘beliefs’ that she credits for setting the mental stage for her achievement.
UNIVERSALLY ‘PRE-CERTIFIED’:
In Brass-Russell’s view, the initial belief is an innate universal certification. She articulates, “People often desire to write their next chapter or evolve as I did, but face crippling self-doubt – the infamous imposter syndrome. They tend to undervalue their skills and experience simply because they don’t have formal certifications, shrinking from their potential as a result. But it’s crucial to understand that you’re pre-certified by the universe.”
YOU POSSESS THE KNOW-HOW:
“The second belief is about acknowledging one’s own capabilities,” she maintains. According to her, many individuals shy away from big changes or steps due to their mind convincing them they lack the requisite knowledge. To overcome this hurdle, one must negate such inhibitions and assert, ‘I know how’.
SERVICE IS YOUR HALLMARK:
She asserts that service should be the central pillar of any burgeoning business. When entrepreneurs face uncertainty about their focus, she counsels, “When in doubt, be in service.”
YOU ARE ALWAYS TIMELY:
“Believing that you’re always timely is pivotal,” she advises, acknowledging the human brain’s propensity to self-sabotage with feelings of being left behind. Brass-Russell, who founded her business at 50, says, “If I hadn’t believed that I was timely, I might have self-sabotaged with thoughts of being too old to change or start a business.”
ABUNDANCE IS YOUR BIRTHRIGHT:
Brass-Russell’s fifth belief insists on viewing abundance as a birthright. She elucidates, “Abundance isn’t just about money, though it does help. It’s about recognizing that money is energy, and energy is abundant.”
However, she issues a sobering caution about seeking instant gratification. “There’s no such thing as overnight success,” she warns, stressing the importance of investing time, energy, and money into one’s endeavors.
Brass-Russell’s journey is as unique as her insights. She first planned to pursue a career in performance arts, balancing her dream with waitressing until her thirties. She then turned to yoga instruction as a side job. But when her business relationships started to sour, she sought a new path in life coaching, eventually expanding into business coaching.
Brass-Russell’s entrepreneurial journey has been a surprising yet rewarding ride, a sentiment she reiterates, “I didn’t initially plan to become a business coach. But when I found that most of my clients wanted to improve their businesses, I took it as a sign and plunged headfirst.”
Her final piece of wisdom is an empowering reminder to budding entrepreneurs that everything they need to succeed resides within them. She concludes, “There’s a lot of life and mindset work needed to truly show up fully as an entrepreneur. You need to have the confidence that what you’re here to do matters. Your message counts.”