Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecelia Nowlin.
Hi Cecelia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey to becoming an entrepreneur started in 9th grade during high school. My first introduction was through a show called “The lifestyles of the rich and famous “ I was glued to the tv watching others’ lifestyles. After the show ended, she asked her mom how did they get those big houses. Her mom told her they own their own business…. That moment was when Cecelia knew that was what she wanted to do. Cecelia always knew that she was different. When she told people she was going to be rich and own her own business people would tell her. You can’t own your own business “stop dreaming” I started believing that I couldn’t own my own business. I thought maybe they knew something that I didn’t. So I went to college and received my degree. I began working as an employee. I realized I hated being an employee. I let fear keep me living paycheck to paycheck. Then one day Cecelia wanted off to see her son’s program. Her boss said she couldn’t take off. At that moment she realized how her job controlled her. Cecelia made a decision to walk out on faith. She quit her job. She wanted her freedom. She went to the court house and got her DBA. She was excited that she started her first business. She had her DBA and a dream. She realized at that moment she had no idea how to start her business from there. She had no idea what type of business she wanted to start. She had no one to help. Through that “self taught” experience, and through trial and error, she build multiple successful businesses from the ground up. 18 years later she is helping startup entrepreneurs turn their ideas into income-producing companies.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
After I quit my job I realized that god put a dream in my heart “Real estate” I was a realtor licensed in another state. One thing that I knew….
I didn’t want to work for a real estate broker. I wanted to own my own real estate franchise. I had questions about owning a franchise. So I talked to a male broker who owned a real estate franchise. I was told by him that I would fail. Why? First, I was a woman and two, that I was black. I thought to myself, did he just say that out loud? What his goal was to stop me from buying a real estate franchise.
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What he did made me mad. I had to prove him wrong. I was not going to fail. What was meant to stop me made me stronger. I actually bought my real estate franchise. Then 3 months later we had the housing crash. I “self-taught myself on running a successful real franchise during the biggest housing crisis of 2007.
I had to prove that broker wrong. Even with a housing crash. I did show him the power of a woman in real estate. My franchise won # 1 in income, recruiting real estate agents, and the fastest-growing real estate franchise. I was honored to be featured as the first none Texas-licensed franchise owner in a Texas real estate magazine.
What was meant to hurt me made me a stronger woman and business owner. To be honest, it’s still a man’s world in business. The difference now is I’m a boss. I seat in business meetings with other male owners and I’m respected. As a woman coach. I teach other women how to be the boss in any room.
As you know, we’re big fans of Empower Business Group. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m a start-up business coach/Author/ Public Speaker. My specialty is new entrepreneurs. I understand their journey because I was a start-up 18 years ago. I’ve had multiple successful companies all built from the ground up. I’m a keep real type of coach. I believe in education as a new entrepreneur. I educate thru coaching, thru my books(cliff note), and thru workshops.
I’m also a powerful motivator for other women entrepreneurs thru my experience. I teach about how to be a boss as a woman.
My education for High school students: (Makes me different) I always see myself in them when I was in high school. Something that is close to my heart. The next generation of future business owners. I’m proud of helping high school students.
I’m working with high school students with educational programs working with schools on financial literacy thru my book” The ninja guide to financial literacy for high school students”, “It’s used in the classroom to teach the high school student. Something that I didn’t have.
High school students who really don’t want to go to college. “The untold secrets for high school students that don’t want to go to college”
My new book: Future teen girls bosses.: There were no books for future teen girls entrepreneurs. So I wrote my first in a series to teach teen girls how to start their first business ” The Strategies to become a Teen girl boss”
My brand:: I help new entrepreneurs take their dream and turn their business into an income-producing business. I educate high school students.
Empower Business Group:
Services for high school education programs
Services:: (Entrepreneurship) I do one: one coaching and Group coaching and business workshops
Corporate credit building services for new start-ups
How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck. I’m a woman of faith. I believe that faith will help turn what was meant to hurt you. It will be turned around in your favor. Like what happened to me. I had to work hard to turn it around. But I did. I believe he was placed in my life for a reason.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.empowerbusinessgroup.com
- Instagram: Empower Business Group
- Facebook: Empower Business Group
Image Credits
Joseph Brown
