Today we’d like to introduce you to Shahara Wright.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shahara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In January 2000, I founded The Wright Firm, PLLC. As the lead attorney, I provided small and mid-sized companies with legal and business strategies including entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, investor packages and contracts.
My practice included:
• Representation of a restaurant in its reorganization and offering of common and preferred stock.
• Represented a Houston businessman in the acquisition of an amateur football franchise.
• Represented a Pawnshop in connection with the sale of assets and transfer of license of the company.
• Represented a utility company in reorganization and advisement of Board Members in creating a Limited Partnership.
I was great as an attorney, but I had no idea what I was getting into running my own business… I was an attorney running my own business and advising business owners but I had no idea what running a business was all about. As any self-respecting attorney, I researched, asked questions and learned the hard way.
I realized that a lot of my clients’ legal issues were a result of poor business management. So I took a select group of clients and worked with them to create a more sustainable business. The results were successful and I wanted to continue to help other businesses on a bigger scale.
I started The CEO Effect, LLC to work with business owners who want to implement a strategy to build capacity. This includes strategic planning, experimentation, and training. I wrote a book called From Entrepreneur to CEO and won the 2017 Independent Author of the Year Award (Small Business).
I also created a videocast and podcast called CEO Collaboration Circle. There I interview business experts to help business owners learn from the best. I also created a series of training courses for business owners to help them create a sustainable business.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not my intention to start my own business. Many business owners start because they have some dream or desire that they can only achieve through business ownership. For me, it was the opposite! I could not find a job. So I started my law firm to survive.
I think that is why my road was not only bumpy but also unpaved at times. In 2010 my law firm was doing great and I was finally feeling like I was making the money that I desired. In 2011, the effects of the 2008 recession hit my business hard. I didn’t really expect it to happen and I thought I was immune. I was wrong.
In 2012, I began to work with a start-up that manufactured a baseball training product. Things were going well and I thought that I would work full time in this business. In 2015, the founder decided that he did not want to continue the business despite the success. I was devastated. In addition, I separated from my husband. Let’s just say that 2015 was not a great year.
Just as I started to rebuild my business, I had to rebuild my life. I will be honest and say that is it a process that I am still going through. But I think that is the test of business ownership. You have to be able to manage your own life issues as well as business issue. Sometimes you do it well and sometimes you do not.
The CEO Effect – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The CEO Effect was created from a passion and a skill that I possessed. It took me a long time to figure out how to create a sustainable business with that skill. I am really good an organizational management. That skill along with my legal knowledge helps me to work with clients in a variety of ways.
I am a professional consultant with a legal background, who understands the needs and complexities of owning and operating a small business. We work with business owners that need help with scaling, building processes in their business, or create better cash flow.
Our unique perspective allows us to offer services to business owners that many other consultants cannot. We understand various industries and know how to ensure that each business owner gets the results that they need to make their business the best it can be.
I am most proud of the changes that I have seen in the businesses we have helped. Our clients are not only satisfied with the results but they often ask for us to do even more.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have two! The first being before my career started. I had my eldest son during my second year of law school. As you can imagine, finishing law school with an infant was incredibly difficult. When I graduated, my son was one year old. I studied and passed the bar on the first try! I am proud of that because I could have given up or stopped due to having a baby. But, I didn’t!
The second is starting The CEO Effect. It was the first time (since law school) that I did something that I really wanted to do. I was determined to create a business where I could help business owners with strategy and organizational management. I wrote a book, created a weekly video series and became an international speaker. I did this despite the many set back and frustrations that existed in my life.
I am proud of how I pushed forward despite the hardships.
Pricing:
- Business E-Courses $47.00
- Consultation $375
- From Entrepreneur to CEO $20.00
Contact Info:
- Address: 12603 Southwest Freeway, Ste.571, Stafford TX 77477
- Website: http://www.theceoeffect.net
- Phone: 281-980-2040
- Email: swright@theceoeffect.net
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ceoeffect
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/theceoeffect
- Other: http://www.youtube.com/ShaharaWright
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
