As entrepreneurs, building your business is never easy – but what if you could get the inside scoop from someone who has gone through it all? Playing to win, Uyo Okebie-Eichelberger knows the struggle of that hustle. Successfully creating a seven-figure empire with the You! Lingerie and Preggo Leggings brands internationally, Uyo provides mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs to help them realize their dreams of jump-starting a business.
When Uyo became a mom for the first time six years ago, she was disappointed when all her options for nursing bras were drab, ugly and overpriced. The more she searched, the more unlikely it became that she would find something cute, durable and affordable. Spending more time researching, Uyo reached what she calls her “ah-ha!” moment. She decided to trade in her long days as a brand manager of Kraft Food’s Mac & Cheese for even longer days and nights as an entrepreneur.
Equipped with her Duke MBA and experience in the field, Uyo took matters into her own hands. Launching You! Lingerie – the leading designer brand of chic maternity and nursing intimates and sleepwear – in 2010, and then a second brand, Preggo Leggings, focusing on comfy, cute leggings for pregnant women, in the summer of 2014, she was taking the maternity industry by storm.
A badass mom, wife, CEO, and entrepreneur, Uyo is inspiring others to live, laugh, wear lipstick and kick ass in their goals. Check out a few tips she shares on boosting your business:
- Work on your business, not in When first setting up a small business, it will be impossible to be all in the details. Don’t get so heavily immersed in managing and running all aspects of the day to day that there is no time for anything else.
- Value your time. There are only 24 hours in a day – time is your most valuable asset. “Getting it all done” can be a common challenge, especially when you have a family to focus on as well, but the key is prioritizing. Keep a to-do list and focus on creating time for everything. This will keep you honest and mindful of where your time goes.
- Celebrate the small victories. Life as an entrepreneur is really Take time to celebrate the smallest wins. An unexpected feature in a major magazine? Order pizza for the entire team. Successful businesses acknowledge that it’s a race, not a marathon so enjoy the ride and honor the milestones along the way!
One of her biggest beliefs in the industry is how to stay on budget, below is a list of tricks and tips for anyone looking to successfully jumpstart a business!
Cash flow is the life blood of every business. Learning good budgeting tips can keep you from joining the list of small businesses that go under in the first 5 years. Here are 3 tips to help bring your stress level down & keep your P&L in the black:
- Think Big, Act Small. Like a big business, create categories for your budget like Marketing, Finance, etc.
- Be Proactive, Not Reactive. Keep track monthly on how you are doing. If the results are different from the plan, understand why. What must you do different next month?
- Over Estimate Expenses + Realistic With Cash Projections. No matter how successful you dream you will be, be realistic with your cash flow projections to avoid problems later. Overestimate your expenses so you’ll be able to accommodate surprises.
Being an entrepreneur is all the rage these days. Stay ahead of the curve and learn from the ultimate boss babe – Uyo Okebie-Eichelberger! Visit https://www.preggoleggings.com and https://www.you-lingerie.com to see first-hand what Uyo’s years of hard work, dedication and intuitive vision have created.
