“Trust yourself and your instincts. Don’t let people deter your enthusiasm. And if you fail, fail fast and have no regrets.”
– Martha McCarthy Krueger, Co-Founder and CEO, The Social Lights
Starting a business fresh out of college is a big risk. It’s an even bigger risk when the business is based on a new idea that can be misconstrued as a fad. Martha McCarthy Krueger co-founded The Social Lights, a women-owned marketing agency that specializes in developing social media strategies and content for businesses. She pursued her dream despite many doubters insisting she’d fall flat on her face.
Forging Her Own Path
“In founding The Social Lights, the most difficult hurdle we had to overcome was pushing ahead despite skepticism, rejection, and negativity,” she said. “At every stage of the startup journey, I heard comments like ‘your idea will never work,’ ‘don’t start a business based on a fad,’ and ‘no one will ever pay for that.’ There were dozens of naysayers,” she ruefully remembers. There were far too many pessimists and skeptics, with very few who truly supported Martha in her pursuit.
The discouragement came not just from friend and family; Martha faced the same negativity during pitch competitions, dealing with more rejection. “I continued hearing this when visiting prospective clients and partners,” she reveals. The comments and rejection started getting to her.
“In the beginning, it felt like they might be right. That our prized business idea was just a hobby and not a company with money-making potential,” she elaborates. It’s like walking on the edge; you know you are on a solid ground, but the fearmongers always keep reminding you that you are bound to fall off. It’s moment like these that you need to shut out the unnecessary noise and keep striving to pursue your dreams. Deep down, Martha and her business partner had complete faith in themselves and their idea.
Sticking to Their Guns
“If we walked away, we’d always regret it,” she said. They took the plunge and decided that if they couldn’t cut themselves a paycheck in 90 days, they’d call it quits. This time period wasn’t wasted. They put their heads down, worked tirelessly, and persevered believing in their dream. “We channeled the negativity into motivation. The difference between an abandoned dream and a multi-million dollar business is simply sticking to your guns,” she describes. This was exactly what happened with their now-flourishing business.
Martha McCarthy Krueger’s inspiring and relentless striving shows that perseverance plays the biggest role in success. You shouldn’t give up on your dreams, even when it seems like the whole world is against you.
