Get Up and Grow, Class of 2026…
First and foremost, it is truly my honor to have been selected by all of you to close out our journey.Thank You.
I also want to take a moment to thank our leadership over these last several months. Dr. Haynes, thank you for holding the space, providing the guidance and the diversity of resources to support our becoming as business owner. For bringing us to our growth edge.
Thank you as well Chianna and Tuwana – for keeping us moving forward. The communication, resourcing, troubleshooting, weekly noontime knowledge- I know at times it felt like herding cats. And thanks to you – here we are.
And lastly, thank you to Mecklenburg County for investing in entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the future growth of Charlotte, North Carolina, and beyond.
There are 3 ways we show up in this world: Depleted – Replenished – our Nourished.
In the beginning we were – Depleted.
I find it quite fitting that our journey started in the dead of winter. Entrepreneurship is mentally and emotionally consuming in a way that is often invisible and isolating. We entrepreneurs carry entire worlds inside their heads that few people around us fully understand.
And more importantly you carry the weight of a beautiful vision that only you can see- one in which your business is literally a force for good in this world – and its heavy.
Then along the way - something shifted.
Maybe it was every temper tantrum that came with doing a 30-second pitch. Maybe the weekly report outs that of the victories. Maybe it was the care in which Dr. Haynes led this space every single week… the way he arranged the room, noticed the little things about us, and over time had our preferred snacks and drinks sitting in front of our name tags before we even walked into the room
Things that reminded us that we were being seen.
And -Somewhere along the way, we stopped just sitting next to each other and started showing up for each other.
This journey was not without its challenges. We celebrated some wins – and mourned some losses.
Supporting each other at events. Promoting one another’s businesses. Visiting each other’s workspaces. Learning not just what we do, but understanding the value each person in this room carries.
All that took us from Depleted to Replenished.
This is the “Get up” of Get Up and Grow.
Along this journey I’ve personally been reflecting a lot on the principle of leverage. The scripture says: “Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.”
Now personally, as far as I’m concerned – with entrepreneurship you need faith the size of a mango seed to simply survive.
I even purchased this necklace as a reminder – i looked at it the other day and said – faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountant. And it hit me. Faith – is the size of a mustard seed. Faith – the size of a mustard seed – can move mountains. There is no such thing as big faith or small faith – its just faith. This scripture is about the relationship between faith and its power not its size.
And I think that’s the real lesson of “Get Up and Grow.”
Replenished – is not enough. Support alone will not make us grow.
We will grow – when we begin to leverage each other.
Leverage is when we stop simply encouraging each other and start actually integrating each other’s value, expertise, relationships, and resources into the growth of our businesses.
And yes, I’m going to say the part nobody wants to say out loud… because businesses exist to create value, that growth should be reflected in real financial outcomes for all parties involved.
Growth requires leverage. And leverage requires courage. The courage to actually say:
“This is who I’m trying to become.” “
This is where I’m trying to go.”
“This is what I need.”
“This is what I can offer.”
“And yes… this is what’s in it for me.”
Because once we become radically honest about what we desire, what we want, and who we’re trying to become, it gives other people permission to be radically honest too. And we can DO something with that.
And when we actually leverage each other - we nourish each other. And our business’s becomes the highest version its self -
We go from being a force for good to a force for change.
Because nourishment happens when what one person has become fuel for another person’s growth.
And notice… It doesn’t take much. It’s literally the size of a mustard seed.
Congratulations, Get Up and Grow Class of 2026.
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