Harrison: What advice would you share with up-and-coming entrepreneurs?
Westergren: The best piece of advice I ever got was from my wife, which was “Don’t be self-conscious about being an entrepreneur.” I think most successful companies go through some kind of trial by fire. During that time, you’re borrowing — you’re borrowing people’s time, you’re borrowing goodwill, you’re borrowing money. You’re begging and borrowing. And that can begin to make you feel self-conscious, feel like you’re failing or that you’re a leech.
It takes a lot to stay committed, and I think a big part of that is accepting that, “Okay, I signed up for this. I’m building a company, and part of building a company is that I have to borrow.” I think that’s one of the big hurdles for entrepreneurs, to stick with it when you feel like you made a big mistake.
Read the entire post here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/when-we-were-small-pandora/2015/02/06/11ad75f4-ad5c-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_story.html?tid=sm_tw
Gresham W. Harkless Jr.https://iamgresh.com👤 Author Name: Gresham W. Harkless Jr.
Title: Franchise Broker & Entrepreneur | Founder, Blue Star Franchise
Experience: 15+ years in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business growth strategy
Location: Washington, D.C. Metro Area, USA
About the Author
Gresham W. Harkless Jr. is a seasoned entrepreneur, franchise broker, and the founder of Blue Star Franchise, where he helps aspiring and established business owners find the perfect franchise opportunity to match their goals, lifestyle, and financial vision.
With over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and business development, Gresh has worked with hundreds of CEOs, founders, and small business owners through his media company Blue 16 Media and the I AM CEO Podcast, which has featured over 1,600 interviews. His unique background gives him a deep understanding of what makes a business succeed — and how the right franchise can change lives.
A proud member of the Franchise Broker Association (FBA), Gresham brings a consultative and client-first approach to franchise matching. His mission is to help people “run their race” by finding franchise opportunities that align with their purpose, skills, and lifestyle.
📚 Credentials & Affiliations
Certified Franchise Broker – Franchise Broker Association (FBA)
Founder – Blue Star Franchise & Blue 16 Media
Host – I AM CEO Podcast (1,600+ episodes)
Featured in – 50+ Black Marketers on the Rise, Influencer & Media Innovators (2022)
B.S. in Business Administration – Howard University
