What's the reason why "making it up as you go" isn't working?

  Entrepreneur and Hero, Brittany Darrington, shares her experiences in business as well as tough-fought lessons.  

In the course of founding four companies during the past twelve years, Brittany Darrington has had her share of failings.

The first company she started was a clothing line for sorority members, struggled for five months without a single sale (which she refers to in"her "red bean and rice diet" phase). But after going back to drawing boards and developing an influencer-based strategy for marketing the next venture she launched saw a rapid start. Oil Digger Tees, a clothing line that has a southern sense of humor was able to generate $25,000 in the first week she launched.

Now Brittany is a marketing and business strategist aiding women to build highly profitable businesses that are automated online with . The group she founded, called the Corporate Misfit Club, has assisted over 3,000 women with the process of creating an online business.

Expert panelist on the event we're planning to hold, Self-Made ('s first-ever virtual summit) which will take place on 16 June 20th, 2020. Brittany shares her story of how she started out and the most important lessons she has learned from entrepreneurship.

  You've described yourself as a "corporate misfit" who managed to escape the daily grind working hours at the Fortune 500. What were you doing in that position?

I worked as a marketing manager for an energy firm, coming up with plans for marketing for our events and our products. When I was in the corporate world there was a custom of calling the person I was "The Governor" since, among the more than 1,000 employees, I knew everyone's name across all of the departmental offices. I told myselfthat "If I want to succeed at what I'm trying to do I must gain insight, so that the strategy will work from start until the end."

  What inspired you to escape your corporate work?  

Though the people were fun but I was feeling like I was doing the exact same every day, and day out. I began to feel that my daily routine was a routine. I knew exactly what I was going to do every single day.
 It was pretty boring, I'm talking about corporate. It was like I could just expand and develop in one specific position.

Ultimately, I started to realize I was a unfit employee in the workplace. I recognized that I had been trying to put me into a category which I wasn't meant to be boxed in. I'm thankful for working in the corporate environment however I was aware that I had much more to offer the world.

  You've had a couple of different businesses before you became a marketing strategist and business manager. Could you tell me about your first venture, and also your biggest error that you made

My first business was an online business. It was an online shop that sold women's clothes. As I was starting out, I went and bought everything I could. I spent tons of money for website creators and graphic design. I was trying to look like a million-dollar business at zero dollar.

There was no strategy : Who's coming? Which areas are my leads hanging out? What can I do to convert being a spectator to actually purchasing from me?

I believed I was an expert about marketing and business. Then I realized I didn't. I was like, "I need to go back to my drawing board. I must go back and start over."

  You often tell entrepreneurs, "You don't have to make it up by yourself." I think a lot of entrepreneurs feel like that's exactly what they're doing. When did you realize that planning was essential for success in your business?

My subsequent business, an online retailer known as Oil Digger Tees, started off as our own print shop, with our own design team. We've always had inventory at the perfect amount.

The shirt we had stated "Brunettes Are Slayed!" and another one with the words, "Blondes Come to Slay." We discovered that many people with brunette or blonde hair were wearing these shirts, and post them online.

A few days later, all of a sudden the lady appears to the TV in one of our shirt. It was on the Bravo TV series "Vanderpump Rules." We had no clue when we saw it. In one night, we received about 1,500 requests for one t-shirt. Then I thought, "Oh my gosh, what is going on? What just transpired?"

. Image credit: Oil Digger Tees Facebook page

We didn't have inventory for the item, so we were freaking out. We were in production mode for days. Well, shortly after, the show re-aired, and it kept re-airing.

And it didn't stop at that point. It was just a matter of time before we started to see more and more of the same people as Ben Haggard wear our shirt with the words, "Haggard Swagger." We were like, "Oh no, this happens."

  What did you do to solve the issue of unexpectedly large volume presales?

We began to find and outsource designers, and we also started outsourcing new production companies. We noticed that we were outgrowing what we were doing and needed to move up a notch.

Then I've incorporated my knowledge from the world of e-commerce and applied it to the field of e-learning. I've got clients that provide consulting and coaching which have a cap at how many customers can purchase. It's crucial to create a waitlist and plan on the next step if you have to sell out of spots.

  The second wholesale and e-commerce business did well, selling in 700+ stores around the globe. How did you end up selling that business after three years of starting it?

I was a prisoner within my own business. I shed a lot of horrible tears within that company and also. There were many good times, however at the time of my departure, I wasn't in business to be stressed out and overwhelmed every everyday.

I was on the job all night, weekends, pretty much all day. It was necessary to cancel my trips with my family since we were juggling so many orders to complete. I was like, "I can't go. Sorry. Love you." That's the reason I regularly preach in order to help people live an existence of liberty.

  Have you made any new discoveries that you've come across during your business of coaching?  

What ever you choose to do, we will help you make it a viable business online. My client is a trainer for dog walking. I have a client who shows how to be recruited to play softball. There is another client that shows how to consume sugar-free.

It's amazing because regardless of whether they're from various industries, the procedure doesn't change. The only difference is that we'll require a new approach on some of the approaches we take to our clients.