From Abuse to Award-Winning Entrepreneur: The Journey to Success, A Founder’s Story with Alesha Brown

Alesha Brown is the Founder & CEO of Fruition Publishing Concierge Services™, a hybrid publisher devoted to helping authors find their voice, monetize their expertise, and create profitable author platforms. Alesha’s work led to her receiving 2019 Inside Business Entrepreneurial Excellence award. Her expertise has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Authority Magazine, Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and iHeartRadio, just to name a few.

I grew up in Hampton Roads, VA, an area full of beaches and military bases for all four branches. My childhood was far from ideal: I grew up in a two-parent household where one parent was my abuser, and the other suffered from mental illness. I always felt like I grew up with an angel and the devil in a Christian household, which only added to the confusion. As the daughter of a former school teacher, I taught myself to read at age four, and it was my love of books that actually saved my life.

Before 100 percent self-employment, I worked in Corporate America in the private and public sectors, including federal, state, and local government. In my last position, I was denied a salary adjustment which forced me to reevaluate my life and pursue my passions and dreams. I was a newly published author working on my second book, enjoying my media life as a podcast co-host, digital magazine contributing writer, and associate editor, as well as my small business/side hustle as an editor and author consultant. As the business grew, I was working around the clock at my job, taking extended lunches, and using paid leave to attend business networking opportunities. I was burning the candle at both ends and had to decide which path to pursue. I resigned from my government position, took a risk and leaped into 100% self-employment, and never looked back.

It’s imperative, to begin with, the end in mind and the type of company you want to build rests heavily on what your company’s core values are. Identifying and establishing a core set of values for your company helps to ensure that you build the type of company culture that lays the foundation for your business now and in the future. Key advisors are also important for accountability, sustainability, and especially to help you establish your business in the beginning. As you grow and scale, their role is essential to your success.