working gROWTH Expert and investor Candy Valentino gave birth to adolescent parents in the small town of Pennsylvania. Her family lived in a trailer park and relied on the well -being and help of the government for much of Valentino's life, and when her father lost his work as a mechanic, he had only $ 200 in his name. When Valentino was five years old, her father negotiated a deal to start his own business in a basement garage.
Image Credit: Candy Valentino's courtesy
“From (it) time to age 16 entrepreneur. “Instead of learning the dance or football, I learned about business. I answered the phones, printed in the typewriter and interacting with the customers. I grew up within a small business. ”
So Valentino was well equipped to handle the day-to-day entrepreneurship when she decided to Start her business At the age of 19. Although Valentino had thought to be the first in her family to attend college, she read a book that said she should not pursue an expensive education to be successful – and make a lot of money.
Connected: 9 Side Hurry to make money quickly
“I wish I could say (my initial motivation was) super inspiring,” says Valentino, “but the only reason I wanted to start a business when I was younger was because I didn't want to be poor. I wanted to have a different environment. I wanted to have nice things, a beautiful home, all the things you see on TV.”
It was the late 90s, and the small business administration was looking to fund Entrepreneurial women. In the decade that leads to that point, women in business had experienced a lot of turn: by 1988, women could not get a business loan without signing from a male relative.
Valentino is very first business idea? A bath, inspired by her first visit on one on a trip to New York after high school graduation (her first overseas time). Someone had given her a gift card. Not only was the bathroom a relaxing place, with a pleasant smell to be, but it also seemed to be good business, attracting a sustainable stream of customers. Wouldn't women love it anywhere? Valentino thought. I have to turn this into my small town.
Valentino raised her idea in SBA, and the panel, which included five women from her six members, decided to give her a loan. “I often think this was a bit of a divine moment,” says Valentino, “because they had experienced all these (barriers to business) that I didn't do, and they gave me a loan“Valentino had 45 days to set up business and jogging; she had only enough money to open doors and hire some people.
Connected: 70 small business ideas to start in 2025
Spa was a success, and Valentino continued to pioneer in space, laying the foundations for an impressive business career that includes more than two decades. So far, self-made millionaire has started and sold two companies, helped build businesses in industry, founded nonprofits Heal the rescue of animals and placed a portfolio of real estate flowing into cash. It is also the host of Valentino caramel display and a more selling author, most recently EDGE 9%: Secrets that change life to create more income for your business and more freedom for yourself.
“I basically made CFO inside my company without a degree.”
One of the most important keys for so much growth and success, according to Valentino? Being ready to Work more than anyone else, especially in the early days.
“Even when you don't have all the right answers, even if you don't know what to do at first, for be successful In everything, we must have the courage to engage and the hardness to continue, “says Valentino.” We need to take more care of our dreams than other people's thoughts. “
However, starting a business is one thing, but keeping it – not to be done one of many who fail – It's another. Maintaining the moment of a business requires a set of completely different skills, says Valentino.
Connected: 10 Growth Strategies Every business owner should know
“Grit is what started me,” Valentino explains, “but Acumen financial is what made me continue. And it's the only thing that made me go out twice. The only thing that will separate you from everyone else is your ability to lead the company as it connects income and benefit. “
Lack of income, funds and profit is why most businesses fail, Valentino adds. Fortunately, Valentino loved mathematics and excavation in her business finances: accountingTaxes and p & ls – “all the boring things no one else wanted to do.” So she treated those tasks and hired employees for everything else.
“I basically made CFO inside my company without a degree,” Valentino says. “I developed the habit (of consideration), What should I pay attention to? Which numbers within my business are you talking to me? What data and metric do I have to learn? This shifted everything. This is when we went from only a small business that was successful escalation and placing yourself up to the exit. ”
Connected: What else is there for CFOs? Why are their developmental role critical in today's environment
“It became an example of real life of what is like being brave (and) leading to a space dominated by men.”
Valentino has also learned a lot about leadership over the years – inspired, in part, by some leader. Like many girls raised in the late 90s, Valentino says she heard a very common career question: “Do you want to be a teacher or nurse?” This is when she started looking at leading women like Mary Kay Ash, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and oprah. She remembers crushing quotes from them and touching them in her bedroom.
As Valentino entered the business world himself, one of its most important personalities mentor She was a woman named Anne Degre.
“It became an example of real life of what is like being brave (and) leading to a space dominated by men,” Valentino says. “It was in production, which I later came in, and even though our stories were very different-it was born into a very large company, and I had to build it-it was still looking to see how it sailed the spaces men sometimes didn't want it to be inside.”
Connected: How should the significant mentoring look for women employees
Since Valentino started her first business in 19, her early leadership style Mainly involved after the “golden rule”, treating others as he wanted to be treated. However, while the teams that Valentino led grew from 20 employees to 30, 50 and beyond, he saw value in another type of leadership: being good AND firm.
“Both can exist,” says Valentino, “and” is what is important – being kind, understanding and expecting greatness. Most people who work for me would say that I expect greatness not only from them but from us and the whole organization. When we (we accept) mediocrity, the company will not achieve what it can. Seeing people for those who are, even when they do not see them, it is critical – (how) it is calling them to that high version. “
“I knew exactly what I was talking about so that no one could throw me.”
As a woman in business, one of the biggest challenges has been often – and is still – making people take it seriously from the beginning. If she walks into the room with a man, it is not uncommon for people to assume that she is in a supportive role, she says. When Valentino was younger, the assumption worried him more. Then she began to see her as a “superpower”, an opportunity for Come on prepared and sets the tone.
Connected: The billion -dollar secret of Jessica Simpson: 'Being underestimated is a superpower'
“I knew exactly what I was talking about so that no one could throw me,” says Valentino, “and within a conversation, they knew who was responsible. That made me sharper than some of the men I interacted because they had the only advantage walking in the room and all assuming they are assuming HEAD And they will do whatever they say. And sometimes, they were not as prepared as I did. “
There is still a lot of room for growth when it comes to support Women in businessSays Valentino. She notes the need for more professional women in finance, venture capital and private capital. If a woman is interested in penetrating those areas, it's time to double and realize that she is more capable, according to Valentino.
Connected: The chances are still accumulated against women in business. Here's how young women can oppose them.
“(It'S'S ready) knowing that you have done some of the most difficult things in your life,” Valentino explains. “To understand Finance In your business it is really nothing (compared to) having a child delivered to you who have to leave the hospital and grow. Let's be true: that's the hardest way.
“Sometimes women underestimate their power because they think, Oh, I didn't have this experience, OR They are not taking me seriously“It continues.” But we are not taking us seriously so seriously to command the rooms we walk in – here is the biggest level of growth that still lives for women today. “
This article is part of our constant series of women entrepreneurs who highlight stories, challenges and triumphs of a business as a woman.