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Approximately 1.1 million new small businesses opened from March 2020 to March 2021, according to data from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For those looking to put a business idea into motion, however, doing so successfully can be difficult to navigate, especially if you lack motivation or experience. That said, there are plenty of celebs out there worth drawing inspiration from. From Kevin Hart to Kristen Bell and Jessica Alba, here’s how you can take a page from those who have fostered success.
Recognizing your strengths
While well-known for the voice of Frozen’s Anna and her role as Eleanor Shellstrop in NBC’s ‘The Good Place,’ Kristen Bell is also an avid businesswoman. Bell co-founded snacks company This Saves Lives in 2013, and launched the baby care company Hello Bello six years later with husband Dax Shepard, according to the CNBC article, which highlights a talk with Real Simple that elaborates on how she was able to lean into her own personal strengths in order to ‘facilitate better communication among employees.’
“I don’t have an MBA,” stated Bell. “I’ve worked with people who are amazing in front of a computer, but not as good with people. But there’s a place for that — for those of us who value the people over the process.” The CNBC post further highlights how Bell made up for her lack of prior business experience and degree by asking a lot of questions, something that any aspiring entrepreneur can take note of and apply in their own business ventures. “There’s the worry about looking foolish, but I’d disagree with that fear. I think you seem smarter when you ask questions, because your goal is to get information,” Bell said.
“In the beginning, I knew nothing.”
In addition to his impressive roster of stand up comedy specials, movies, and other media appearances, comedian and actor Kevin Hart is also successful in various brand partnerships and business ventures. According to an article from The Hollywood Reporter, Hart launched the Fabletics Men line in 2020, while in the spring of 2022, he launched his new media production company, Hartbeat (which attracted a $100 million investment from private equity company Abry partners). In May of 2022, Hart introduced his premium tequila, Gran Coramino. And, in August of 2022, it’s noted that he opened the first location of Hart House, a plant-based fast-food chain in Los Angeles’ Westchester neighborhood.
It’s important to note that Hart’s entrepreneurial spirit began even earlier in his career — according to The Hollywood Reporter post, he self-financed several of his early stand-up comedy specials, spending an impressive $750,000 in order to produce and release his 2011 special titled ‘Laugh at My Pain’ in theaters, where it grossed more than $7 million. “I wasn’t the businessman that I am today,” Hart said, going on to say, “In the beginning, I knew nothing. I was a sponge, and I soaked up a bunch of information from being around people that were doing the things that I wanted to do.”
For aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs, taking a page from Hart’s book and learning from others who are doing what you want to do can be a great way to learn. Getting a mentor, or even simply surrounding yourself with those who are a few steps ahead of you or who have gone through the process of starting a business before can all be great places to start. According to one article from Entrepreneur.com, “There’s no better way to navigate the challenges of running a business than getting sound advice from someone who is qualified,” going on to point out that a good mentor should possess a tract record of success, be passionate about what they do, and be open to answering your questions.
The importance of process and preparation
When it comes to garnering success in business, Jessica Alba, co-founder of the Honest Company, offers several pieces of advice when reflecting on her business venture, specifically regarding the beginning in a 2017 Inc.com article. When asked what advice she’d give herself if she could go back to day one of starting the company, she said “Process is so important. If we would have had processes laid out from day one on certain things, we would have been more streamlined and been more efficient across everything.” Alba reflects on the company’s first warehouse, stating “we had no idea how big a warehouse to have or how many employees to hire.”
In addition to the value of having a process laid out, aspiring business owners can also find value in preparation, especially when starting out. For those who are considering forming an LLC, enlisting the help of LLC formation services through companies such as LegalZoom is just one way to start your business in an organized, streamlined way. For instance, services such as filing your state LLC formation documents, generating custom Articles of Organization for your LLC, providing a financial account authorization letter, and returning your approved LLC documents within six weeks are all included in the Economy package alone. Reading comprehensive reviews of companies that offer LLC services — from LegalZoom to others like Rocket Lawyer, is just one way to ensure you’re well-prepared for the process and getting the right value for you and your business needs.
For those with a business idea, putting things into motion and actually forming a business for the first time can seem intimidating and even overwhelming. From the advice that seasoned entrepreneurs have given to those who have achieved great feats, drawing inspiration from celebs who have been there before and have succeeded can be a great way to get motivated.
