Woman left corporate job to start her own company; failed, tried again

Five years ago, I walked away from a six-figure marketing director position at a Fortune 500 company to chase my dream of building a sustainable fashion startup. The first attempt failed spectacularly, but the lessons learned paved the way for eventual success.

My initial venture, an online marketplace for eco-friendly clothing, seemed like a perfect match for my corporate marketing experience and personal values. I had market research, a solid business plan, and $50,000 in savings.

Within 18 months, I had burned through my savings and racked up $30,000 in credit card debt. The marketplace struggled with inventory management, supplier relationships, and customer acquisition costs that far exceeded projections.

The failure was devastating, both financially and emotionally. I had to move back in with my parents at age 32 and take a part-time retail job to cover basic expenses.

During that low period, I analyzed what went wrong. I had focused too heavily on the marketing side while neglecting operations and supply chain management. I also underestimated the complexity of managing multiple vendor relationships.

Eighteen months later, I launched my second company with a narrower focus: custom sustainable workwear for corporate clients. This time, I started with just one product line and one manufacturing partner.

The key difference was starting smaller and focusing on cash flow from day one. Instead of burning through savings on inventory, I used a pre-order model that required customers to pay before production.

I also leveraged my corporate background more strategically, targeting companies I understood rather than trying to appeal to all consumers. My first client was actually my former employer, which gave me credibility with other corporate buyers.

Three years later, the company generates $2 million in annual revenue and employs twelve people. We've expanded to five product lines while maintaining our sustainable manufacturing principles.

The experience taught me that failure isn't the end of entrepreneurship – it's often the beginning of real learning. My first venture failed because I was naive about operations, but those lessons became the foundation for success.

For anyone considering leaving corporate life for entrepreneurship, remember that the skills you've developed are valuable, but running a business requires new competencies. Don't be afraid to start small and learn as you grow.