Designer and entrepreneur Lisa Shaw-Brawley achieved success despite insurmountable odds. Lisa had cancer at age 24 and survived, going on to start her own company called Alphabet Moon, which specializes in decorative accessories for nurseries and children's rooms. The store's signature item are pillows shaped like alphabet letters, and Lisa's unique designs have been featured in a variety places, including the popular TV sitcom Friends.
A month after launching Alphabet Moon, Lisa's husband became sick at only 34 years old. Doctors diagnosed him with a very rare lung disease, and he passed away soon after. Throughout his illness, Lisa's husband refused to let her abandon Alphabet Moon. Lisa talks to Jean about how she overcame the obstacles in her life to find success:
Lisa started Alphabet Moon so that she could stay home with her son. She had no money but had a great web designer, and she knew that was the best way to reach her audience.
Lisa says she turned her life's downfalls into a positive experience. She kept a journal throughout her treatments, and by the end, she felt that she was supposed to turn it into a book to help others. Her book, Only When I Sleep, was published 10 years later.
She used her past experiences—in her case, promoting the book—to launch her first product. Lisa took a leap and called up the set director to land her product on the set of Friends.
Lisa says she looked for what she was supposed to learn from her experiences and what she was intended to pass on to other people.
She learned to delegate and pass on the tasks that she just couldn't handle.
Her advice is to believe in your self enough to pitch yourself to others, and never be afraid of a "no."
