Today we’d like to introduce you to Ada Crenshaw.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Ada N. Crenshaw. I was born and raised in Natchitoches, Louisiana. I am a PROUD graduate of Grambling State University, Class of 2001.
Growing up, being an entrepreneur was far from my mind. All I knew was to go to college, graduate, then start working in corporate America for years until I retired around 62. Right out of college, I was hired by The Boeing Company as a contractor to work in the Aerospace & Defense Industry in the engineering field in Los Angeles, California. I spent eight years in Southern California working for a few other Aerospace & Defense companies.
In 2013, I decided to move to Dallas, Texas, to be closer to my parents because they were getting older, and I wanted to get to them sooner rather than later quickly. Soon, my father’s health started to decline. At that moment, I was given the title of primary caregiver for both of my parents. I went from caring for myself to caring for my parents and myself. I didn’t get a heads-up to prepare; it just happened. So, I jumped in and tried to make sense of things. It was challenging, but I created a routine that fitted my lifestyle.
In 2015, my dad passed away. I was (and still am) a daddy’s girl. He was my superman; my blueprint for how a man should love and treat me; my protector; my best friend. I could talk to him about mostly everything. He taught me so much. As he was slowly passing away, I held my head to his chest and listened to his heart until it didn’t beat anymore; I felt so alone and scared. I still had so many questions. I thought I wasn’t ready to live life without him. But I couldn’t grieve for long because I had to kick into business mode. I had to start helping my mom plan a funeral and handle all business affairs. After some time, my mom and I are learning to live life without my dad. The love we have has made the healing process a little better. The hole and pain in my heart will never go away, but managing it is getting better as time passes.
Then, in 2021, after working 21 years in the Aerospace & Defense industry, I was laid off from The Boeing Company. It was a total shock. I felt like I was sucker punched in the stomach. The only thing I could think about was how will I take care of my mom. I promised my dad that I would take care of her. I panicked. I cried. I gave myself the weekend to be alone and be in my feelings. That following Monday morning, I had a moment of clarity. I knew what I had to do. I decided to take a bet on myself for once. I no longer wanted to make someone else a billionaire and help them create their legacy. So, I started my first company, Nfinite Legacy Mobile Notary. After starting that company, I relaunched Ada Crenshaw, LLC.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. When I decided to become an entrepreneur, I knew there would be challenges. I was ready to face my fears of being responsible for my well-being and caring for my mom. Working in corporate America made me comfortable because I got a check every two weeks, two weeks of paid vacation, health benefits, etc. I didn’t have to worry about things too much.
Days after I received my layoff notice, I knew I had 60 days to get my affairs in order. By the time I was debriefed and walked out of the company, I had health insurance, vision and dental insurance, and finances in order. I set a budget for my personal life and business.
During the first year of my first business, there were days I felt like giving up. I wanted to stop because things were getting hard. I tried to find a mentor and didn’t find one, still haven’t found one. But, in my soul, I couldn’t stop. I had to push through and keep going. Thinking about my mom, dad, and grandparents lit a fire inside of me. I had to do this for me and my mom. The fact of wanting better for myself and not wanting to return to corporate kept me going.
The lessons I learned along the way prepared me to start my second business. It felt easier the second time around. I am glad I didn’t give up.
As you know, we’re big fans of Ada Crenshaw, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Ada Crenshaw, LLC was born out of passion. I started the company while I was working in corporate, and I quit because I was working 9-12 hours a day some weeks. The work environment was so toxic and stressful that I could not devote the time needed to get the company off the ground. When I got off work, I would go home and completely shut down. Now that I am in charge of my destiny, I decided to rebrand and relaunch.
We are a boutique consulting and advisory company that provides services for small and medium-sized businesses. We demystify the business startup process and help clients execute their big vision. Every entrepreneur knows how daunting it can be to grow a startup. While being in a business of any kind has never been a cakewalk, startups initially require disproportionate sweat equity and support.
I have a team of experts working together to help clients start, grow, and maintain their businesses. We have experts in the fields of Business Planning, Estate Planning, Health Insurance, Web design, Business Credit, Marketing, Business Formation, Software Migration, and more. Our clients will be able to start and complete the startup process all at one time. So instead of going to different people or places to get the job done, they will come to us, and we will help them take it from startup to business launch, whether it’s online or a storefront. We also help seasoned businesses with tech evaluations, gap analysis, restructuring, business plan updates, and more.
We primarily support businesses in these industries:
• Nonprofits
• Technology
• Medical Practices
• Retail
• Consulting
If you’re ready to transform your business, come work with us. We have a team of experienced professionals who can provide the guidance and resources you need to reach your goals. We’ll work with you to create a tailored plan that is unique to your situation, objectives, and resources. With our help, you can create a strategy that will enable your business to reach its fullest potential. We’ll be there to support you every step of the way, helping to ensure that you accomplish your goals as quickly and efficiently as possible. With our help, success is within your reach.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned so far is letting go of wanting to be in control and allowing God to handle everything. For far too long, I felt like I had to control every aspect of my life. I was mentally stressed out and tired. I finally realized that God knew me before my parents thought about having me. He knows my beginning and end. He wrote my story. He has a purpose and plan for me. So why should I worry?
I am teaching myself every day to pray and let go. I fight my battles with prayer. God handles my battles. When I sit down and allow Him to talk to me and listen, I get the best results. Because God has shown me how good and faithful He is, I want His will, not mine. When He blesses me, it’s greater than what I thought I wanted. I am at peace knowing God is in control.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adacrenshaw.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ada_crenshaw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdaCrenshawLLC
Image Credits
Willie & Kim Photography
