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Dear Entrepreneur: Start Where You Are by Shemia A Williams

March 12, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Shemia A. Williams

Book Review

In her new step-by-step workbook, Dear Entrepreneur: Start Where You Are, Shemia A Williams is your guide to building a solid foundation for your brand or business, whether you're starting for the first time or catching up. It is a book that combines actionable insights with heartfelt advice—designed to guide entrepreneurs toward success and purpose.


Shemia A Williams, author of Dear Entrepreneur: Start Where You Are, says as an entrepreneur, “You’re not too late. You’re not too old. You’re not too far behind. You’re not too broke. You’re not too shy. You’re not too inexperienced. If you’ve already started and you feel like you need to start over. Do it. Reset. If you’ve started before and it didn’t work out, go to the head of the class. You’re already ahead of the pack. If you’re tired of starting over and you’re ready to make real progress…one step at a time, let’s get to work! If you haven’t started but want to get through the rookie stage more gracefully, this is a great place to start. BUT…If this is going to work, you have to be willing to start. Why not start where you are?

Author Quotes

Perhaps you are the rookie entrepreneur who is just about to start. You want to start strong and learn from the mistakes of those who have gone before you. Or maybe you are what I like to call the experienced rookie. You have entrepreneurial experience and you’ve learned quite a bit along the way. You still, however, need help course correcting, pivoting or rebuilding.

You will be guided through some important considerations that will help you to start where you are, know where you are going, and avoid some of the rookie mistakes that a lot of entrepreneurs make on repeat.

If you are thinking that this will be an easy, overnight process, let me save you some major disappointment in advance. IT WON’T…..Any successful entrepreneur will tell you  that this is part of the journey - especially if you are willing to play the long game.

About the author

Shemia A. Williams is an empowerment enthusiast, entrepreneur, coach and speaker. She is the founder of Borderless Creative Group, headquartered in the Bahamas but serving people worldwide. BCG is an agency that provides brand strategy, design, support and coaching for creatives, experts, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs. She’s most passionate about topics related to personal branding, entrepreneurship, digital skills building, and personal development. Known for her engaging, interactive workshops and practical frameworks, she's collaborated with various government agencies, non-profit organizations, churches, and individuals to provide tools to help millennials and early Gen Z's activate, elevate, and thrive. Shemia is the author of Dear Entrepreneur, a book series that combines actionable insights with heartfelt advice—designed to guide entrepreneurs toward success and purpose—and Arise: Devotions to Embrace Your Season of New Beginnings. When she's not coaching, training, or designing, Shemia enjoys leading worship at her local church in The Bahamas, mentoring budding entrepreneurs in high school, and exploring new ideas in social innovation, education, and collaboration.

www.bigboldborderless.com


Why LoA loves it…

Every successful business is built on a solid foundation, one with the right building blocks in place to ensure it can withstand all the challenges, hurdles and growing pains along the way. But creating that strong foundation takes work, learning, and planning. In her book, Dear Entrepreneur, Shemia A Williams helps guide entrepreneurs to build their businesses and brands by laying firm foundations that are set up for future growth. This is a practical, advice-filled book that is a good read for all those embarking on their entrepreneur journeys. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa

In Essential Tags Books
← Selusiwe Lukhele, an entrepreneur creating a vibrant cafe hub for local people to meet and connect in EswatiniThe Strange Value of Staying in Doubt: How Uncertainty Keeps Us From Change →

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


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LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
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Zanele Njapha, a transformational business leadership coach
Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer
Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer
Emilia Chisango, a multi-faceted business empire builder
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Morongwe Mokone, a passionate champion of artisanal homeware
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Tshego Molefi, a pioneer transforming the waste management industry

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c
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Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi
Image of the Day / Dokmai Rwanda

Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company
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Image of the Day / The Nanjala Company

Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized
Image of the Day / Sari for Change

Sustainable Sari Glamour - If you want to wear a robe that makes you feel and look glamorous, then Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, has a range of fabulous robes all made from sari fabrics. She has
Image of the Day / MonChoco

Pure chocolate heaven…If you are a chocolate lover, then you need to experience raw chocolate at its finest, and Dana Mroueh, founder of MonChoco an artisan chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire, has just what y
Image of the Day / Mulandi Brindes

Say it with flowers…If you want to make someone feel special, then there is no better way than with the gift of fresh flowers, and Mulandi Brindes in Mozambique, founded by Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, creates
Image of the Day / Mariée Eventos

The Wedding Planner…Every big celebration day needs great organization, and that’s where Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos in Mozambique, is your go-to person. She launched he
Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi
Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c Image of the Day / ReelFruit
 
Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi Image of the Day / Dokmai Rwanda

Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company Image of the Day / Eki Silk

Silk Serenity…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Her latest Deep Dive Collection is inspired by the p Image of the Day / The Nanjala Company

Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized Image of the Day / Sari for Change

Sustainable Sari Glamour - If you want to wear a robe that makes you feel and look glamorous, then Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, has a range of fabulous robes all made from sari fabrics. She has Image of the Day / MonChoco

Pure chocolate heaven…If you are a chocolate lover, then you need to experience raw chocolate at its finest, and Dana Mroueh, founder of MonChoco an artisan chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire, has just what y Image of the Day / Mulandi Brindes

Say it with flowers…If you want to make someone feel special, then there is no better way than with the gift of fresh flowers, and Mulandi Brindes in Mozambique, founded by Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, creates Image of the Day / Mariée Eventos

The Wedding Planner…Every big celebration day needs great organization, and that’s where Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos in Mozambique, is your go-to person. She launched he Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi

STARTUP STORIES. MEET THE WOMEN WHO’VE LAUNCHED.

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