She's So Lucky

#339: All month long on The Business of You series, we’ve been talking about building, but what happens when you feel the pull to walk away? That’s what we’re covering in our final installment with Essence Iman, ex-founder, writer, and the voice behind Slutty Founder, one of the most honest and entertaining spaces on the internet for real talk about business.
Essence built an award-winning, cult-favorite body care brand from just $200. She gained industry recognition, built a real community around it, and then did something most people couldn't wrap their heads around: she walked away, happily and on purpose.
In this conversation, we get into what it really means to trust yourself enough to close a chapter — and why that decision doesn't have to come with a catastrophe attached to it. We talk about the founder mentality and what all of us, business owners or not, can learn from it. Essence breaks down why you should never take yourself off the pedestal, what it means to tell your story like you know how you got there, and why "you know what you’re doing" might be the most underrated piece of advice.
We also get into the beauty industry — why it's become so crowded, why it continues to be such a difficult place to build, and where Essence thinks the real opportunities are for women ready to build something different.
This episode is for you if:
You're questioning whether it's time to walk away from something — a job, a business, a chapter.
You struggle with imposter syndrome or have a hard time owning your wins out loud.
You've been thinking about starting a business but feel locked into the idea that it has to look a certain way.
You want to understand what a portfolio career actually looks like in practice.
You need someone to remind you that your success is not an accident.
You're building something and want the kind of real, unfiltered founder perspective you're not going to find in a business book.

Episode Links:
Learn more about Essence & Slutty Founder, go to sluttyfounder.com
Follow Essence on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essenceiman/
Follow Essence on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@essenceiman?lang=en
Subscribe to Slutty Founder on Substack: https://www.sluttyfounder.com/

Sponsors:
Free People Movement: Visit fpmovement.com to shop their full line of activewear.
Rula: Rula makes it easier to find licensed therapists and psychiatrists who are actually in-network with your insurance. Visit rula.com/lucky to get started.
NOBULL: Exclusively for She’s So Lucky listeners, NOBULL is offering 35% off your first order. Visit nobullproject.com and use code DMLUCKY for 35% off your entire first order.

Connect with Les:
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.
Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#338: In this week's episode of The Business of You series, I’m sitting down with investor, advisor, and operator KK Hart to talk about what it really means to treat yourself like an asset.
KK has spent her career evaluating businesses — where value is created, where it leaks, and what actually drives long-term growth. But the real insight? Applying that same lens to ourselves.
In this conversation, we unpack the mindset shifts that move you from simply having a job or business to building an ecosystem of ownership, investments, and opportunities. KK shares the story behind building her first millions, the secret wealth-building strategies people don’t talk about, and how thinking like an acquirer — not just a founder — can completely change the trajectory of your wealth.
We also talk about the emotional side of success because the business of you isn’t just about what you build — it’s about how you value yourself, structure your life, and decide what freedom actually looks like.
This episode is for you if:
You want more ownership in your life and career.
You're ready to start thinking like an investor, not just a worker.
You’re building something but feel unsure about funding, exits, or scaling.
You’re intimated the intricacies of investing.
You’re curious about investing, acquisitions, or alternative assets.
You want to learn about alternative investments like acquisitions and family offices.
You want to increase your personal “valuation” by developing the skills, mindset, and financial habits that compound over time.
You’re rethinking success and want to build wealth, freedom, and impact in a way that actually aligns with your life.

Episode Links:
Follow KK Hart on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kkhartinc/
Follow KK Hart on Youtube: youtube.com/kkhart
Connect with KK Hart on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kkhartinc

Sponsors:
Quince: Visit quince.com/BALANCEDLES to get free shipping and 365-day returns.
IM8: If you're ready to feel more like your best self, go to IM8HEALTH.com/lucky and use code LUCKY. You’ll get a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order.
Leesa: Go to leesa.com/LUCKY for 20% off mattresses through March 31st PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code LUCKY, exclusive for my listeners.
Shopify: Sign up for your one dollar per month trial today at shopify.com/balancedblackgirl
Equip: You deserve a life that isn’t ruled by food stress, shame, or constant overthinking. To learn more about Equip and see if it’s right for you, visit equip.health/lucky.
ButcherBox: As an exclusive offer, new listeners can get their choice between organic ground beef, chicken breast or shrimp in every box for a year, PLUS $20 off when you go to butcherbox.com/lucky.

Connect with Les:
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#337: Dry January + finding inspiration in the group chat can lead to a compelling fresh start.
In this week’s episode of The Business of You series, I'm joined by the founders of Sensori. Three best friends who took their business idea out of the group chat and into the world. Built on their shared curiosity around wellness, Shanna, Ashlyn, and Darean built a fast-growing functional beverage brand.
We talk about what it really looks like to build a business with your friends, the messy middle of figuring it out as you go, and why sometimes the smartest move is to move fast and trust that you’ll figure the rest out along the way.
From putting the first formulation on a credit card to raising their first round of capital and navigating the very real challenges of scaling a product business, this conversation highlights the what it actually takes to go from idea to execution without sugarcoating or glamorizing the early stages.
This episode is for you if:
You’ve thought about starting something with your friends and wondered if the idea in the group chat could become a real business.
You’re curious what it actually takes to launch a physical product.
You want an honest look at funding a business and betting on yourself.
You’re interested in cutting back on alcohol.
You want to understand how founders handle selling out of inventory.
You want insight into scaling from DTC to retail and distribution.
You’re building a brand and trying to turn audience into revenue.

Episode Links:
To learn more about Sensori visit: https://drinksensori.com/
Follow Sensori on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinksensori
Follow Sensori on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drinksensori
Read Darean’s pick, Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies by Chris Yeh and Reid Hoffman

Sponsors:
FP Movement: Visit fpmovement.com to shop their full line of activewear and workout gear.
Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to nutrafol.com and enter the promo code BALANCEDLES.
Honeylove: Save 20% Off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/LUCKY! #honeylovepod
Nuuly: Upgrade your wardrobe by subscribing to Nuuly. Nuuly is an incredible value at $98 for any 6 styles, and right now you can get $28 off your first month when you sign up at nuuly.com and enter code LUCKY at checkout.
Square: Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/lucky

Connect with Les:
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#336: In this week’s installment of The Business of You series, I’m sitting down with Alex Hill — recipe developer, community builder, and the woman behind Just Add Hot Sauce — to talk about what it really takes to bet on yourself as a solopreneur and what it truly means to stop letting people play in your face, including yourself.
This conversation is about the moment before the leap. The panic attack that becomes the pivot. The $25K savings goal. The train that’s moving whether you’re ready or not.
If you’re truly going to be the CEO of your life, it means you know your worth, and you move like it.
We talk about turning content into capital, building a brand without letting the algorithm own you, and why “being the product” is both the source of opportunity and pressure. Because it’s one thing to go viral. It’s another thing to build a business that can outlive the internet.
The Business of You is about ownership. Not just of your talent, but of your trajectory. This conversation is a masterclass in zooming out before the world decides your next move for you.
This episode is for you if…
You know you’re talented but you’re still figuring out how to think like the CEO of your own life.
You want to move from scarcity to leverage.
You want to learn the difference between being creative and being strategic.
You’re ready to build real ownership.
You want to stop performing for the algorithm.
You’re learning that saying yes built the foundation but saying no builds the future.
You’re tired of shaking your ass for Kohl’s cash and are ready to build real equity.

Episode Links:
Subscribe to Alex’s Substack Food & Feelings here: https://justaddhotsauce.substack.com/
Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justaddhotsauce/?hl=en

Sponsors:
IM8: If you're ready to feel more like your best self, go to IM8HEALTH.com/lucky and use code LUCKY. You’ll get a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order.
Monarch Money: Set yourself up for financial success in 2026 with Monarch. Go to monarch.com and use code LUCKY for 50% off your first year.
Equip: You deserve a life that isn’t ruled by food stress, shame, or constant overthinking. To learn more about Equip and see if it’s right for you, visit equip.health/lucky.
Shopify: Sign up for your one dollar per month trial today at shopify.com/balancedblackgirl

Connect with Les:
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#335: In this months solo episode I'm kicking off our series for the month of March, The Business of You, by having a very real conversation about what it actually means to be the CEO of your life.
I’m getting candid on where I actually am in my business right now — the uncomfortable questions I’m sitting with, the pressure of building something meaningful in a world that only seems to reward numbers, and what it feels like when your vision refuses to fit into a neat little content box. This episode is about identifying your real assets, cutting your liabilities, reclaiming your agency, and making CEO-level decisions for your life. Even when you’re still in the messy middle and don’t have it all figured out.
Let’s build the business of you intentionally and strategically.
This episode is for you if…
You’ve been building something quietly and you’re wondering if it’s enough.
You feel the tension between staying authentic and doing what “works.”
You know you’re capable of more, but you’ve been waiting to be chosen instead of deciding to choose yourself.
You’re tired of being valuable to everyone else but unclear on how to value yourself.
You’ve been focused on what you don’t have instead of learning how to leverage the cards you do have.
You want to stop moving like an employee in your own life and start thinking strategically about your assets, your liabilities, and your equity.
You’re ready to make at least one CEO-level decision this month. One that protects your peace, raises your standards, and moves you closer to your long-term vision.

Keep in Touch with Les:
Use code LES50 for $50 off of Botox at Peachy
Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
Follow Les on TikTok
Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

Sponsors:
Osea: Give your skin a rest with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. Get 10% off your first order site wide with code BBG at OSEAMalibu.com.
ButcherBox: As an exclusive offer, new listeners can get their choice between organic ground beef, chicken breast or ground turkey in every box for a year, PLUS $20 off when you go to butcherbox.com/lucky.
Rula: This year, make one change you can actually stick with. Visit Rula.com/lucky to get started with mental health care that’s actually built to last. #rulapod
RW Knudsen: With R.W. Knudsen, krush 100% of your day. Morning, afternoon, evening and all the moments in between — with 100% juice and no added sugar. Pick up a bottle at your local grocery store today.
Nuuly: Upgrade your wardrobe by subscribing to Nuuly. Nuuly is an incredible value at $98 for any 6 styles, and right now you can get $28 off your first month when you sign up at nuuly.com and enter code LUCKY at checkout.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.