In this episode of Women Run, we sit down with Kathleen Lawson, the Executive Director of Economics Arkansas. Kathleen shares her unexpected journey from a nonprofit leader to a successful "cocoa bomb" entrepreneur, sparked by a simple $10-Challenge.

Whether you are looking to start a side hustle or simply want to innovate in your current career, Kathleen breaks down how entrepreneurial thinking is a foundational life skill.

Key Takeaways

• The $10-Challenge: Kathleen turned a small experiment into a business that sold over $25,000 in products and reached 13 stores across Arkansas within a single year.
• Economics as a Life Skill: Economics isn't just about money; it’s the science of decision-making and understanding scarcity to make better choices in life and citizenship.
• Entrepreneurial Habits: Transitioning from "safe" thinking to "opportunity" thinking allows you to see problems as solvable business or mission-driven opportunities.

5 Ways to Think Like an Entrepreneur

1. Just Get Started: Don't wait for perfection. Kathleen started with a single photo on Facebook; the LLC, branding, and packaging all came later.
2. Embrace a Growth Mindset: Stay in a "learner" mode. Be willing to test new products and fail in order to find what truly resonates with your audience.
3. Know When to Pivot (or Stop): Recognizing when a project no longer fits your passion or scale is a skill, not a failure. Kathleen discusses her "long walk" strategy for making these tough decisions.
4. Focus on Your Unique Value: Understand specialization. Focus on what you are uniquely good at (like decorating) and delegate or automate the rest (like making boxes).
5. Look for Opportunities Everywhere: Train your brain to see "dollars" or solutions in everyday problems. High-level hiring often looks for this specific trait in employees.

Notable Quotes

"Economics is really just the science of decision-making... it really is such a foundation for life." — Kathleen Lawson

"I realized I could have very little risk and great reward by just taking a chance." — Kathleen Lawson