Anne Harrison enrolled in the Entrepreneurship Training Course at the end of 2008, with little idea of what business ventures were waiting for her after graduation. She had worked as an artist in the nonprofit world for a while, but craved the freedom of owning her own business. She knew she wanted to be her own boss, but only had a vague idea of the products or services she would provide.

Often aspiring entrepreneurs come in with a particular hobby or interest, but have a difficult time strategizing on how to turn something they’re passionate about into a viable career. Anne enjoyed helping others and was skilled at graphic design and illustration. She came in with the idea of “creating an artistic community,” and also had ideas of franchising. Her business ideas were all over the map, and the first few weeks of the course served as a time to reign in and refine the services she wanted to offer.

Angel Rodriguez, Empowerment Group’s Executive Director, was serving as the course facilitator. “Anne was like someone who was scared, trying to get on an escalator at the beginning of the course,” he reminisced. He compared her progress to a smooth glide after a rough start: once she finalized her idea and grasped the concept of marketing, everything else fell into place.

Many of the students have a distinct point in the Entrepreneurship Training Course when they finally begin to get it. Anne’s breakthrough came during the fifth week of class, when the facilitator introduces the concept of marketing and figuring out who your potential customers are. “She realized who her market really was, and the best way to go about making sales to them,” Rodriguez said.

The next week of class, the idea of value propositions was introduced. Rodriguez had the class think about the unique and important features of their product or service. “Anne became more comfortable talking about her business after writing a value proposition; she became confident and had clarity on the steps she needed to take to be successful.” It was then, at the course’s halfway point, that the idea for Mantra Studios began to take shape.

Anne decided to open a graphic design studio that specifically caters to small businesses and nonprofit organizations. By her final presentation, Anne had researched enough to have a marketing plan and pricing and service packages established.

Anne’s final action plan had included a schedule, allowing her three months to get started and finalize her legal paperwork. Instead of her planned pace, a businesswoman who had sat in on the final presentations decided to buy in immediately, also referring a friend.

A mere month after graduating from the Entrepreneurship Training Course, two months before she even expected to take on customers, she found herself with $3,000 in business. In September, Anne threw a launch party for Mantra Studios, to kick off her marketing campaign and to showcase good art and good design in the company of friends, family, and potential clients.