Bianca B. King, President & Creative Director, Seven5 Seven3 Marketing Group and CEO/Founder, Pretty Damn Ambitious®.
When I started my first business, people thought I was out of my mind when I left my career in commercial real estate. Some laughed, others politely smiled, and a few questioned my sanity.
“Why not just stick to something more stable?”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
It felt like the world was full of doubters. And honestly? Some days, I doubted myself too. Creating a successful business is hard—really hard. The long hours, the financial strain and the moments of failure make you question everything. And then there’s the unsolicited advice, the skepticism and the thinly veiled judgment from people who don’t see your vision.
But here’s the thing about ambition: It isn’t about convincing everyone else. It’s about believing in yourself, even when no one else does.
The Early Days
Over 16 years ago, I launched my first business with $700, which I used to purchase a laptop and a round-trip airline ticket. That’s it. I didn’t have investors or even a formal business plan. What I did have was ambition, a willingness to learn and an unwavering belief that I could build something extraordinary.
Those early days were tough. I wore every hat—marketing, sales, admin, operations—and I made plenty of mistakes. However, I also learned how to turn a small budget into significant results. I figured out how to connect with clients, deliver real value and reinvest my profits back into the business.
Fast forward to today, and the numbers speak for themselves. I’ve helped my clients generate over $277 million in combined revenue through my work. That’s the power of ambition—when it’s aligned with purpose and strategy, it becomes unstoppable.
The Lonely Road Of Entrepreneurship
In the early days, being an entrepreneur feels like standing at the edge of a cliff with no safety net. You’re making decisions with imperfect information, juggling ten different roles and trying to keep faith that it will all pay off.
You’ll hear phrases like:
• “Why don’t you just get a real job?”
• “Hmmm, that seems risky.”
• “I don’t think that market is big enough.”
And then, when you finally break through, the revenue starts, the recognition follows, and the doubters suddenly see what you were building all along. Those same people will say, “I always knew you could do it.” The irony isn’t lost on me.
Ambition As An Entrepreneur’s Compass
What gets you through those early days isn’t external validation. It’s your ambition.
But not the hustle-until-you-drop kind of ambition society glorifies. I’m talking about the kind of ambition that comes from deep within—the one that aligns with your values, fuels your purpose and lights you up even when the world feels heavy.
Ambition is your compass. It reminds you why you started in the first place and keeps you moving forward when the road gets rough.
For me, it meant:
• Trusting my vision when no one else could see it.
• Setting boundaries so I wouldn’t burn out.
• Learning to pivot when something wasn’t working.
• Celebrating small wins to keep my momentum alive.
The Shift From Crazy To Genius
The funny thing about ambition and entrepreneurship is that the world often doesn’t get it until they see results.
When I finally started gaining traction, landing clients, hitting milestones, growing my business, people’s attitudes shifted overnight. The same people who once doubted me suddenly wanted to know how I did it. They wanted advice, mentorship and a front-row seat to my success. They didn’t understand my ambition because they didn’t need to. My vision wasn’t theirs to see, but I saw it. And that was enough.
For The Entrepreneur Reading This…
If you’re in the trenches right now and feeling like no one gets it, I want you to remember this:
1. You’re not crazy for dreaming big. Entrepreneurship is inherently risky and uncertain, but that’s what makes it powerful. You’re building something from nothing, and that takes courage most people can’t muster.
2. They’ll believe in you—eventually. It’s frustrating, but people often need proof before they get on board. Don’t let their skepticism dim your light.
3. Your ambition is your superpower. When aligned with your values and vision, ambition becomes a tool—not a burden. Let it guide you, not weigh you down.
Lessons I’ve Learned Along The Way1. The journey is messy: Success isn’t linear. There will be missteps, wrong turns and failures. But those moments are where you grow.
2. You don’t have to do it alone. Build a network of like-minded people who believe in you even when others don’t. Find mentors, peers and a community that lifts you up.
3. Celebrate progress. Don’t wait for the “big win” to feel accomplished. Every small step forward deserves recognition. Those little moments of progress build momentum.
The Hard Truth About Ambition
Entrepreneurship is hard. But that doesn’t mean it has to be miserable. When you embrace ambition as a tool to create a life aligned with your dreams, the journey becomes less about proving yourself and more about enjoying the process.
Yes, there will be doubters, and it will feel overwhelming at times. And yes, you’ll want to quit on occasion. But if you hold onto your vision and trust your ambition, you’ll come out stronger, wiser and more fulfilled on the other side.
The world will catch up to your brilliance eventually; until then, keep going.
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