"One of the biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make is that they can give up too soon."
Jessica Lipton
Jessica Lipton is a female entrepreneur with a lot of experience in struggling to achieve success in the face of bias and discrimination within the Cannabis Industry. Thankfully with the help of mentors, good friends, and customers that her products have had a profound effect on, she was able to overcome those challenges and do what she was always passionate about. Her company is called Elevate Delta 8.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Jessica Lipton: I’ve always been interested in the medical properties of medicinal marijuana. Many consider it to be a magical plant that has a plethora of medicinal benefits ranging from anxiety to pain relief. However, too much is can be counter-productive and can actually cause anxiety which is why I started to make Delta 8-infused products that are relatively mellow and do wonders for anxiety.
Was there somebody in your life that inspired you to take that specific journey with your business?
Jessica Lipton: 29-year old, Hope Wiseman, is the youngest female entrepreneur of color that owns a Cannabis dispensary in the U.S. She broke through cultural barriers and showed other women that it was completely acceptable and plausible to be successful in this industry. Her educational classes motivated me into becoming a better business owner while her life story inspired me to take the leap and start my very own dispensary.
What are the most common mistakes you see entrepreneurs make and what would you suggest they do?
Jessica Lipton: One of the biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make is that they can give up too soon. Not just on entrepreneurship in general but by giving up on a specific niche. yes, pivoting and moving on is crucial but I see aspiring business owners giving up too early and this can kill all chances of success for the future. It is important to be flexible and resilient which can only be achieved by making sure that all options have been exhausted before moving on.
Has the pandemic and transitioning into mostly online shopping affected your company positively or negatively?
Jessica Lipton: The pandemic actually helped the Cannabis Industry in ways we never would have imagined. Before curbside pick-ups and deliveries were made illegal but the pandemic caused a few legislative changes to be made. Thus dispensaries were allowed to make deliveries and curbside pickups which boosted our sales to unprecedented heights. Online sales also increased dramatically which encourage us to update our online store and offer online-exclusive discounts.
In your opinion, what makes your company stand out from the competition?
Jessica Lipton: I believe that we offer a product that has a few differentiating factors that usually break other products for some consumers. Delta 8 has a distinct taste that’s not very enjoyable and can be found in many Delta 8-infused products. We made sure that our gummies actually tasted like gummies and nothing else. After various trials and many experiments with different combinations of resources, we were finally successful.
What do you consider are your strengths when dealing with staff workers, colleagues, senior management, and customers?
Jessica Lipton: I am a strong believer in a Democratic hierarchy within an organization. I believe that everyone within my business may have valuable input that that can offer which can be useful.
Many organizations maintain a conventional method of leadership when dealing with workers, colleagues, management but this can only be suitable for stagnant and old organizations that are in relatively stable industries. The Cannabis industry is frequently changing which is why we think it is so important to include all members of the organization in the decision-making process.
What have you learned about personal branding that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
Jessica Lipton: I wish I knew that my brand and I are and should be considered as one entity. If my brand is doing well that means I am doing well and am on the rise with it and vice versa. I would tell myself to take my personal image as seriously as I would my own brand as we share a common identity.
What’s your favorite leadership style and why?
Jessica Lipton: My favorite leadership style is being as democratic and inclusive as possible. This is extremely important as our industry is fast-moving and we need everyone to be dedicated and flexible.
A democratic leadership style encourages and empowers workers which eventually teaches them new skills and helps them grow. A democratic leadership style ensures that they’re happy and motivated enough to learn and work to the best of their abilities.
Do you think entrepreneurship is something that you’re born with or something that you can learn along the way?
Jessica Lipton: I believe there are features that you’re born with and skills that you can learn. Traits such as being open and having a good ability to network come from within. I think that would be difficult to teach someone that’s an introvert.
On the other hand, skills such as accounting, communication, and management can be learned and improved on over time which are just as important to have to be a business owner or CEO.
What’s your favorite “business” quote and how has it affected your business decisions?
Jessica Lipton: “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau. This quote really impacted the way that I worked as it showed me that true success doesn’t come from taking frequent breaks it comes from outperforming and outworking your peers in an attempt to be successful at whatever you’re trying to achieve.
This interview was originally published on ValiantCEO.
