Experience the Valley (How I Almost Went Bankrupt)

In this episode, Luvvie dives deep into ‘The Crumbling’ – the most tumultuous period of Awe Luv Media – as it faces operational chaos, underperformance, and financial distress in the first half of 2023. Luvvie recounts experiences of unexpected challenges, including unmet deadlines, poor productivity, and critical financial losses that brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. Despite overemphasizing core values, setting clear priorities, and empowering the team, mistakes continued left and right, leading to the firing of all but one of seven internal team members.

In the midst of these challenges, Luvvie also celebrates the successful launch of her fourth book, ‘Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess,’ which, in spite of all the seemingly insurmountable hurdles, becomes a New York Times bestseller, providing a glimmer of hope and validation amidst the crisis. The episode reflects on leadership, the importance of trust within a team, and the personal and professional toll of navigating business failures, setting the stage for the next episode: recovery and rebuilding.

Podcast Producer: Letisha Bereola (Paradigm Media Group)

📕 Grab a copy of Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual

🔗  Connect with Luvvie Ajayi Jones

• Instagram & Threads (@Luvvie)
• LinkedIn
• Official Website (Luvvie.org)

🗣️ Engage

• Share your thoughts about the episode using the hashtag #ProfessionalTroublemaker.
• For episode transcripts, check out Luvvie.org/podcast

If you’re an aspiring writer, explore The Book Academy, Luvvie’s masterclass for aspiring authors! 📚✨