By: Pearlyne Paulemon
Aha!
If you are an avid Oprah Winfrey fan, you know how she famously discusses the “aha” moment. The expression is one used to describe, “A moment of sudden inspiration, insight, recognition or comprehension.” For Cebrum George II, our March Entrepreneur of the Month, that “aha” moment occurred when he realized his daughters had fallen victim to the sensitive skin affliction he had endured for many years. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands, quite literally, to alleviate those skin difficulties. Cerebrum’s “aha” moment was unequivocally attributed to his daughters and his desire to provide them relief.
After having successfully created his own personal skin remedy, Cebrum George II launched NūBorn Skin: a skincare line using all-natural ingredients measured, mixed, and specially processed. What began as products used exclusively for himself and his daughters for thirteen years, turned into a full-fledged business changing the way customers enjoy their skin.
As I interviewed Cebrum, Creator and CEO of NūBorn Skin, entrepreneur, and proud father, I realized I had encountered not just any entrepreneur, but an unconventional one.
from employee to entrepreneur
With a production and managerial background in engineering, Cerebrum never expected to fall into the title “entrepreneur.” What he did know was that working the regular 9-5 wasn’t meant to be. With this in mind, his intellectual curiosity led him to help his daughters while exploring his capabilities as an entrepreneur. It wasn’t until family and friends commented on his glowing, blemish-free skin that he realized he had hit a gold mine with his products.
“When customers came back with testimonials with how my products had helped them, I knew It would’ve been a disservice not to share my personal remedies with the world.”
Coming from a production background in supply chain management, Cebrum always knew he eventually wasn’t going to work for anyone. Back in 2008, unbeknown to him, he had created his way out of the 9-5. But NūBorn Skin did not come without its challenges.
“Being a novice was a challenge, never having any business experience to help. However, it allowed me to use my critical thinking in research skills.”
Cebrum utilized the knowledge he obtained as an employee for his business endeavor. Cebrum figured out that his experience as a supply management employee had instilled in him entrepreneurial skills. Though not having much business experience proved to be initially burdensome, he used his managerial training as a foundation to aid his business. In many ways, the approach often used by entrepreneurs mirrors the legal profession. This is displayed through the creative ways attorneys advance in subjects they may not be too familiar with.
The power of word-of-mouth marketing
Cebrum is not just the creator and CEO, he also handles all the aspects of his entrepreneurial endeavor. He calls it an “everything myself LLC.” It means he is busy handling accounting, marketing, financing, product creation, and more. With all this responsibility solely on him, he credits the testimonials of his customers as the grounds for his success. It takes a strong and determined individual to handle all aspects of their business.
Most entrepreneurs understand the value of customer satisfaction. A review can make or break a business. Cebrum recognized early on the importance of his customers’ positive feedback. There is a particular benefit in using word-of-mouth as a marketing tactic. Put quite simply, most people trust recommendations. Just look to Yelp.com where millions of people go to access reviews of businesses, restaurants, and more. Still not convinced by the word of mouth marketing? According to Nielson’s Global Trust in Advertising Report, the most credible advertising comes straight from the people we know and trust. More than eight-in-ten global respondents (83%) say they completely or somewhat trust the recommendations of friends and family.
Cebrum mentioned that he had to get comfortable with the realization that he made a product that didn’t just work for his family, but everyone else. His clientele base grew exponentially as more and more people tried his products. That’s when he realized the power of the word-of-mouth marketing
“It was too good to be true, I couldn’t accept that I made a good product. But I believed in what I had and the rest is history.”
six must have skills for entrepreneurs
Cebrum’s journey to entrepreneurship wasn’t exactly planned like other entrepreneurial paths. Cebrum took on the task of solving a problem, and it turned out that his solution led him to a successful business. Much like lawyers, entrepreneurs must put on the problem-solving hat to solve issues pertaining to their business. Here are six must-have skills for someone who is interested in becoming an entrepreneur, according to Cebrum:
- Trust your intuition. No one knows your product more than you.
- Be open to being around people who are smarter than you.
- Be a risk-taker. Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable is key.
- Be able to sell your product/idea to yourself. You have to believe in what you’re producing before anyone else will.
- Document EVERYTHING. Always write down novel ideas, formulas, and test trials.
- Be able to duplicate and improve on your entrepreneurial endeavor.
straight-Line trajectory
I asked Cebrum where he saw his business going. He responded, “Only up from here.”
Ultimately, Cebrum is committed to expanding his skincare line as well as his consumer base. As an entrepreneur myself, who is in the beginning phases of launching my own skincare line, I connected with Cebrum’s journey. The pure determination and perseverance Cebrum displays when it comes to his business are skills I hope someone will see in mine one day. It was a pleasure getting to interview Cebrum George II and I cannot wait to see the continued growth of his company.
For more information on NūBorn Skin click here .
Pearlyne Paulemon, at the time of this post, is a 2L at Penn State Dickinson Law. She is from Silver Spring, Maryland, and is a graduate of Denison University. She is interested in corporate litigation and Intellectual Property. Pearlyne is an entrepreneur hoping to start her own skin care business. She is the current Secretary of the Black Law Students Association and 2L Representative of the Student Bar Association.
Sources:
Photo sources:
https://www.nubornskincare.com/
https://www.under30ceo.com/why-i-quit-my-job-to-pursue-my-dream/
