After You Work for a Genius, Can You Go Off On Your Own?

Marilyn Van Alstyne (pictured) left working for P. Diddy and started her own business, EMVE Management.  Here’s how her thinking went.

“After realizing that I worked alongside Puff for 20 years, I started to think to myself, if I worked for a genius and he has built all of this, what can I build on my own?” After long days of self-reflection, Van Alstyne did what millions of people yearn to find the courage to do: She quit her job.

Keep in mind that Marilyn started working for P. Diddy as an intern and felt she had landed her dream internship.

While still in high school, Van Alstyne traveled 1.5 hours each way to the Combs Office in Manhattan. Back then Uber did not exist, and taxi cabs didn’t come to her neighborhood, so she did what needed to be done.  While only being compensated with two tokens and $5 a day, Van Alstyne dedicated her life to being one of the most reliable and respected women at Combs Enterprises.

She did it all:  answered phones, reconciled accounts, everything to grow a business.  After 4 years, she became an employee. The rest is history.  Did she have doubts before she left?  You bet.

“For a while, I’d ask myself, what if I do not make it? Now that there is no Bad Boy or Puff to lean on, can I do this on my own?” pondered Van Alstyne. 

Read more to learn what happened with Marilyn and how she shares her top 3 money lessons.