Notes From Good Soil Forum 2025: How to Future-Proof Your Business

Last week, I attended The 2025 Good Soil Forum, founded by T.D. Jakes and it was a fantastic conference!

The sessions were timely for the challenges we may be facing not just as entrepreneurs, but as Black people in general given the current climate of political and economic uncertainty in the U.S. and globally.

The speakers kept it real, inspirational AND strategic – which for me, is the trifecta of a valuable event experience.

Here’s a summary of my notes and takeaways from the “Innovate or Get Left Behind” panel!

1. Stay Authentic and Stop Shrinking

One of the most affirming messages from the panel was this:

Don’t take “Black” out of your name if that’s who you’re for.

In a world that often pressures us to water down our message, the speakers reminded us that authenticity is a value proposition. You don’t have to rebrand yourself to be more palatable. The right people will still find you and stay with you.

It’s not about competing with everyone else in your industry. Collaboration is the new currency. The market is big enough for us all to win, but we have to resist the scarcity mindset that tells us otherwise.

2. Keep Learning or Get Left Behind

If you want to stay in business, you have to stay informed. Period.

“When you stop learning, you stop living.”

Too many entrepreneurs get stuck because they stop evolving. Whether it’s learning about AI, new tech platforms, policy changes, or shifts in your industry, you have to be in the know or risk becoming irrelevant.

Future-Proofing Means:

Upskilling with certifications or trainings
Staying current with tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini
Learning soft skills like how to ask better questions
Watching YouTube tutorials to self-educate
Going outside your comfort zone and into the learning zone

Don’t let AI be your boss. Use it as a smart intern. You’re the executive.

3. Build with the Future in Mind

Future-proofing means planning for 2030, not just this quarter.

Innovation is essential, but the goal isn’t to be the first – it’s to be the best. Start mapping out where your industry is going and how your business can remain relevant.

Look for the market gaps. Who isn’t being served? Can you serve them?

Think Globally:

Study international markets
Follow global trends
Expand your mindset beyond your zip code

4. Fix the Leaks Before You Scale

Before raising money, fix what’s already not working.

Do you have a profitable business model?
Is your customer service excellent?
Is your communication clear and consistent?

Use your current job (or income stream) to fund your business and invest in yourself first. If you truly believe in your vision, you don’t need to wait for someone else to validate it.

5. Build a Winning Team (and a Support System)

You can’t build an empire alone.

Don’t be the “lone wolf” entrepreneur. That’s not sustainable or healthy.

Build a strong team and surround yourself with a personal “board of directors” – people who:

Call you out when needed
Pour into you on tough days
Hype you up when you’re winning

This might include trusted family, mentors, therapists, or colleagues.

How to Start Building:

Use LinkedIn to build your professional circle
Attend events and get out of the house
Be clear and bold when asking for support
Follow up consistently – because closed mouths don’t get fed

As Black women entrepreneurs, we often hesitate to ask for help, even when we have a network. It’s time to stop letting our social conditioning keep us from receiving the support we need!

6. Take Care of YOU

This one hit home:

“You can’t fix a machine while it’s working.”

Your creativity is your greatest asset, not AI. Make time for joy, rest, and memories. Entrepreneurship is already challenging; don’t make it harder by ignoring your health or well-being.

Self-Care is Strategy:

Prioritize your health
Make time to enjoy what you’re building
Create systems to give yourself more time
Be resilient, even when it’s hard

7. Book Recommendations from the Speakers

Here are a few powerful books shared by the panelists to help you grow personally and professionally:

Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon (innovation)
Start With Why by Simon Sinek (leadership)
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes (opportunity)
Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love, and Work by Daryl Fairweather
You Are Not So Smart by David McRaney
You Are Not So Dumb by David McRaney
Nobody: Casualties of America’s War on the Vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and Beyond by Marc Lamont Hill
The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs (also a film)

Final Thoughts

The world is changing VERY fast, however the core of building a successful business hasn’t changed:

Stay authentic. Keep learning. Build your village. And don’t forget to take care of the visionary behind it all…you.

Now is the time to prepare for the future you say you want.

If you’re ready to launch, relaunch or grow your coaching, consulting or service-based business, book a complimentary Business Breakthrough Session here: https://rosettathurman.com/breakthrough