Inspiring Lives with "Her Secret Hair Obsession" CEO For Fashion Gxd Magazine
Written by Samantha Cee
This week Fashion Gxd Magazine sat down with A retail vendor that sales top of the line raw human hair as well as hot tools and accessories that aid in the everyday beauty! Take a look at our exclusive interview with the rising Her Secret Hair Obsession.
This brand Grand Opening will be 1/31/2020!!! Soft Sale going on now!
hshobsession.com
Social Media:
Facebook :@hersecrethairobsession
Instagram Accts: @newme_whou // @her_secret_hair_obsession
Twitter Accts: @estylezboutique // Snapchat : @ambitious_high
How did the idea for your business come?
My grandmother was the inspiration for most of my passion and dreams. She was the first entrepreneur I had met in the flesh. A hairdresser, a gardener, a chef and an owner of her own candy store. She was a jake of many trades. She taught me how to do hair at the age of six. I would help hot comb and curl hair as well as help braid my little cousins’ hair which turn into my side hustle very quickly. My grandmother would pay me for each client I assisted her with as a way of paying for helping her. I found doing hair fun and enjoyable. I soon went to cosmetology school where I was introduced to more way to be in the beauty industry without having to stand behind a chair. I did my research and made it my goal to own my own business. The vision started with owning my own salon, but I started to see a demand for beauty businesses where the owners and employees are people that look like me (black people). That’s where the idea for Her Secret Hair Obsession came to life.
How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?
It all starts with conversation. Through talking about my passion and promoting my businesses I have been able to network with different people who also share the same liking/passion or are business owners in the same industry. I try to make it my business to associate myself with people who are where I look to be in the near future.
What three pieces of advice would you give to other children who want to become entrepreneurs?
For every person who wants to create their own path in life I would say to believe in yourself! That’s the most important thing of all. People will tell you what they think won’t work and the millions of reasons why but they are not you. Your vision was given to you not them. Never allow anyone to dim your light because they do not know what makes you who you are.
Do your research on everything. Become a person who wakes up willing to learn something new every day. The more knowledge you have about what you want to do the more confident you will be to promote and achieve your goals.
Never give up no matter how dark it may seem to you. You have to tell yourself giving up is not an option. Remember, you are not alone even when it may feel like you are. As a child, share your dreams and vision with your parents and teachers. They may be able to get you into programs to get you in contact with people to help make your dreams reality.
If you had a chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
If I could start my career over, I would take more risk and make more sacrifices fearlessly. I would have more confidence in myself to stay the course. I started and stopped my business so many times and found so many excuses as to why I should have given up. Looking back on that now I see I needed to change my mindset. Over time I have learned how to turn a negative thought or situation into a positive one. I also would have been brave enough to change my circle of support and friends. Being around like-minded people that see your vision as an entrepreneur helps you receive that motivation that is much needed. My immediate circle didn’t understand my journey and it made me feel like I was doing something wrong. Seeing that it was the aid in my failures in the beginning, changing my circle would have helped me to not feel alone in my journey. Being able to discuss what it’s like to pursue entrepreneurship with people on the same journey with you, help encourage you to keep going. I also would have promoted myself unapologetically. I was timid in showcasing my business. I was afraid I wouldn’t be accepted or considered an “expert” in the field I am in. I would have rejected the opinions of others or at least those thoughts I had in my mind of what naysayers might have said and built confidence in doing it anyway. I would have made a list on the many reasons why to keep going with my business so the excuses I came up with on why not to continue would have been cancelled out. It has all been lessons that turned into blessings in the end. Without the failures I wouldn’t know how to appreciate the growth and success I have experienced thus far.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be successful entrepreneur?
Three words: Ambition, Consistency, & Authenticity.
Remember you have everything you need to succeed.
Being an entrepreneur can be a roller coaster ride. Every day will not be sunny and rainbows but ambition is the first key to the success recipe. Having a strong desire and determination to achieve your goals creates a blueprint for success. Ambition is the definition of not giving up. Some days will look like things aren’t working in your favor but being consistent with your brand is the 2nd piece of the recipe for success. You must consistently show up and do the work. The more consistent you are you will find what works, what needs to change, and it builds momentum. Consistency helps crush your goals. Last but the most important in my book for the recipe for success is authenticity. Authenticity will help remind you of the why. Authenticity is what will help drive your passion. Being true to who you are and having faith in yourself will make it easier to engage with your following (whether that’s your customers, networking partners or employees). Never be afraid of showing who you are and what your passion is all about.
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
All of my failures came from inconsistency. I was never fully focused on my business or my brand. I failed myself because I allowed what other people thought I should do hinder me from moving forward with what I thought was best for me. I thought it was a phase of wanting my own business and started trying to blend into the corporate world. Even though I’m still working in corporate industry it has become crystal clear to me on my path in Entrepreneurship. I remain focus on my goals for my brand and I work as hard (if not more) on my vision for my businesses as I do for my corporate job. I have learned my value and every day that value keeps going up. I work hard every day to achieve my goals and go for what I deserve.
How many hours do you work a day on average?
I work about 15 hrs. a day roughly. I still work a full-time job (40 hrs./wk.) as well as being a single full-time mom. When I’m not at work, I’m helping my son with homework or trying to spend quality time with him. I also work on my business when not at my corporate job.
Describe/outline your typical day?
Monday through Friday I wake up between 4:30am – 5am depending on the time I went to sleep the night before to work on my businesses. I write down what I need to do for that day, send out emails and print invoices before waking my son up to get us ready for the day. I work my 8 hrs. and come home to help my son with his homework and cook us some dinner. I have him in the bed by 9pm and that’s my time I use to work on my businesses until I have accomplished, I wrote out to do from the morning. On the weekends I try to do something with my son but the majority of the time is working on my brand. It’s challenging due to being a single mom I’m constantly feeling guilty thinking I’m not giving him enough of my time but I always explain to him what I’m doing and how it will pay off for us in the long run.
How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Being an entrepreneur has been challenging for me being a full-time single parent. I always seem to feel guilty about the time I’m away from my son or the time I have to put in for the brand. It’s also challenging for me as an entrepreneur because when things aren’t looking so “successful” to others around me they forcefully provide their opinions to me sharing what they think I should do. Due to the opinion of others that have separated me from a lot of friendships/relationships. I don’t share my thoughts or ideas with anyone and I have become more guarded with my time as well as my conversation with others.
What motivates you?
My son is my motivation. Making a change in my community, allowing them to see more ownership and success is my motivation. Bringing not just awareness but programs to help lessen poverty in my community is my goal but also my motivation. My goal to change the narrative of the word “Sexy” is my motivation. Showing my son, the impossible is possible will remain my motivation. Being able to make a true change within my community will continue to motivate me.
How do you generate new ideas?
I do not have a set way I generate ideas. I do research different needs I’ve been able to identify while traveling or simply through conversation. I also come across my ideas by listening to music, dreaming or just simply reading a book. Ideas for me gets sparked by life and the world around me.
What sacrifices have you had to make to be successful entrepreneur?
I make many sacrifices to chase success but the biggest sacrifice I have to make daily is not spending as much time with my son as I would wish to.
Where you see yourself & your business in 10 years? 20 years?
In 10 years, I see myself owning a few store fronts for my clothing line and beauty supply store. I will like to have a nice real estate portfolio. I would like to have a company that provided low income families with sustainable housing. I also would like a program set up within the schools to help aid/focus on entrepreneurship. I would like to start a nonprofit organization that helps young girls build up confidence and show them ways to feel like a woman without having to use their bodies to feel superior or wanted in society.
In 20 years, I see myself retiring and helping raise my grandkids. I hope everything I am working so hard to create will go to my kids to run and continue to aid in helping our community be better than the years prior.
