Congratulations to @kaieecee and @sashaowens for winning our #CupcakeMafia giveaway! In order to have been considered, we asked for you guys to share something that you’ve had to overcome on your journey to entrepreneurship.
A few of us at TSR have businesses outside of the company and understand how difficult and scary it can be to start your own business. That’s why we have decided to share these ladies’ stories in hopes that you are encouraged to keep going! Get into it:
Karmeen:
“I began brainstorming about Synigence during December 2015. When I expressed my desires to my mother, she insisted that I give her a full business plan and create an LLC so that all of my bases would be covered before I started accepting clients. In a nutshell, she wanted to know I was ready.
Following the presentation of my full business plan, she still drug her feet on providing me with the funds to establish my company. I did not understand why. I kept begging her! At the time, I could not pay for it myself because she insisted that I did not obtain a job while in college in order to focus on maintaining a high GPA (which is required to retain my scholarship). I felt that she was putting me on the back burner and I did not understand.
One day, I called my stepfather and cried to him about my woes because I felt like the only person in my corner did not believe in me. He informed me that my mother did not want me to start a business until I graduated. I was hurt. She never told me this! She knew this was my dream, and she refused to communicate the fact that she wouldn’t help me start my company. I refused to be held back, so I took matters into my own hands. I liquidated the funds I had invested in stocks over the summer, and payed to file for my LLC. In addition, I cancelled my spring break to stay at school and work on making my dream come to life. And it did!
Over this past summer, I had to work 40 hours a week at a Fortune 500 company for an internship while also perfecting my craft. I realized that my hard work payed off on the last day of my internship. I got a call from one of my contacts asking me when I could come to California to work for a potential client. I left my internship on Friday, and I was flying to sunny California that Sunday, on my CEO stuff. I literally lived the dream. Due to non disclosure agreements, I cannot disclose this client’s identity, however, I was introduced to one my premier clients, reality star Jennifer Williams. I redesigned the website for her clothing boutique:
I believe I deserve to win this giveaway because I am young Girl Boss who loves Cupcake Mafia! Despite the doubters, I started two businesses this year: Synigence Digital Solutions and Kinky Cart, an online pleasure boutique, and ended this past semester with a 3.7 cumulative GPA (aint no losing that scholarship bih ????). I am not entering this to simply win free clothes. I am entering this to win clothes from the brand that I rock on a regular basis, from my shirts to my bookbags! See receipts below.
Sasha:
“I left my job in June of 2016 to pursue my acting and writing career full time in Atlanta, GA. It has been a unique journey and I can relate to Skittles starting a business with a small amount of funds. I put up all the money I had in for my books.
I published two novels from June til December with no big publisher. I used all the money in my accounts to do this. I had to give up looking Fly and certain things because my dreams meant more. I know that the sacrifices I’ve made are setting me up. There were days were I didn’t know where my next income was coming from but I still had faith.
Even if I don’t win the contest I would love for Skittles to know she’s true inspiration. My mom committed suicide when I was 17 years old. My father was murdered when I was 8 I have overcome every obstacle to not be a statistic and succeed as an entrepreneur. It was also at age 17 I went to Ohio and saw her perform for the 1st time. To see what’s she has become is amazing.
I’m a true overcomer and so is she. Thanks Skittles and TSR! Even if I do not win, thanks for giving me a chance to share a snippet of my story!”
We hope that these stories inspire some of you to take that leap of faith into entrepreneurship!
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on Instagram & @tallyohhh on Twitter!
