My business started as a hobby between my mother and I. I never thought that I would still be making jewelry or even starting a business with it. I always had a need to do something greater but never knew what... “Entrepreneurship, nope never not for me”, that’s what I’ve always said. Always unhappy and never knowing what to do with my life, has been a struggle. Once life began to change I realized my passion. My passion in creating jewelry has been the most consistent thing in my life that I am thankful for. It has always gotten me through some though times. Being able to create something from nothing is awesome. Then sharing that creativity is a high that’s hard to come down from. Working my business day and night is way more fulfilling than working for someone else any day. Its definitely challenging but so rewarding.
What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them?
The biggest hurdle and still is a challenge is “self”, you must believe in yourself more than anyone else. Everyone else tends to catch up eventually. Not everyone is fortunate to have a crowd of individuals cheering them on and eating everything they have to offer. Although I have been creating jewelry for years, the business side of it is fairly new. So I am constantly faced with challenges. You have to have faith!
Did you ever deal with contention from your family and friends concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits?
How did you handle it? What would you do differently in hindsight?
Not really but my lack of consistency in pursuing my business definitely gave my family doubt. They have supported me as much as they can but their faith has wavered. At this point it’s just me and as long as I have faith in myself my family supports me. Can’t say I would do anything differently considering that I had to go through somethings in order to find my passion for what I love to do. Everything happens in its own time. It would be great to have had unwavering support in the process and of course instant success but I guess that’s life.
What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business success?
My love for creating is the most influential factor. As difficult as it gets I can’t see myself doing anything else. Creating is the easy part, it’s everything that’s the struggle. See my designs…see me!
What do you know today that you wish you would have known when you first got started as an entrepreneur?
Freedom, being your own boss is freedom. Freedom to live your life while doing what you love. It takes work and dedication, but it is so worth it. Anything and everything is possible!
What advice would you give to an upcoming young and old entrepreneur locally and internationally?
Stay on course never waver. That feeling of discontent in your life is God’s way of telling you that “where you are is not where you need to be”, just listen and take note.