IF WALKING AND SELLING IS WHAT IT TAKES TO REACH HER GOAL, KEIANA WARD IS PREPARED TO DO IT

By Vanessa Braithwaite-Moore

To start from scratch as an entrepreneur, takes courage and stamina. Sometimes you have to go beyond the ordinary and think outside of the box to achieveyourgoal.

For young Linden entrepreneur,KeianaWardis going beyond the ordinary means by walking and selling plantain chips, icecream and other items to achievehergoalofowninga dynamic enterprise, which will have a multiplicity of businesses.

The 27-year-old who hailsfromWismar,isleaving no stone unturned and is aggressively pursuing all legal and moral avenues to achieve her target of completing her facility and equippingitbeforetheendof 2023.

Ward who holds many pageant titles and has recentlyventuredintopublic speaking and graphics designing,isonamissionto own a community computer centre and printery, which willmeetthecurrentdemand for same, especially for students Bringing this venturetofruitionisnoeasy task for Ward and while to others it may seem as a herculeanmissiontotakeon single handedly, she is prepared to show naysayers thattheonlystumblingblock between achieving one’s dreamisanegativeandlazy mindset.

“I am not afraid of circumstancesorchallenges; you know why? Because I see circumstances and challengesasanopportunity togrow,”sheaffirmed.

Recently she started walking and selling plantain chips in communities across Linden to raise money to completeherprojectandhas also kept ice cream sales. “I started my plantain chip business and the response is so great, I also kept my first ice cream sale and already I was able to purchase a laptop.

Myscheduleisverytight but I keep my goal in mind that my business has to be launched in 2023 and I wouldbravethesunwiththat goal in mind and sell my plantainchips.

I have no pride when it comes to achieving my goal,”shesaid.

With such a great demand now for her scrumptious plantain chips pairedwithamouthwatering sour, Ward said she has already employed someone to assist with the task of peelingandisproudthather little‘hustle’isputtingbread into another youth’s mouth. When she started the plantain chip venture, she soldinclearplasticbags,but today her packaging has improved tremendously and sheisnowmakingstridesto put labels on it as well as to supply local supermarkets. “WhenIstartedthisventure, I just wanted to raise money tocompletemybuildingand topurchaseequipmentforit, but now I am eying a whole new enterprise-dynamic plantainchips.

I’m now in talks with persons to improve my packaging and marketing,” sherelated.

Once completed Dynamic enterprise will be offering a wide variety of services, ranging from graphics design, browsing, research, printing services, public relations and brand ambassador services, modeling,coachingservices amongstothers.

In addition to her businessventures,Wardalso works at a fish shop, does private tutoring and is a member of the toastmaster club amongst other things. “My schedule is very tight but I know that this hard work won’t last forever whenmyenterpriseisupand running, Rome wasn’t built inadayandsoIamwillingto gotheextramile.”

Ward’s advice to other youths who want to pursue entrepreneurship is to take prideoutoftheireyes.

The answer does not alwayslieinsecuringagrant or a loan or waiting for sponsorship but making the impossible possible through h a r d w o r k a n d determination ”Every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak, carries withittheseedofanequalor greaterbenefit.”Shesaidher plantain chip business started with a capital of less than $10,000 and now she sellsover40packsperday