3 REASONS 3 REASONS AFRICAN AFRICAN AMERICANS DON'T AMERICANS DON'T SUPPORT EACH SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S BUSINESS OTHER'S BUSINESS VENTURES VENTURES
19 Business Spotlight
Ahayah's Artist is letting her light shine through her beautiful creations and Aremintto Morris shares her inspirational story that led to her amazing line of hair care products.
43 Pressure
Wardrobe Stylist, Elijah
Drayton, is taking a chance on himself while letting God lead the way
Credits
Writers in this edition:
Mercy Kinyash, 6 Budget Friendly Entrepreneurship Trends for People of Color
Itoro, The Crab Mentality: 3 Reasons African Americans Don’t Support Each Other’s Business Ventures.
43 Pressure DJ Docjam wants you to know the truth about black balling in the music industry.
OPENING PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this blessed day for another chance to live, breathe, do and be better for the sake of your glory. We thank you for the opportunity to walk in our purposes, allowing us to touch the lives of those who need to see a glimpse of your light. God, I ask that you turn your ear toward the needs of everyone who opens this magazine. May all that it includes in it bring glory to your name no matter where we may be in our journey. Let our hearts be open to taking heed to the wisdom you've invested in each of us through our individual life experiences May this magazine be used as a guide for those who are experiencing feelings of doubt, insecurity, lack of clarity, financial strain, and opposition God give each of us the patience, willpower, and vision to press on toward the vision you gave each of us-- allow others the opportunity to see your works in our lives so that we may serve as a testimony for those who need it the most. God, guide us on our entrepreneurial journey, giving us the faith and courage to reach heights that only you can make possible.
In the Mighty name of Jesus/Yeshua we pray, Amen
"When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?"
PSALM 56:3-4, NLT
T H E M I S S I O N
The Impressive Magazine platform is dedicated to showcasing melanated entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and creatives who have yet to receive the recognition they deserve. In addition to allowing them to tell their stories, we offer valuable information, tips, and resources that will help us all succeed. We share the belief that regardless of genre, niche, or success level, each and every one of us has a story worth telling and deserves to be heard. It is our desire to open this opportunity to as many of you as possible and we will work endlessly to achieve this goal. We are so grateful for your support, kindness, and generosity and look forward to inspiring you with many amazing stories to come.
E D I T O R ' S N O T E
Greetings Beautiful People!
I am Denika Lashae, Editor-in-Chief of The Impressive Magazine.
Such a blessed occasion it is to have made it to the 3rd Quarter Edition of this publication. It's been a bumpy road, to say the least. Nevertheless, we are on a mission to smoothen things out and to ensure that we are able to expand our reach to the lives of those who truly deserve to be honored and recognized for paving the way for future business owners.
Through this project, I have discovered my God-given purpose, and if I'm being honest, it's much greater than this magazine. As fulfilling of a project as it is, a stand-alone magazine is NOT enough to make the impact we are looking to make on the lives of our fellow entrepreneurs. We know how hard it is to keep going when the math isn't mathing and the dream isn't dreaming. This is why we pride ourselves on giving that extra push to #presson to the next level of your goals, no matter the obstacles you face.
That bein IMPRESSI spreading
Thank you all so very much for believing in the long-term vision. It is truly a beautiful experience to watch it all unfold. I look forward to sharing what's to come. Remember, no matter what it looks or feels like on this journey, never EVER give up. Dust yourself off, try again and whatever you do, make sure you:
AVOID PROCRASTINATION
In my experience, nothing can give you an extra push like being pressed for time. Maybe it's the rush of knowing that your task MUST be done within a short period time, but if you push it too close you might experience elevated stress levels. Make sure you allocate at least 30 minutes a day to completing a lengthy project to keep you ahead of the clock .
HANDLING STRESS OVERLOAD
5 SIMPLE TIPS TO PREVENT AND AVOID WORK BURN OUT
DENIKA LASHAE
PRAY AND/OR MEDITATE
You may not be able to discard the situation that causes you high stress levels, so taking a moment to pray and/or meditate may be helpful. You will be able to transmute the stress energy into something positive when you focus on what's going right instead of what's going wrong.
GET REST
It seems obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people spend much of their nights wide awake overthinking tomorrow's tasks. A person may need sleep aids to relax if the condition becomes severe. No matter what, always make an effort to allow yourself no less than 7 hours of sleep per night.
HAVE A STRATEGY
Failure to plan is planning to fail. A daily to-do list can give you an idea of the amount of time you need to manage, serving as a true stress reliever for hefty tasks. In addition, you will avoid swamping yourself with too much work and you will know what to prioritize.
GET ASSISTANCE
Pride is a hell of a thing that will put us in the most unnecessary situations. I understand and know exactly how it feels to want to handle things yourself, but I am learning slowly but surely, that some things just require an extra hand or two to prevent over exertion. We are in this thing together.
MONEY MATTER$
AND WE WANT TO MAKE YOUR POCKETS FATTER WITH THESE USEFUL TIPS AND RESOURCES
BUDGET-FRIENDLY BUDGET-FRIENDLY
ENTREPRENEURSHIP ENTREPRENEURSHIP
TRENDS FOR PEOPLE OF TRENDS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR COLOR
In many cases, young black people with low incomes, are currently on the frontline to change the narrative of their affiliated community. A vast majority are raised to think a solid job is the ultimate goal of securing the future, which holds a certain amount of truth. However, if you're looking for ways to improve the quality of life for generations to come, at some point you may have considered entrepreneurship. As you may already know, It involves taking a financial risk that, that will in turn provide access to the
opportunity to restructure a market or field. You would spend yours days devising new trends that were not thought of or well developed while utilizing a wide variety of strategies and techniques to learn what best suits your target market. Perseverance, persistence, risk-taking ability, creativity, and passion are all qualities needed for realizing entrepreneurial success. There are many entrepreneurial ideas and trends that the young black demographic can take part in. This article will provide a detailed list of these ideas
and provide an in-depth exploration of overhead costs, widely used platforms, expected returns, and how long it would take to realize these yields.
1. Online Businesses
To start, one entrepreneurial idea to vastly benefit the African American youth is online businesses. Most businesses and functions have changed operations from analogue to online means, and it only makes sense that entrepreneurs change too. There is a
pool of business opportunities on the internet, and most require little to no startup capital (Karayiannis 2008). They include creating websites for a fee where you offer services to brands and individuals to set up online websites. Affiliate marketing is another way to partner with large brands such as Amazon or Shopify to earn a commission by promoting their brand. Another cheap way to make money online is by picking up freelance work. Many readily available websites offer freelance jobs, such as Fiverr and Upwork and are easily accessible. Becoming a merchant on eBay is another way to explore one’s entrepreneurial aspirations and is proven to make money online. As explained above, making money online is a cheap venture that many black youths can profit from. The only problem is that for marketing and freelancing jobs, one’s social network influence comes into play (Washington et al., 2020). You needs to grow followers on Twitter, Instagram or their preferred
social networks, which may take a long time and is not an exact or guaranteed venture. The profits, however, are immense the moment your career takes off, considering the little to no capital for investment needed. The time to realize yields is not exact.
2.) Virtual Assistant Services
Consequently, black youth can pick up on offering virtual assistant services. As far as entrepreneurial venture goes, it requires cheap startup and minimal skill. Since most companies have shifted to onlineoperations,mostare
operated remotely, and the need for virtual office managers and secretaries has risen, parallel to the former physical secretaries (Fayolle et al., 2014). The creation of virtual assistants has come to replace physical assistants for such businesses. One can capitalize on that and become a virtual assistant, which they can stretch to include several businesses or companies. This mostly depends on their schedule. These works can be mostly found on freelance sites, and one can advertise the services they can offer a company. Like online businesses, the capital is low and often comes down to having a vast connection of clients, a good internet connection and appropriate devices. However, unlike online businesses, being a virtual assistant requires a variety of office management and communication skills. Social network influence is not necessary for this line of work, and a vast majority of young black people can benefit from
Photo Courtesy: (CBS News)
taking up such tasks. The returns depend on how fast one can work and how flexible their schedule is. It takes a relatively short time to realize profits compared to online businesses since funds are credited to your account once a task is completed. The profits are very high compared to the amount of effort and capital one puts into the venture.
2. Event Planning
Another entrepreneurial venture that young black people can seek out is event planning. Events are occurrences that happen in our society constantly. Most people do not have the chance to fully plan for themselves due to busy work and life schedules These tasks are usually outsourced to event planning organizations (Preisendoerfer et al., 2014).
Starting an event planning firm can be a profitable venture, especially in our society that feels the need to constantly celebrate every life accomplishment, such as gender reveal, class and family reunions and graduations. Unlike the above entrepreneurial
ventures, event planning requires higher capital, concentration, and planning. It is more involving. Event paraphernalia such as tents, music systems, and catering equipment should also be included in the startup capital.
3.) Restaurant Business
The restaurant business is also a very lucrative market for young black people. The fact stands that anytime and anywhere, people are always filled with the need to eat. The restaurant market is applicable in any place in the world that one is from. To make the business 'different’ to accommodate the entrepreneurialism, the restaurant business might be embraced to accommodate one's needs which may be eventually considered appropriate (Greene 2011). The menu is adjusted to suit the customer’s needs and the owner’s preference. It will be beneficial if the menu is adapted as an original since many customers
would appreciate it that way. Despite the many restaurants springing up everywhere, longevity may be obtained if the customer's concerns and needs are met. The capital for this business is centered around one’s ability to acquire a restaurant permit, which includes eligibility to own the business, paying the accompanying costs such as liquor licenses, health licenses, and other related costs. Marketing is a definite determinant for the realization of success or profit in this business (Winn 2014).
4.) Hair and Beauty Business
In addition, one can start a hair-based business. Hair is a subject that has always concerned the black community, especially the female community. For quite some time, white-based beauty standards, which include straight hair, white-based hair, and unbraided hair, have been used as the standard base for beauty, especially in America
"Black women always seem to appreciate these white-based beauty standards, making the hair business lucrative for young black adults"
Phipps and Prieto 2018).
Black women have therefore strived to achieve this beauty standard by using hot irons to straighten their hair, weaves, wigs and dyes to make their hairs blonde or sufficiently white enough to be appreciated by the general population to achieve this beauty standard. Despite the beauty standards raised by current markets or political standards, some black women always seem to appreciate these whitebased beauty standards, making the hair business lucrative for young black adults. They can set up braiding and cutting business and link it with a business that hair supplies. This can amount to a substantial amount of capital for the business. The profit is, however, high due to the standards of beauty set by the society, which almost every black woman strives to achieve. The profit realization period is about a year after the business is set up.
5.) Delivery Service
can succeed by starting a delivery service company (Butler 2012). With the innovation of the internet, this has become huge. Ecommerce and other related business ventures have made it possible. Remote working and remote management of a business has made it possible for businesses such as direct delivery. Most people have acquired mobile devices such as smartphones and personal computers that have made it possible for remote tracking that enables direct delivery. The positive aspect of this business is that the client can be reached directly, but the negative aspect is that it enables individual tracking Delivery business encompasses everything including the provision o both goods and services Nowadays, everyone prefers that whatever they order be delivered to their doorstep. The invention o the internet, incorporated with e-commerce and other accommodating factors has made this possible. The yield is rather slow but positive in the long run (Walstadetal,1998).
Conclusion
Lastly, the black entrepreneurial population .
In retrospect, black people, especially youths, can utilize their entrepreneurial spirit and become world-recognized entrepreneurs. The methods listed combined with other methods, can ensure that they achieve this. Other methods include pet and daycare and repair gigs which may seem rather monotonous for black people but are applicable, considering the poor educational resources allocated to them by the underlying government. All in all, the impact on black people in society cannot be denied
CRAB CRAB MENTALITY MENTALITY
3 Reasons African Americans Don’t
WRITTEN BY: ITORO
Let’s bring attention to one detrimental trend that is very common in our society today. This trend actually originates from the positive movement of supporting Black businesses in America. It’s a movement that has existed for several years in the 21 st century. But it became particularly prominent again in 2020 when the lives of African Americans took center stage following the murder of George Floyd. There has always been a whole lot of talk coming from African Americans about intentionally supporting Black businesses. But the truth is that only very few of us
genuinely do show this support. And let’s not get into the fact that a large percentage of these “supportive African Americans” only show their support to flaunt their benevolent spirit on social media. I digress… Now, this detrimental trend begs the question: Why don’t African Americans support each other’s business ventures? Well, in this article, I’ll be providing a brief insight into 3 reasons why African Americans and people of color (especially family) don't support business ventures owned by their people but are quick to support those of major corporations.
1. “The Crabs in a Barrel” Mentality
“If I can't have it, neither can you.” That’s the simple definition of the “crabs in a barrel” mentality, and many people of color possess this psych. Thus, we may have the means to support each other’s businesses but don’t because we don’t want other people to do better than us. If I can’t be super successful, neither can you. This is a limiting mentality that causes us to not be able to see or even want to see the success of someone who looks like us, or sometimes, someone who’s simply close to us.
2. The Colonial Mindset.
Many people of color also have the colonial mindset of trusting major or white-owned corporations before their own. This is very much a limitation that we actively place on ourselves. We’ve made up our minds that white-owned businesses are more reliable and convenient. Thus, we always choose them over our own.
3. Our Ideas about Cost
This reason isn’t very widespread like the two before it, but it’s still the case among some people. It begins with the idea that African American businesses that sell goods or services are more expensive than other businesses. Businesses owned by people of color that aren't doing enough volume have no choice but
to charge more to stay open. Nonetheless, notice I said this is true “sometimes”. African American businesses aren’t always more expensive. However, we’ve still settled for this as an excuse to stop ourselves from supporting our people.
Conclusion.
Even without being said, the aforementioned mentalities are things we need to rid ourselves and it begins with reminding ourselves that the collective success of our people is our individual success too. Plus, if you have a family member who owns a business, the stream of support should begin from YOU.
THIS ATLANTA-BASED ARTIST COUNTS IT ALL JOY THIS ATLANTA-BASED ARTIST COUNTS IT ALL JOY AS SHE PAVES THE WAY FOR HEBREW ISRAELITES AS SHE PAVES THE WAY FOR HEBREW ISRAELITES AND BEYOND TO HONOR THEIR ROOTS AND AND BEYOND TO HONOR THEIR ROOTS AND EXPRESS THEMSLEVES THROUGH HER UNIQUE EXPRESS THEMSLEVES THROUGH HER UNIQUE LINE OF GRILLZ, JEWELRY LINE OF GRILLZ, JEWELRY AND MORE. AND MORE.
Needless to say, I ran across your profile on social media and was IMPRESSED! Please give us greater insight into who you are and what it is that you do.
Let me start by saying, thank you for this opportunity. I am an Artist, I started by creating beautiful handmade earrings, but got tired of other people copying my work. In turn, I decided to transform the earrings into wooden wall and table art. I love thinking outside the box. A year or 2 went by and I wanted to do more. I wanted to do
something better than the next; something that it takes a lot of will power and knowledge to create. I always wanted gold teeth. I bought 6 golds from online and a few months later they started to change colors. I wanted more but I wanted them to be royal like King Solomon in the Bible. So I reached out to someone in California and told him I wanted stones inside of my grill. He said $5000.00 dollars and I said I will make my own and take your customers. He told me 950.00 wasn't enough... So this is what got me into making
Hebrew Grillz. I, of course prayed to The Most High for clarity and guidance, and he opened every door for me to learn.
What would you say is your greatest challenge as an entrepreneur? How have you overcome this challenge so far?
My only issue is when people are impatient. I don't want those customers. I am one person and your grillz, rings or pedants take time.
Knowing what you know now, is there anything
you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
I have no regrets.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your entrepreneurial journey?
Connecting to my Hebrew Brothers and Sisters along with connecting to strangers that want to also inspire and create.
Are there any projects or events in the works that your supporters should be on the lookout for in the near future?
Wow, I just finished an event June 5th in Texas. But I have an amazing ring line coming out very soon.
What are 3 general tips you would like to give those who have doubted you along your journey?
When you belong to The Most High and Christ and seek his Kingdom first, all these things will be added unto you. So now you know who I belong to. You will see greatest from my Creator that runs through my blood.
"When you belong to The Most High and Christ and seek his Kingdom first, all these things will be added unto you."
Want to learn more about Ahayah's Artist along with her products and services?
Scan this QR code to visit her personal platform. There you will find her contact information, art work, courses and more!
MORRIS MORRIS AREMINTTO AREMINTTO
PROVOKEDTOPURPOSE PROVOKEDTOPURPOSE
AFTER SEARCHING FOR A HAIR PRODUCT THAT AFTER SEARCHING FOR A HAIR PRODUCT THAT WOULD RELIEVE HER DAUGHTER OF ITCHY SCALP AND WOULD RELIEVE HER DAUGHTER OF ITCHY SCALP AND SKIN, THIS LOGANVAILLE, GEORGIA MOM TOOK SKIN, THIS LOGANVAILLE, GEORGIA MOM TOOK MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS BY CREATING HER MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS BY CREATING HER OWN LINE OF NATURAL HAIR CARE PRODUCTS OWN LINE OF NATURAL HAIR CARE PRODUCTS CALLED MINT2BNATURAL HEMPSEED OIL HAIRCARE CALLED MINT2BNATURAL HEMPSEED OIL HAIRCARE
Needless to say, I ran across your profile on social media and was IMPRESSED! Please give us greater insight into who you are and what it is that you do.
My name is Aremintto Morris. I am the creator of Mint2BNatural Haircare. I am a wife and mother of 3 children, with two girls. My two daughters and I have full and thick hair, but my daughter has eczema out breaks in her scalp from time to time. She will would have dry scalp, inflammation and itching. By her having sensitive skin, it was
extremely hard to find good quality products for her. I was unsuccessful in finding a good product so I created my own. I've done hours of research to find natural oils and plants to create a product for her. I came across hempseed oil. This oil has vitamin Omega 3,6,and 9, holds moisture in your hair, stops dry breakage, stops thinning of the hair due to stress, psoriasis, eczema. The list goes on and on! I used this oil along with an all natural formula to create Mint2BNatural Hempseed Oil Haircare. I have shampoo conditioner and
hair oil/serum. No chemicals, alcohols. My products will improve any daily issues you have with your hair and scalp.
What would you say is your greatest challenge as an entrepreneur? How have you overcome this challenge so far?
At the moment my greatest challenge is learning the behind the scenes of running a haircare brand.
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would
would have done differently when you were first starting out?
Lmao! Of course! I think I would've took a marketing class!
What have you enjoyed most about starting your entrepreneurial journey?
I love the fact I work for myself, but most of all I love that I created a natural product that helped my daughter and many many others with their daily hair, scalp discomforts and issues.
Are there any projects or events in the works that your supporters should be on the lookout for in the near future?
Oh yes!! At the moment I have Shampoo, hydrating conditioner and hair oil/serum. I'm planning to include an intense moisture hair cream, and edge control.
What are 3 general tips you would like to give those who have doubted youalongyourjourney?
1. My journey was to help my daughters eczema.
2. Everything takes time, but never give up.
3. I understand and forgive them, I didn't think I was going to accomplish my goal either. BUT I DID!
" Everything takes time, but never give up."
Want to learn more about Aremintto Morris along with her product line?
Scan this QR code to visit her website. There you will find her products and more!
T T H O S E W H O A R E
R A I S I N G T H E B A R T O A
N E W S T A N D A R D I N T H E I R R E S P E C T I V E F I E L D S .
AFTER TWO DECADES, THIS LEGENDARY UNDERGROUND ATLANTA PRODUCER HAS UNDERGROUND ATLANTA PRODUCER HAS FINALLY DECIDED TO SPEAK HIS TRUTH ABOUT HIS FINALLY DECIDED TO SPEAK HIS TRUTH ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE OF BEING BLACK BALLED BY THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING BLACK BALLED BY THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS THE GHOST PRODUCER OF MUSIC INDUSTRY AS THE GHOST PRODUCER OF "KNUCK IF YOU BUCK." "KNUCK IF YOU BUCK."
Photo Credit: @Denikalashaevisuals
Needless to say, I ran across your profile on social media and was IMPRESSED! Please give us greater insight into who you are and what it is that you do.
DJ Doc Jam, the underground Atlanta legend and producer most unknown for ghost producing the classic “Knuck If You Buck” for Crime Mob and also the 2016 viral hit “Juju on Dat Beat” which uses a slightly sped-up version of my “Knuck If You Buck” track. I also produced many other Crime Mob, favorites, most notably
“Circles”, “Shine Cause I Grind”, “We From The South”, “MOB”, “Fatal Retaliation”, and “Georgia Girl” which features the girls from Crime Mob but is actually by The GA GURLZ, who I’ve produced a ton of great records for, including “Rebound”, “Little Boyz (featuring Mýa)”, “The Next One Will”, “Im Dat B*tch” and so much more. I’ve also worked with Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock (TDE), TaRonadon, Denika LaShae, Big Manda (MC May Day), Holliwood the Great, Mike Jones, Rissa Reign,
Runway Richie, Born Wit It, Lil Scrappy, Trillville, and countless others. I have truly been blessed to work with so many other brilliant Creatives.
What would you say is your greatest challenge as an entrepreneur? How have you overcome this challenge so far?
My greatest challenge as an entrepreneur has always been balancing business objectives with my creative ambitions. It’s like my mind is overflowing with ideas, yet my resources are limited mainly by the reality that we all only have the same 24 hours in a day. Once I hit the Powerball or the Mega Millions, I’ll definitely be able finance more of these ideas myself, but until then I face the challenge of remaining creative and efficient, while ensuring my daily responsibilities are still taken care of.
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
There are many things I would have done differently starting out but
the one thing that stands out most is I would have hired a good lawyer right after I bought that first Crime Mob album and saw that I didn’t get my official credit for producing and co-composing “Knuck If You Buck”. I was being way too humble and too nice to people I thought were my friends in hopes that they would eventually “do the right thing”. I was just ignorant to how the music business worked and naïve to how easily weaker people will try to switch up the narrative when money
is involved.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your entrepreneurial journey?
I’m enjoying the freedom to create, take chances, and try again, this time equipped with the wisdom gained along the way. Success is a journey and not a destination. I enjoy being able to wake up each day and work on projects that could potentially impact the world. The power and influence of music is truly extraordinary. One hit song can change everything, especially when you release it independently.
Are there any projects or events in the works that your supporters should be on the lookout for in the near future?
My first official instrumental album "Girls in the Trap Volume 1” is now available on all streaming platforms ncluding Apple Music, Tidal and Spotify. I’m also working with The Blare Group to release the full catalog of songs I’ve produced for Big Manda and The Ga Gurlz. I'm
and The Ga Gurlz. I'm excited for the world to hear more of our music together. I’ve also been quietly working with Crime Mob/Money Mob again on a new project. Big shoutout to Jock Migraine, Money Blac, and Diamond. I have hard drives filled with unreleased material that I may drop on any given day. I even have a couple solo projects I've been working on. It's an exciting time to be a Creative.
What are 3 general tips you would like to give those who have doubted you along your journey?
1. Go listen to DJ Doc Jam’s Girls In The Trap Volume 1
2. Go to beatstars.com/ djdocjam and listen to even more DJ Doc Jam tracks
3. Go follow @docjambeats on all social media platforms.
"I was being way too humble and too nice to people I thought were my friends in hopes that they would eventually “do the right thing”.
"I was just ignorant to how the music business worked and naïve to how easily weaker people will try to switch up the narrative when money is involved."
Want to learn more about Detral Treadwell the music production services he offers?
Scan this QR code to visit his website. There you his latest work and more!
DRAYTON DRAYTON ELIJAH ELIJAH
FOUND GOD IN THE DETAILS FOUND GOD IN THE DETAILS
Photo Credit: @thelifeofjaa
Needless to say, I ran across your profile on social media and was IMPRESSED! Please give us greater insight into who you are and what it is thatyoudo.
I'm an aspiring stylist from New London, CT. I’m an optimistic soul, so I DREAM BIG. DREAM BIG about everything.
What would you say is your greatest challenge as an entrepreneur? How have youovercomethischallenge sofar?
The most difficult part about being an entrepreneur is having people around you whomaynotsupportyouin
the beginning but the best way to overcome not having support from people who supposedly care for you is proving them wrong with success while still remaining humble at the same time.
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
I would say the only thing I would change is having more belief and confidence in myself from the beginning.
What have you enjoyed most about starting your entrepreneurial journey?
Makes me feel like I have purpose and that I can achieve my dreams and goals as long as I work hard and stay consistent.
Are there any projects or events in the works that your supporters should be on the lookout for in the near future?
Keep a close eye on my styling page as I continue to style people around my community.-
What are 3 general tips you would like to give those who have doubted you along your journey?
1. Your doubt fueled me to go harder.
2. One day you'll see that I was right for taking a chance on myself.
3. Your projections on what I could do has nothing to do with me.
Live life for Purpose, Progress, and Prosperity. You have such a bright future ahead of you.
Always remember no matter what obstacles may come your way, your creator/heavenly father will be there with you every step of the journey
E L I J A H
Want to learn more about Elijah Drayton along with the styling services he provides?
Scan this QR code to visit his website!
References
6 Budget-Friendly Entrepreneurship Trends for People of Color written by Mercy
Kinyash
Audretsch, D., 2012. Entrepreneurship research. Management decision. Butler, J.S., 2012. Entrepreneurship and self-help among black Americans: A reconsideration of race and economics. Suny Press.
Fayolle, A., Liñán, F. and Moriano, J.A., 2014. Beyond entrepreneurial intentions: values and motivations in entrepreneurship. International entrepreneurship and management journal, 10(4), pp.679-689.
Greene, C.L., 2011. Entrepreneurship: ideas in action. Cengage Learning. Herdjiono, I., Puspa, Y.H., Maulany, G. and ALDY, E., 2017. The factors affecting entrepreneurship intention.
Karayiannis, A.D., 2008. Basic elements of entrepreneurship: Ideas from the past. Storia del Pensiero Economico.
Phipps, S.T. and Prieto, L.C., 2018. The business of black beauty: social entrepreneurship or social injustice?. Journal of Management History.
Preisendoerfer, P., Bitz, A. and Bezuidenhout, F.J., 2014. Black entrepreneurship: A case study on entrepreneurial activities and ambitions in a South African township. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and places in the global economy.
Walstad, W.B. and Kourilsky, M.L., 1998. Entrepreneurial attitudes and knowledge of black youth. Entrepreneurship theory and practice, 23(2), pp.5-18.
Washington, G.J., Meijias, M. and Burge, L., 2020. Understanding how to engage black HS boys in computer science through tech innovation and entrepreneurship. Computing in Science & Engineering, 22(5), pp.20-28.
Winn, A.R., 2014. Black Entrepreneurship: Contradictions, Class, and Capitalism. Journal of Business Anthropology, 3(1), pp.79-108.
