Season 2 · Episode 6

India Su'Juan - Sujuans Decor

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0:01Welcome, welcome, welcome to Ailey and I's Photos Industry
0:06Talk with your host, photographer Jackson.
0:11And I'm here today with a special, special guest,
0:15fabulous interior designer, Miss India Suwan.
0:21Suwan, interior decor design, even event space.
0:27I don't want to kind of butcher that a little bit,
0:28but also event space only include that.
0:32So you want to introduce yourself?
0:34Yes. So I'm India Suwan.
0:36I'm the owner of Suwan's decor.
0:39Suwan's decor was founded back in two thousand twenty one.
0:44Yeah. Two thousand twenty one.
0:46I not only do interior design, I also do home staging
0:50and I also source materials for home flips.
0:54And I also have an event space, but sadly,
0:57well, not sadly, happy for me, sad for other people.
0:59It will be closing very soon.
1:04Oh, wow.
1:05So and I also forgot the home stage and you told me that.
1:10Oh, yeah, it's new.
1:13It's a few things that I do.
1:14So what would you say you like the most?
1:18Um, I tend to gravitate towards the new stuff,
1:22which is the home stage and I love home staging.
1:24And I think the reason why I like home staging
1:27even though there are limitations on like how much you can do
1:30on a home stage and because it's just like staging.
1:33But it it's more of what I want to see
1:36versus what a client is asking me for.
1:39So I get to express like, you know, how I would style something
1:43or pull looks that I would want to do versus me going
1:46based off of someone else's inspiration and what they want to do
1:50and me creating based off of the realms of what they would like
1:52to see in their space.
1:54So I like home staging
1:57because I get to be a creative and more free with what I decide to do.
2:02But with home staging, you don't see often, like, you know,
2:06go on in and have a wallpaper or accent walls or any of those things.
2:11So you have to make art without
2:14being able to hide behind like wallpapers and paint.
2:18You have to still make the room look like a room
2:19without being able to have all of these other elements
2:24that could create fullness in the space.
2:26So I like the I guess like the science behind it, too.
2:30So, yeah, science and art go together. Yes.
2:35Wow. Oh, wow. So.
2:38It sounds like, in a sense, leadership, because you said,
2:42you kind of do the design yourself and you kind of think it out
2:46and what's in your brain, your imagination, bring it to life.
2:50So would you say you more of a premium designer or
2:55budget friendly?
2:56Oh, I would say that I'm a little bit of both.
3:03I would love like I feel like I haven't worked with any luxury homes just yet.
3:08I feel like coming in my near future.
3:10But I wouldn't like the homes that they're like, you know,
3:14mid pricing and stuff like that.
3:17And I even if I am in a luxury project,
3:21I tend to still find things that are budget friendly
3:24because just because people got money don't mean
3:26that they want to spend a whole lot of money when they can find ways to save it.
3:29So I would say that.
3:32With art, you can always be budget friendly,
3:34like I found pieces that were like dirt cheap and like different
3:40unique art stores or like even
3:43thrift stores that I have been able to like really highlight and look beautiful.
3:49So honestly, it just depends on the designer and how artistic they are.
3:57So let's kind of paint a picture.
3:59We're in this this room, this box, of course, got four walls.
4:03So you're looking at two corners kind of visually designed
4:09a room if you step into a new house and let's just take it one room at a time.
4:15Like you want me to describe the house room by room, like walking through a space.
4:20Yeah, that's how you would like design it, almost like Sims.
4:25Yeah. So I that's kind of hard for me to kind of do on the spot
4:30if I'm not looking at the space.
4:33But when I walk, I can give you an example of what it's like for me
4:36when I do walk into spaces immediately when I walk into spaces,
4:40I'm already envisioning like, oh, they could do this
4:43or that couch should be moved there or they have that artwork placed too high up.
4:47They need to lower it.
4:48Or, oh, this room would actually pop if they added some wallpaper
4:51or an accent wall of color or this area rug is too simple.
4:55Like we need something that's a little bit more flamboyant.
4:58Or this artwork has absolutely nothing to do
5:01with the concept that they have going on in this space.
5:03So I tend to like he'll be talking to me and I can multitask
5:07in a way where they're talking to me, but I'm walking through
5:09and I'm already visually putting the space together before I touch it.
5:12So that's why I absolutely love the process
5:17and the practice of creating a rendering
5:22because you get to put what you have in your head into the computer system almost
5:28and be able to walk people, not people walk your clients through
5:32the space before you actually execute, because you could be all day like,
5:37oh, yeah, I think you should do this and this and that sounds good.
5:39But then I don't know if you've ever seen this episode on HGTV,
5:44and I don't know if they did a rendering for this episode.
5:46But this rendering is a three d computer generated room
5:52where you create the actual room by measurement, by like, you know,
5:56everything you set it up, how you would set it up,
5:59like if you were going to execute it.
6:01So based off of the concepts and the colors that you and your client
6:04came up with, you would put it together in a space like that.
6:10I'm kind of familiar with it, you know, coming from a photography background.
6:14I don't do a lot of portraits, but I do a lot of weddings.
6:17So prints do come in mind and like setting up,
6:19like you said, those three D spaces of how we look on their wall
6:22and which size is the frame is best for their wall of this wall.
6:28I wish it even go. Yeah.
6:29So yeah, I can see it.
6:31OK. Yeah, absolutely.
6:35But yeah, so I don't I don't know if that particular episode
6:39they use a rendering I saw so long ago, but pretty much,
6:43I guess she came up with a concept, described the concept clearly.
6:46The couple walked in and they was like, what, what is this?
6:50Like, this is not I don't like this.
6:53I wouldn't want to live in this.
6:54And that's like every designer is like worst nightmare.
6:57It's where a client to walk in and be like, yo,
7:00this is not what I asked for.
7:01So with rendering, you're able to literally put in front of your client.
7:06Like, hey, this is exactly what we're doing now.
7:08There may be a differentiation and like decor,
7:12like little trinkets that you find and stuff like that.
7:15But bulk of things, it will look exactly like the rendering.
7:19So, yeah, that's that's very important.
7:24Digital blueprint.
7:26Mm hmm. It's called floor mapping.
7:29You can map out the floor plan and kind of show them
7:32where the furniture is going to go, why it's going there,
7:34why it makes sense, how it either opens up the room
7:38or gives the room more of a coziness or quaintness.
7:41So, yeah.
7:43So even let's talk about floor plan, like
7:46because even as an entrepreneur starting off, you may have a plan,
7:49but sometimes they may not go to plan or you may have to adjust
7:53because of the same situation.
7:55So have you ever been given a floor plan
7:58and you get there is like change somehow?
8:03I'm never given a floor plan.
8:05I normally create the floor plans.
8:08I'm based off of like my walkthrough.
8:10So in the consultation, I'll go and I walk through the space
8:12and then I grab measurements and I kind of like draw out the space
8:15and then I put it into the computer system.
8:17But I have gone to a space where I've gone into execution
8:20and I start to put this stuff out and I'm just like,
8:24now that I'm in this, I don't like the way that this feels.
8:27I don't like the way that this looks.
8:29And so I'll, of course, address it with my client and tell them, like,
8:34hey, I have this situated.
8:35I don't like this couch here.
8:37Like it happens often for me, like with one project.
8:40Like, I'll be like, oh, yeah.
8:41But then once you're in it, you have a feel for it.
8:44And I when it comes to design, I have like a perfectionist
8:47like mindset, like where everything has like, I won't leave the space
8:51until I feel like I would want to live in this.
8:56So I'll be like, hey, I don't like this couch here no more.
9:00I need you to trust me on this.
9:01And then I'll like move it.
9:02And then almost every time they're like, oh, yeah, this actually looks way better.
9:07But there have been situations where the floor plan that I originally created
9:13didn't go as planned.
9:14Yeah, not often, but it's happened.
9:19OK, see things happen.
9:20So what was your like biggest motivation
9:24to kind of navigate through that process?
9:28My biggest motivation to like get into design or
9:32what, when you were in that process, like when you wanted to change
9:35your like original plan or how you originally seen it.
9:39Like you said, that couch
9:40doesn't fit no more.
9:42Like, what is your like motivation
9:45behind your almost your decision making?
9:48Um, I just don't like it.
9:50Like, I I treat each and every last one of my clients spaces
9:56as if it is this something that I would want to live in.
9:58Is this something that is comfortable?
10:00Is this something that is functionable?
10:03And if I don't feel that way about the space or if I don't like it,
10:08I will change it because they nine times out of ten,
10:12the clients are like, oh, this looks fine.
10:14That looks great.
10:15Like, you know, they don't really know.
10:17But then once I make that adjustment, they like, oh, now I get it.
10:21Now I understand.
10:22I understand exactly what you were like, you know, trying to say.
10:25But I just I don't like to create spaces for people that I wouldn't live in.
10:30That's amazing. Yeah.
10:31So have you ever had a difficult client?
10:34Oh, yes. Yes, I had one.
10:37Like, what was the situation?
10:39Um, the let's not say the worst one.
10:45Let's say the one that I learned my biggest lesson from.
10:50Right. Um, because everybody is everybody.
10:54So I was I was fairly new into the design world.
10:57I was learning a lot.
10:58It was before I even had like other designers
11:00that I chose to, like, you know, seek out mentorship from.
11:05So I was like brand new, like just really trying to get my feet wet and stuff.
11:09So I went out to this lady's house.
11:11She had a beautiful house.
11:13It was a new house to them.
11:16And you know how you should say no.
11:18Well, sometimes you should say no to certain projects
11:21or to certain vibes or certain like clients that just don't.
11:26If it's off, it's off.
11:29Um, so this lady had just moved in her home.
11:32And, you know, I guess
11:34she has some other contractors working on another space in her home.
11:39And she, you know, was just like kind of flustered.
11:42I go, I'm just ready for me to be done.
11:43Like, they've been here for months and like, you know, da da da da.
11:48So right then, I should have been like, OK, maybe
11:52if I was as seasoned as I am now, then I would have like
11:56this might not be a good time for me to come in and start working
12:01because she's already flustered with this other company
12:05that's not doing or serving her the way that she wants to be served.
12:09And she's ready for everything to kind of just be done quick,
12:12fast and like out of here because she wants to live in her space.
12:16And I'm going to tell you now, if you hire a designer,
12:19you need to be patient because things that are done quickly
12:21are not done properly.
12:23One more time.
12:24Things that are not that are done quickly are not done properly,
12:28especially when you have someone who at that time I was newer.
12:34So, you know, I I was like, OK, like, you know,
12:37me trying to just land a project thirsty, like, oh, you know,
12:40I got it. No problem.
12:41This other third.
12:42And I'm honestly I don't think that I did a bad job.
12:45Like I was really, really excited about this project.
12:48And so she it was like, oh, let's start in here.
12:52And then it was like, oh, well, come look at the dining room.
12:55Oh, well, come look at this.
12:56And then look at what they're doing up there.
12:57And she was complaining about their work.
12:59And when I went to the bathroom that she was having a model,
13:02I thought it was absolutely gorgeous.
13:04But it was like little complaints about little things that I'm like,
13:08OK, well, they're not even done.
13:09It's not finished product yet.
13:11So it's just like all of these red flags are like, girl,
13:14you might want to walk away from this.
13:15This might not be what you want to get yourself into.
13:19And at this time, I did not have any contracts.
13:22My processes were not solid at this time.
13:26So there was no way for me to be like, OK, like this is my guideline.
13:31Like I was having to have any processes, but the process I had,
13:34I was not like I was it was trial and error for me.
13:38But as I have always been with all of my clients,
13:41even as a seasoned designer, like I try to be as transparent
13:45with them about where I'm at, how I'm feeling about this project
13:48or just in life so they can have an understanding of me.
13:51I have an understanding of them.
13:53So I explained to her, like, you know, I'm new, I'm learning.
13:55This is on the third.
13:56And I think that she took advantage of that,
14:01which said, yes, which sucks, because it's like
14:06she was someone who owned businesses
14:10or like was entrepreneurs to some degree.
14:12I'm not exactly sure what she did.
14:13But it's just like you see this new entrepreneur coming in
14:16and you see her like, you know, really trying to make a name
14:18for herself and building herself up.
14:20And the way that this particular client
14:23handle these these situations I'm about to uncover.
14:27I just feel like it could have been done in a better fashion. Right.
14:31So. I had spent
14:36timeless times and I had at this time,
14:38I had created my little rendering.
14:39It was one of my little older programs, but, you know,
14:42it did what it needed to do.
14:44I showed her exactly floor plan, where I plan on putting the couch
14:48where I plan on doing this isn't third whole entire time.
14:51This is like, oh, my God, this looks so good.
14:52It looks so amazing. I'm so excited.
14:53I can't wait till you're done.
14:55Well, and I'm like, oh, like, you know, I'm hyped up.
14:57But I'm really excited.
15:00I get down to the very last day.
15:03Mind you, we had discussed colors, everything.
15:07She knew everything that I had got because I read it through like, hey,
15:10I plan on getting this, this and the third.
15:12These are the color schemes I'm going with.
15:14I was coming there to grab my photos.
15:18And as I walk in to take photos, she then decides like,
15:23I'm done with the project, completely done.
15:25I asked for approval. She said, yes, I love it.
15:27It's amazing, blah, blah, blah.
15:29So I'm like, great.
15:30I'm going to come out and get photos the next day. So.
15:34I come out, grab a photo.
15:35I'm getting ready to grab photos.
15:36She was like, yeah, you know, I think we should add another color.
15:40I think we should add emerald green to this space.
15:43What was the color originally?
15:44I believe it was like black, gold and like creams.
15:49And it had like a like a really pretty yellow.
15:52That was kind of goldish looking.
15:53It was a really gorgeous room.
15:55Like it wasn't like a typical like, you know, black and gold, whatever.
16:00So I told her I was just like, OK.
16:02I was like, I absolutely will.
16:04Like, you know, add emerald green if that's something that you want to do.
16:07But it will be at additional cost because I have completed this project.
16:11I'm here to take photos.
16:12And like now I'm going to have to circle back through
16:16who knows how many stores just to get the colors
16:20and the elements that you want in the space or whatever.
16:23So then here comes the.
16:26I'm not paying you another dime.
16:28I'm not doing this is that in the third.
16:30And I'm just like, oh, OK.
16:32I was like, well, you know, I don't think that is fair for,
16:36you know, me to complete a project, me to get your stamp of approval.
16:39It used to give me a closing agreement of, hey, this looks awesome.
16:43But then you want me to go back, backtrack and do more work
16:47after we have we went through this whole process of like colors.
16:51This is what we're doing.
16:53This is where everything is going.
16:55And then at the last minute, once I closed out on this thing,
16:58I'm about to move on to my next project.
17:00And you're like, oh, well, I want to add this.
17:03Well, that's going to cost you additional money.
17:05So then it was a thing of at that time.
17:09I didn't make people pay all of the money up front.
17:13I was like, oh, I take a half.
17:14And then once I'm done, I'm done.
17:16I completely stopped doing that because one,
17:20I don't play about my brand.
17:22I don't play about my work.
17:24Like if someone is not satisfied with the actual work that's in the space,
17:27like, OK, yeah, I will do this in a third.
17:29But once you've given a stamp of approval, like, yo, I love this.
17:32This looks amazing.
17:33Like I hear you on the phone with your friends,
17:35telling them how amazing this and then the next day you're coming
17:37and you like, well, I want this.
17:39And actually, I don't even like after I told her that it would be additional
17:42fee, she's like, well, actually, I don't even like this.
17:45I don't like this.
17:46And I'm just like, wow, like, you know,
17:50and so I tried to customer service.
17:52I tried to diffuse the situation and try to like make it right.
17:57I even got to a point where I was like, you know what?
18:00Don't worry about it.
18:01I'll go get you exactly what you want.
18:02Like I don't even worry about it.
18:04Like I would rather the space look amazing for you to be happy.
18:07Then to have a conflict with someone like that's not what I want.
18:11That's not the solution that I want for this situation.
18:14She was like, I don't even want to.
18:16I don't even want you in my house and both like was going.
18:18I was like, OK, like, all right.
18:22Well, you know what? You got it.
18:24I'm sorry to feel this way, even though I tried to like,
18:27you know, create a solution.
18:29But let's just close out some some things you just got to walk away from.
18:33Because had I decided to, like, stand there,
18:36go back and forth with this woman, like, how would that have made me look
18:39as a business owner?
18:40Like sometimes you just got to kind of like bite the bullet and just be like,
18:44hey, that's your perception and move on.
18:46Well, yeah, that was the time of a complicated situation.
18:52Gratefully, outside of that experience,
18:56I have not ran into too many other situations.
19:02Like I literally love and really cherish all of my clients,
19:05like all the support in the things that they have given me along the way.
19:10And honestly, a lot of them come become like family
19:14or I've worked with them on different things.
19:16Like a lot of the real estate girlies that I've worked with,
19:19I've worked in their homes before we worked together,
19:21like with real estate and me doing home staging for them.
19:23So like I literally like I love my clients, like love like I build solid,
19:28I would think, relationships with them.
19:30So outside of that one experience,
19:33I think that overall I have had a pretty decent experience with design.
19:39And with that, it taught me how to put stuff in writing
19:44where you have to sign off, like, hey, I agreed to this.
19:47This is what we're moving forward with as far as designs,
19:50because once it's in writing, I'm not going to play this game with you
19:53because I wanted them not getting paid half of that money for that project.
19:55And yeah, I if I knew what I knew now,
20:01I probably would have talked to Curtis small claims
20:03because you just bring it off based off of no grounds. So, yeah.
20:11Whoo, I had to take a couple of deep breaths.
20:13Because like, you know, I've definitely been there, you know,
20:17like you said, that portion of contracts and like,
20:21this is our agreement, our expectation.
20:24Like you said, you want something additional, it's going to cost.
20:27And a lot of people try to take advantage of that,
20:30and especially, like you say, newer, not doing a touch more on that.
20:35But sometimes I look at these more experienced entrepreneurs
20:40and they try to take advantage of certain things
20:43or they would delay the contract purposely and then you do it.
20:46And it's like, you know,
20:48but I'm all about, you know, keeping my word and not trust other people.
20:52You know, they keep their word. So, you know, OK.
20:56Like you said, half up front and then the other half once the job is complete.
21:02But then, you know, our goals are, you know,
21:05then it's like, dang, I got to do small claims.
21:08I got to go through this process. It's time out of my day.
21:10I'm running the business.
21:12And it's just, yeah, it's like, oh, and I, I,
21:17I actually ran into another client of mine who was she's such a gem.
21:22She was so sweet and I loved working with her.
21:25She had a beautiful home and I was going out there
21:27to do one of the geometric walls for her.
21:30And I had told her about my policy, like, you know, it's half up front.
21:33And then it's the second half, like before I start, like, you know, working.
21:38And she was just like, well, like, you know,
21:41I'm a little bit uncomfortable with that.
21:43It's just like, because I mean, what if, like, you know,
21:46you run off with my money or like, you know what I'm saying?
21:49And don't finish the work or would not.
21:51And I was like, well, I was like, one, I want you to trust me
21:54until I understand how you feel.
21:56Like, you know, I'm saying I was like, so I was like,
21:59this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to get started.
22:01I'm going to lay all of the groundwork.
22:03I'm not going to finish it all, but I'm going to just finish the groundwork.
22:06If you're not comfortable at that point, like,
22:09I think that you would be comfortable at that point to know
22:11I'm not going to run off on you.
22:12I was like, and then let's meet in the middle and let's pay,
22:14like, make the payment there.
22:16I was like, because what I don't want is to come into your space
22:18to feel like, like, first of all, you shouldn't have me in your space.
22:21You feel like I'm going to run off on you and stuff like that.
22:23But I understand when you are putting up these large amounts of money,
22:27it's just like, no, like, I want it, blah, blah.
22:29But I told her I was like, I don't take lightly on my brand.
22:32Like, it's it's who I am.
22:34It's like I need the the pictures of this wall
22:38to go on market to do more stuff.
22:40I was like, girl, I'm not running nowhere.
22:42Like, I want it to look perfect.
22:43But I also understand from a perspective of like a client
22:47because I've heard horror stories of them hiring on people or contractors
22:52and them just like dipping off on the work and not finishing it,
22:55which sucks.
22:56And it puts it puts everybody in a bad position. Right.
22:59So it's just like, I think that I resolved that situation
23:03well where we met in the middle and she was just like,
23:05she was very, very happy and appreciative at the end.
23:08So great. Yeah.
23:13Sometimes this is not that easy.
23:16But I do want to touch on more of you first starting off in 2001.
23:23Do you have any fond memories of, you know, you being a beginner in the industry?
23:27Oh, man. Yeah.
23:30In the beginning, I wasn't even aiming to do interior design.
23:34Well, hold on. But let's backtrack.
23:36Technically, I was going to start
23:40Sioux Wants to Core back in.
23:45Hmm. What was that 2015?
23:48And what were you doing before 2015?
23:51I was working at Cleveland Clinic and yes.
23:54Yes. OK.
23:55So I had left retail and I went to Cleveland Clinic
23:59and I was there in Cleveland Clinic, wasn't paying what I wasn't going to pay
24:04because I went from management to like a secretary at the desk.
24:07And it was just a pay cut.
24:09But, you know, at that time in my mind, which is actual factual,
24:13sometimes you got to take a decrease
24:16or enough to make an increase in life and to get further, you know.
24:20So I was like, OK, I'm going to take this pay cut
24:22because there are more opportunities of growth at Cleveland Clinic
24:25than there were at the company that I was working at prior to.
24:31So with that being said, in 2015, I was sitting there
24:35in my desk because I was bored because being a desk girl,
24:37your secretary, admin, any of those things, it's just not it's not for me.
24:42Like it's too too stationary.
24:45Like, you know, and at that time, I didn't know exactly what a creative was.
24:49But I just knew that, like, I had big ideas.
24:52I had stuff I wanted to do.
24:54And they wasn't with it.
24:55Like, I'm being creative, trying to create stuff in the office.
24:57And they like, why are you so happy at seven o'clock in the morning?
25:01So, yeah, but neither here nor there.
25:06I was sitting there and one day I was like, oh,
25:09I would like making stuff look nice.
25:10And me and this girl, we were talking.
25:12She was a nurse and she was just like, you know,
25:15all of this cute stuff and like, I just don't know what to do with it.
25:19And she was like, well, since you like making stuff look nice,
25:22like come over, can you look at it and like, you know,
25:24maybe switch some stuff around or whatever.
25:26I was like, yeah, girl, come over.
25:27So I came over.
25:28We had a little wine crackers and stuff because we were like coworkers.
25:32We, you know, kicked it a little bit.
25:33And so I was like switching her stuff around or whatever.
25:37And it looks really cute.
25:38Like it came out amazing at that time of design and what it looked like.
25:44And so, like, you know, we went back to the office.
25:46She was telling everybody about how cute I made her house
25:48look with the things that she had and adding a few little other trinkets to it.
25:54But at that time, I.
25:58How do I say this?
25:59I lacked the confidence, the drive,
26:04the want to ask people or market myself
26:09or bet on myself because I felt like marketing myself was almost
26:15like begging people to want to roll with your company
26:20or to allow you in a space is to do these things.
26:24When did that mindset shift for you when I asked when I pray
26:28to God to to align me into my divine purpose?
26:32Like it's sometimes like what you were created to do, be right in front of you.
26:37And sometimes it appears earlier in life, but you're not ready for it.
26:40So I feel like it not to get all, you know, check, check.
26:44I feel like sometimes I got to give you a little taste
26:47of what you supposed to be doing, but letting you know,
26:50you're not ready for this baby.
26:51You got a lot more work to do. You got to go sit down.
26:54You got to go through a couple more things before I allow you
26:56into these spaces to do these things.
26:58So like I was there and I was like, I ain't about to go begging nobody
27:01like we're like, oh, I'm not a boaster.
27:04I've always had to be like, you know, humble and don't be bragging
27:07about the things that you got.
27:08But to market yourself, you've got to brag.
27:10You've got to pop your shirt.
27:11Like you got to talk about how amazing you are.
27:13And I'm like, I don't like this.
27:16Like I've become really meek even now.
27:18Like I've I've gotten better.
27:19But even now, I kind of be like, oh, hey, yeah, I feel like that.
27:24Yeah. So but you got to really like you got to step in there.
27:28You got to be confident in it. And I was at all.
27:31So I was just like, yeah, I'm not going to do this.
27:33It takes too much.
27:34I'm not about to be begging people.
27:36And then like they like, oh, I don't know if I want like, no.
27:39I was like, I'm done with it.
27:41So that was actual beginning of me being introduced to
27:45like design world and what that means.
27:50Like I said, I've always like design stuff because even further back,
27:54my mother loves like home decorate and that type of stuff.
27:59Like we used to go look at model homes when like they would have open houses.
28:04We would go when they were staged.
28:05The staging back then was a thing like every house we went to was like stage.
28:09So, um, yeah, that that whole thing.
28:14But that that's kind of where it started.
28:18Yeah. Thanks.
28:20Well, let's take a deep breath on that one.
28:26Incredible story and journey.
28:28Thank you. And I want to kind of touch back on, like you said, those marketing
28:32and, you know, almost felt like you was begging.
28:36So like gaining those skills and wisdom.
28:40And where did you learn that from?
28:43Um, the second time I got back into like decorating
28:50one of my older sorority sisters, who's Valen,
28:54if you listen to this, her and her husband had just got married
28:58and they have purchased a new home.
29:00And so they she had called me like, hey, you still decorate homes
29:04or like, you know, do this and third.
29:06I was like, no, girl, like I felt alone a long time ago or whatever.
29:10I was like, well, what's up what you need?
29:11And she was just like, well, you know, we just purchased a home.
29:14I'm interested in like, you know, having our master bedroom done
29:17or, you know, just getting started in our home.
29:20And so I was just like, oh, well, I'll come out there and look at it.
29:24Like, you know, so I went out there, looked at it.
29:25They gave me a little like, you know, a nice budget.
29:28Sorry. Can you make it that out?
29:36But she so she had me come over, gave me a nice budget
29:41so I kind of decorate her master bedroom.
29:44So I decorated it like, you know, put some stuff together quickly.
29:48And I was so excited.
29:51Like I was like, oh, let me post this on Instagram.
29:52Like, I got to show people like, oh, this looks so good.
29:56I posted it on Instagram and literally people like was like,
30:02oh, this is really, really nice. I love this.
30:05Like, I, I really, really like, you know, you got to come
30:09do my home next or whatever.
30:11And I'm like, shoot, OK, because I had so much fun doing it.
30:14Like, and I was in that room for like hours and hours,
30:17like putting stuff together.
30:18But I really, really like enjoyed it or whatever.
30:21So then fast forward, like a couple of weeks later,
30:27one of my good friends, Brittany, her and her husband had a home.
30:31They wanted me to come out and to, you know, revamp some stuff
30:35and add some things to what they had going on.
30:37I was like, OK, cool. Did that post that.
30:40Everybody was, oh, my God, like, this looks so good.
30:43And so by the time August had hit my sorority sister, Shalita,
30:48we call her the boss because she like literally
30:50be getting everybody together.
30:52And so she was like, um, you need to get an LLC.
30:56You work in these people's houses.
30:57You need to make sure that you are covered.
30:59Like, you know, OK, what if something go wrong this and that?
31:01And I was like, oh, like me, I was like, I was decorating.
31:05This is fun. Like, you know, I'm not thinking about the business aspect.
31:07But again, the boss came in and was like, no, we got to regulate this.
31:10We got to get this together.
31:12So I'm like, OK.
31:13So she, you know, set me up, helped me get my LLC
31:17and, like, you know, start.
31:18I was like, OK, well, if I got to have that,
31:20then I need to have a whole bunch of other stuff that, like, you know,
31:24like, let me get some processes together.
31:26So I utilize my management skills, my admin skills
31:29to, like, kind of pull together and organize like something.
31:32So and then once I did that, that's when that whole situation happened.
31:37Then I went out and I actually met with actual designers
31:41who have been in the field and done like a whole lot of amazing work.
31:45I've been on the cover of HGTV magazine, on the cover of Forbes,
31:50like just doing showrooms.
31:52Like I'm talking about bomb designers.
31:54So once I got to, like, connect with them and talk to them
31:56and kind of tell them about my experiences and the things that I had,
32:00you know, encounter while trying to do design and stuff like that,
32:03they were so supportive.
32:05Like to this day, I still talk to a lot of them.
32:09And they, like, gave me tips.
32:11They showed me like their contracts and what I need to do,
32:13just so helpful, like not a crab in a bucket mentality whatsoever.
32:18And I was really grateful for that.
32:19So they were able to help me, like, really organize or whatever.
32:23But that's like kind of I've gotten to that.
32:26Wow. And you mentioned, you know, utilizing your management
32:30and secretary skills are the skills that you learned from that.
32:35So how important is someone, you know, they're they're at a nine to five,
32:40even working overtime on even multiple jobs.
32:42But they want to, you know, step into that entrepreneurship.
32:46How important is, you know, gaining those skills
32:51and knowledge while they're on the job to become entrepreneurs?
32:55Well, it is so important.
33:00It's it's critical.
33:01I think I had spoke to somebody else on another podcast about this.
33:05I had pulled up to a McDonald's one day after a long shift.
33:09And no, I shouldn't have been eating a McDonald's, but I was hungry.
33:13Don't worry. I got stuck in McDonald's.
33:16Right. So so this young lady, I heard her like kind of arguing,
33:21not arguing, but like just talking back to her manager or whatever.
33:24And she was like, this ain't my job.
33:26This ain't my life. This your life.
33:27Like, you know, I'm saying, boss, a blast.
33:29So she was like, whatever.
33:30So she leaned over. She's like, oh, your car is nice.
33:34Like, you know, like just giving me compliments.
33:36But she was such a sweet girl or whatever.
33:38And I just I kind of told her, I was just like, you know,
33:40I kind of was I heard you like, you know, saying like, you know,
33:44this isn't your life or whatever.
33:45I was like, I got this car in the things that I have
33:49based off of the skills that I had.
33:50I was 14 working at McDonald's like you.
33:53Like, you know, that was my first job.
33:55And so a lot of those skills that you learn while working in the small jobs
34:00are skills that you literally will carry with you for the rest of your life.
34:04And I think that. A lot of these young
34:07the younger generation was like an auntie.
34:12But a lot of these younger kids, I think that they lack that
34:17that what is it called?
34:19Like the move, like move with a purpose.
34:21I used to say, like, move with a purpose.
34:22Let's get going. Let's get this stuff going.
34:24Like a lot of them are real life slow track or lacks a daisy or don't.
34:29They don't have no urgency about them.
34:32But they are also a generation of work smarter, not harder.
34:35So I respect that.
34:36But I told her, I was like, some of these skills
34:39that you are learning right now that you don't even notice
34:42that you're going to need later on, you're going to need.
34:46I was like, so rather this is your forever job
34:48or this is just a part time job to get you to where you want to go.
34:51I said, you should treat it and value it like it is your future,
34:57because one day you're going to want somebody to take your business
35:00serious and to move it and love one it just as much as you do.
35:05So that karma can come back to you
35:08when you don't put that energy into other people's spaces
35:11to help them grow their things. Right.
35:13So, um, yeah, that that was a conversation. Yeah.
35:19Even like you said, I was your first job
35:21and actually to pour back into her.
35:25It's a full circle moment, you know.
35:27Yeah, you gave your give back, you know, like you gained skills
35:31while you were there and now you give it back to the younger generation.
35:37Even knowing and sensing that they may lack these skills
35:40or may not want to learn or don't care about learning these skills
35:44or don't just care about life in general.
35:48Like even my daughter, who just walked in.
35:51She is so adorable.
35:55It's it's important, you know, that.
35:59I would say our generation to properly teach,
36:03maybe we're not teaching right or giving them what they need
36:07or the motivation they need to succeed.
36:10And I can even ask my daughter, is this chips on your face?
36:14Is there something that you feel like you want to learn
36:18that I'm not teaching you?
36:22I'm writing back in a journal.
36:24You're writing back in a journal.
36:26OK, so that means stay tuned to the next episode. Right.
36:31But yeah, it's important for us to continuously be those teachers,
36:34even if we don't want to sometimes,
36:36because this is the next generation.
36:38Yes. You know, they're always looking up to you.
36:42Yeah. It's important.
36:44Any opportunity that I have, if I see the opportunity
36:49to try to advise somebody so they don't make the same mistakes
36:52or, you know, just try to guide them on things that like, shoot,
36:56I know this now that it worked, like, let me share this
36:58with somebody else or a younger person.
37:00So any opportunity I have to share those moments, I always try to.
37:05Yeah. So how important is mentorship?
37:08I know you kind of mentioned that earlier, but how important is mentorship
37:11for a new entrepreneur?
37:13Oh, my goodness. I think it is so, so, so important,
37:16not even just mentorship, but just having other friends
37:19that are entrepreneurs.
37:20They understand what you're experiencing more
37:23versus like your friends that work, you know, a nine to five
37:27and they're making great money and they're good with that.
37:29Being an entrepreneur, it's a different beast.
37:32Like it's it's a spiritual journey of like faith
37:36because you're going to go through peaks and you're going to go
37:39through a lot of valleys.
37:41And sometimes you'll be like, why am I doing this?
37:44So having mentors who have probably experienced
37:47or been through those spaces that you're experiencing,
37:50it's always good because they can help you or speak
37:53to the moment that you are in and give you that courage
37:55or motivation to pull yourself out of those those valleys
37:59that you hit, like those peaks where you like, dang,
38:01I just want to give up.
38:03But then you see somebody else that's doing something
38:06that you want to do or somebody who has a successful business
38:10and you like, if they can do it, why can't I?
38:13Like, why can't that be me?
38:16Like, if I just push myself a little bit harder,
38:18if I just try a little bit more, like, why can't that be me?
38:22Like, and I have to that is something like currently
38:24I'm telling myself, like I had a call,
38:27like when I go through my little flat lines,
38:29I'll be called, hey, can we hop on a call?
38:32Let's talk, let's, you know, I need to get some advice
38:35or whatever the case may be because it's like, yeah,
38:38I'm in that space and I need to talk to people
38:41that's that's making waves, that's doing stuff.
38:43Like, I need that rub that juju on me.
38:45Like, let me get motivated from what you got going on
38:49just so I could stay encouraged.
38:52It's very important to have other
38:55like-minded people in your circle,
38:58because if you have people that are doing not the same things
39:02or less than what you are doing, it's hard to grow in those spaces.
39:07It's absolutely true.
39:10And even less than 24 hours, you know,
39:12we saw each other and into each other.
39:14Yeah, you know, like not even knowing.
39:16So that's, you know, like you said, being in the right rooms
39:19and circles and having those right relationships.
39:23Like even OK, happy birthday to Natasha Herbert.
39:25Yes. I call her a legend.
39:27That's she is a legend.
39:30Like you said, you know, with expertise or somewhere I want to be like,
39:34yeah, because she even mentioned it last night.
39:36I'm not just a wedding photographer, but she's known, you know,
39:41magazine published award winning photographer.
39:46And I've been following her before I knew her
39:52back when I was doing music and to hear about her
39:55and the work that she's doing, even the community work.
39:58I think she was in like a certain neighborhood
40:01and going house to house and photograph and I'm like, wow, yeah, project.
40:05It was all over the news and stuff. Wow.
40:08I'm like, who is this?
40:09Yeah, I saw her very young before I even started
40:12photography and video production.
40:14So to even meet her now and speak with her.
40:17And she gave me some great words last night.
40:20I'm like, wow. She basically just said she was an all around dope person.
40:25She has invited her.
40:28What is it?
40:29She has like connecting me with people that have really been
40:32like powerhouses and lights to me as long as well as her,
40:36because she's very successful.
40:38So it's always like I said, to have people
40:41that are around you or that you know that you can call or speak
40:45to about certain things to help you get through that journey
40:49to until you get to a point where you want to be.
40:51And then also sometimes like sometimes the student becomes a teacher.
40:55Just depending on where you go in life.
40:58So you never know. So, yeah, I mean, even to speak to that,
41:01I have two people on a wedding I'm doing
41:06later this month.
41:08It's June for those that's listening in.
41:12And I'm basically training them and I trust them enough
41:16and feel like they're good enough to bring them in on this wedding.
41:19Otherwise, I wouldn't bring them in and I'm teaching them.
41:22They still ask me questions like, look,
41:25this this next project.
41:28I want you to do it like you're the only one there
41:32to practice during the wedding, because when I'm in my mode
41:36and stuff, I'm not going to be able to teach you while we're there. So. Yeah.
41:40You have to think on your own, just instilling those confidence
41:43because I've seen that work.
41:44Otherwise, I wouldn't constantly be working on it
41:47if they're not improving or feel compelled to improve.
41:51So I think it's big to pour back
41:54into whoever comes to even if they're older and they just like, look,
41:59I've been at this for years, but you really have it going on.
42:03Teach me.
42:04I know stuff that are advanced and technology advanced
42:07and AI is coming out. Teach me.
42:10Like you said, this younger generation.
42:12They're smart. They're very smart when it comes to technology
42:15and like that whole like work, work smarter, not harder.
42:19Man, like obviously they're like,
42:21now, I feel like one of the old ladies trying to learn
42:23how to work the computer, like, you do that.
42:27Yeah. And I don't want to be left behind.
42:30I know that is the new wave. And like I'm.
42:34I already feel myself
42:35trying to keep up and catch up with all of the things,
42:37even with like Instagram and creating these rules.
42:40I'd be sitting there mad, like, I don't want to do this.
42:43But it's got to you got to be involved, especially being an entrepreneur
42:47when that's your way of marketing now, like creating these videos,
42:50getting in front of the camera.
42:52Like, yeah, sure.
42:53And I know we had a conversation about that.
42:55See, friends can become clients and vice versa.
42:59And, you know, we refer to each other.
43:01And yeah, I mean, I'm still often still there.
43:04I'm definitely willing to help in that aspect. Yes. Yes.
43:08I'm actually getting better posts.
43:09I create all the content, record all the content,
43:12you know, photograph, document all the content.
43:14I have a lot of content even for myself.
43:17But it's just the post and sometimes even
43:20I just got back on Instagram because I've been so busy.
43:24But even posting, I'm like, OK, let me just start with once a day.
43:28I know I said this before, but let me actually do it.
43:30So I did two yesterday.
43:33One today, I'm probably going to post Natasha's
43:36kind of recap that I put together.
43:38So that'd be two.
43:39So I'm even kind of ahead of what I even said, just start with one a day.
43:43I'm doing two right now at this rate.
43:44So even if selling on your goals and expectations of yourself,
43:50that's the only way you get better.
43:51Yeah. Yeah.
43:53I don't know where that came from, but I said it. Yeah.
43:56Somebody don't hear it. Right.
43:59Oh, but I do have some questions I did, you know, wrote down.
44:03I'll jot it down.
44:05I do want to touch those and pull up my notes.
44:09And by the way, it's not on paper, so you don't hear the crumbles.
44:11This is digital.
44:13I'm going to turn my low battery mode off so it doesn't cut off on me.
44:18OK, so how was the design landscape for you
44:21when you first started designing versus the world of design now?
44:26Oh, I would say when I first started,
44:33let's take it back to 2015, right?
44:36When I first when I started doing that stuff, like everything was real.
44:41I don't know if you know about like the whole Z Gallery
44:46era, the gallery, the gallery.
44:48So like that's that was the beginning of abstract,
44:52at least for me, where I noticed it.
44:54The gallery came out with these beautiful, like big canvases.
44:58And it's just like a splatter.
45:00And it's got like sprinkles and like different kind of colors.
45:03And it was like, oh, my God, this is absolutely gorgeous.
45:06And it gave this luxury feel.
45:07And then you added a whole bunch of crystal things.
45:10So that was that that was when I really like kind of fell in love
45:14with like design for real for us. Oh, God, I need to do this. Whatever.
45:19From all of the blingage that was seen in the core,
45:25the pillows, pictures and all of the things to now,
45:30we went through a whole phase of like the minimalist
45:34and like the unique earthy shapes and that type of stuff.
45:38And now we went through even more recently the black face
45:44where everything is black accents, the black accent walls,
45:47the rails on the stairs is black.
45:49I'm so tired of black. I don't know what to do.
45:53And no, this is like, you know, this keeps the sound out, right?
45:56No, this is different. OK.
45:58But like, I am so tired of using black.
46:02But I know that's the thing. I know that's the trend.
46:04I know that's what you all want to do. But black and gold.
46:07You know what, you'll be black because with photography,
46:13you know, you don't reflect light.
46:16So you have to wear darker colors, mainly black.
46:18Yeah, I just, you know, I was happy
46:21we wasn't going to be on camera.
46:22So I was like, let me just throw on a T T shirt and come on with it.
46:26I think it's a visual media type of thing.
46:30Black is always clean.
46:31Black is always elegant.
46:32Black is always like sharp.
46:33So you can't go wrong with black.
46:37But I'm tired.
46:38Every home that I go into is just black everywhere.
46:42And it's like, OK, this is how much gloom and doom.
46:46Like, this is becoming like black and white.
46:48Like, I feel like I'm at a tuxedo and bridal shop every day.
46:51Like, so I'm just tired of it.
46:53I would love to see, like, can we get some browns?
46:56I don't even want to see gray no more because we went through
46:58a whole phase of like gray.
47:01The walls was gray.
47:02I don't know.
47:03Relators and home flippers, y'all know, agreeable gray or get that.
47:08And then them ash gray floors that everybody was doing.
47:11I am tired of seeing that, too.
47:15So, yeah, I don't even know where the conversation was.
47:19But I did. Yeah.
47:21So even as you say that,
47:25just thinking about that, what colors would you want to see?
47:34Like, because even using that as a marketing piece,
47:37like, OK, let's break away from the black and the gray.
47:42Let's have a colorful home today.
47:44Or, you know, something like this, like you can use that as a marketing piece.
47:47But like, what colors would you see?
47:48Or do you have like.
47:51Almost like you say, you create your design and set it up
47:53how you want it in your head, you make it come to life.
47:57Is there certain colors that you gravitate to?
48:00Right now, I am obsessed with warm colors,
48:07but not the warm colors that have that yellow tone to it, that gives that like.
48:14Yeah, like to what I like the earthy colors,
48:18but it has like a coolness to it.
48:20So you I'm obsessed with these cabinets.
48:23They're like a brown color because everybody was doing the white.
48:26There's another tree, white cabinets in every house.
48:29Please do something else, please.
48:31So I actually just stays at home and they did brown counter
48:36or cabinets and stuff, and I was like, thank you, God.
48:40I get to finally see what I've been wanting to do
48:44and get to decorate in this space.
48:46So I love a nice brown
48:50that or would like look that has like a coolness element to it.
48:56Versus like that yellowy wood that you saw back in like
49:00oh, six or seven, like when they were building homes then.
49:05I love to see texture in patterns with wallpaper
49:12like wallpaper is so beautiful and it adds so much character to a home.
49:18I even like a lot of the tally
49:21and like how they sometimes will put it in a hair and bone fashion,
49:24which is how do I make that sound simple?
49:27A hair bone is like that triangle look where they like kind of overlap.
49:31It's like that type of pattern.
49:35Or no, this is like a hexagon, a honeycomb type of look.
49:40OK, so more actual.
49:42It's like so you would look at like a regular block like this.
49:46Y'all can't see it, sorry.
49:48But you would do like a regular piece of like tile
49:50and you would connect them in a triangle.
49:53But instead of connecting it at a triangle,
49:55one would kind of overlap a little bit.
49:58Yes. So you create like a like a pattern with it.
50:00That's where I was kind of getting that with that intersection.
50:03Yeah. OK. Yeah.
50:04So yeah.
50:05Um, what else do I love right now?
50:08And to see the visual, you got it.
50:09You got it. Yeah.
50:11Yes. Follow my page.
50:13I'll start. I'm going to start being on your guys.
50:15I promise. I'm going to start putting more stuff up.
50:17I'm going to text you. Yeah.
50:18Because he don't be like, I ain't seen no post.
50:20Oh, OK. We keep each other kind of.
50:23Yes. Yeah.
50:25I'm I when I get busy or like when I'm like not busy,
50:29I finally get a break.
50:30I'm like the last thing I want to do is go on social media.
50:32It's like I just. Yeah, that's how I am.
50:34Yeah. I just like I need a little breathing space.
50:37I need a little bit of a time out so that I can regroup,
50:41connect, get inspired again and then get back on there.
50:44So that's all that is.
50:46I love you all. I just need.
50:48I mean, for the same thing, I could totally relate a thousand times.
50:52Yeah. Even from when I was doing music and poetry to now,
50:56you know, even having a company, it's like, oh, it feel like another job
51:01or not, you know, task.
51:02But like you mentioned before, I'm a perfectionist.
51:05So it's like I'm not just about to have as oops.
51:09My first time. Oh, OK.
51:11That's how passionate I am. It's me.
51:13I'm a potty mouse. So maybe it's me.
51:15No, it's it's trust me.
51:17Woo. That's how passionate I am about it.
51:20You know, being a perfectionist, because I don't I don't like
51:22have doing a job and putting it out there, even from the captions.
51:27Like, I mean, had a content or edited and ready to go.
51:29But then I got to I got to write something. OK.
51:33And, you know, I put thought into what I say,
51:36and especially as long as it's a footprint on the Internet.
51:40Forever. You can look back at that.
51:42And yeah, even as I grow, still,
51:45I want somebody look back by even, you know, in the younger years
51:50of the brand, it was still like concise to the point professional.
51:56So I'm very strategic.
51:58And, you know, like you said, being a perfectionist
52:01has always been in my heart as I do art
52:05or mediums, even translating that to cooking or,
52:11you know, playing basketball is like just be the best.
52:16That you can be like.
52:18You can't be perfect.
52:19People say perfection is not real.
52:22But in my sense, yes, there's perfect.
52:24So I've done it and I've been there and experienced it.
52:28And seeing other people like there's nothing, nothing bad
52:31that you could say or whatever.
52:33Everything's perfect.
52:34So I know perfect and perfection is real.
52:38But it's like, OK, if I don't get to perfect,
52:40but at least we're striving for that or try to be the best version
52:44that we could be or be closest to perfect as we can.
52:49And another thing that kind of forced me out of that
52:52is just like, you just got to do it.
52:55You know, you can't use that as a excuse.
52:57I mean, at the end of the day, I just got to do it.
52:59Yeah, that's the just do it part, though.
53:04It's that lovely balance that I'm
53:07coming accustomed to, like I just got to do it.
53:10Yeah. Yeah.
53:11If I don't do it, it may not ever get done.
53:13Yeah. So it's been a time where I'll have an idea
53:18and I'll be like, oh, I should do that.
53:19That'd be dope.
53:20And then I don't do it.
53:22And then like a couple of months later, I'll see somebody else do it.
53:25And they be going by, I was like, oh, I couldn't.
53:27I should have just did it.
53:28I'll be like sick.
53:30And this happened to me a few times.
53:31And I always had this thing where like I feel like God
53:34be like trying to show me stuff like you had this idea.
53:37It could have been yours.
53:38But you kept sitting on it and being lazy
53:40and not doing what you need to do.
53:42So your blessing was given to somebody else.
53:45So I was trying to like when I get these ideas, I'm going to do it.
53:51Just do it. I have to.
53:53Yeah. Yeah.
53:54Even I started this last year was like, I'm going to do something.
53:58I'm going to start this podcast.
54:00I'm going to do it right now, like record the first episode.
54:03And I did that. I test myself.
54:05Yeah. So it's like that's that's why I'm still here to this day.
54:08It's like I started. I got to keep it going.
54:10Yeah. Like this is supposed to be
54:11just a solo podcast.
54:14Me going over business and, you know, shedding business tips.
54:18But I'm like, I do got a big network.
54:20I mean, practice my communication skills, my conversation skills,
54:25general skills, interview my network,
54:29you know, people that I know, people that I ran into, man. So.
54:34And then sometimes just by holding conversations with people,
54:37it'll help you or trigger a spark, a thing or you like, oh,
54:41we talked about this or, dang, that made me think about this.
54:45And that's more constant that you have created,
54:47that you can go and talk about after this, the fact of the matter.
54:51So, yeah, it's good to talk to other people sometimes.
54:55Yeah. But when you're in that moment and you had that thought,
54:57you just got to do it.
54:58Yeah. It's as simple as that. Get it. Get it done.
55:01That's my thing. If I could do it, it doesn't take that long.
55:04I got to do it in this moment. Just get it done.
55:07Oh, I told my daughter, I was going to make her something.
55:10I just thought we're doing all right.
55:12Give me two seconds. Make her something to eat.
55:15Not let 30 minutes, an hour or so pass.
55:18And then she's, you know, more fussier than she was.
55:22I'm just get it done or, oh,
55:25I'm about to write this book.
55:27And I told myself when I was younger, I was
55:3116 at the time, but I wrote it at 17.
55:33I said, I'm going to buy myself a laptop.
55:35And when I buy myself a laptop, I'm going to write a book.
55:38So when I was about that laptop,
55:39I already had the manuscript written.
55:44I started typing, typing it up, had my book.
55:49So that's awesome.
55:50You just have to take action.
55:53And as I mentioned before, success, love, speed.
55:55You know, if you wait too long on that thought,
55:58it's going to go to somebody else.
55:59Yeah. Yeah.
56:00You know, I definitely.
56:02You ain't the only creative person, child.
56:04Everybody thinking about different ways and certain stuff.
56:07Yeah. And I know a lot of people, they compare Michael Jackson
56:11and French, the two legends.
56:13I don't know who whose song was the first, but
56:17somebody slept on the song or the idea and the other artists did it.
56:21Like that really happens.
56:24You know, creativity don't stop.
56:26I mean, yeah, I mean, there are several songs
56:28that have been made for certain artists
56:32and then another artist to pass it up.
56:34And then that's that one artist that come along and that's
56:38they break out, that's a breakout song.
56:39And another artist probably like, oh, I should have done.
56:42But you know what, it's somebody's trash.
56:45It's somebody else's golden ticket into where they want to go.
56:48So, you know, it's like Walt Disney finding a golden ticket.
56:52Yeah. You got to take it.
56:55All right. And I know we kind of spoke on trends earlier,
56:59but how do you stay updated on the latest trends?
57:04So, um, I know I'm one of my other
57:11interviews that I've done.
57:13I was like, oh, I don't really look at other designers, which I don't.
57:16But I to clear that up, I do look at other designers,
57:22especially designers that are
57:25at a higher, you know, level than I am.
57:28They're doing the things that I aspire to do.
57:32So I do take a look like I don't.
57:34But I don't like be sitting there like, oh, she posted this.
57:37Oh, I love this. Like, I'm I'm not or he did this.
57:40Like, I'm not studying other designers.
57:42Like, I'll look, take a glance.
57:44And I'm like, oh, that looks dope.
57:45And then I go back into what is India like,
57:48because I feel like I'll get overly
57:53inspired by somebody else.
57:55And then I feel like I start creating work that looks like somebody else's stuff
57:57versus my own.
58:00But I go on Pinterest and I love Pinterest.
58:04I live on Pinterest.
58:05And that's other people's work.
58:07Like, it probably is other designers that I just don't know of.
58:11So everybody's going to be watching somebody's stuff.
58:13Everybody's going to be looking at some other stuff.
58:15But I kind of go and get a lot of my inspiration,
58:17because if I have an idea in my brain and I type it into Pinterest
58:21or into Google, I could pull up exactly what I'm thinking of sometimes.
58:25Or sometimes nobody's done it yet.
58:27And I'm like, oh, crap.
58:28And I got to try to make what I got in my brain
58:31make sense to somebody else or whatever.
58:33So, um, Pinterest, I look at other designers.
58:39I also I am inspired just by art and nature and things that are around me.
58:47So I can go into a store and I can see a pillow.
58:51And I'm like, oh, that pillow is dope.
58:53And then from that one pillow, I'd be like,
58:56that would look good with a throw like this.
58:59And then if you added in this color to it, that would be really, really cool.
59:03So prime example, a house that I just staged not too long ago.
59:10Mind you, this is a staging project.
59:11Most staging projects are neutrals.
59:13I don't. That's boring.
59:14So I have color and I'm like, well, you want to be able to use it
59:18over and over again.
59:19I'll be able to use these pieces over and over again.
59:21I create different color palettes all the time like this.
59:23So I saw this dope orange pillow
59:27in the color scheme of the home was black, white and gold.
59:31And so I was like, that sounds like I can't do neutrals.
59:33I cannot do it. I got to add some color.
59:35So I saw this bright orange, amberish color pillow.
59:40And I was like, oh, I like that.
59:42And then so I was shopping around more.
59:44I picked up the pillow. I like that.
59:46Shopping around some more.
59:47Then I saw this.
59:50It was like a marble green
59:53in like cream type of like decorative bowl or whatever.
59:59And I was like, yo, that's dope.
1:00:01I love this.
1:00:02So I saw that. Oh, that is so cute.
1:00:05So I'm looking at the pillow and I'm looking at this thing.
1:00:07I'm like, just like I care how I'm going to make this make sense.
1:00:12I was like, I don't care how I'm going to make it make sense.
1:00:13I'm about to get both of these and we're going to figure out
1:00:16who wins for the design.
1:00:18So I go home and like, you know, I'm just staring at the pieces.
1:00:23And I'm like, hmm.
1:00:25I was like, I want to find a pillow that's going to make this make sense.
1:00:27I went to another store.
1:00:32What store did I go to? I can't remember.
1:00:34But I found a pillow, like one of the little covers or whatever.
1:00:39And it was like this dope, like tribal green looking pillow.
1:00:43And it had black and white in it.
1:00:46And I was like, for some reason,
1:00:48I think that cover is going to look dope against this orange pillow.
1:00:52And so I took it home.
1:00:53I put it against the other. Oh, that's it. That's it.
1:00:56And then from there, I just started going through my inventory
1:00:58and I'm like, styling up this room and I'm getting excited.
1:01:02I'm hyped. Well, whenever I have a good idea and I love it,
1:01:05I start I start taking pictures.
1:01:06I start sending it to the realtor like, girl, look at this.
1:01:09What do you think about this?
1:01:09And she was like, I'm getting her all hyped up
1:01:11because, you know, she about to make money off this house.
1:01:14So, yeah, that I get inspiration from any and all things.
1:01:19Yeah.
1:01:19Well, whether was there ever a time that, you know,
1:01:22like you said, you were stored at this store or seeing something
1:01:27that's like, hmm, and kind of consulted or talked with the client
1:01:31to maybe raise their budget to put that new thing in?
1:01:36Yeah. Yeah.
1:01:37What's that process like?
1:01:40So when I do consultations with my people, I always tell them,
1:01:45like, you know, I don't initially, I don't even give them
1:01:48the estimate or budget because I'm like,
1:01:49how much you think this going to cost?
1:01:51Because everybody worried about how much it's going to cost.
1:01:53Because it's like, how much you cost?
1:01:54How much all this stuff will cost?
1:01:56Like, they want to know the cost.
1:01:57And I'm like, I honestly do not want to tell you a number
1:02:01and then you get glued to this number.
1:02:03And we ain't close to this number.
1:02:06So I I do my rendering where at least I have a mapping
1:02:09and idea of the things that I want to do.
1:02:11And then I like will collectively like write out a budget
1:02:13based off of the items that are in the rendering and how much
1:02:19that's going to cost.
1:02:20And so that's where I get like my estimates from.
1:02:23So that's that's good of an example number for like per room.
1:02:30I would say, OK, so depending on why I like the space,
1:02:34if you have your own furniture, if it's funded furniture
1:02:37that I will be willing to or wanting to work around,
1:02:41that's a big thing.
1:02:43I definitely always try to work around like the client
1:02:46stuff because I want to say you need to be willing to work
1:02:47money.
1:02:48So if I could work around it or make magic out of what you
1:02:50already have, I'm going to do it.
1:02:53Sometimes I'll be like, I can't work with this.
1:02:55I'm sorry.
1:02:57I love you, but no.
1:03:04So I kind of I will gently tell them,
1:03:08like, I really think that you
1:03:12need to make an investment.
1:03:13How much are you willing to invest in the space
1:03:15that you live in all the time?
1:03:17This is your day to day life.
1:03:18This is something that you have to come in and look at.
1:03:20Like, and I tell people all the time
1:03:22because sometimes I'm like, dang, that's expensive.
1:03:24Well, why is that?
1:03:26I'm like, one.
1:03:26I was like, when you go shopping for stuff,
1:03:28you normally probably get one or two little trinkets.
1:03:30And it'd be like, oh, $9.99, $15.99,
1:03:32oh, $30, or $50, or $100.
1:03:33It doesn't it doesn't seem that expensive.
1:03:35But then when you add all of these little trinket
1:03:37things up, and you've got to fill up this whole entire
1:03:39room with all of these things, yeah, babe,
1:03:42it's going to cost you some money.
1:03:44Um, if you have furniture already, that's a blessing.
1:03:49That can save you, but you still might wind up
1:03:52spinning around, shoot.
1:03:54It honestly, it just depends.
1:03:56It depends on how big the room is.
1:03:58I can't even, I can't even give a generic quote of it.
1:04:01Like, you know what I'm saying?
1:04:02Well, I say prepare to spend, spend the money.
1:04:06Be looking at about five, seven,
1:04:09you know, I've had clients that have gotten up
1:04:11to 10s and 20s, or thousands of dollars,
1:04:14just depending on what's your quality of taste.
1:04:17What do you like?
1:04:18What do you want to invest in?
1:04:19How much do you want to invest into your space?
1:04:21And that's why I never, I try not to be like,
1:04:23well, you know, how much, how much money
1:04:25that or I like I, it's because it's not
1:04:27necessarily about money.
1:04:29It's an investment.
1:04:30It's an investment in the space,
1:04:31an investment where you have to be in this space.
1:04:34How do you want to feel in this space?
1:04:35How much are you willing to,
1:04:37how much does that mean to you?
1:04:39How much does that, like, you know,
1:04:41if you want to come home and you want to come home
1:04:43to chaos, or do you want to come home
1:04:45to something that gives you peace
1:04:46after going out into this world
1:04:48and dealing with chaos?
1:04:49So it's like making investment.
1:04:53Like, ladies, y'all make investments in the weeds,
1:04:55me too.
1:04:56Y'all make investments and get your nails done.
1:04:59Like you make investments on like, you know,
1:05:02getting that nice car or having somebody to come in.
1:05:06I don't know, shoot,
1:05:08build something for you in your house.
1:05:10Like, design is not just bluffing a couple pillows.
1:05:14Like it's literally creating a mood,
1:05:17a vibe in your space while making colors
1:05:19make sense for your mental health.
1:05:22So that's why I always tell people
1:05:24to shop around for your right designer,
1:05:26because sometimes I, my style might not be your style.
1:05:30Even though I am very versed when it comes to styles,
1:05:34but like, you know,
1:05:36somebody else might be a better fit
1:05:38or a better look for your vibe.
1:05:41Like, go with your vibe.
1:05:42Go with how you vibe with your designer.
1:05:45But it's all an investment.
1:05:46It's an investment of how you want to feel
1:05:49in this certain space.
1:05:50Like in your room, do you want it to be moody?
1:05:52Do you want it to be like an airy?
1:05:54Do you want to feel like you waking up
1:05:55in freaking heaven,
1:05:56like with all light nudes and stuff like that?
1:05:58Or do you want to feel like,
1:06:00oh, this is the vibe.
1:06:01I'm edgy, this, like, how do you want to feel?
1:06:03Because sometimes like how you,
1:06:05what you wake up into will set the tone
1:06:07of what kind of character
1:06:08you're going to come out of that house being.
1:06:09You want to be a main character,
1:06:11or you want to be the one that's like sitting,
1:06:13the one that turned into a super villain
1:06:14because you depressed and sad and mad at the world.
1:06:17Like, you know?
1:06:18So I try to put it in that way.
1:06:21When people have questions about like
1:06:23the financial aspects and how much this is cost
1:06:25and blah, blah, like you make,
1:06:27people invest in what they want them to invest in.
1:06:28That's true.
1:06:29Yeah.
1:06:30Yeah.
1:06:32That's, that's, that's a home run.
1:06:34I'm going to kind of let that breathe a little bit,
1:06:35like, you know, a hot performance
1:06:37and you about to get off the stage,
1:06:39you got to let them like breathe a little bit.
1:06:41Wow.
1:06:43That's really, very real and inspiring.
1:06:47Yeah.
1:06:48I just, I really want people to get excited
1:06:53about your homes.
1:06:56Like, yeah, it's going to cost you money,
1:06:58but you got to understand how many years,
1:07:00how many seasons you going to be able to keep that.
1:07:02Like, yo, your hair is going to last you
1:07:05maybe a year if you got a good, you know,
1:07:08vendor that you get your stuff from,
1:07:09but like, and y'all be paying thousands of dollars.
1:07:12Don't pay hundreds and thousands for hair and braids
1:07:15and makeup and all of that stuff.
1:07:17Like you about to live in this house,
1:07:18invest in it.
1:07:19What did you spend all this money for?
1:07:20If you not going to make it your sanctuary
1:07:23when you come home.
1:07:24And if you can't do it,
1:07:26hire somebody that can help you
1:07:28create a space that you want.
1:07:30So that's where I come in.
1:07:31I literally love helping people
1:07:36get their homes to look like what they want to look like.
1:07:39And like, I sometimes have these very
1:07:42like bonding moments sometimes.
1:07:44When I go and I sit and I talk to a client,
1:07:46like they kind of tell me a bit,
1:07:47like I always ask them, like, you know,
1:07:49tell me about you, tell me about your life.
1:07:51Tell me about what you're experiencing right now in life.
1:07:54Like, you know what I'm saying?
1:07:55Like, it's almost like counseling.
1:07:56Like when you go to see your hairdresser,
1:07:58your nail tech and you sit down like,
1:08:00I got all of this going on.
1:08:02Like, yeah, your designer is your girl.
1:08:06Like, you know what I'm saying?
1:08:06Like, you got to lay it on and let me know what you,
1:08:08what you got going on.
1:08:10So how can I make this space feel amazing
1:08:14to what you're going through or would rather good or bad?
1:08:19Like, how can we keep this momentum
1:08:20or how can we raise the vibrations of what you feeling?
1:08:24Like, having this space done will make you feel good
1:08:27walking into it all the time.
1:08:29So, yeah.
1:08:31I kind of want to, curious about like your sanctuary,
1:08:36you know, your home.
1:08:39How often do you change it up as a designer?
1:08:42Well, I got to be honest with you, Fred.
1:08:48I currently live with my parents,
1:08:52but I did that for a reason.
1:08:53It was a very smart financial move for me.
1:08:55And then I made a dumb financial move,
1:08:57but we don't get into it.
1:08:58So I moved back with my parents
1:09:01to pay off all of my student loans
1:09:02because student loans have been a pain,
1:09:06a thorn in my hindsight since I graduated.
1:09:10And it was just, they was coming left and right
1:09:12and they was trying to take me out of here
1:09:13and it was, it was messing up my life.
1:09:16So I took time, moved back with my parents
1:09:18and I saved up money quick,
1:09:20especially because of the pandemic.
1:09:21That helped because I wasn't outside.
1:09:23I wasn't spending money.
1:09:24Like I was just stacking it.
1:09:25And I, you know, paid off my stuff.
1:09:28Thank goodness.
1:09:30So I stayed with my parents and I was like,
1:09:32oh, I got that done quick.
1:09:34And that was a lot of money that I racked up like a lot.
1:09:37But then I was like, well, what else can I do?
1:09:39So then that's when I opened up the event space.
1:09:42Bad investment for me.
1:09:44Cause it was just,
1:09:46it was never supposed to be necessarily
1:09:48like an event space.
1:09:49It was supposed to be a design studio,
1:09:50but it was like oversized for what I was trying to do.
1:09:54And then a lot of unfortunate events happened
1:09:57in my personal life.
1:09:58So it was just like,
1:09:59it just didn't do what it needs to do.
1:10:01But I learned more than I've ever learned in my life
1:10:05about entrepreneurship.
1:10:07I've connected with some of the most amazing people
1:10:10that I've ever connected with
1:10:11just by having that space.
1:10:13So a blessing, but a bigger lesson.
1:10:17So India will be purchasing her first home very soon.
1:10:22I am now starting to look and educate myself
1:10:27on getting my first space,
1:10:29whether that's an investment property or whatever.
1:10:32Cause I'm like, I ain't got no kids.
1:10:34I don't like, you know, I could be at home.
1:10:36I'm not bugging nobody.
1:10:37I'm in my box and I'm going working most of the time.
1:10:39But I will be making my first purchase of my home
1:10:43really soon.
1:10:43So I'm excited about that.
1:10:46Congrats on the space as well.
1:10:47I know it's like you said, it's unfortunate,
1:10:50but still jumping out there and doing it.
1:10:52A lot of people are afraid to even take that jump
1:10:56or that risk or that leap.
1:10:58So for you to do that, you know,
1:10:59that's a testament and also an investment
1:11:01for your future self.
1:11:03Now you've seen and experienced those things.
1:11:05Now you know what to look for or what you don't want.
1:11:08Yes.
1:11:09And you have gained a lot of education and knowledge
1:11:13about owning a commercial space.
1:11:16Cause it's not like owning a house or an apartment.
1:11:18The bills is different.
1:11:21So yeah, I think I bit off a little bit more than I could
1:11:24chew, but that comes from, you know,
1:11:26not having a mentor in that space.
1:11:29If I had a mentor or I had been around other entrepreneurs
1:11:34that were like doing the things that I was doing,
1:11:36I probably would have thought about it
1:11:39or maybe gained more of an audience with the event world
1:11:45before jumping into this space.
1:11:47Like I built a name for myself.
1:11:49Like I think that I did very great
1:11:50for the little time that I did.
1:11:53But, excuse me again.
1:11:55I also don't, I don't, I just,
1:11:59I don't really care for the,
1:12:04I don't care for the event world.
1:12:07I just really love homes.
1:12:09Homes are where it's at for me.
1:12:12I wish we would have met sooner, like, oh.
1:12:17Yeah.
1:12:17Like you said, the event world,
1:12:18that is where I, you know, rang.
1:12:21I can even say I'm a planner to a extent
1:12:23as I, you know, consult
1:12:25and have these discovery calls on the phone.
1:12:28I'm like helping them plan their whole event.
1:12:30I'm like, wait, I gotta get back to work, you know?
1:12:33Yeah.
1:12:34Like, yeah, but I love that.
1:12:37Even like last night, people don't know
1:12:41I was in a kitchen.
1:12:42Were you?
1:12:44Yeah, I guess it was something with the punch.
1:12:46I'm like, dang, the punch, they're coming out.
1:12:49Let's get a spoon and kind of stir it, mix it in.
1:12:52It just wouldn't come out.
1:12:52So you stepped in, all right.
1:12:54So they're like, can you carry this for me?
1:12:56I know it was on turn to work.
1:12:58And I'm like, but I don't mind that.
1:12:59Yeah.
1:13:00I actually appreciate that.
1:13:01Yeah, yeah.
1:13:01They're like, oh, you working for this punch.
1:13:05Technically, yeah.
1:13:05We want stuff to turn out right.
1:13:07Yeah.
1:13:07I know there was other people waiting
1:13:09and like, I know who it's for, you know?
1:13:11Yeah.
1:13:13Giving that good energy towards this celebration.
1:13:17Yeah, absolutely.
1:13:17I don't look at it as work or a burden.
1:13:20Like, shoot, let's get this punch going.
1:13:21We got people outside waiting.
1:13:23Show what you need me to do.
1:13:24Grab an apron, chop up some whatever I need to do.
1:13:28Now, I will say when I did host events at my building
1:13:32and I'm like, yo, what y'all need?
1:13:34You good?
1:13:35You need some water?
1:13:36You need some water?
1:13:37Da da da.
1:13:37They're like, I hear them like, oh,
1:13:39we ran out of champagne.
1:13:40I'll go to the store.
1:13:41Y'all keep on doing what you do.
1:13:42I got you.
1:13:43I'm going to the store, grabbing the champagne.
1:13:44Well, oh, we ran out of plates.
1:13:45I got you.
1:13:46I need ice.
1:13:47I got you.
1:13:47Like, I, because everybody, like,
1:13:51people's things mean so much to me.
1:13:54Like, whether it's a special day,
1:13:56whether it's your home, like,
1:13:58I just be trying to really make sure
1:14:00that people are happy with the investments that they make.
1:14:04So I will always go above and beyond
1:14:06just to be like, oh, let me help you.
1:14:07Let me, how can I, you know,
1:14:09that's just, I guess that's just who I've grown to be.
1:14:12I wouldn't say that I've always been that way.
1:14:13Personality.
1:14:14Yeah.
1:14:15For the young folks or young entrepreneurs,
1:14:18that's called customer service.
1:14:21Yes.
1:14:21You have to take lead on that.
1:14:24Going back to your younger days,
1:14:28when did you first hear about entrepreneurship?
1:14:34When did I first hear about entrepreneurship?
1:14:37Mm.
1:14:39I had to be about 16, 17 years old in high school.
1:14:44And I was informed that my cousin James
1:14:49was opening up his first McDonald's franchise
1:14:53out in Indianapolis.
1:14:56And the whole family, like, rallied up in vans and cars
1:15:03and we drove out hours at that time.
1:15:06I was like, oh my God, I'm in this car forever.
1:15:09But like, we all rallied up and we went out there
1:15:11and he did the ribbon cut and the ceremony.
1:15:14And like, I just remember being a kid and being like,
1:15:18yo, this guy has his own freaking McDonald's.
1:15:24Like, what?
1:15:24And I used to, I worked at that place
1:15:26like a couple years ago, right?
1:15:28And I see how much money I'm putting in the register,
1:15:31serving up and you know, all of the things.
1:15:33So I'm like, yo, this is crazy.
1:15:35And he already was an engineer.
1:15:37So this particular family member is very, very well off,
1:15:41has always just been successful, very successful.
1:15:44Black man would be, family always just done the thing.
1:15:49So like, that was one, I think,
1:15:53of the pivotal moments that I was unconscious
1:15:55was a humongous thing for me.
1:15:58Actually, I didn't even remember that
1:15:59until you just asked me this question.
1:16:02Yeah.
1:16:03I'm glad I did that.
1:16:04Yeah, like, I just thought like I was like,
1:16:06who was the first?
1:16:07And it was my cousin James.
1:16:09So kind of touching on that,
1:16:11I know you say you don't have kids in this moment,
1:16:14but you have younger cousins, nieces, nephews, maybe.
1:16:20Well, I'm sure down the line.
1:16:20I got 12 nieces and nephews.
1:16:22Okay, so you do.
1:16:23So how important is Impact Light, okay?
1:16:27Like, you know, you know, you're shifting and closing
1:16:30the event space, but still keeping your business alive.
1:16:34You know, waking up each day,
1:16:36creating an impact, even motivation, showing an example.
1:16:40How important is that for you and your loved ones?
1:16:43Oh, it's absolutely important.
1:16:45Anytime that I have my nieces or my nephews,
1:16:49I am pulling them with me to go on,
1:16:53whether it's me going to stage a house,
1:16:55whether it's me moving stuff in and out of the house,
1:16:57whether it's them coming up to the building
1:16:59and them like doing mopping, cleaning off chairs,
1:17:02getting some stuff done.
1:17:04Like, you know, I always try to walk them through
1:17:06and tell them like, yo, you can do anything you want to do.
1:17:09Like, you literally can put your mind,
1:17:11if you put your mind to it,
1:17:12you can do anything that you want to do
1:17:14and never set a limitation for yourself
1:17:16and don't let other people push their fears onto you.
1:17:22You literally can do anything that you want to do.
1:17:24I always tell them like, I never in my life
1:17:26thought I would own like a event space.
1:17:29Like, you could have told me that five years prior to,
1:17:33like, I would have,
1:17:33that would have been the chapter of my life.
1:17:35So, or just having a successful interior design company,
1:17:39you couldn't have told me
1:17:40that that was going to be a portion of my life.
1:17:41I thought I was going to be at Cleveland Clinic,
1:17:44hopefully working my way to the top,
1:17:45like in the office somewhere.
1:17:47But that wasn't, my portion guy had other plans.
1:17:51So, with the kids, I like to keep them involved
1:17:56or bring them on those journeys
1:17:58so they can see hands on, like, yo, you literally can,
1:18:02you literally can do anything that you want to do.
1:18:04Or like, if I have them around,
1:18:06like I'll bring them around my sorority sisters
1:18:08or like my nephews,
1:18:10like I would love to get them around
1:18:12some of like my frat brothers and stuff like that,
1:18:14just to put them around people that are successful,
1:18:17that are doing things,
1:18:18just to put them into rooms
1:18:20of different types of people outside of like,
1:18:23oh yeah, be successful.
1:18:25You got to be a doctor or a lawyer
1:18:26or even though those jobs are amazing,
1:18:29those are not the only ways or the only ways
1:18:31to be successful.
1:18:34So yeah, them kids, they know.
1:18:37And even in the summertime when they come and stay,
1:18:40ain't no just, we going to play
1:18:42and this and that, we going to get up,
1:18:43we going to have our chores,
1:18:44we going to have some structure
1:18:45and then we going to learn about some stuff
1:18:47and then you get to go and play.
1:18:49You have to earn play time.
1:18:50This is not just summertime
1:18:51where you just throwing your life away, wasting time.
1:18:54Like we about to be learning stuff,
1:18:55even if it's like going out into nature
1:18:57and learning something new,
1:18:58like I make sure that I keep them involved in things.
1:19:02I'm a very hands-on auntie, okay, then it's my kids.
1:19:06Yeah, we need more examples like that.
1:19:08That is powerful, like even to the people under me,
1:19:11you know, nieces, nephews, and daughters.
1:19:14And it's powerful, even having my daughter here is like,
1:19:18you know, I'm like, well, got another podcast,
1:19:21so you know, got to get to it.
1:19:23And even bringing her to even some
1:19:25of the pull-up experience podcast.
1:19:27Shout out to you as a guest on the pull-up experience podcast.
1:19:28Yes, I was.
1:19:30You know, even I want live shoots
1:19:33and you know, I better always make sure
1:19:34that I'm able to bring her before.
1:19:37I'm like, well, I'm going to have my daughter.
1:19:39Is that okay?
1:19:39Oh, that's fine.
1:19:41You know, it'd be beautiful
1:19:43and she even have cameras that she use.
1:19:46I love it.
1:19:48You're like, oh, she's so our girl.
1:19:49You give.
1:19:50Yeah, she's always been here with the camera.
1:19:52So I was like, what is she doing with that?
1:19:54Okay, she's mocking her dad.
1:19:56I love that.
1:19:56So that really shows that you're making such a positive,
1:19:59like your positive influence in her life.
1:20:02Like she admires you.
1:20:03She admires what you do.
1:20:05If that ain't motivation within itself,
1:20:06like for you to keep doing what you're doing,
1:20:08cause she's literally watching you.
1:20:11Yeah, so that's, that's, that's dope.
1:20:13Yeah, she's like, I'm a photographer.
1:20:16I'm like, you haven't worked in three months.
1:20:18I'd be like, you want to use the camera today?
1:20:20You know, all of a sudden, you know, you can take the time.
1:20:24Yeah, that's so cute.
1:20:25It's cool though.
1:20:26Like she understands it a bit more
1:20:28and she kind of teaches my younger nephew
1:20:32who's a year and a half younger than her.
1:20:35And you know, she was like, well,
1:20:37he does this and this and this and that.
1:20:38So she kind of coached him.
1:20:40I love it.
1:20:41Okay, I see you.
1:20:42Yeah, so it's like,
1:20:43I'm not just holding this information.
1:20:45I'm also sharing it and passing on this information
1:20:48so that other people can learn.
1:20:49That's a great sign.
1:20:50Honestly, even like you, we talked about investing,
1:20:53like, okay, I could buy you these new shoes now.
1:20:57Or if you keep the ones you have, I know, you know,
1:21:01you don't have to buy the ones you want.
1:21:03We could buy something else and we could put that money
1:21:06towards stocks and you own part of the company.
1:21:09Yeah.
1:21:10So every time somebody buys a shoe of this brand,
1:21:13you getting paid.
1:21:14You getting a piece of that.
1:21:15Yeah.
1:21:15So even teaching them that aspect,
1:21:17the power of investing.
1:21:20Not always wanting to try to have everything right now,
1:21:23but think about longevity.
1:21:26Yeah.
1:21:27And that's great that you, you know,
1:21:29bring your nieces and nephews with you
1:21:32and kind of showing them the process.
1:21:35I think that the reason why I'm the auntie
1:21:37that I am now, in future period,
1:21:40okay, because I'm speaking into existence.
1:21:42But I think that the reason why I am the way that I am
1:21:45is because I had a cousin who was how I,
1:21:49oh, you know how you got your older cousins.
1:21:50They like auntie to you, but they older,
1:21:51they take me to your cousins.
1:21:53But so I had a cousin, her name was Sherry
1:21:56and Sherry was like super woman to me.
1:21:58Like she was involved in every program you can think of.
1:22:02She was doing all kinds of stuff
1:22:04for like Cleveland Clinic, the American Heart Society.
1:22:06She was an accountant.
1:22:07Like she, she had it going on.
1:22:09Like I used to be like, oh, I wouldn't be Sherry.
1:22:12So bad.
1:22:12She was just so, she was just such a dope person
1:22:14that she used to come and get me.
1:22:16We were going to get ice cream.
1:22:17She would bring me to like, you know,
1:22:19her little events and stuff like that,
1:22:20that she was involved in.
1:22:22And also when I turned of age,
1:22:24like when I was, I think 16 years old,
1:22:26I came and I was like a secretary to her
1:22:28at her accountant firm.
1:22:29So it was just like, she was just so dope
1:22:32and she exposed me to so many different things.
1:22:34So it was just so many different pieces
1:22:36that helped me to become the entrepreneur
1:22:40and just the person that I am right now.
1:22:42Like, so she inspired me to be the type of aunt
1:22:46that shows up in that fashion to these kids
1:22:49because they need it.
1:22:51Wow.
1:22:51Yeah.
1:22:53That's almost amazing to hear.
1:22:55And it kind of, you know, makes me wonder.
1:23:01Like you're almost like hyper-focused.
1:23:03So it's like, you had to learn these things
1:23:06and now you're like knowing the path you want to
1:23:08and you know more about business and how to navigate.
1:23:12So in a sense, like you have this focus,
1:23:14almost tunnel vision.
1:23:15So like, how do you block out distractions?
1:23:20Block.
1:23:23Block and delete, go on here about your business.
1:23:27I don't, I think that once God showed me who I was
1:23:33and the things that I could have
1:23:36if I really applied myself,
1:23:39I stopped allowing nonsense into my world.
1:23:44Whether that's nonsense of like friends
1:23:46or different relationships
1:23:48or just people that you have around you,
1:23:50whether that's coworkers that try to make you feel like
1:23:53crap or, you know, running into bad clients or whatever.
1:23:59I really think that I just kind of
1:24:04leave people where they at.
1:24:06Like either you are going,
1:24:08either you gonna come with me
1:24:09and you gonna be an asset to my world
1:24:11and we gonna pour into one another, pick each other up.
1:24:15But all of that drama, the nonsense,
1:24:19I let that go a long time ago.
1:24:22Like I really have, India today is not the India
1:24:26as she was before, okay?
1:24:27Let's just say that.
1:24:29But like I really, I start kicking into the curve
1:24:33because it didn't serve me, it didn't, yeah.
1:24:38And I also want to touch on
1:24:42what we kind of touched on before about the abstract.
1:24:47I know you mentioned, you know,
1:24:49almost like minimalistic things.
1:24:52So are you more of a minimalist or more abstract type of?
1:24:59Or a maximist.
1:25:01Maximist.
1:25:01Yeah, a maximist is like when you see,
1:25:03I don't know if you've ever like
1:25:04picked up a magazine for homes
1:25:06and you see like they're really, really colorful
1:25:07and they've got different little cute pots here,
1:25:10there, pictures everywhere.
1:25:11And it's like really busy, but it all makes sense.
1:25:13That's a maximist.
1:25:16I would say I'm somewhere in between.
1:25:18Of all of that.
1:25:19I can do a balance.
1:25:22I sometimes have trouble being a minimalist.
1:25:26Being a minimalist is not as simple as people think
1:25:29because even being a minimalist,
1:25:31you have to fill up that space
1:25:33and make it look like a room
1:25:35and not just like a, like, what is this?
1:25:37Like, you know what I'm saying?
1:25:38And so like there's still a math and a science
1:25:41to even being a minimalist
1:25:42and having minimum clutter,
1:25:44but still having enough to make it look like,
1:25:48wow, somebody touched this room.
1:25:49This room is a piece of art.
1:25:52It is crafted well.
1:25:55That would be an area that I'm like,
1:25:57ooh, I don't know about that.
1:25:58But that's the thing about home staging
1:26:00because it's kind of being a minimalist
1:26:02because you don't get to use a lot of colors.
1:26:03You don't get to use a lot of patterns and textures
1:26:05even though I be throwing my own stuff in here.
1:26:08But like, that's kind of what minimalistic beauty is
1:26:13where you do minimal and letting the house speak for itself.
1:26:18That's amazing.
1:26:20And as you say that, and I'm thinking like,
1:26:22dang, it is Men's Mental Health Week.
1:26:26Oh, it is.
1:26:27Somebody come do a man cave.
1:26:29I've been wanting to do one forever.
1:26:32Well, let's, we could probably set that up
1:26:35through different programs.
1:26:37I'm thinking about the veterans and people
1:26:38that come out of the military,
1:26:41know they have the funding, they have the money to do it.
1:26:43And they have this trauma.
1:26:46Like, have you ever worked with a client such as that
1:26:49and try to get them together mentally
1:26:52and have their sanctuary be therapeutic or therapeutic?
1:26:56Not a veteran per se,
1:26:59or someone that has, I guess,
1:27:01like a clinical diagnosis of some sort.
1:27:02But I have worked in homes where there was a woman
1:27:09who had just went through a divorce.
1:27:11And she was really emotional about it.
1:27:13She was a new mom and a new divorcee,
1:27:15and she had moved to a new city.
1:27:16And she was trying to like,
1:27:18create a space that she loved and to start over.
1:27:22I've worked with people who are just single
1:27:28and trying to make the best out of it
1:27:29and having their homes and being okay in their loneliness
1:27:35because their house is somewhere
1:27:37that they find happiness in.
1:27:40So not necessarily veterans or something of that nature,
1:27:44but people that are going through things
1:27:46that would make anyone depressed experiencing it.
1:27:50So I have created happy spaces
1:27:53for people that are trying to escape hardships.
1:27:58Yeah.
1:28:00Wow.
1:28:02Like people don't really understand
1:28:04how impactful design work is sometimes.
1:28:07Like it's definitely, and also like,
1:28:11my degree is in psychology.
1:28:13So like color therapy and theory
1:28:15and all of those things, I do use certain colors
1:28:18because they do certain things for the mind
1:28:20and put you in certain mindsets and frames of things.
1:28:24So there is so much of a science to design work.
1:28:28And that's why I said what I said earlier about,
1:28:31don't try to rush it, like enjoy that process
1:28:34because at the end you're gonna have a space
1:28:36that you absolutely love.
1:28:37Rush projects are not, some of them are amazing.
1:28:40I've had rush projects
1:28:41and they come out absolutely bomb.
1:28:43But I know that some of the projects
1:28:45that I really took my time on,
1:28:47they came out so amazing.
1:28:49Like so amazing.
1:28:52So yeah.
1:28:54Wow.
1:28:55Well, that's maybe something we can work on
1:28:59and reaching out to the VA and the veterans
1:29:01and getting government funding to do these projects.
1:29:06Yeah, I definitely see a benefit
1:29:08and I know people in certain places.
1:29:11Yeah.
1:29:11And people that are veterans
1:29:12and the things they talk about
1:29:14or they don't have support that they need
1:29:17or don't know where to find it.
1:29:18I think that's the first place to start
1:29:20is at home, you know?
1:29:23Or maybe they don't know.
1:29:24They're just in a black and white or gray,
1:29:29a very dull space and they're satisfied
1:29:32or think they're satisfied with it.
1:29:35And if you're sitting in a space
1:29:36that's got a lot of blues,
1:29:38but not the right shade of blue.
1:29:40Or you in a lot of grays or white walls everywhere.
1:29:44That's depressing.
1:29:45It can be.
1:29:47It gives no kind of character or energy.
1:29:50There's no energy in some of those colors,
1:29:52depending on the shade and the placement of it
1:29:55and how it's put into the space.
1:29:58So yeah, there is a science behind design.
1:30:02Wow.
1:30:03And even as you say that,
1:30:05I'm like, damn, the dullness.
1:30:06I'm like, man, that's how jail is
1:30:08because they want these people to feel miserable
1:30:10and then-
1:30:10They be depressed.
1:30:12And then, yeah.
1:30:13Even classrooms.
1:30:15Younger classrooms, elementary mainly,
1:30:17can't really speak for middle schools
1:30:19because that's when they start to change.
1:30:21But they're so colorful.
1:30:24They're so amazing.
1:30:26Like little kindergarten rooms.
1:30:27But you're right.
1:30:29I never even thought about that.
1:30:30When I went to middle school and high school,
1:30:32everything kind of changed.
1:30:33It wasn't really as colorful.
1:30:35Things started getting very flat.
1:30:38Lockers were all militants.
1:30:40And it was not as much color.
1:30:43The higher grades you went up,
1:30:44the more, I guess they would say is more maturing,
1:30:47but it actually took away colors of inspiration, I feel.
1:30:52Colors of inspiration.
1:30:54Yeah.
1:30:54But I did go back to,
1:30:56we had our 15 year class,
1:30:58or our 15 class reunion child
1:31:00because we didn't do the tea yet.
1:31:02So we were back for our 15.
1:31:04And when I did walk through my old high school,
1:31:06I did see a lot of art and paintings
1:31:09that they had allowed the students to do.
1:31:11And I thought it was so dope.
1:31:13And it added so much character and color
1:31:16and kind of gave you a feeling
1:31:19of what type of environment you're walking into
1:31:21in this school.
1:31:22It was in the library, I think.
1:31:24And I was like, whoa,
1:31:25this looks nothing like the library
1:31:26I went to high school with.
1:31:28Like I would actually want to be here.
1:31:31That's amazing.
1:31:34So is there a specific color that inspired you
1:31:37or inspires you every day?
1:31:40Every day, no.
1:31:42I know I was talking mess about black,
1:31:44but I like black.
1:31:45I like to wear black.
1:31:47I like to wear nudes.
1:31:48I'm not really a color color person.
1:31:51And every now and again,
1:31:51you'll catch me as some colors.
1:31:54I actually, let me stop lying.
1:31:57There is a color that I really do like,
1:31:58and I find myself gravitating towards
1:32:00a lot more often, green.
1:32:03And it's like either it's like a lime color green,
1:32:07or it's like a mustard olive green,
1:32:10or it's olive green.
1:32:11But I like green.
1:32:13I love green a lot.
1:32:16Okay.
1:32:17Yeah.
1:32:17Wow, I would have never suspect that.
1:32:21Yeah, green.
1:32:22All last year, I was like,
1:32:23girl, you gotta stop buying green stuff.
1:32:24Like I had a nice chunk in my closet.
1:32:27I was like, this all green and it all looks the same.
1:32:30Like you gotta switch up a little bit.
1:32:32But green.
1:32:33Is green your favorite color?
1:32:34No, my favorite color is red.
1:32:36Like a ruby, a rich ruby red.
1:32:39Mine as well.
1:32:41Yeah.
1:32:41I like, I love reds, deep reds.
1:32:45I don't like them bright colored reds.
1:32:46Right.
1:32:47And I do like green.
1:32:48Green is very beautiful in a lot of different colors,
1:32:52whether it's like sage or like a,
1:32:54even a pastel green.
1:32:55Like all greens are really, really beautiful
1:32:58and earthy sometimes.
1:33:01Greens.
1:33:02I actually been liking yellows a lot lately.
1:33:06Kind of spoke on some yellows earlier.
1:33:09Yeah, yellow.
1:33:11Yellow has been speaking to me.
1:33:12And I love, I say red, orange.
1:33:15Orange is another color that I really, really like.
1:33:19Orange, I think is like that good in between,
1:33:21between pink and red.
1:33:22And it's like that, I don't know, I love it.
1:33:24Yeah, I love orange.
1:33:26So yeah.
1:33:28Wow.
1:33:28Yep.
1:33:29So even as you mentioned the color green,
1:33:34do you associate different objects
1:33:37with different colors?
1:33:40Like cabbage is green.
1:33:42Banana yellow are different shapes.
1:33:44Like an egg is oval.
1:33:46So everything's oval.
1:33:47Like think about an egg when I'm putting this
1:33:49or doing the rendering.
1:33:51Oh, yeah.
1:33:52So like colors, like explaining them to clients.
1:33:56Yeah, so I do that when I do like walkthroughs
1:33:59and stuff like that.
1:34:00But normally when I'm sitting down with clients
1:34:02and I'm reviewing like a rendering that I've created,
1:34:04I have the color selected.
1:34:07So, Sharon Williams,
1:34:09when I first like really got into the design world,
1:34:13I had like messaged them and told them like,
1:34:14hey, I'm a designer, like da da da.
1:34:16They sent me this human against a kid, like huge.
1:34:19Like, I mean, the thing was, they can't see me.
1:34:22It was like big.
1:34:23Like it was like, I would say about seven feet tall,
1:34:29or no, seven, what am I trying to say?
1:34:31Like about 12 inches tall, let's say 12 inches tall.
1:34:34And about seven inches wide or whatever.
1:34:36And it had all of like these little booklets
1:34:39and these little binders full of like all of the colors
1:34:42that they have.
1:34:43And then also they had an exclusive designer's colors
1:34:46where it's like only designers can get these colors.
1:34:50So yeah, we get a lot of exclusives to design.
1:34:53But it was so much.
1:34:55So like when I go to show like a rendering,
1:35:00or even if it's a virtual rendering,
1:35:02I'm able to like identify the colors that I want to do.
1:35:05So I don't have to try to explain it
1:35:06because I can show it to them.
1:35:07Or I'll tell them like, hey, go on Pinterest, look up,
1:35:10what's a common color there by the child?
1:35:15Agreeable gray, go look at agreeable gray.
1:35:17Or in like, they can go pull it up on Pinterest
1:35:18and be able to look at agreeable gray everywhere.
1:35:22Or look at tricorn black.
1:35:23This is, that's my favorite black color.
1:35:25So they go look and see what that looks like.
1:35:27They can get an example of what it looks like.
1:35:29Have you ever thought about like almost integrating
1:35:32a color palette, like how you describe
1:35:34and all of this on your website?
1:35:36So we do do a collaboration of like different colors
1:35:41and stuff like that.
1:35:43Most interior designs or decorators,
1:35:45we create things called a mood board.
1:35:47So a mood board is a collage of different pictures,
1:35:51inspirations, vibes, things that you could find
1:35:54to kind of paint a picture to your client
1:35:58of what your, how are we gonna vibe out this room,
1:36:01what this room is gonna look like.
1:36:02And oftentimes it has the color scheme
1:36:04that you're going for in this space.
1:36:07And then us as designers, we'll do a color match.
1:36:09Like, okay, so this color looks like this.
1:36:12Let me get a swatch of this color, put it up to it.
1:36:14This looks like this.
1:36:15Or they also have like little tools.
1:36:17Like I have a little tool that you could put it up to
1:36:19and might get a, tell you a color that matches it.
1:36:21So yeah.
1:36:22Yeah.
1:36:23This is amazing.
1:36:25Yeah.
1:36:25So I know you have kind of like your own themes
1:36:29and stuff.
1:36:30Do you go to like different conferences?
1:36:31Yeah.
1:36:32Your own shows?
1:36:33I've gone to a few different showrooms,
1:36:36a few different, just like classes
1:36:40and just things or whatever for designers.
1:36:43Yep.
1:36:43I've gone to those.
1:36:44Have any designs?
1:36:45It's been a while now.
1:36:47So yeah, but I've gone to some.
1:36:50They have any designs popped out to you?
1:36:55When you go to those showrooms,
1:36:58like it's like a candy shop.
1:37:01Like you, you turn this way.
1:37:03Oh, these are, oh my God, that looks amazing.
1:37:06Like.
1:37:07Real quick.
1:37:07Is it salesy?
1:37:09Like the vendors, they're salesy.
1:37:11Are they more like, oh, check it out.
1:37:12They chill.
1:37:13They real chill.
1:37:13Cause the art speaks for itself, baby.
1:37:16Lord, I went to a home show.
1:37:18I was talking about getting in.
1:37:19We almost like the only guest.
1:37:21Uh-huh.
1:37:22It's like just.
1:37:23You must be talking about like the IH center
1:37:25where they have like the vendors home show type of thing.
1:37:27No, no, no.
1:37:28I don't go to the IH center.
1:37:29Okay.
1:37:30I was like.
1:37:31I was talking about attack and volume.
1:37:33I'm a introvert naturally.
1:37:34And it's early for me, bro.
1:37:36I'm like, let me just step out of my box.
1:37:37Cause I was interested,
1:37:39kind of still them get into whole selling.
1:37:41Uh-huh.
1:37:43So.
1:37:44Connect you if that's what you want to do.
1:37:46Okay.
1:37:47That's definitely tough.
1:37:48And so I'm like, little, let me try the home show.
1:37:51At least kind of see what's there.
1:37:53Cause if I got a stage or see what's out,
1:37:55what type of vendors out there.
1:37:57So kind of getting the idea.
1:37:59But I'm like getting so poor.
1:38:02So I'm not gonna have a conversation with these people,
1:38:04but I'm also asking them valid questions too.
1:38:06Or like, oh, how did it?
1:38:08And then, okay.
1:38:09All right.
1:38:10Thank you.
1:38:10Oh, wait.
1:38:11No, no, no, no, no.
1:38:12Oh, oh, oh.
1:38:13Just going around to like.
1:38:15Where, what show did you go to?
1:38:17It was at the Huntington convention.
1:38:20I'm not sure.
1:38:20Okay.
1:38:21I think I know what you're talking about.
1:38:22Those are when they're set up like vendors.
1:38:27The show room, show rooms are different than that.
1:38:30Show rooms are like, it would be a room
1:38:32like we're sitting in.
1:38:34Well, they had those, but it was just on the other side.
1:38:36But it was like, I had to go through this maze of like.
1:38:39Vendors and them trying to sell their product to you.
1:38:42Yeah.
1:38:43I found an opening, a gateway.
1:38:45I saw a person's art that I know.
1:38:49I'm like, that is, I didn't see them at their booth.
1:38:51I'm like, wait, there's an opening.
1:38:52So it's almost like a movie.
1:38:54And it's like, all right, cut.
1:38:55I could breathe again.
1:38:57It was just so overwhelming.
1:38:58Wow.
1:38:59I mean, I'm mainly to myself and it was early.
1:39:03It was cold as heck that day.
1:39:05I was on my nose running.
1:39:06I had to get myself together to walk in.
1:39:08It was just a wow day just to walk into that.
1:39:13It was like.
1:39:15Yeah, for me, I have a different experience
1:39:18with show rooms because they're designed so eloquently
1:39:23and then they also pick like the best of
1:39:25the best designers to showcase these spaces.
1:39:28They don't have to come up to you and ask you nothing.
1:39:32You're going to be trying to find them to figure out
1:39:34where do I get this?
1:39:35And also they have like tags that have the information
1:39:39or scan things that you can scan right to get to that.
1:39:42Yeah, for designer conferences.
1:39:44So like, you don't really have to go and find people.
1:39:46Like you just scan what you're interested in.
1:39:48And then they have an area where they're like,
1:39:51do they have you sign up?
1:39:52Or do they like, yeah, they collect your email
1:39:54or your name and stuff like that.
1:39:56No, email you like to follow up and things of that nature.
1:39:58But like, no, it's a little bit different,
1:40:01a different culture than like what you sound
1:40:04like you went to was more of like where they do
1:40:08like bathrooms or kitchens.
1:40:10And like there is so many different companies
1:40:13that do the restructuring of this and that.
1:40:15Oh yeah, come with us.
1:40:16We have these kind of cabinets.
1:40:17Replication.
1:40:18Yeah, yeah, yes.
1:40:19So that's a little bit different.
1:40:22Those are normally contractors.
1:40:24Who are trying to, you know, design and re-contract
1:40:27like your kitchen or construct your kitchen.
1:40:30I ain't even gonna speak on gutter girl.
1:40:34Woo, first date too.
1:40:36I'm in tears.
1:40:37I had to walk away.
1:40:38Cause I don't like laughing people face like it's rude.
1:40:41But it was just like, man, that was a day for me.
1:40:45I was not to speak on that on a letter day,
1:40:48but that was a day.
1:40:51But I know you said like,
1:40:52during those shows that get emails,
1:40:54what do you do for like lead generation?
1:40:58You always trying to put my business out there.
1:41:00That's what we talk about.
1:41:02No, I be collecting the information.
1:41:07But then I, I mean, I collect information,
1:41:09but then I get so busy that I never send out
1:41:13the things I'm supposed to send out.
1:41:15Cause I'm, I need to start hiring people.
1:41:18It's just as simple as that.
1:41:20And I haven't because I'm a one man show
1:41:23and I do everything.
1:41:24And you can't, if you want to grow as a business,
1:41:27you cannot do everything by yourself.
1:41:30So for those that are listening,
1:41:32I will be hiring soon,
1:41:33probably within the next three months.
1:41:36So, cause I'm, yeah.
1:41:38I'm ready to say.
1:41:39We definitely have to talk more and collab
1:41:41cause I see different things in pockets.
1:41:44Yeah, yeah.
1:41:45Opportunities for me to be doing stuff that I like,
1:41:48anything and everything I probably have thought of
1:41:50a lot of stuff.
1:41:51And I just have not had the time to execute it
1:41:54because it's hard to be your own.
1:41:56You're the designer.
1:41:57You're the shopper.
1:41:58You are the accountant.
1:42:00You are the bookkeeper.
1:42:01You are the photographer.
1:42:02You are the videographer.
1:42:04You are the person that's not a clean.
1:42:06You, you're the person that paints.
1:42:07You're the person that does the contour.
1:42:09I do a lot of stuff.
1:42:11So it's like, and I take on so much
1:42:15because I really be trying to save people money
1:42:18because it is expensive.
1:42:20On average, the prices that I quote to people
1:42:23are way lower than most designers would quote.
1:42:27On average, most designers outside of like a bathroom,
1:42:30you're looking at 20 to $25,000 out the gate per room.
1:42:35So, yeah.
1:42:39And I'm talking about seven, five, seven, 10.
1:42:42These other designers talking about 20, 25, the more.
1:42:46So it's almost like education is needed
1:42:50for the clients before they even step in.
1:42:52I just know what area I live in and who my audience is.
1:42:57And I think that that's really important.
1:42:59And for me, that's okay.
1:43:04Like, I don't mind like cutting those corners
1:43:07so that I could make a name for myself.
1:43:10One, number two.
1:43:11Also, I don't mind because for me,
1:43:16what I'm doing is building up communities
1:43:19of people that look like me.
1:43:22And a lot of homes, especially black communities
1:43:27and black homes and black areas
1:43:29are not always the most well-kept.
1:43:33So for me to go in into some of these spaces
1:43:37and to give them face lifts and bring life
1:43:40into our community, into our spaces, our beauty shops,
1:43:43our barber shops, our, you know,
1:43:45like that means a lot to me.
1:43:49So sometimes when you love what you do,
1:43:51it don't, the money is gonna come.
1:43:53Like I'm not money hungry over it.
1:43:55I do it because I love it.
1:43:56And I love the outcome that it brings.
1:43:59Yeah.
1:44:00So yeah.
1:44:01Wow, that is a wealth of information.
1:44:04Is there anybody specifically that you wanted
1:44:06to collab with?
1:44:07Like, cause I could see, you know, like you say,
1:44:10I'm making a name for yourself.
1:44:11Your name on pillows and different accents
1:44:14and designs and decorate.
1:44:16I have a few business ventures
1:44:20that I would like to branch off into that
1:44:24once I get rid of this build
1:44:26and stuff's gonna start moving.
1:44:28I'm excited for it.
1:44:29That's like, huh.
1:44:30I know it's like one chapter ends
1:44:33and you can't wait for the next one to leave.
1:44:35Yeah, I can't wait for that chapter to leave.
1:44:38Oh, okay.
1:44:39It's just, I was doing something that
1:44:42I'm the type of person,
1:44:43you could put me into a lot of spaces
1:44:45and I can be successful.
1:44:47I can do the job great,
1:44:48but it's me deciding what I love
1:44:52and how I show up for that space that I love.
1:44:57I can do events,
1:44:58but I don't think that I would show up
1:45:00in the same way that I show up
1:45:02or have the same passion and love
1:45:04as I have for designing homes.
1:45:06Like I know some event designers
1:45:07who are just phenomenal women, right?
1:45:13And you can hear just from talking to them,
1:45:15it's a different type of fashion.
1:45:17Whether they are the best at it
1:45:19or they mediocre,
1:45:21it's just a different,
1:45:23it's a difference.
1:45:25I don't see that in me,
1:45:27not for events.
1:45:28Even though I know I can do it,
1:45:30I probably would be really, really good at it.
1:45:33Like, I don't want to.
1:45:35I like houses.
1:45:37That's the decor that I like.
1:45:38I don't like events.
1:45:40I mean, I like event decor.
1:45:41I think that is beautiful, the art that they create,
1:45:43especially in the amount of hours
1:45:44that they have to make it happen.
1:45:48But no, I don't like that.
1:45:51Yeah.
1:45:51I'm gonna wrap it up with some final questions.
1:45:53I kind of thought of this.
1:45:55Like if you had an unlimited budget,
1:45:58you had a client there,
1:46:00you know, Google Boom,
1:46:00they got this pristine mansion.
1:46:04If they had an unlimited budget,
1:46:07how would you begin to shape that for them?
1:46:10Boom.
1:46:14I think the first thing that I would do
1:46:17would be calling my mentors
1:46:19or people that I look at as mentors.
1:46:24And because most of my mentors have worked with
1:46:27celebrities, been in magazines
1:46:29and done all of these things
1:46:30that I haven't yet advanced to.
1:46:33So I would be calling them on how to navigate this space
1:46:40because it would be foreign territory for me
1:46:42to have an unlimited budget
1:46:44or to have somebody who's a multimillionaire.
1:46:46I'm like, yeah, let's go where it all starts.
1:46:48Like, you know, I would know where to start.
1:46:51Like I would know where to look,
1:46:52but also it's nothing like having someone
1:46:55that you can have for you
1:46:58that has been at that,
1:47:00everybody has had their first multimillion dollar client
1:47:04where they have these budgets
1:47:06that were out of their normal tax bracket
1:47:08and they know how that feels and what that space is like.
1:47:11So it's always great to have someone
1:47:13that can help you navigate through that.
1:47:15So the first call to action would be for me to be like,
1:47:17okay, now I need y'all to hold, hey, line up, help me.
1:47:21So, and just asking them, like, you know,
1:47:23where would they shop, blah, blah.
1:47:25But like me, I'm a visual person.
1:47:26So once I walk this space,
1:47:27I already have an idea of what I want to do.
1:47:31Calling them, getting whatever advice or gems
1:47:33they could drop on me.
1:47:34And then from there, it's like, it's go time.
1:47:37I'm ready.
1:47:37Like you just, you say the word, I'm ready.
1:47:41I'm about to create what I would love to see in your space
1:47:44given this budget.
1:47:45I don't think that I would max out bank either
1:47:48if it didn't require that.
1:47:50But I would definitely be customizing some pieces,
1:47:53making some unique things to go in their space.
1:47:57I definitely would probably even work
1:48:00with like a furniture company
1:48:01to create my own furniture or something
1:48:03that was uniquely customized just for them
1:48:06if I had that type of budget to do it.
1:48:09Because now with your unlimited budget,
1:48:11I have unlimitedness to my creativity.
1:48:14So now I get to really show out.
1:48:15So I'm about to show y'all how it's really done.
1:48:18So yeah, if I had that,
1:48:19I feel like it would land me
1:48:21in a whole lot of different spaces
1:48:23if I had that opportunity.
1:48:25Wow, you really hit it on the head
1:48:27because that's kind of what I tell customers.
1:48:29Like, oh, how much you charge for it?
1:48:33Well, this is the,
1:48:36but if you, like you said,
1:48:37you bring me a bigger budget
1:48:39and we can do X, Y, and Z and all of that.
1:48:41It's like even set up your whole event for you.
1:48:44You just show up today, we got you.
1:48:48So, it's important to invest in these projects
1:48:52or what do you want complete.
1:48:55And before you hire someone,
1:48:57you have to pay people at the end of the day
1:48:59if you want something.
1:49:01So.
1:49:02Absolutely.
1:49:04Is there any gym or tip
1:49:05that you would want to leave an aspiring entrepreneur?
1:49:09Oh, y'all podcasters love to close with these tips.
1:49:14Okay, let me think.
1:49:17Or what is something you learned like,
1:49:19man, if I could go back, I would change this.
1:49:22I would do this differently.
1:49:27Honestly, I wouldn't change anything.
1:49:30And I'm gonna tell you why.
1:49:32Because my life, my story was perfectly crafted for me
1:49:37when I got here.
1:49:40So, trying to change what God created for me,
1:49:43I wouldn't want to change that.
1:49:46Yeah, I don't think I would try to change that
1:49:48because there's a purpose
1:49:49and the reason why he set it up the way he set it up.
1:49:51And I haven't even reached the amount
1:49:54or opened the doors that I know that are in store for me.
1:49:57So, but if I made that one change or an adjustment
1:50:00and it shifted my whole entire future,
1:50:03you know what I'm saying?
1:50:04So, no, I would keep it exactly how it is
1:50:07and keep it at this one pace.
1:50:09I would probably try to do more research
1:50:12about certain things.
1:50:13So, I'm more educated versus just jumping in,
1:50:16but I still wouldn't change it.
1:50:18Yeah.
1:50:19Wow, but experience is the best teacher.
1:50:21Yes.
1:50:22So, I love how you said that though
1:50:25you wouldn't change anything
1:50:26because of the person you are today.
1:50:31Yeah, I love how it has helped me grow.
1:50:33I've grown so much personally and professionally.
1:50:39And I think that even with doing my business
1:50:42it's shown me what I'm capable of,
1:50:45things that I didn't think that I was capable of doing.
1:50:48So, yeah, I love this space and where I'm at in it
1:50:52and the things that it's taught me to get in the bed.
1:50:56I appreciate you for coming out today.
1:50:58I know we had some rescheduling multiple times.
1:51:01Yeah, we got it together though.
1:51:04Yeah, I'm very grateful for this.
1:51:06It was a great conversation.
1:51:07Yes, I enjoyed speaking with you.
1:51:09Thank you for having me.
1:51:10Thank you.
1:51:10I wonder if everyone finds you or looks you up.
1:51:14Oh, yeah.
1:51:15Y'all can find me on IG at suwands.underscoredecor.
1:51:22That's my name across all, I guess.
1:51:26Platforms.
1:51:27Platforms of social media.
1:51:29From Facebook to YouTube, it's always gonna be Suwan.
1:51:32So you type in Suwan, which is S-U-J-U-A-N,
1:51:36and then S, it'll pop up, I'm sure.
1:51:41Okay, I didn't know about the YouTube channel,
1:51:43I'm not that...
1:51:43Whoo, I only got like two videos on there.
1:51:46I'm gonna do better,
1:51:47because I know that's coming.
1:51:48I'm gonna do better.
1:51:49Oh, you sound like that client we presented to today
1:51:51when we was doing our research and auditing.
1:51:53We had three videos on YouTube.
1:51:55Yeah.
1:51:56Yeah.
1:51:57So I was like, yeah, that's...
1:51:59I gotta do better.
1:51:59Something we can help on.
1:52:00Yeah, yeah.
1:52:02Okay, thank you, Ms. Andrea Suwan,
1:52:04Suwan Decor.
1:52:05Thank you.
1:52:07No longer event space, but home staging.
1:52:10Yes, home staging and sourcing materials
1:52:13for our home flippers.
1:52:14So when y'all get tired of trying to pick out
1:52:17y'all own stuff and flipping all of these homes,
1:52:19come and talk to me so I could do the work for you
1:52:23so you can move on to your next property
1:52:24and be making more money.
1:52:26That is right.
1:52:28And like you said, you're able to work
1:52:30with unlimited budget.
1:52:32So everyone that's listening
1:52:33and wants home staging, interior design and decorating,
1:52:39if you got that unlimited budget, she's ready for it.
1:52:41She has a team and mentors that help guide her
1:52:44with support and the knowledge.
1:52:47So you have to reach out to her.
1:52:49Don't be afraid.
1:52:50And don't be afraid to also come to India upfront,
1:52:54like this is my budget, this is, you know,
1:52:57it helps us, especially as creators and designers,
1:53:02visual artists to help, you know,
1:53:07craft what you need and want with your budget.
1:53:10I actually do have like different packages
1:53:12for different financial needs.
1:53:15And I also have a, I haven't even introduced this,
1:53:19so hey, I have payment plans.
1:53:21So don't be intimidated by the costs to get it done
1:53:26because you can do payment plans
1:53:27and we can still get your home to look absolutely amazing.
1:53:31So just reach out to me.
1:53:33I would love to work with you.
1:53:34Okay, I'm glad you said that
1:53:36because I did this interview with like,
1:53:38she got higher, but you said payment plans.
1:53:41No, I feel more comfortable approaching you,
1:53:44like, okay, let's work on this home project.
1:53:47So I'm glad you mentioned that.
1:53:48Yes.
1:53:48So with that being said,
1:53:50what type of payment plans do you do
1:53:52or like with software programs?
1:53:55There's one program, well, it's the same program.
1:53:58So you can either pay like half upfront
1:54:01and then half at a different time.
1:54:03I think they give you like a six month span
1:54:05type of thing,
1:54:07or you could break it up into two payments,
1:54:08you could break it up to four
1:54:09or you could break it up into six.
1:54:11And I guess the program will like speak to you
1:54:13on when the payments will have, I don't know.
1:54:15They generate it based off of how much the thing is,
1:54:18but they will break up the payments for you.
1:54:21And you also, I think, can customize
1:54:23how you wanna make the payments too.
1:54:25Now with the program, I'm not sure,
1:54:28because I have not utilized it yet,
1:54:29but I do have the program.
1:54:31I'm not exactly sure if they add on interest rates.
1:54:34However, there is a program.
1:54:38I'm actually gonna get more information about that
1:54:40and I'll post it on my Instagram.
1:54:41So therefore, if you listen to this,
1:54:43you can reference to my Instagram page or my TikTok,
1:54:46because my friend has forced me to get TikTok.
1:54:49I'll have the information ready in a hand.
1:54:55Once again, I appreciate you.
1:54:57And I wanna close out by telling everyone that's listening,
1:55:01thank you for tuning in to Alienize Photos Industry Talk
1:55:06with India, which has been an amazing conversation.
1:55:10I thank you for allowing me to pick your brain
1:55:12and get more insight on your journey
1:55:15and also the interior design
1:55:18and more so interior decorating world.
1:55:22Yes, thank you.
1:55:23So that's been fun.
1:55:25And this will be released very, very soon.
1:55:28I know I have a lot of things to catch up on,
1:55:32but everybody can always find me at Alienize Photos.
1:55:37That's Alienize with a Z, Photos with a S,
1:55:40and check out the website alienizephotos.com
1:55:43for more information.
1:55:45And also for my booking link,
1:55:47if you need an event photographer, video production,
1:55:51podcast consulting, even business coach,
1:55:54who I love to bounce ideas off of you
1:55:56so you can gain more traction.
1:56:00Thank you again.
1:56:01Thank you all for tuning in.
1:56:03This has been a blessing.
1:56:05Peace.