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When Essence China started braiding hair in her parents' laundry room, little did she know that she was twining the strands of her future empire. Our latest episode features Essence's journey from humble beginnings to a salon tycoon and beauty school founder, proving how underdogs can bite through systemic barriers with a mix of grit, wit, and self-advocacy. Step into a narrative where challenging the status quo isn't just a choice—it's a necessity for success.
With Essence's story as our guide, we unwrap the tape that binds many budding entrepreneurs—regulation red tape, to be precise. Feeling like an underdog can be a catalyst for change, as we see through the lens of our guest's experiences and my own personal anecdotes on advocating within bureaucratic systems. But it's not all about fighting the good fight; it's also about the unexpected allies and resources that help pave the way to growth. This episode is an insider's look at navigating the hurdles of small business ownership, from incorporation to celebrating that first open-for-business day.
The power of representation cannot be overstated, and Essence's narrative underscores just that. Mentorship and success stories light the path for those following in similar footsteps, and we revel in the impact that comes with seeing someone 'like you' achieve great things. It's about the hustle, yes—but it's also about the hope that comes from witnessing the triumph of passion, discipline, and a resonant 'why.' Tune in for a celebration of the underdogs and game-changers who are redefining the entrepreneurial landscape, one braid, one business, one bold move at a time.
00:01 - The Power of Underdog Entrepreneurship
12:02 - Challenging the Status Quo
17:10 - Navigating Small Business Regulations and Growth
24:38 - Navigating Media and Advocating for Yourself
29:35 - Empowering Underdogs to Succeed
36:48 - Transformation and Inspiration Through Representation
44:40 - Success in Business Requires Passion
49:42 - Pursuing Passion and Discipline for Growth
52:31 - Entrepreneurial Success and Networking Principles
01:01:40 - The Value of Giving and Helping
01:11:08 - Celebrating Underdogs and Game Changers
Speaker 1:
Hello and welcome to Underdogs, bootstrapers and Game Changers. This is for those of you that are starting with nothing and using business to change their stars, motivating people who disrupted industry standards. This is the real side of business. This isn't Shark Tank. My aim with this podcast is to take away some of the imaginary roadblocks that are out there. I want to help more underdogs, because underdogs are truly who change the world. This is part of our Content for Good initiative. All the proceeds from the monetization of this podcast will go to charitable causes. It's for the person that wants it. Hello and welcome to another episode of Underdogs, bootstrapers and Game Changers. It is always awesome when I can find a guest. That is the trifecta All three of these things in one. I want to welcome to the show today Essence, china. Thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 3:
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely. It's an honor so many things to hit on your story, but we're going to focus in one particular manner because I think it's something that our underdogs can really appreciate. The rule isn't always rule. No doesn't always mean no. If you come from nothing, you still can advocate for yourself. I think that's not something that's taught to, especially people raised without wealth, in poverty, that sort of stuff. That's what we're taught. That, like this, is what we're giving you. Take it as it is, and you didn't, and I'm astounded by the story. But first, I know your start in business is amazing and, rather than me tell it, I would love for you to give the audience a little insight on how you started your first business.
Speaker 3:
For sure. Well, I started in my parents on my childhood laundry room, and so what happened was my younger brother wanted to get his hair braided and crisscross.
Speaker 1:
I don't know if you remember crisscross. Oh yeah, jump jump.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, and so he's seen the video and he was like I want my hair like that. Well, I was like well, let me just try. So I started braiding and I realized that I got very passionate about it and one day my father seen it and he's an entrepreneur.
Speaker 1:
Okay.
Speaker 3:
He was just like you should try to make some money with this you know, and so what happened was, later on, I started doing like high school friends hair and I didn't really need a lot, I just needed like a comb and some hair grease, which we had in our bathroom, you know.
Speaker 1:
Awesome.
Speaker 3:
And so, over time, when my mother realized that okay, well, both my parents realized that this was something that I could actually like, grow, they allowed me to utilize, like our laundry room, to turn it into a salon. So my mother went to like a yard sale, bought me some chairs and I literally set it up like a salon. So I'm like 15, 16 doing hair and I'm, you know, making $5 a head. Yeah. For me it was like that's all I ever needed, cause Wendy's. I love Wendy's, so I would get $5 bills. So, for me it was super cool. But, um, but I do remember, maybe prior to that, one of my mother's friends asked me could I do her son's hair? And she paid me $15. And at the time I'm going to talk about in the nineties, that was everything. I was like I can get paid for this. And then that's when I was like, okay, I'm going to continue to learn how to get paid for this.
Speaker 1:
So that's amazing.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
And then how did that parlay into having the studio and now the school?
Speaker 3:
Oh gosh, it was. It was a journey. So, you know, I, you know, did hair from maybe 15 to about 20 in the laundry room and I stacked my money because I wasn't really much of a spender. And so I ended up moving away to Maryland. And when I moved away to Maryland I was, you know, trying to start my life and figure out what I wanted to do, but I kept on coming back to hair because it was something I could do with my hands. It was easy. Yeah. And so while I was out there, I was able to braid in the salon and the barber shop, and the rule wasn't well, essentially there wasn't regulations for braiders in the state of Maryland, and so I was able to, you know, work and employ myself. Well, I ended up moving back to Phoenix about three years after that and when I moved back I was like divinely inspired to move back. But then when I moved back, I kind of felt like, well, I can't do hair anymore because the law is such that you have to have a license.
Speaker 1:
So the law was different in Maryland than it was here in Phoenix, right?
Speaker 3:
And so I already knew what the law was. But I was just thinking to myself like well, if it's different in Maryland, you know, maybe something could be different out here. So I just called them. I was very curious. I was like let me just call the state board of cosmetology and just ask them like okay, what do I need to do to be legal in the state of Arizona? if I do these things, and so I explained to them like I've been doing here professionally. I've been doing braids, locks and twists, you know, which is more the our natural texture of hair. What do I need to do to be legal? And they told me that I had to get a license, and for me that was problematic because I felt like I've already been doing this professionally. You know what I'm doing. Not only that you don't teach or test on what I actually do. Yeah, so you can't enhance my skills, but you want me to go to school for a year and a half and pay $10,000 plus right To do something or, essentially, to learn all these other skills cuts, colors, you know terms, stuff that I'm not even going to be doing just to have a piece of paper to say, okay, now you're free to go and do hair. I thought that was crazy. So, you know, when I got out the phone, I just was like like upset. I'm like this is not fair, like like it would be different if they had like some sort of limited license or some sort of special, specialized license, because you know, I understand with hair, you know they're concerned about sanitation, they're concerned about, you know, the consumer right. But the majority of hair school is not about that. I mean, you do a week of that, maybe you know, so they didn't give me any other options. So when I got the phone I just realized like something has to be done. You know no kidding. And so you know, I prayed about it honestly and I just was like, what do I need to do? And I felt like I needed to look for a law firm. Now, mind you, I'm 23 years old at the time. This is 20 years ago, good for you. So I was like look for a law firm, okay. So I'm like AOL, and you know what I'm saying Dial up speed. Yeah, I'm not looking for you know any law firm, because I don't even know what I'm really, what type of law I need to be looking for, and so I probably came across two or three. I wish I was journaling at the time. So I can really remember the details but, I, came across two or three law firms and I feel like the third one I contacted, you know, was the Institute for Justice. Little did I know that they were a nationwide law firm that fights for civil or economic liberties.
Speaker 1:
Interesting yeah.
Speaker 3:
So they fight on the behalf of people who are being stifled by government to be able to earn an honest living, wow, you know. And so they had just opened an office here in Phoenix. Okay, and not only that, they had already set the precedent in another state. So they had already fought a case just like mine and one. And so when I talked to the lawyer, you know, I told him pretty much what I did and he was excited. I don't know why he's excited, but this is his first case you know, and maybe he already knows the history of the company and he's like, oh, this is shoo it, you know, I don't know, and so you know again, with me being young and not really understanding, like, how law works, or you know if something can really be done. I just was like I got to try so we meet, and I mean within. I don't even know, it was very quick but we met and maybe within a month we filed Essence Farmer versus the state board of Cosmetology and it pretty much was like this is unfair to make her to have to go get a license to do stuff that she's. You know what I'm saying? That you all don't even teach. You know so.
Speaker 1:
Who would teach? Is that a private institution that would teach that class?
Speaker 3:
To be honest with you that education is far fewer than in between. That's the reason why I end up starting a school. You know, because you know, yeah, it is very ancestral it's. You know, it's something that comes from our culture but not everybody knows. You know, just because you know you're a black woman doesn't mean that you know how to do braids or locks. You know, and there are people that really want to learn.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, that's actually amazing because, like, I knew the story where you like had to fight basically the state, the powers that be, to like get something passed. That wasn't right. But then it's like I didn't put together that like this also ended up being the reason you started the school too, like that, like, and we do the bullying podcast, you know, it's like usually that thing when they were like younger, like, let's say, singing for Taylor Swift, you know it's like they used to make fun of her all the time for singing, or Lady Gaga, knowing she was going to be a star. Sure, lady Gaga, they tease her for it. And then what does that end up being? That? It bends up being their ultimate power in life. And it feels like that here too, and I love that. You made that like stupid thing, mean something, and now like, and now you get to train other people in your school, right, yeah, what is what's the worst that could happen with somebody with, like, why have regulations on something like this? Like, like, give me their side of why you'd need to have regulations. What can I do to hurt you if I'm doing this in in my backyard?
Speaker 3:
I think you know, ultimately, when people have boards, you know it's for standard, right, and which I completely understand, but there is no quote, unquote national standard for natural hair. We don't have a board, you know, and all cosmetology or all hair is not the same and that's why, you know, the barber and cosmetology are even separate, because it's hair but it's a different. You know practice, you know. And so when it comes to natural hair and the cultural practices with braiding and locking, it's just different. And so when you say what's the worst that can happen, I mean when we're not working with chemicals, you know what I mean. You know tension you know, like too much tension to the braids are too tight you know, what would that do to? You. Yeah, it could prevent. I mean, it could bring about alopecia, right, which is like the loss of hair. But I think, even with that, that people just really need to educate themselves you know, there are books, you know, you can self-teach yourself you know, and I think it's just about having a standard within yourself. You know, wanting to give the most professional and excellent service.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I guess the reason I asked that question is because I'm trying to find out why that regulation would have existed to begin with. Right, what is it that we threw in the way? You know that like it needed to be there and now it's struck down in Arizona, right.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
You don't have to have it anymore.
Speaker 3:
Well, yeah, Well. For me, I think it's power, and control. Honestly.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and then the fee of how much career did it used to be?
Speaker 3:
Absolutely. You know the school and after that you got to maintain a license and you know all of those things. And even after the law got passed, you know, and I'd eventually open the salon, they even tried to come to my salon and I literally called my lawyer and I'm just like what's going on? They're literally trying to come here? And he was like they have no jurisdiction. If they come back, give them my card. Who's they? The state board of cosmetology.
Speaker 1:
My goodness.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
So do you feel like they came after you a little bit, because of it Like been dead Possibly. I mean they knew who I was, If you could say that on the podcast.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I mean I'm sure they knew who I was. I feel like I was like somewhat targeted, I don't know. But you know, what ended up happening was Janet Napolitano, who was the governor at the time, heard about the case and was like this is crazy. Now, mind you, I'm on the cover of the business section of the Arizona Republic, like it's a story, you know what I mean, and so she apparently heard about it. I don't know how it came across her desk and she was like this is ridiculous.
Speaker 1:
How much of getting that PR coverage helped push this across the goal line, you think?
Speaker 3:
I definitely feel like it helped because we never stepped foot in court. Yeah. So this was we filed and there was, you know them going back and forth. Then it's, you know all this publication and PR. And then Janet Apolitano signs off and amends a law that pretty much exempts all braiders, all opticians, all natural hairstyles in the state of Arizona from having to obtain a license.
Speaker 1:
I'm so proud of you for that. I'd like. There's so many things to hit in this that's going to help them. You know, one of the things is like how did you learn not to take no for an answer there? Like, how did you have that strength? It's like we were talking a little bit before the show. Let me preface it this way. You know, like I have a quick story that I'll tell. So my youngest brother and I hopefully he doesn't get too mad at me telling this story but he goes in to go to college, right, and walks in and he's going to file for financial aid because he doesn't have any money. He's working at Blockbuster or something like that, and they go well, we're going to need your parents W2s, you know. And so he comes out of there. I see him, he's all down and he's like he's like Tyler, I can't go to college, I can't afford it, they won't give me financial aid because they don't have our parents or W2s. And so I went in there the next day and I looked at the people and I was like, why won't you give my brother financial aid in there? Like, well, because he doesn't have your parents W2s. So, like, my dad's been in prison for 15 years and my mom's never had a job in her life. That's a W2 job. If this system isn't built for somebody like my brother, who's it supposed to help? He had financial aid the next day, right, and like I, wouldn't have been able to do that. 16 years old 18 years old we do stuff for. We're working on something for Foster Hub kids aging out of foster care and one of the biggest things that I see is people don't know how to advocate for themselves. Malcolm Gladwell talks about it in his book too. If you're raised of, not of, means, you don't think you can challenge the system. So what can we tell underdogs out there about them? Like being told to stay in their place, being told you know, like this isn't for you. Like how do they? How do we get them to accept that no isn't always the answer, or the rule isn't always the rule?
Speaker 3:
Ah, that's a great question, I think for me, I was one, just young and fearless, and to be honest with you. I feel like I remember reading in a magazine article where something had happened to a woman in another state where she actually got locked up for braiding, Like it was like a undercover cop came and to get her hair done, and once she started braiding hair because she was braiding down of her home it was illegal, and so she ended up facing, you know, some criminal charges for that, and so I remember reading something about it and how there was going to be like a challenge against it, so maybe that planted a seed. Now we're talking years prior to my stuff, but it wasn't something I consciously held in my mind, but I felt like, because I also lived in Maryland and the case was it was different, I was like something can be changed. Like I just felt that there's like something can be changed, and I'm just a determined person and I also thought it was very unfair. And so for me, fairness is, you know, high up on my list.
Speaker 1:
And so.
Speaker 3:
I'm just like, if this is unfair, something has to be changed and at the end of the day, even if it could not be changed, I had to try. I love that.
Speaker 1:
And then I was hoping, by having you on this episode today, maybe you're that spark for somebody, that person that challenged the system, even me telling my embarrassing family story. I hope somebody out there is like getting that, like, okay, this isn't a fair rule, I need to advocate for myself. You know, it's proven that the poor don't advocate for themselves. I want them doing it because it's I, in this case, stepped in for my brother, right, but not everybody has the older brother out there to step in for him. And I wouldn't have been able to do that at 16, challenge the system I had built, I had grown, I had gotten some confidence, you had seen it happen, and so it's like I think maybe right now somebody could be out there like she challenged the system, the status quo, and she won. So that's what I want the big message of this show to be. You know, today is like you can challenge things that you don't think are fair. Yeah, I want to backtrack just slightly to give people a little bit more value into that insight around regulations and stuff. Yeah, people, one of their biggest fears we know we work with business owners all the time and it's the red tape that keeps the underdog entrepreneurs out of business most of the time. It's not the hard work, which actually that's the part of business that I don't think is talked about enough these days, but I believe most underdogs are capable of the hard work. It's the red tape, it's the I don't have the license, I don't have the LLC, I don't have these things. How did you originally look into like regulations around this and what can you tell me as some insight into helping those out there that are like confused about licensing and things for their particular industry, like what's a good way to navigate that?
Speaker 3:
I mean, I kind of always knew that, you know, if you braided hair, you were in somebody's kitchen, like you were. Just when we used to get our hair done as kids, we were going to somebody's house. We never went to a salon, but it was because they relegated to these spaces their homes, because in order to do this particular thing you have to go to school, which it didn't fit within, if that makes sense. So I always inherently knew that, you know, it was not necessarily like illegal, because I knew it wasn't legal, but that's how they deemed it. But as far as like looking into regulations, like I think you just have to question, I called and I was like hey, I'm a young kid, you know what I'm saying. I'm just like I just want to know, I want to understand the thinking and the framework behind this so I can know if I'm within. Because you know, when I moved back to Phoenix I really was like sad, because this is something I really love, I really enjoy. I feel like this is what I was born to do and I don't want to go work a conventional and traditional job. It wasn't in my blood, if that makes sense. And so I'm just thinking like how am I going to navigate this if you know, the regulations are such that it keeps me out. And I knew that I wanted to grow, I knew that I wanted to provide a professional environment for my clientele. But how can I do that out of a home? Like that's not fair. Like I'm a businesswoman but I can't open a business unless I go through these portals. And so I feel like calling and at least asking, like whatever it is that you're, you know, trying to do or whatever path you're trying to go down, inquire, because I think sometimes we look at things and we make it this monstrous thing is only because we don't have the information. Yeah, but you can ask, you can Google, you know what I'm saying. Like it's a phone call away.
Speaker 1:
That's a wonderful point and I know we're beating up kind of on regulatory commissions and things like that today. But what I've found in dealing with the city, the state, you know tax regulation, you know that sort of stuff if you're a nice person and you go down and ask for a little insight or help. I found they're always reasonable you know, like I can't speak to every entity. I can't speak to the Arizona Cosmetology Board, but you know, when I've dealt with a lot of systems, I've found out there, like if you go in there like look, I don't know what I'm doing, you know it's like can you help me with this? And you're polite about it. They're so used to people coming in there and being jerks to them Like I found that they can be extremely helpful. Yeah, I think that's dope yeah. So I mean I think to your point it's like that's a great thing to do. If you don't know what to do, I mean you can come in here too. We'll help you research it. But you know it's like. That is like one thing that super frustrates me is we get more regulation around small business and there is reasons we have those things. You know we could think of 50 industries that it's a good thing we have regulations around them and things like that, but it's like at the same time, this is another barrier to entry to small business. Yeah, absolutely. And I feel bare minimum if we're going to have these regulations. There should be like a one stop shop where you can Google. Like I want to be in the hair business in Arizona. Give me a list of everything I need to do. Yeah. And that's so frustrating to me that that doesn't exist, because you and I now we can navigate any business. We're going to go out there, we're going to figure it out. We have to make 16 website visits maybe on some businesses, you know, find out what insurance I need, find out what license I need, you know, like that sort of stuff. But it's frustrating to me still to this day. You know that we don't make it easier for underdogs to open these businesses.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, Well, you know, I'm super grateful for my lawyer because I was only seeing like the first step. I didn't even know that the law could change. I was like the first step was contact the state board, the second step was to contact the law office and then they filed for in my behalf. But my lawyer was such a blessing to me that he was asking me, well, what's the name of your salon going to be called, you know? And he brought me the papers to let me like to look at what a LLC was. So he seemed further beyond. That's awesome. I just seen the first step and he's like, okay, well, once this is done, like you're going to go into business. And I didn't see it that far. To be honest with you, that's awesome. And so it was just one step at a time. So he helped me get incorporated and from that standpoint, you know, he brought me the papers, like was it going to be a partnership or C corporate?
Speaker 1:
I'm like I don't know.
Speaker 3:
I took these papers home to my father and asked him you know, and so he, he literally filed the paperwork, or you know, his firm helped file the paperwork for me to get incorporated, and so I got incorporated in 2004, but I didn't open my first salon until 2006. Oh, wow. But the reality was the it was fear. It was fear that I would not be able to do it because, yes, I was operating at that time out of my apartment and I'm braiding hair and I'm functioning as a business, but I don't have a storefront. But, you know, going into a full fledged business. I didn't see myself in that light and, to be honest with you, you know, I think society and even culture sometimes can kind of frame your mind to think that you're not that like you can't be, you're too young. I'm saying, and be honest with you, my mindset was a business person we talked about in the 90s, 2000,. Like is a is an older white man. Like I didn't see myself as a business owner. And so you know, I'm 24 years old, I've changed the law, but what? They got the fire up under my butt one day. Now, mind you, I'm in, I'm in nursing school, because my mother, she didn't see it, she didn't see the vision. So she's like okay, you came home, what are you going to do with your life? And I'm like I don't know. I'm just moving based off of how I feel like God is moving me. But you know so. She helped me enroll in nursing school. So this whole time I'm going through this course with the Institute with Justice, I'm still a nurse, I'm in nursing school. Wow, so when the law gets passed, I end up finishing nursing school, I get my license as a nurse. But I was hiding behind. Nursing school was like well, the law, you know, even though the law is passed, I don't, you know, I'm in school, I can't do it.
Speaker 1:
You know one day.
Speaker 3:
I'm driving down the street right and not far from my apartment at the time, and I see this braids salon that's opened and I'm like not mad at what they're doing, but had it not been for what I did, they wouldn't even be able to open. And I'm driving past them to go braid hair at my apartment. Yeah, and I'm just like I got to step into what I've. You know what I'm saying initiated. And so, at that time, I had already graduated nursing school. I was working as a nurse and I, just one day, was there and I was, like this is not where I'm supposed to be. Like I can do this, but I don't feel like this is what I was created to do. Yeah, you know I'm not aligned with this and so I just quit. One day and I was like I'm just going to just focus on me and just invest in me. So I was braiding hair out of my apartment and one day I told my father, you know about this salon I had seen. He was like well, all you got to do is go look for a building. Yeah. And I was like, oh, like it was such a practical step. I didn't think about it. It was just like, yeah, you want to go from your apartment into a storefront, but the first step is just to go inquire again, go ask how much is it?
Speaker 1:
What's available?
Speaker 3:
Get the information You're almost. Sometimes we box ourselves out of these opportunities because we don't even know what they require. Thank you.
Speaker 1:
You just got to ask for the requirements. Absolutely.
Speaker 3:
And so that's pretty much like what helped me get into that next place is that I seen that salon and I'm like I got to move forward. Yeah. And so I went and I looked in my area and I just saw a call in numbers, you know, and that's kind of what ended up helping me to finally open my salon.
Speaker 1:
You know I like that you hit on the rich white old dude for business because, believe it or not, I didn't think business was for me either. I thought that was for somebody that grew up wealthy, had the rich dad that could teach them business and all that sort of stuff. I didn't think business was for me. So we watched a lot of those big entrepreneurial gurus in the world. They're like, yeah, I knew at 13 years old I was going to be an entrepreneur, I was selling candy bars and this sort of stuff and like I don't think you saw it either. You were an entrepreneur super early. You just didn't even realize it. Yeah. For me. I'm like that's not for me, that's for somebody else, I'm destined to a job, you know. And then, like my story is a little bit different. You know, it's like I ended up getting pushed by regulations into my business, actually, kind of in similar way, you know, it's like I had to do it because I was breaking a rule that I wasn't supposed to break. And then I ended up with a business over it and derailed my entire life, much like you. I want to hit two key points and tracking backwards just a little bit. Let's talk about public relations. When you're trying to get something moving going, especially something seemingly hard to accomplish like changing a law, can you tell me about, like, how you guys navigated, getting involved with the media and getting them on your side? To be honest, with you.
Speaker 3:
It was like, mind you, I'm 23. So I'm just going through the process. I don't even know that I'm fighting on behalf of everybody. It was just more so when I say I didn't know I was making history. You know, I mean, but my lawyer was the one that was doing the all the work and all the groundwork. Next thing you know he calls me was like, hey, we got this radio interview. And I'm like, okay. So I got to go down to the station and do this radio interview. Hey, we need to go ahead and take some photos of you. I didn't know what the photos before. Next thing, I know I'm on the cover of the Glendale, I mean the glenn. I was on the cover of the Glendale Republic and I was on the cover of the business section in the Arizona Republic. That's crazy, then, and I always forget. I really wish I was, like I said, taking note of this, but I think it was dateline. Nbc flew from DC no way to my apartment and interviewed me in my apartment about this case. It never aired because by the time that you know that they were gonna air, it already been settled. Ah and so I called them like hey, can I get the footage or whatever? Like, oh, because it never aired, we can't release a footage or whatever. But they flew a team from DC to interview me. So all of this was just because the Institute for Justice was doing their work and you know, apparently they had connections.
Speaker 1:
I'll bet they got a line that that was gonna happen. We had a similar circumstance. We had somebody come into a business that actually excuse me, I don't think he had ever actually been in the building. And then he sent me a message personally and he said hey, if you don't give me X, I'm gonna put a bad review on your business and so, literally extorting me. You know it's like, I know reviews are important to your business. If you don't give this thing to me, then I'm gonna write a bad review. And so I sent this to yelp and Like, literally as proof, and I was like, look this person because I told him I'm like we won't be extorted, do what you got to do. You know it's like so, and I think yelp's gonna back me up because I have evidence they said, sorry, nothing, we can do so and then, like we pasted his, his, his initial response as our response to this. You know, like fighting it so people could see that like, look, this guy literally tried to extort us and he goes message me personally. He goes you stupid mother-effer, now I'm gonna go get you on Google. And he did. He wrote this horrible, horrible review. You know it's like sickening, you know, and you know what it's like to get a bad review for your business. It hits you here. You work every like I started in a dirt lot trying to build this thing. You know, it's like every inch of my being went towards it. It's more than my baby, you know. It's like so then it like just affects you personally. And so my business partner, elliot, gets on Reddit. He starts complaining about what happened because it was so unjust. We find out later Elliot's a genius on looking stuff up online. He had done this to, like a bunch of other companies he had been. Now he was in the US illegally. He had sued a hair restoration clinic for impotency and won. So he this was his MO, you know and then like Yelp was allowing this to further on. So the word gets out. The next thing we know, cnn gets ahold of us and wants to interview us about it. And they interview us. Story didn't go live. But guess that? We guess what. The next thing we knew that review was gone, mm-hmm. So you know to your point. I think getting the media involved can be a tremendous ally. One thing I want to touch on, to like hitting that, because I think our audience should know this. You know it's like use your social media. You know it's like it's important to know that you have a voice, it's important to advocate for yourself, kind of like. Back to that throwback on the discussion, read the founder of Walmart's book, sam Walton. He says the one thing you can do in life to compete with Walmart is Personalization. This is the best tool for personalization. If there's something going on with your business, and the powers that be the big dogs are coming after you. Number one email me. I'll have you on this show. Will. Will do everything we can as glave to help you with something unfair you know it's like, but get out there and talk about it on social media too. Yeah.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I agree. I mean, I wish I had that tool back in the day you know yeah yeah, there was no social media at the time. But yeah, I definitely say your voice is so powerful and once you are able to Use it, you just don't know what it can do. Yeah, you know.
Speaker 1:
I didn't want to derail our whole discussion, but I think some of those key points like the, the main focus I wanted today was like advocating for yourself. It's so important knowing you can have it, knowing that it isn't just the rich white old man that can have business success. You know in fact I've met a lot of them they're pretty lazy. At the end of the day, you can work your way up through them. They're no smarter than you, you know. It's like that's where we try to fill in with this program too. Like I, choose guests like you to come on and help rile people up to get what they need to get done. Don't take no for an answer. It's like we're trying to step in as the rich father you don't have. You know. It's like they're giving advice. It's not the money. Yeah it's the advice, mm-hmm. I mean, how often do you see something on social media as a business owner? Right now, that is complete garbage for a new business person? Oh yeah, and you know what happens if you have that rich, successful dad. You go hey dad, what do you think of this? And he goes that's BS. Don't listen to it a moment longer and you don't get derailed by it. Mm-hmm. If you're some poor kid, you know. It's like, yeah, oh, I should start six LLCs because somehow that gets it, so I can make a loan, take out a loan, and then the answer is I'm a millionaire afterwards. You know, it's like like the stuff we see online is is horrible, and it makes me especially riled up because it's not targeted at the Rich kid that can afford to take those mistakes, it's targeted as the poor kid that doesn't have anybody to combat them. Yeah, how do we? help more underdogs get into business and know they can do it.
Speaker 3:
Oh, how do we help more underdogs? Listen to this podcast. You know, I think I think Along with listening to this podcast is continue to invest in yourself, invest in your mind. I think you know what really helped me was reading books. You know, at the time that helped me to realize that my current sick circumstance and situation doesn't have to continue to be this. Yeah, and that Broadened my, my, my understanding of what I could even achieve. Yeah, you know, and some of the reasons why I didn't move forward With my business, because I didn't see it as a business, I see it as a hustle, like I kept on saying I need to get a real job. Like this is what was in my mind. It's how it was programmed. Yeah, you know you go to school, You're in debt, get a job and then pay them back. Yeah, I mean that type of mentality. And so you know, especially with certain, I guess, pives and businesses where people don't see them as like I'm not honorable, not necessarily honorable, but like worthy, like you know, it's the lawyer or it's the doctor, it's the. You know, I mean those Traditional paths that sometimes we look at what we want to do as less than yeah which is so erroneous. You know, and so I had to learn to I don't know just put the path that I was gonna be on as something that was worthy, something that was professional, and so when I was able to shift my mind about it, that also gave me power. And so I think that, no matter what that person wants to do, whether they're creative, like don't limit it to thinking that it's just a hustle yeah, you can have it, it's a viable business, absolutely yeah. And so you know, I would have never thought, braiding in my, my, my parents laundry room. What it took me to, literally, like you know we'll talk about this maybe on another time but like my hairstyle was all over the world, my hair is all about met so After I opened the salon, I did my first photo shoot with this photographer and this photographer was just like, recommended through my industry and Granted. There are photographers all in Phoenix, arizona, but I flew him from New York to work with him. That's not knowing what it was going to produce, but I did these hairstyles, shot them and the the idea was to get publicized. However, I didn't know that it was gonna hit Essence magazine, and for for those, you know what Essence magazine? That's a nationally recognized magazine. So my hairstyle got on inside the magazine and where? Showcase my hair salon and it was in Glendale at the time and then, months later, they took some other pictures from that same shoot and put it on the cover of Essence magazine. That's awesome, they're hot hair edition and so, from that, this is like right when like this is 2011, so this is right when Instagram is like starting to pop and my hairstyle went viral. Well, from it going viral. Yeah people were now putting this. They're putting this particular hairstyle on their business cards, on their flyers, on their billboards, like even in New York. You can probably walk down the street and see one of my hairstyles. That's amazing, then I started having people hit me up from Africa, from Portugal, from, I mean literally France, and my hairstyle is on On the, on the front of these hair salons because you know we think about it. People are advertising to bring more money in. Well, if you're advertising the hottest style in the game, they're like oh you did that or oh you could do that, and some people were acting like they did do it. But yeah sure. So, um you know, I say all that to say I would have never thought that me starting braiding hair in my parents laundry room would took me to to all of these heights. You know and I think again, we minimize and we think small of ourselves and small of our ideas, like, yeah, knock that out, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
I mean that's the biggest thing. It's like if people only knew right. I mean it took me at least 25 years or so to really see that I could have something In life that was more than you know. Just like what I thought life gave me, mm-hmm. And it's like if people could just see that it's just this, it's clicking this thing. Yeah, it's not what you have or don't have, you know it's, it's clicking this thing and just telling yourself yes, it's possible. You know, like I don't really buy into the whole like law of attraction and stuff. I mean some people do and that's great and it works for them. I mean the one thing it does do for you is it says you can have this right. I mean I believe that I don't believe that magic attraction in my life if I just think about it. But like I think the second, you can turn that key and say I can have it. Now you're on the step to the right path.
Speaker 3:
Well, I think the biggest thing is like Again what you said is like the root of it is the belief system. Yeah. Well, you can shift the belief system. It shifts how you may behave and how you show up. Yeah and I think that you know, if you're afraid and you think a small of it, then you're not gonna move boldly, you're not gonna go ask the questions, you're not going to do the research, you're not gonna invest in yourself. But when you start to think you know, I can have it, I it is possible, yeah, then you start taking those bold steps which now brings you from belief to behavior, to becoming, yeah, like now, you're, you're it, why not me? Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:
Then you start saying why not me? And then the second you start to stack up the things that like, why me? It's like, well, I'll work hard. You know I'll work two jobs if I have to. You know it's like, well, you know, like I don't take no for an answer. Well, you know, like I'm gonna work out and put my body and mind in the right place, like, if you start doing these things and have some belief, then you can have anything you want and I can tell you the spoiled rich kid out there right now he won't work as hard as you. Yeah. That's your advantage. People don't realize that in the world when you're raised without the advantage, that actually is an advantage. You know, and I bring this up, it is you know it's like we deal with stuff in our childhood that the rich, entitled kid never can dream of right, and so therefore, when you have a business problem and people used to ask me all the time, tell her, how are you not freaking out right now? You know it's like, well, this is kind of like I wouldn't say this, but it's kind of little compared to what I've dealt with in my life. You know, so I'm gonna stay calm, I'm gonna stay collected, I'm gonna solve the problem. Let's let's have a new day, you know. And so I think that's like I love having this discussion with you and like. Another reason is like you fit my silly hypothesis for the world, you know, because it's like my silly hypothesis with glaive, and what I'm doing with this is, if we help more underdogs get into business, then that helps more underdogs in business. We help get more women into business. What do you think happens? More women into business? Absolutely you we help get like. You're the most underrepresented class of entrepreneur African-American woman. We get more African-American women into business. You've already proven it. You've gotten another African-American woman directly into business. Yeah and and then, once we have our success and we come from these areas that frustrate us and things like that, now we use those tools to change the world. I just met with a senator or something that was here the other day podcast studio and it's like comes from nothing, right, running for Congress, if I remember right, you know, and then he like he wants to change the frustrations he had growing up in welfare, in a bad neighborhood. It's like, and he's a successful guy, you know, like extremely successful. Now it's like that's what we need happening. That's what this is about really, you know. It's like is people you know, and then like it helps. You know, you just gave somebody out there right now I can do it. You just gave somebody out there right now like I didn't take no for an answer. Yeah, you know, you just gave somebody out there. It took me a little while to realize I could have it you know and then, like you, just gave somebody all that.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, well, you know something that I'm hearing. It is like representation matters. Yeah. You know, and having a model to follow. Yes really matters, and so you know, going back to what would I recommend to underdogs is like look for somebody who is Similarly doing something that you want to do. Thank, you and just follow. Follow what they're doing, like you may not have direct access to them, but just read what they're putting out. Listening to that, you know like be a student of the game. And I think from that you're gonna learn so much, as opposed to somebody just giving some phallonies information.
Speaker 1:
I mean social media. Let's be honest here. It's like if we're to admire what mainstream media tells us to admire for entrepreneurs, we're gonna look at a Mark Zuckerberg, a Bill Gates. You know, like, like. Those guys don't have any look into their lives. Nothing in common with Tyler Zero. You know the color of our skin and our gender. That's it other than that I wasn't given the choice of harbors or McDonald's, my mom didn't work, or my dad didn't work for one of the most prestigious law firms in Seattle and my mom on the board of directors for this computer business that got me early access to computers, you know, it's like we didn't have that right. Yeah, and so to your point. It's like and the other thing that's Hard, and something like I advocate for these days, is like how hard it is it to tell these stories, how hard is it to come on this camera. It is for me, you know, but like, if we're not doing it, guess what? There's somebody out there that like looks at you and they say she did it, I can do it. That's right. There's somebody out there kind of like me that looks at Tyler and says he did it, I can do it you know, and so the other thing, like another message for today, is if you're out there and you've done it, don't be afraid to share it. Yeah it's not boasting, you know, it's helping somebody else along the way.
Speaker 3:
Absolutely. I mean, I think about the people who have greatly impacted me, impacted me or it greatly influenced me, and what if they didn't have the courage? Or what if they didn't have the boldness? Yeah but in the same way, there's somebody on the other side of the camera that they're gonna be saying the same thing about you. Yeah. They needed you as that model, they needed you as that representation, and so that's why I look at it like, yes, we're doing it. You know, it's self ambition at first, but then it becomes. You know, how can I be a contribution to the world, how can I help serve somebody else? And so you don't understand that, as you begin to move, and that confidence and that boldness and just belief about what it is that's been placed within you, you're gonna inspire somebody else just by following your dream.
Speaker 1:
I mean, I think that's where joy is found. I mean, I don't know about your childhood, but I was told a lot like you'd never amount to nothing. You know, like your dad was in prison, you're gonna end up there too. It's like not really giving much of a fair shake, and then I played into that for a while. I believed that, I believed I was stupid on all these things, and then I turned a corner on that. Wow, that's a huge issue and I didn't listen to it anymore. And I think that's where we need to grow and learn. And then you know that's where you find joy is when you grow and learn and you accomplish, and then you realize that, like, giving it back is the greatest part of it. So I get asked to go speak to this group of, like first generation from a rough area college students. They help them get involved with school and it's a great group for me because it's kind of, we get each other, you know. And so I remember one time this kid stood up and he goes at the end. He's like Tyler, I don't have a question for you today. I just wanna tell you something. It's like I'm gonna follow you because I can't wait to see what you do next. Gives me goosebumps and it's like every time I think I'm a little tired, every time I think like there's all these things happening to me. I can't deal with this. I think of that kid who actually believes in me and that's more powerful now than the people that told me I couldn't do that. I was proving wrong for years. It's like I better get out there and start a new podcast. I better go out there and start a couple more businesses. I better go out there and help as many people as possible, because there's that kid and possibly one or two more that are looking at me for that right?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I love that, Because of what I hear is that you have a strong Y. It's not a superficial Y. Oh yeah, yeah, and I think that that's very much a key for those who are looking. It's like well, why do you wanna do it? You know who do you wanna serve, how do you wanna make that impact? So I think that's dope. Tell me your Y, my Y, my Y gets it's for transformation. Transformation, you know, when I opened the salon, I didn't understand how impactful it would be for our community. You know, having a professional environment where we could enhance the beauty of those wearing it naturally. But, yes, there was a superficial like, just from the outside transformation. But what I realized is that when people came into my establishment, that they were changing internally. You know whether it was the receptionist, whether it was the hairstyles, whether it was the clients, it was the conversations we're having. It's the content that we're allowing to be played in the salon. It's the conversation, it was all of those things, and it was a healthy environment, and so what I realized is that, you know, even with the school, it's like if we can help the stylist become more whole right. Not just from teaching you how to do the hairstyle, but how can we help you to be more balanced and be more in harmony, to be more healed, because we are the direct portal to our community.
Speaker 1:
So if we can help the stylist.
Speaker 3:
We can help the stylist, help their community whether they're in New York or in Atlanta. And so that is now my why. It's like how can we help them heal? On the hair side, I mean, you know, in my hair business, but on a greater level, in my personal brand, it's just about helping people to recognize who they are, why they're here, what they've been given to give.
Speaker 1:
Oh, it's so beautiful. What a great example too, because it's like that's where business and the why meet, or business and change meet, or business and passion meet. You know everybody always like, says, like well, I work in a first world business or whatever. You've made a business that seemingly is just get somebody's hair fancy to more right, you're changing the world by doing this. You've found a why within it and a passion within it. How could you ever quit this now? Could you ever stop doing it?
Speaker 3:
I'm just in a different capacity. I could never stop doing what I'm doing. You know, it's funny because I retired from the chair about I don't even know seven years ago and I came back just to kind of help out or whatever, and I realized, yes, I enjoy doing the hair, but more I enjoy the connection and the conversation. And so I didn't realize that that was, you know, so integral to what I was doing. And now it's like, yes, I may not be touching hair on a consistent basis, but I'm still touching the souls and the hearts of people, just in a different capacity. So, no, I could never my why I think is going to remain.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I mean, even if it's just through the school or through mentoring or whatever, are you ever going to be able to not touch something around this?
Speaker 3:
No, no, I think that you know empowering people, whether it be through teaching them how to do a hairstyle or teaching them how to think properly about themselves so they can do what they were called to do, or it's just who I am. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, no, that's absolutely beautiful and that's how you find, like I tell people all the time. It's like you start a business, like they say, online. You do it through YouTube's 22 business ideas for 2023. You choose that business because you think you're going to make a lot of money. When it doesn't happen the next day, you quit right. That's why business has an 80% failure rate. You do what you and I have done, you know and you tie business to some profound mission some profound why and don't get me wrong make money. You have to make money. You can't help anybody else if you're struggling, but you tie it to more than just being that money that you think's coming and guess what, you get involved with that passion. Yeah. You'll die for it, basically. Yeah. And then, along the way, you won't quit. Not quitting is the key to success. Yeah. And then, before you know it, the money's there too.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I love what you said in terms of you know, people will start something and then they just, when it doesn't give you the results, it doesn't yield the results, like oh, I'll go to something else. And I think that that's one of the biggest mistakes that some of us can make. It's just like OK, if it doesn't yield immediately. It's like no, you got to work that thing. Yeah. Like I think that I'm sure I had other things that could have pulled at me to do other ventures. Or, you know, people always hear that multiple streams of income so they want to have all these things. It's like, no, but you got to pick a landing, you got to ride that thing and you know, I've rode hair for 20 years 30 years. And so, yeah, I think picking it and understanding. Sometimes you don't know the why on the onset, but I think it evolves over time and then you start really realizing like, oh, this is why I do it, like I'm not doing YouTube videos to get an audience. I'm doing YouTube videos so I can make impact and if you can keep on the impact, the audience will come.
Speaker 1:
Oh yeah, the views will come, you know, especially if you have the right message. I believe my message isn't very popular, you know. It's like it's actually popular with, like my age I don't know your age, I'm not going to guess and put you on the spot, but it's popular with my age because they know They've been through it, they realize this is BS and they're like Tyler, you have a great message. What's really tough is for the younger kids to understand it, because it's easier to listen to. The guy that's going to sit in the Ferrari and say, just by my course, it's going to make you a million dollars tomorrow, like that is the guy they want to listen to, especially from the bad neighborhood. They want to think that's possible, you know. And when some weird, spitely homeless guy that usually his shoes are falling apart tells you hey, no, you've got to work really, really hard More than most people because you come from nothing, you know it's like and then the end it'll pay off, trust me. You know, work the 100-hour weeks. If you're in a job right now, work two jobs, you know, go to school at the same time because this is all preparing you for your business. That is not a popular message to hear.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I mean, you got to sacrifice to get it. You know, and I definitely had sacrifices on the way, but I was willing to do it because I loved what I did. Yeah, you know. So it didn't matter if you know I had to sacrifice because I loved it. And so, yeah, I think what happens is when people take that information of the get rich quick, you know, and they go in circles for cycles, for seasons, and they realize like, oh, okay, I need to go back to master on the basics.
Speaker 1:
The shortcut is the hard work. You know, I told this story one time about like 16 years old, right, and like you know, you need to get your teeth into weight lifting a little bit and like that was like way before, like nutrition's done what it's done, and protein powder used to arrive in this like ghetto box, right, just cardboard box in a bag and it smelled so bad. Like you like put the protein powder in and you had to plug your nose to drink it and I swear that stuff worked better than any protein that exists today. Like that stuff was amazing, you know. And so, like I don't know, I think about that all the time. That was a painful thing to drink but it worked good. It's like every time I've tried to take the shortcut Come on. It's been the longer cut right, taking the painful road, it worked the best. That was actually the shortcut. You know it's like it's just fronting. You know, get in the gym tomorrow. You know, lift weights. There's no. You know there's no super supplement. There is no magic pill. You gotta get in there. You know it's like starting your business Guess what. You're not gonna get a paycheck for a while, probably. You know, especially if you're starting from nothing, you're gonna have to work a hard, lot of hours. People are gonna scream at you and yell at you. Their first employee is gonna be a nightmare. You know all these things, but you stay the course and you keep working it. You make it. Yeah, yeah. What do you tell people that are asking you about? Like I wanna get into the salon business. You've been successful in it, you know it's like how do you describe to them the journey they're about to go on? And also like not only give them a bit of like optimism on what can it be, but a bit of like realism, so you're setting them up right.
Speaker 3:
Um, I mean, again, I go back to asking them like you know, why do you really wanna do this? Because I think that there were people who jumped into it because they seen the money and they seen. But it's like, again you have to go back to are you created to do this or something that you can do? It's like, is this just a fun thing that you know you can make some money? And so, when we get to the root of, I'm passionate about this. Well then, if you have the passion, you have the potential. And so I really talk to them about as long as you're passionate about it, you have the potential. And not only that. Yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be a long role, but it's not necessarily. Life is long. I mean, the years are going to pass anyway. Would you rather be doing it, doing something you love, or would you rather go and do something that just can make you some money? And so, you know, giving them that realism that, yeah, it's going to take time, but everything takes time.
Speaker 1:
Drop some balloons from the roof right now. That is exactly it. You know, it's like I think of it this way, like same thing, but it's like I never looked back at last week and said, damn, I wish I would watch more TV. You know it's like, but I did look at that degree. I got you know and I said like man, that hurt in the moment. But now I look back I'm like I'm glad I did that. You know. It's like how many things can you look back at now that you're like this was painful, but I'm glad I did it?
Speaker 3:
I mean almost everything. Yeah, you know what I mean, but I think that and then I know this might go into another thing, but it's like you know, discipline is the real self. Love Like what is your future self gonna? Thank you for that you can do today. You know what? Are those disciplines that they're not? I mean, yeah, they're hard, but I think it's perspective because this is like okay, just take that extra minute. So funny because, like you know, sometimes I'm like I don't feel like washing my dishes, right. Yeah. And I'm like but when I look at it, it took five minutes. Yeah, this is like a lot of the things that we dread to do, that we don't wanna do, that. We'd rather go and scroll on Instagram and do it. It's just like but how did that make you feel? Did you get any real gratification out of that, or are you getting gratification out of the small, little incremental changes that you're making, that you're gonna feel proud about yourself, you know, and so I think that it's like do you really wanna see that growth?
Speaker 1:
And if you wanna see that growth and that productivity is the discipline, what would the 16 year old, 18 year old you choose the young era person think of? The you of today?
Speaker 3:
Very proud of her.
Speaker 1:
Would they believe that you're doing what you're doing?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, because, even though it wasn't conscious, I wanna say that I was already doing it. I just didn't see it as if I was doing it, you know, and so I don't think that she would be all that surprised. It's like, yeah, well, you was bringing here in the laundry. It's just on another level and in a different way. I mean, don't get wrong, I am definitely like, wow, you changed a lot. Wow, you did this while you traveled here, you know. But it's been a linear path, like I just been on it.
Speaker 1:
Have we hit one of the highlights of your life through this discussion today, or do you have one that like you'd share outside of the things we've talked about?
Speaker 3:
Highlights of my life. I feel like we've hit the majority of them. I'm sure there's some I probably can't think of, but as far as what's pertinent to this interview, I definitely feel that we've hit them yeah.
Speaker 1:
One of the things that I love about being an entrepreneur is after and there's a lot of bad, you know, let's just face it, there's a lot of bad things too, but one of the things that's great is like once you've like started out in a kitchen, braiding hair, fighting law, opening a successful company, opening a beauty school, it's like how much of the world seems unachievable to you now.
Speaker 3:
I feel like nothing is impossible, like literally nothing. It's just about how bad do you want it and are you willing to do the work?
Speaker 1:
That's what. I absolutely love about being an entrepreneur. It's like there is not a thing in this world I don't think I can accomplish anymore, and we've learned that through just asking questions, just doing the work. It's like I wish we could put our brains into the kids behind the camera for one second and just be like trust me, you can have anything. I mean, this year we opened excuse me, we're going to film festivals with our docuseries. Oh, wow, we have a top 5% podcast now, like this one just launched, we've opened six companies. It's like nothing scares me. I mean, I ran into a conversation a couple of months ago, six months ago. I just wanted to ask about what was going on with this foster care group, just to have a conversation, right, and that led to somehow Tyler's going to present an idea on how to help foster youth in our building here, which we've done and now, like it got latched onto so well that now we're starting a hub for age out foster youth here. Wow, let's go Like don't get me wrong like it's a cause that I'm passionate about. I didn't know that it was going to get to it right now, but right now is the time. You know, like, especially for a cause, right Like that it doesn't scare me one bit, I'm just excited. Like I know how we we can put this together. A little bit of work, some help from people. You know, it's like we can do this and we can change a lot of lives through it, and that's what entrepreneurship does, no matter what that thing is. You know, you can do it now.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, and I think the one thing that I've learned in every part of my journey is that you know when there was a new mountain I had to climb. Like you figure it out along the way. You do. You're not going to know everything at once, you know. And so now it's like okay. Now that I have that tool and I understand that principle, it's like okay, well, we'll just try it.
Speaker 1:
Like what's the worst that can happen, it'll at least show us the new path. Maybe it's a pivot sometimes. Speaking of which, let's call that path a boulder that you're pushing up the mountain. You know, like, let's say, for me the age out, foster hub, or some of our businesses and stuff, how do you find the right people to help you push that boulder?
Speaker 3:
How do you find the right people? I mean, for me, I think that it really has to do is like do we align with values? Do we align with vision? Do we see the same thing? Do we? Can we even be vulnerable and transparent over one another? Because I think that that's what partnership is when you're working with anybody, but in terms of finding them, to be honest with you I know you don't like the law of attraction, but honestly, I feel like they did as you're doing your work, the people who are on that path, you'll, naturally, they'll gravitate to you somehow or another, Like I've, honestly, never went. I didn't look for Adelaide, I didn't, you know, they just came and they stayed and we recognize oh, we have the same vision, we have the same values.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, that's what we're collecting here. I feel you know and like, and I don't believe in the law of attraction, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't you know? Or you shouldn't you know? It's just personally. It doesn't work for me. You know, it's like I guess, let me. I guess I don't want to demotivate people, but I don't believe in the law of attraction because I don't believe I've. I don't think I've brought the bad stuff into my life, so that's why I can't believe it's gonna bring good stuff into my life.
Speaker 3:
I see what you're saying. So then, how do you find them?
Speaker 1:
How do I find these people? Yes, I believe it's showing up every day. I don't talk much about my religion although I'm a very religious guy, you know because I believe that every day I should go out there and represent it. So I don't even have to say, speak it. And I think by going out there and representing you yourself in a way that you're a billboard for what you believe, I believe, you bring those people around and you could call it attraction you could define it that way yeah that's what. I'm saying but I mean, I guess, like, I feel like I'm putting out a billboard and people are looking at it and saying you be it, you be it.
Speaker 3:
I think that you know. You know, even in business you don't realize you're setting yourself up to lead. But I feel like leading is making the right decisions for yourself first. And in making those right decisions for yourself, what happens is people start to see you making traction and from that traction they're like I want to get on that train. Oh, yeah, yeah. And you attract those leaders because of the traction that you're making, but it's all based on you holding a higher standard for yourself and making the right decisions every day.
Speaker 1:
I think one problem too, and I've found some interesting parts through my journey. You know, as far as like the people that have come in and out of my life, you know, and so it's like, one thing that I would say to everybody is like you definitely need to surround yourself with the right people. Hanging out with Joey the nose is not going to do anybody any good. You know, think of your life. Like in companies, we go out and we seek the best board members possible in different areas to advise us right as the heads of companies. So, like, think about that in your life. Like if you're destined for something, immerse yourself with that group or motivated people, and not only that, but don't get jealous. If they get ahead, help them. Don't get jealous or feel obligated. Like if they're a little bit behind or whatever, help them. You know it's like make that connection that you heard. You know you have a friend looking for a job or something. You know somebody that's offering a job. Make that connection. The stronger your group gets, the stronger you get.
Speaker 3:
Yes, so true.
Speaker 1:
And I don't know why we don't think about that enough. It's like don't get jealous because that person's getting ahead of you. Help everybody you can, because now they're part of your network, their team. You know like, think of it as a sports team. You know it's like the better you can make your teammates on that team, the better your chances are for winning. Think about your network that way. Connect the people, inspire them to get in the gym. You know like, sorry, the gym's a big thing for me because I think it's important, you know. But but do that stuff in life, you know, and because then you'll build your network while you're building yourself.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I mean, that's a valuable principle. I think that society and culture has taught us to think so individualistic that it's all about me and therefore it's you know, it's so self-focused that we don't see the power of partners, we don't see the power of communities. That is so, so valuable and I honestly had to learn that, like I don't think I understood that it was just like, oh, okay, I started this company, you know, and then I realized, like okay, I have a salon with four chairs, but it's just me. Yeah. Okay, well now, how do I, you know, attract stylist? You know, how do I hire? And I didn't know how to hire and recruit. I'm so knee-deep in doing hair that I'm like I don't know how to do that. And then I realized like, oh, I know the technical side, I know hair, but I don't completely know business and I truly don't understand leadership. Like I have a standard for myself, but I had understood, I later found out that I had to grow in leadership you know I had to teach myself leadership, like I had to learn certain books, understand certain principles and realize like, oh, I've already been that, but I haven't necessarily been intentional in that and I'm immature in that, and so, yeah, I just feel like the team, the circle, all that stuff comes. But you have to have a standard for yourself first. I mean, I think that you become it first and then you get around people that are on that same path. It's like you know those people who are committed to their own personal development.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, absolutely. And why should they involve you in your network if you're not worth involving? Right, be a person worth involving in that network and to be a leader. I believe 100% in leading my example. If you won't do it, then why should they do it? Right? If you're too afraid to clean the bathroom, then why should they clean the bathroom?
Speaker 3:
Come on. And that even speaks to mentorship too. It's like be mentorable. Yeah, absolutely Put yourself in a position to where it's like oh, I can see that my time is not gonna be wasted by pouring into you because, you're literally, you got a notebook, you're taking notes, you're coming back and you've actually done these things. You've held yourself accountable. So, even when it comes to creating a circle or getting in the right circle of people, it's just like put yourself in position for that.
Speaker 1:
One of the hardest parts about what I do these days because you know I do tons of pro bono consulting Most of my life is that these days. You've done that for me.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
I've helped you a little bit and it's like one of the hardest things is not everybody wants they like your advice until it's not what they wanted to hear. You know.
Speaker 3:
You better say that.
Speaker 1:
They like your advice until it's not what they wanna hear, because I almost always have to tell them something they don't wanna hear. If I'm fixing a business, especially that's failing, I've gotta tell them something they're not wanting to hear.
Speaker 3:
But what's so wild is you came to me and or you, because you are the expert and you've been somewhere that I have not been yet. You're somebody who I'm looking up to. So if somebody gives you some information that is hard for you to accept or hard for you to go ahead and implement, like you have to remind yourself, they've been there and they've done that.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I think that's the difference between doing it for free too, and then like people that charge for it, because people that charge for it are just gonna find you an answer that you're gonna pay for, people that just have your whole hearted like, want your success, are gonna have to tell you that. That's the hard thing for me. I don't like to tell people like these hard, hard things. That's hard and they get mad at me about it a lot of times, you know, but it's like I'm the only one that actually cares.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I mean hard stuff, because I'm trying to grow right. But you know what? What do you think about this concept where it talks about when you pay you pay attention, when you invest you know what I'm saying? Like you're invested, yeah, so when it comes to like giving things away for free, sometimes people don't value it as such. It's like you know, there's a scripture that says don't cast your pearls to swine Like they don't value pearls, like they don't see the value in it, and so what are your thoughts about that?
Speaker 1:
It's the struggle of my life, or what's the catch? What's the catch, Tyler, in this? Where is it coming? You know, like we had that 100 person event in person the other day. This guy stuck around till the very end, you know. He asked me in the intro and, like a bunch of other times, he's like what's the catch? And like there is no catch here, you know. And so, yeah, that's the hardest part is like you're right, they don't need it to be valuable. And I've been fired from helping people for free. For free, Because I've been like I'm telling them the hard truth I'm caring more about when you involve me. It's the type of person I am Like I'm gonna care as much about your business as you are, if not more because I don't wanna fail and I don't want you to fail and you've told me all these family struggles you're having and you know, like I'm giving you stuff that is so hard for me to give you this hard message, this hard helping hand, like that's not in my personality to do, you know, but I'm actually caring about you more than anybody else has by doing it. And. But it's tough, to your point. Not a lot of people will appreciate it, you know, and that is hard because I do set my heart and soul on it, you know, and that's why I've had to like. It's an evolution, even helping, giving charity, is an evolution. You know, it started out by helping friends. You know, and then I felt taken advantage of a lot and so I'm like I'll help strangers, they'll appreciate it more. And they did to a time, you know. But then and then I used to go in and literally physically do accounting with them and physically do marketing and like posting and like literally physically work in the business with them for free, Trying to help them. And then I've gotten to the point it's like now I give advice, right, and I'll help you through it. I'll show you whatever you want. There's a space for people to come in any single time they wanna work on their own stuff. You know, and that's where I've had to kind of draw the line on things. You know, it's like I'll have conversation with you that'll save you five years and 20, or excuse me and hundreds of thousands of dollars. I will have that conversation with you. You know, take it or leave it, and I will help you anytime you ask me a question. But I can't do it for you anymore Because you're right, when there's no perceived value to it, they don't appreciate it. So, and I think that's I mean that's the struggle that I have and where I'm like you know, a lot of people do this stuff for money and I can make a lot of money doing it. You know, like, let's be fair, I could make a course on how to open a business. I can make a course on how to do marketing. I could make a course on how to open a podcast. I'm really good at all these things. I changed people's lives in a couple hours with. I can teach you accounting in three hours. That could be a course and I can make it fun. I don't know anybody else in the planet that can do that, even involving like complex MBA Pristables and to finance and things like that. I can teach you all that in three hours. Could I monetize that? Yeah, but I'd rather give it away to the people that can't afford it.
Speaker 3:
Wow.
Speaker 1:
And then like it's up to them. I guess I know I've rambled on your question because I still don't have an answer for it.
Speaker 3:
I mean, I think it's dope that you have that heart to just wanna pour out. I just, you know, I wanna see that there are people who are truly gonna value it and actually apply it, because that's what it's for. I'm not here just to be talking.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I have wins too. It's like last episode we had Kai and E-Man, who's always around here, working on stuff you know and so like, and they're winning. they're launching their label today. You know, it's like that's a win for me too. I love seeing that and they're working hard and I've saved somebody like thousands of dollars. I've seen somebody cry over their business, that they're losing, and then when I come in and help them and they tell them they have hope. You know, it's like I get a lot of wins you know Like I get to change people's lives on the daily here, and that's what makes my job so amazing. you know it's like sure we have a facility here, you know, like where we do some business stuff. You know it's like I never talk about that stuff on the podcast. You know, if people wanna know about it we can talk about it. But you know like mostly I want people to know this is a facility where you can get help.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
And it costs you nothing. There is no catch. I think there's no. There's no catch, except I expect when you make it you'd be a good role model for somebody else. I would hope that your success you'll bring into some situation that you hated If you were raised in the foster care system and you hated the foster care system. Please have your success. I want you to have your success because you're gonna go back and change things. Yeah. If you were Bill Gates right now that grew up in the foster care system, I guarantee there wouldn't be a problem with the foster care system. Yeah. Or the prison system. Yeah. Or like hunger or you know, like if you were the person that came up to be billionaire status. And don't get me wrong, I'm going there, I'm gonna be billionaire before my world's done and it's not cause I care about the fancy car. In fact, one like a quick story I'll tell you about that is in my first business, very first world business. I was really struggling with it. I was reading this book how Helping Hurts, and then I was watching this documentary called Poverty Inc and I was really in tune with like how to Help the World, like what's the right way to help the world, and the same day, much like Scott, our redefining hero, you know, like, had this pivotal moment. Mine wasn't nearly as cool as his, but you know it's like this guy comes in he starts crying over this project, like so first world didn't matter. You know, like I gave him a personal ride home afterwards. You know it was like we did everything we could for him Balling. And like a buddy of mine happened to call me while I was just about to walk out on my business completely, I'm not a quitter, but I was disgusted by what I was doing Because I was having no real impact on the world. You know, and my buddy is this overzealous Greek guy. He's like Tyler, you can't help the world by sitting on the street corner and holding a sign. You have to pull up to the boardroom in the Ferrari. I don't need the Ferrari, but you have to pull up to the boardroom and you have to say this is how we help the world. And I agree with that 100%. You have to find your success to help the world. So, and like that's my mission and I'll do it one person at a time. I have no problem working in the micro. I will do that one person at a time. I will do that one podcast at a time.
Speaker 3:
So so then only cause I'm just thinking deeper it's like so should there be a vetting process then?
Speaker 1:
To helping people, probably Okay, yeah, and honestly, as like we grow here especially, I'm sure we'll do more and more like how to help, right. It's, you know, just like running a business you pivot and you learn. I think, like the seminars have been great for us. You know, it's like cause that way we can help a lot of people at once. You know, and then like they can take it or leave it and you know it's like we're speaking to everybody at once. We have a lot of people that come in afterwards, you know, and thank us. That's amazing. You know, like people using the boost space, it's not that big of a deal for me to jump on the other side of the wall and help them through a problem. I equate a lot of this stuff to like working on a math problem. If you're working on a math problem and you have some time to struggle with it, now you're thinking about it Like, and when we help you get up next to that next step on the math problem, you're like, wow, okay, I get it, but you've struggled enough in it to now get it right and like. I think that's where like, but banging your head on the wall for 15 hours on it isn't going to help you. Yes, sure. So somebody gets you over to that next step, and I think that's what we're trying to do these days is like really help with the next step you're struggling with. You know it's like we're not going to do it for you, but we're going to help you so you don't struggle on the math problem for 15 hours, struggle for two minutes. Now let's pull you out of it so you can continue. Yeah. Yeah so, and I'm so glad to see you around here all the time. You know it's like it's amazing to always connect with you. You have great energy, thank you. You're such a role model for what this show is about. You know, I want to have you and your partner right Business partner on the show, because there's another topic I want to hit with you guys. Ok, I think that the younger generation a lot of times looks at I'm going to do this job and, believe me, I had a lot of horrible jobs. But, I decided in life, you know like. I was a valet at one point at a country club and they treated me miserable. By the way, that's led to most of my success in life. I'll say that right now that job has led to most of my success in life, that valet job, because number one, the rich and wealthy people treated me horribly. They called me the help, gave me a chip on my shoulder. You know, I was like and I saw how normal they were, that pillars of the community coming in to shower off their mistresses and things like that, like not good citizens either, and not any better than you or I, certainly. And the other thing I did is, no matter how they treated me, no matter what it was like to be there, I could have said I'm going to half-ass this job, I'm not going to do anything more than they want me to. Instead, I did the opposite. Huge parking lot, 125-degree weather. I'm sprinting to get your car. No matter how mean you are to me. I'm sprinting to get it. Watch this, I'm the fastest guy out there. You're going to have your car in 30 seconds. You know, yeah, that to me was more of the win than like, oh, I'm going to take my time so this jerk doesn't get his car. You know, I was like that has been a pivotal point of my success and so, like that's where I want to go with you guys Is like having that work ethic, even in a business that you don't own, and then look where it's led to your now partner. You're right. So let's have that discussion soon.
Speaker 3:
I'm down, I'm going to talk to her today.
Speaker 1:
Tell a little bit about your podcast, what you're up to. I want to give you a chance to pitch some stuff.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, absolutely so. My business partner and I just started a podcast called the Rare One and it speaks to being rare individually, but we're all one and so understanding that we as a collective we're even stronger. And so we speak to hairstylists predominantly about the industry, but again it's about making the whole stylist that we're speaking from a standpoint of personal development, spiritual development, just a holistic view, and helping to just transform that community to help us just have a greater standard, you know.
Speaker 1:
That's amazing. I love what you guys are doing, love being around you guys, always great energy. We're going to have to do that other episode soon For sure. Thanks so much for coming on.
Speaker 3:
Thank you.
Speaker 1:
And thank you for another episode of Underdogs, bootstrapers and Game Changers. Please give us feedback on these episodes. If there's something more you want to see, something more you want to know, connect with my friend here. We're glad to help you along the way. Thanks for tuning in.
Entrepreneur
Essence China is an accomplished entrepreneur, educator, and women empowerment speaker. As an entrepreneur for over 20 years Essence founded Rare Essence Studio and Rare Essence Academy a natural hair salon and education platform in Phoenix, Az.
Essence work as a stylists and business owner has been highlighted in Essence Magazine as well as other international publications.
In 2003, she fought the State Board of Cosmetology in the state of Arizona which opened the doors for all natural hair stylist to be able to operate without the regulations of the cosmetology board in the state of Arizona.
She now speaks and coaches women on how to
Overcome Obstacles
Become Authentically Bold
Walk in Purpose
Make Impact
