For the past eighteen months, I have been consulting for companies like Goldman Sachs defining a playbook for the Global Beauty Market, a start-up wellness company creating their social media strategy, and The YMCA driving a long-term strategic digital brand and marketing plan. All the while putting my dream to launch my own beauty company on the back burner. I believed that if I worked on my business at night and the weekends, I could get it done. Sadly, I started to feel like a line out of the Langston Hughes Poem, "A dream deferred"</strong> and my load was heavy and I was ready to explode! Thankfully, my husband convinced me that I was playing too small and if I wanted the business to work I would need to go all in! He was right I was not only playing it small, but also I was playing scared! Mainly because I didn't want to become a burden on him plus I was terrified of losing my independence.

Before I got married, I was the quintessential Being Mary Jane "Independent Black Woman,"without all of the drama. I had a fantastic career, owned a home, drove a convertible sports car, traveled the world, had a closet full of designer clothing without any credit card debt, and a long-term financial plan. I relished the fact that I didn't need a man to ride in on a white horse to save me! Moreover, if he did, I was going to be able to ride next to him in my 911 with 320 Horse Power while singing I am woman hear me roar! Ironically, I did need to be saved, from my ridiculous belief that my self-worth was about a corporate title, a six-figure salary and how many designer bags I owned. What I was overlooking was my new title of Wife, Bonus Mom, and the blessing to have the opportunity to become a BOSS!

When God Speaks

Call me crazy, but even after the plan was in place for me to focus on Good Beaute' 100%, six months into the new year I was still driving the YMCA's brand engagement strategy and exploring a full-time head of marketing role with a Fortune 500 company. In my foolish arrogance, I was questioning God and even thought about walking away from starting my business at least for another year. Then something happened, I downloaded an audible book yet never finished it called "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill. Each month I would download a new book, but something inside me (GOD'S VOICE) kept saying go back and finish Think and Grow Rich, I ignored it. Last month, before my run I couldn't wait to download a new book "Dust Tracks on the road" by Zora Neale Hurston and I got that nagging feeling inside again (GOD'S VOICE) and while I thought I hit Dust tracks on the road I accidentally hit... you guessed it, Think and grow rich. I have over 50 books in my cloud so that in itself was pretty remarkable. However, even more, amazing the book was in the middle of a fascinating story of R. U. Harby, the man that gave up just three feet away from striking a gold mine. I heard God's voice telling me through the words in that book to persevere, stay focused and do not give up on your purpose. I didn't hesitate, I went back home and sent the notification to wrap up all of my projects. As of August 6th, 2018 I committed heart, soul, and mind to Good Beaute' LLC and I am grateful for the love, support and prayers of my friends, family and especially my husband for being my dream maker!

My final thought, if you have a dream, purpose or something that God has placed in your heart, start today!  If you feel like giving up, remember that you may be just three feet from gold!