There\u2019s a responsibility that comes with being an entrepreneur, especially an African American entrepreneur. It truly is a privilege that is to be honored and revered as such, because so many have paved the way for us with their literal blood, sweat, and tears. I have been gifted countless examples of what I should and should not do, based on the journeys of my predecessors. Am I perfect? Absolutely not. Do I make mistakes? Quite often. Nevertheless, each day that I wake and I physically feel well enough to grind, that is exactly what I do, and will continue to do, as long as I have breath.<\/p>\n
I view entrepreneurship as discipleship and as a service to my Creator. My ability to study the art of business and entrepreneurship, and to transform that knowledge and sheer willpower into tangible results via products and services that help people feel better about themselves, is a powerful gift that I will never take for granted.<\/p>\n
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I have personally witnessed the transformative power of education in both my life and in my family\u2019s life. I am the last born son of Nigerian immigrants, and I\u2019ve seen my parents battle many injustices on many fronts, both accruing accomplishments and making mistakes along the way. Access to education and capital are direct impact options that we, as a society, can leverage to help lift millions out of poverty.<\/p>\n
Many of my African American business associates were unable to secure a PPP or disaster assistance during the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. I am thankful for the strides that have been made in recent years for many business owners in the US and I\u2019m hopeful that there will continue to be progress regarding minority-owned businesses with the recent change in government administration. I have so much faith in our collective ability to create and build businesses that will bring tangible financial progress to our communities. The thirst for entrepreneurship and business knowledge is palpable in the African American community, and many trailblazers have set examples that we can follow.<\/p>\n
The thirst for entrepreneurship is palpable in the African American community.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In my industry\u2014beauty and cosmetics\u2014 alone I\u2019ve witnessed Richelieu Dennis grow Shea Moisture from a $20M USD company in annual sales, to selling his jointly-owned brand to Unilever<\/a> for a reported $1.7B USD (Link 5<\/strong>). I\u2019ve also witnessed countless stylists, nurses, barbers, and blue-collar citizens become millionaires and multimillionaires from the natural hair movement. With additional targeted investments and low-interest loans, I am confident that Richelieu\u2019s story will become more norm than anomaly. Even in hip-hop music, numerous artists have embraced and acknowledged entrepreneurship as a primary pillar of their success. My favorite artist, Nipsey Hussle, speaks on the values of business and entrepreneurship in his music, and I leverage his creative expression as both motivation (check out his song Dedication<\/em><\/a>) and for comfort (listen to I Don\u2019t Stress<\/em><\/a>) when things inevitably get rough.<\/p>\n
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Entrepreneurship saved my life<\/h3>\n
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Entrepreneurship changed my life for the better\u2014it literally saved my life. I suffer from sickle cell anemia<\/a>, the most common genetic blood disorder in the United States. It’s a disease characterized by chronic pain and tissue damage. I have spent many weeks hospitalized throughout my youth, and I have nearly succumbed to the disease on at least three occasions. In the year 2009 alone, I spent six out of 52 weeks in the ICU (intensive care unit); the most critical unit designation given at hospitals for patients that require a one-to-one nurse to patient ratio to enable constant care and supervision. That\u2019s not to mention the additional weeks spent hospitalized in other hospital units. Needless to say, by the spring of 2013, I was completely overwhelmed and depressed regarding the status of my health and quality of life.<\/p>\n
I suffer from sickle cell anemia, the most common genetic blood disorder in the United States.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The previous year, my sister Obia and I co-Founded OBIA Naturals<\/a>, a natural hair and body care brand that predominantly targets multitextured haired women. Early in our journey, we attended the World Natural Hair Show<\/a>, a major industry and consumer goods event, in which our startup desperately needed to participate and muster up a solid showing. I had recently stopped working as a floor nurse (I fell in love with nursing as a child, due to my frequent hospital visits) because I could not physically handle the 12-14 hour shifts. Needless to say, driving 12 hours to Atlanta to attend the show and then conducting a two-day (12+ hours per day) trade show, and then driving back to Dallas was not the best idea. I found myself in the hospital, again, and I missed a critical event the following weekend. It was at that moment, that I submitted to the power and process of entrepreneurship, and I accepted its purpose in my life.<\/p>\n
I realized that I could not live as I had been living, and expect to achieve success in business simultaneous\u2014something had to give. I changed my lifestyle and habits, and I complied with my prescribed medication and diet regimen (save for candy, I have the biggest sweet tooth, and I\u2019m still working on that). This upcoming May will mark eight years since the last time I was hospitalized, and I credit having something \u201cbigger than me\u201d, leadership via entrepreneurship, as the flashpoint to my current journey. Since that time, our products have been distributed in over 20 countries, and sold in stores<\/a> at the following national and international retailers: JC Penney, Target, Walmart, CVS, Bed Bath & Beyond, H.E.B, and Albertsons to name a few.<\/p>\n
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