Today kicks off a series I love doing here on the blog: The Successful Single Mom. It is a wildly popular interview series with single moms who are rocking the lives they have and are turning lemons into lemonade. I love this series because it proves to you, me, and the world that we single moms really can make it. We can chase our dreams with minimal or no support and win! We can raise our babies, run a business, be open to love, and still win. So, today’s featured mom has done it all. She is a light and a force to be reckoned with in the beauty and hair care space. Read on and be inspired by Ms. Gwen Jimmere of Naturalicious.
The Preview
I caught up with Gwen recently to discuss her latest moves and how she balances single parenting and entrepreneurship. She is amazing, sweet, giving, and on the move.
I met Gwen Jimmere in a Facebook Group I love for bloggers, creatives, and entrepreneurs. We have mutual friends, I watch her “Get Money” Show on Periscope, and I’ve admired her for a while, but we’ve never met. But chile, when I heard about her latest accomplishment (as if owning her own business isn’t boss mom enough), I had to interview her. She has gone and done something so amazing you must read on for an interview that will inspire you AND teach you how to handle a business and a family at the same time.
The phone interview begins with me asking Gwen about the party she had just the night before. She’s chatting with me and saying bye to friends and family who came from all over as far as Japan to celebrate her becoming the First Black Woman to own a patent on a hair care system. Yes that! Wow! Gwen tells me how much fun it was to celebrate with friends and family and how she also used the occasion to give back to her community. She oozes with pride and respect as she tells me who attended the soiree held at the Garden Theatre in her home base of Detroit, MI. As she talked of the night’s festivities, I was inspired, proud, and excited. The first person to ever write about her in a publication was there. She donated a scholarship to the local DAPCEP which teaches kids about STEM. They partied like it was 1999. It was truly a night to remember. Hearing all this, I got comfortable so I could write like crazy because I did not want to miss a word.
What follows is more than a single mom’s “day in the life” recount. It includes a great deal of information for the moms who want to own their own business and it includes just the right amount of inspiration to make you go “Yes girl!” It has the motivation you need to get up and chase your own dreams. Get ready!
The Interview with Gwen Jimmere
Question 1: So, tell us about a day in the life of a CEO beauty brand owner. What are some challenges you have faced, and how do you manage it all?
Blocking my time has been great for me. In the past, if emails or calls came in, I answered. I found that made me feel inundated and overwhelmed. Now, I check my email, read, and flag them. But, I don’t answer them until later. I only do work during the day that will take my company Naturalicious to the next level.
In between, I take my son to school. I make sure I do the most productive work in the mornings because afternoons fly by so fast. Early afternoon, I do phone calls, meetings, and interviews. My day ends at 6 p.m. Then, I get my son. I had to create this system that works for me because I didn’t want my son sitting next to me working. I felt guilty in the beginning, so this helps me spend time with him.
I delegate and that has been extremely beneficial. Yes, you can do it all, but why? I have people who can do some things better than me in some cases. What I think first before doing things myself is “What is the opportunity cost?” Pay John $25/hour or I do it, and it costs me $100/hr. Um, I’m gonna pay John. (she smiles and I laugh in agreement with an Amen!)
Key takeaway: “Balancing the day has to do with what I delegate.” (Moms, that is good.)
Memorable Quote we all need to absorb: “I’m wonderful, but I’m not Wonder Woman.”
My family helps in my business in many ways. My nephew makes the product. My son helps me pick the candy that I like to add in the orders. He’s the “Candy Curator.” (Okay, how cute) I’m looking to hire more people for production this year.
Questions 2: What has made the biggest difference in your success in business and in life as a single mom?
a) Putting systems in place so the business is able to scale. Most of us created our businesses out of need, and we see how our creativity can help other people. “People pay me to do something I already did for myself.” I realized it was great! People wanted what I had, but it was stressful until I created a system. We create for ourselves which isn’t the point of working for yourself. Working for yourself should have some ease and freedom. At first, I used to only be able to be away from the business for a weekend because orders would be backed up when I got back. Now, the customer orders online, my nephew makes batches, he takes the batches to the fulfillment warehouse, and they pack and ship. Now multiple orders go out daily with this system. My customers get their products fast, and I can focus on money-making activities because as a business you need to make money to operate. I focus on promotion, product design, and marketing.
b) In life and motherhood, those same systems help me have family time. We can go to an indoor water park now when I want to because I have a system that runs when I’m not there. I can spend time with my son.
I have another passion project/side hustle/business that I co-run with my business partner called Pitch Proof. We coach business owners on how to find pitch competitions and win so they can get funding for their businesses. There are some companies that devote a person to just doing pitch competitions. As minorities, we have drive and ambition but don’t have the know how. So, we decided to show people how to do it. (You can imagine how much I was going Wow! Yass! and Amen, girl.)
Question 3: If you could change one thing about your business journey, what would it be?
I wouldn’t change a thing.
Question 4: Well, congratulations are in order. I know you’ve recently received a patent. How does it feel? Tell us what this means to you, and why you did it?
It’s amazing. It opened up a lot of doors. It’s created awareness about me and my brand. It blew my mind to find out I was the first. I have young girls that tell me that I’ve shown them they can do it themselves. They have confidence and they want to inspire others like me. I want to see a generation of women entrepreneurs and inventors.
Question 5: To whom do you attribute your success?
My family, my mom, and my dad. They are 3 hours away but help me a lot. I also have a boyfriend, but he lives far as well. They are all very supportive of me, my dreams, and my business. All three help me with my son and equally believe in Naturalicious. They are always like “What can we do to help?” It’s a blessing. I can remember my dad driving to meet me half way to get my son because I had to do a speaking engagement. Or, him coming up to stay with my son. My boyfriend, Mike, will do the same. My family and boyfriend are so helpful. My son loves my boyfriend.
I am so blessed to have my friends of 30 years. I have a girlfriend, Alisha, who goes to all my shows, runs my product table for me so I can mingle, doesn’t ask me to pay her … she just shows up and serves. I come back from mingling and she has sold it all.
Question 6: As a busy entrepreneur and mom, how do you handle it all? How do you love on you?
I work out. I love Zumba. I love to dance. I do this program called Werq which is dancing basically with your workout. You know, I enjoy being happy. I stopped the sweets. I eat natural sugars. I feel prettier. You can’t run a biz and not feel good. For busy moms, I recommend a good diet, exercise, and take days off. I drop the to-do list and just be in the moment.
Question 7: Do you have a favorite quote or parting advice?
Yes, the successful person continued one more time past their last failure. Trust that God is going to lead you. God provides what HE promises. It’s never going to be the right time. I started my business with $32 bucks in the bank. You don’t have to wait until the kids are grown. You may have to peel back on expenditures, but you can be what you want to be.
My favorite quote is “Waiting is not a wealth strategy” by Marshawn Evans Daniels.
Check out other successful mom interviews
Wow! What a great interview! Gwen is so down to Earth and so gracious. It was wonderful to catch up with her and celebrate her wins as well as learn how she is crushing it in life and in business because she chose to. The common theme is she has a system. As busy single moms, our self care is so important. Having a system that works for us and keeps us balanced (as much as possible right) is necessary. I make it no secret I’m an entrepreneur. You may not know I was a business major before I majored in Spanish but I love to talk shop and show women how to live their best lives NOW as single moms. Building our single parent families up and thriving is one of my main initiatives as a Coach, business owner, and author. I hope you have enjoyed this interview, been inspired to chase your dreams, and will share it with your tribe. We women need to know it is possible and that we must always, despite what life says, Do It Anyway! Thanks again to Gwen!
I’d love to hear from you and so would Gwen. Check out her natural hair care line and comment below with your thoughts and takeaways!
P.S.
Are you in the Dalls/Ft. Worth area? Come out for the Single Moms Who Brunch event on August 6th. Meet moms like you who are fabulous, hidden away working and providing, and are looking for the perfect event to connect, chat, dine, and grow. I’ll be hosting the brunch of the year for us which means great swag, the book, and mini lunch and learn topics throughout. Not your boring brunch honey. Fun times will be had. You’ve got to be at this brunch if you’re serious about parenting alone on the next level (until Boaz comes of course). Get the details here. Seating is limited. See you soon!
