Tell us about your business!
Words to Live By is a socially conscious positive message t-shirt company dedicated to the power of positive living, helping women and those around them to transform and empower their lives.
What inspired you to start your business?
I’m a 5 year breast cancer survivor and I was inspired to start the business after my mother lost her life to the same breast cancer I had survived just one year earlier. I wanted to create something that reflects my mothers’ zest for life, and Words to Live By was born.
What did it entail to get started?
Research! Research! Research! Organization & Planning, as well as inspiration and tenacity to keep going and to find the resources to teach myself (or be taught) whatever I didn’t know as I went along.
We could all use a bit of inspiration to keep us going each day. How did the idea occur to you to put inspiring words on t-shirts?
The idea has been with me for years based on a number of experiences. Years ago I had a boyfriend who used to call me a “happy white person”, yes I said white person! Argh! Well, I asked him why on earth would he say that, and he said because he felt that mostly white people had the kind of positive outlook that I held. I of course disagreed, but also knew that many of my friends and family always looked to me for encouragement, motivation and support. I knew they didn’t see me as a happy white person, but someone who had chosen to seek the positive because I grew up witnessing that what we give our energy to is what will come to fruition in our lives.
As well, over the years I’ve been a volunteer basketball coach and I’ve come to understand that it takes powerful words that get right to the heart of the matter to help people maintain a ‘go for it attitude’ in life. In addition, I founded and have been the director of a children’s theatre camp at Howard University (www.thechildrenstheatreworkshop.com) for the past 14 years and I’ve seen the impact that positive honest conversation can have on young people and even their parents. Also, in my experience of being a college professor for the past 10 years, I have come to know for sure that it’s through day to day acts of courage that we all grow, mature and move towards our goals rather than away from them.
Lastly, my mother passed away in 2006 and I knew I needed to create something that would help other women the same way her words helped me throughout my life. So, it’s a culmination of life’s events that led me to this place. Oh, I still speak to that old boyfriend, but now he just says: “Ms. Positive’s on the scene.” And I say, “You know that’s right!”
I heard a speaker on television last night talk about the sacred and essentially healing and inspiring nature of creativity, understanding that creativity flows from the ultimate Creator of all things. How do you see your work healing and inspiring others through words?
My work of designing positive messages on tees is honorable work because it actually serves as the catalyst for people to heal themselves, to be inspired and to inspire others. For example, the act of putting on the tee that reads: “daily mulit-vitamin follow your heart” becomes a conscious and courageous act of agreement with the universe. The wearer declares in their heart and mind and even announces to the world that they believe and know that they are entitled to the truth contained in the message. They declare that the truth in the message is accessible. This acknowledgement is a very liberating and healing action. It alters the mindset and thus, it releases a well-spring of creativity in a person. People begin to take action and stay committed to the truth of the message on the tee, for it takes courage to declare one’s positivity out loud in a world that prefers to stereotype and pigeon-hole women as shallow, competitive, catty and cut throat, in particular black women. Finally, through the act of self assessment, deciding on a course of action, and moving forward as a result of that assessment, a person finds that growth is always born from change. My tees inspire, empower and encourage women to live life more fully and to pursue their dreams.
Describe your typical day at the office!
I mostly sit at the computer writing my blog and articles and filling orders as they come in…over the computer! I stay organized, filing papers and doing book-keeping, read some, and jot down inspirational thoughts that come to me.
What has been your greatest challenge in launching your business?
My learning curve of the internet and web language was basic so I had to overcome that. I’ve had to train myself and strengthen areas that I had a minimal understanding of, like book-keeping!
What has been your greatest reward thus far, considering that you are a new business?
Many women have emailed me and told me stories of how the tees make them feel strong and capable and how other people have reacted positively to the messages, wanting to know where they can get one. One customer from California said she uses her tee to remind her to keep going. To know that the tees are adding so much value to women’s live and to the universe is truly the greatest reward.
What’s your vision for the future of your business?
I would like to have the tees sold in boutiques, wellness centers, and gift shops around the country. Also, to continue my work to heighten awareness and prevention of Domestic Violence on college campuses through the B. The Revolution End Abuse Project.
Like your t-shirts (smile) what words of wisdom can you offer to other sisters who want to bring their passion to life as you have?
You must decide that the dream is what you really want and that you are willing to do the work to bring it to life. Decide that what you need to do and learn to make the dream come true you will do it and you will learn it. Thereafter, as you birth your dream into this world, make the commitment that you will do what you must to keep it alive. Finally, bask in the victories born from the challenges that being in process inherently brings. Do your ‘happy dance’, enjoy life. --
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