We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiana Littlejohn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiana below.
Tiana, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
I’ve never let anyone play with my potential. When my parents divorced; My mom, my sister and I moved in with my grandparents. I had to switch schools and I ended up at a predominantly white school. I survived middle school but once I got to high school I encountered something that always sticks with me. I was very talented in basketball and I knew I was good enough to make varsity as a freshman. I did make the team but the coach put me on the junior varsity squad and I always felt inside that it was racially centered. Once I found out, I called my mom in English class and told her I wanted to transfer schools and she said okay. After transferring schools shortly after that, I played all four years on varsity and I did my best to show out every time we played that team. When I reflect on that experience as the only black person in some of my classrooms and on different sports teams, I’m so thankful that I didn’t settle or allow the rejection to stop me from pursuing something I loved.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Black Female Owned, LLC is a lifestyle brand that embodies black ownership through self-marketing apparel and a diverse collection of branded products. When you shop with us, you are supporting a movement that symbolizes what it means to believe in yourself and change the narrative of your life. Our mission is to uplift current and aspiring entrepreneurs through our products and set the example that ownership is possible within the black community.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Although there are many that have helped me on my journey, I believe the most impactful qualities would be courage, diligence and optimism. Entrepreneurship is a challenging occupation, but also one of the most rewarding. There’s nothing like seeing someone in my product on social media or reading a positive review on website. The feeling is irreplaceable. I credit these qualities for helping me build a loyal customer base, even without having an outrageous following on social media. My advice to anyone seeking to develop these qualities would be to educate yourself on the areas that you want to develop or improve on. Read books, articles and commit to other sources outside of social media like business workshops and pop-ups.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I PUSH. This strategy means to pray until something happens. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without faith and a consistent prayer life. I’ve also learned to simply slow down and take a few deep breaths when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I remind myself why I started and why it’s important for me to stick with my vision.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blackfemaleownedllc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackfemaleowned/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackfemaleowned
Image Credits
Casey Blackwell, Jamal Richmond
