Meet Jenice Stallings

We recently connected with Jenice Stallings and have shared our conversation below.

Jenice , so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I still deal with moments of imposter syndrome, which comes and goes for me, and when it creeps in, I identify it and then tell myself this is a lie.

I remind myself that I am capable. When things are hard, I tell myself I can do hard things. When imposter syndrome starts to creep up, I break things down into chunks or phases. For example, I am working on building a foundation in a tremendous way and the coach I have now is talking about grant writing, and she told me it would be 300 pages. I first thought there was no way I could do that, but we are breaking it down into phases; phase one will be this, then phase two, three, and so on.

So when imposter syndrome happens, ask yourself, what is it? What lie are you allowing to be told to yourself?

You may need to write it down; then, you should say, “Okay, what are you trying to accomplish?” I’m no longer saying, “I’m trying.” I am changing my mindset to say, “I am in the process of accomplishing x,y,z.” Then, write down the steps and take them in small doses, making them easier to digest.

Support also helps with imposter syndrome, and not just from your family. The support has to come from outside of your family. Finding trustworthy places of support is key. Partnering with the right people will help; getting that support group, educating yourself, and knowing you are capable helps.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

In 2010, my husband and I started our own “Styles by Stallings Events and Decor” business in South Florida, where I mainly did event planning. In 2016, I started pipe and draping to include in our services, and then in 2018, I became a florist. By 2020, I started teaching floral design classes. We also started a nonprofit for children right before the pandemic. Then, we started another program called Saving Our Next Generation for the youth. One program is the Heart and Soul basketball program my husband coaches. I am also starting back up an entrepreneurship program I had teaching the youth about the hospitality industry and using our events as a way for them to learn about the industry. I also work part-time with IWED, where I got my accreditation in event design. I am a part-time instructor teaching an accredited event design class. When I instruct a class, I approach it with utmost seriousness and dedication. My mission is to guide my students toward success and growth, and I take pride in being a part of their journey toward achieving their goals

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?

Networking, networking, and education helped me get where I am today. It’s essential to build relationships and take classes. If you are looking to get into the hospitality industry, make sure you have a love for people. You can learn anything; people can teach you anything, but you can’t be taught to love people.

When going into the hospitality industry with events, people deserve to have someone who wants to serve them with a genuine heart. So, the number one thing you need to do is be a people person who loves serving people.

The next thing you need to do is research. Learn where you want to go in the hospitality industry. You can explore many avenues, from planning to design to florals, draping, and culinary. Look into what is out there and invest in creating a quality brand. Make sure you use social media to your advantage and market yourself. Brand yourself based on the customers you want to receive. Whatever you put out there is what you’re going to get back.

Another key thing is education. Take classes that offer the skills you need to help you get to the next level. Knowing the right people and the right knowledge will get you to where you want to be, but it first starts with loving people, loving to serve the people, researching, educating yourself, and being consistent.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

A dream event to plan would be a dinner at the White House, especially if Vice President Kamala Harris is elected into office. I would love to do that from one black woman to another. Otherwise, An ideal client for me is someone who respects creativity. Someone who has an open mind, so I am looking for someone who respects the face of how I feel as a designer. It’s not always about the money. It’s also about creating something amazing. So when a person gives me creative freedom to get to know them, know their vision, and have the honor to bring it to life, that’s an ideal client—one who really respects creativity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stylesbystallings.com/
• Instagram: Styles by Stallings
• Facebook: Styles by Stallings