Tiffani Thomas shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Tiffani , so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Elevation. I consider myself the neighborhood tutor. Stepping into that next phase of success is the scariest part of elevation; it’s something about the unknown that holds you back from taking that next step. Having the courage to take things to the next level is already giving me that extra push I need. Elevation also requires me to change all the habits I’ve learned over the course of 33 years of my life; that’s the hardest part!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Yes, my name is Tiffani Thomas, I’m the sole owner of Thomas Mobile Tutoring. I’ve been tutoring for 9 years. I have employees, and we travel to students home in the Metro Detroit area and surrounding cities, and tutor students in K-12. We have held contracts with mega churches such as Triumph Baptist Church, Central Baptist Church, and more. We have also held contracts with non-profits such as Mack Alive, and have been featured on Channel 4 news (google Thomas Mobile Tutoring, tutoring during the pandemic). We have conducted career day at schools like Henry Ford High School, Murphy Middle school and more, and have done giveaways with non profits alongside tables such as DTE energy. When I first came up with the idea to tutor kids, I actually was attempting to just simply make some extra money on the side, with no real mindset of starting a business. Jokingly, I made a status on Facebook explaining that I would tutor kids for a small fee. To my surprise, a lot of students in the metro Detroit area needed tutoring, but it wasn’t something that was being talked about enough. After my first 3 customers, I knew I had something. When I was able to quit my 9-5, I REALLY KNEW I HAD SOMETHING! And When CHANNEL 4 news reached out, I MOST DEFINITELY KNEW I HAD SOMETHING, and the rest is history!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My answer to this is actually very random. The people that know me will tell you I was the Taco Bell queen. I started working for Taco Bell at the age of 16! After graduating from high school, I attended Wayne State University, and my friend Ashleigh helped me get a job at the Taco Bell in the student center. Once I was hired, I worked there until the summer time. At this particular location most of the employees would actually work other jobs, and come back during the school year. Due to it being the summer time, and less students on the campus, management had to cut down on payroll. When I came back from summer break, we had a new store manager, Jennifer. To make a long story short, there was a manager position that opened. At the time, there were a lot of employees that had already been working there for years, and felt they were the perfect fit for the job. In my mind, I was ok with being a team member, and never inquired about the position. Unbeknownst to me, Jennifer and other managers had been discussing who would be the best fit, and apparently my name was apart of their conversations. When I was approached for the position it totally threw me off, because again, I’m not thinking about the new position at all! It made me wonder, why me? Out of all these employees that want the position, why me? I went to my dorm and reflected on that, and I said to myself, “well, you do work hard. You come in on your off days, always on time, always willing to stay late. Well, you did train ALL of the new employees. WOW, I guess I do have leadership qualities.” Jennifer will never understand what she did for me. She saw me as a leader and someone that can handle anything that came my way. The level of confidence that I have from becoming a manager, is something I will forever cherish. She put a battery in my back, and I’ve been running ever since. After working there, I took on more manager positions, and now I’m managing and operating my own business. What a blessing!
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Change! I’m the most regular and down the earth person you will ever meet in your life. I also have ways about myself that are absolutely not business appropriate. The thing is, when you become a business owner you have to basically scrap every bad habit you’ve ever had in life. Overall becoming someone you’ve never been can definitely showcase that fear you may be feeling. Thankfully, I have always been able to adapt to mostly any environment I’m put in, but I’m still human and make mistakes. Changing your ways is so hard, but if you don’t it can definitely hold you back from reaching the goals you set for yourself. Nonetheless, I truly believe once you understand your purpose, it will all come together!
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I can appreciate a person that stays true to themselves. In a world full of followers, authentic people with their own mind and opinions has become so rare. You can have $1 in your account or 10 million, it’s always about how you treat your peers and colleagues. People may not remember your name, but they will always remember how you made them feel. There is no particular person I can name, but if you hold those same beliefs, then I admire you wholeheartedly.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I honestly feel most at peace when my finances are in order, and I’m able to live my life on my own terms. Being a person who doesn’t like to feel like I’m being controlled, there is definitely peace in knowing that I’m free to do whatever it is God put me on this earth to accomplish without any real boundaries.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tiffani_jean
- Facebook: Thomas Mobile Tutoring
- Yelp: Thomas Mobile Tutoring
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