We recently connected with Kimberly Hill and have shared our conversation below.
Kimberly , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
As a child my parents always encouraged me to do my best. My father was big on teaching history. He often would paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and say to me “Kim, whatever you do set out to be the best. If you are going to be a street sweeper, make sure you have the cleanest streets in town.. ” My mom was a stickler for things being neat. I can remember her checking my homework. if my penmanship was less than perfect, or you had a smudge on the page, she would literally make you start over. As a child I thought that was a bit much, but as an adult I realized that she instilled in me early to fully commit to a task, no matter how large or small.
These things seemed so menial as a child but from an adult perspective it built character. I quickly learned to start with the end in mind. I learned that as long as I move with confidence, and an expectation that I would be successful, things typically worked in my favor..
My parents made sure that I knew that I was just as capable as anyone else. They encouraged me to stand up for myself, believe in my worth, and never see my goals as too far-fetched. Their belief in me, paired with my own desire to succeed and achieve more than they did, gave me the freedom to explore, dream, and build the confidence I carry today. I mean we all put our pants on the exact same way right?
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?
I currently own and operate a start up custom apparel and accessories company – K. Speaks & Creates. This business concept started during the pandemic of 2020. At the time I was working for a well known telecommuincations company and felt really stuck. There is nothing worse than working hard with little to no recognition for what you accomplish. The pandemic allowed time to really contemplate the future.
During this time the world was in turmoil. People were losing jobs left and right and experiencing food insecurities like never before. Though I had what I needed, I saw people daily that needed what I had. This led me to start an initiative to raise money to feed the community and help other non profits that were meaningful to me. I created a single tee shirt, used a drop ship company and raised a few thousand to donate. That’s when it hit me, “Kim.. how do you eliminate the middle man?” I started to research. Determined what customizing method appealed to me. Bought some simple equipment and started making shirts. K. Speaks & Creates was formed.
In the past 5 years K. Speaks & Creates has grown. We are much more than a tee shirt company. We love our consumer base, and will continue to support it, but are migrating more towards a business to business structure where we will focus on designing logos and producing products that help other businesses to get their names out in the universe. Some have asked if we continue our philanthropy work and the answer is a resounding yes! There can never be too much love and support shown to those in need.
If you, or someone you know, is in need of custom apparel and accessories you should visit our online store today – www.kspeakscreates.com . If you can think it, we can create it!
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?
Whew! Running your own business sounds great but let me tell you something – it’s hard work. There are no departments to defer work. You are the whole entire company!
When I think about the qualities that have made the biggest impact on my entrepreneurial journey, the R3 affect is my North Star: resilience, resourcefulness, and relationship building.
Resilience was non-negotiable. There were times I questioned everything—when a launch didn’t hit like I hoped, when revenue dipped, or when I was pouring everything into the business and still wondering, “Is this working?” But every setback taught me something. I learned to pause, pivot, and press forward with clarity instead of panic. I didn’t always have all the answers, but I refused to quit. That mindset—of learning through the lows—kept me in the game.
Resourcefulness has been my secret weapon. In the early stages, I didn’t have a big team or budget. I still don’t! I had to figure things out on the fly: how to market on a shoestring, how to automate systems, how to wear every hat without burning out. I became a master of making the most of what I had—and getting creative with how I got what I needed. That scrappiness built confidence and helped me scale smarter, not just faster.
And then there’s relationship building. People often think business is just about the product, but really, it’s about people. My ability to connect with others—with customers, partners, mentors—has opened doors I couldn’t have forced open. Some of my best opportunities came from conversations, not cold pitches. Trust is everything, and I’ve learned to lead with authenticity and listen more than I talk.
If you’re just starting out, my advice is this:
Be relentless about your vision, but flexible in your path. Learn to love the problem-solving process. And never underestimate the power of showing up for others—it’ll take you further than any business plan ever could. Always be where you said you would be, when you said you would be there, doing what you said that you would do!
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Honestly, our ideal client is a small to mid-sized business, team, or organization that wants to stand out and create a sense of unity through custom gear. That might be a company wanting branded polos for their staff, a school ordering spirit wear, or a nonprofit planning for a big community event.
What makes them ideal isn’t just the size of the order—it’s their mindset. We love working with people who are collaborative, open to ideas, and care about how their brand shows up in the world. They don’t have to be designers or experts—that’s what we’re here for—but they do value quality, communication, and getting it done right the first time.
At the end of the day, we’re here to make the process easy and the final product something they’re proud to hand out or wear. If they want something custom, creative, and memorable—we’re a great fit.
Contact Info:
- Website: kspeakscreates.com
- Facebook: K. Speaks & Creates
- Other: Phone: (214) 500-4293 Email: [email protected]
