We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rhonda Alexia Webb. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rhonda Alexia below.
Hi Rhonda Alexia , so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Thanks for giving me the chance to talk about this particular topic with your audience. Let’s face it, taking risks is unavoidable, and I learned this very early in my entrepreneurial journey. It comes with the territory. And if you’re uncomfortable with risk, then maybe this particular journey is not best suited for you. And that’s okay. The very definition of risk lets you know up front that things can go bad, maybe really bad. Risk is defined as “the possibility of loss or injury, peril.” I clearly remember the first big risk I took after turning 18 that ultimately framed who I am today. A few months into attending Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, I concluded that I wanted to leave college and attend a local beauty school. That kind of a decision was considered a little controversial because at that time attending college was emphasized as the premiere route to take for ultimate success in life. And pursuing any type of skilled trades was not often promoted or encouraged. While I did not dispute the thinking of the day, I just felt compelled to follow my heart. And this ultimately marked the beginning of my risk-taking experiences.
Risk-taking is defined as: the act or fact of doing something that involves danger or risk in order to achieve a goal. As I considered the consequences of my pending decision I seriously considered this; that the possibility of a good return, or outcome was on the other side of the risk. In other words, this major decision could turn out good, really good. In retrospect I realize that a positive outcome was easy for me to imagine because the scenario of success and enjoyment in the beauty industry was always being rehearsed over and over again in my mind.
At the time, I was still living at home with my mom and knew it was a decision that required her consent to pursue. When I asked if I could leave Wayne State University and attend State College of Beauty in Royal Oak, Michigan, her answer was “yes.” That was all I needed to hear. There were others in my life; family members and high school friends who felt it wasn’t the best decision to make.
So in conclusion I have to say that I developed the ability to take risks by first being contemplative, then decisive and then taking action. Sometimes moving forward in the face of apprehension.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Looking back over my professional life, I’m a little amazed at where I am today. I spent a total of 27 years in the beauty industry as a licensed cosmetologist, make-up artist, platform artist, beauty salon owner and owner of a private label cosmetics company called Rave` Cosmetics. I loved it! I enjoyed being in the beauty industry and never even imagined myself doing anything else. After relocating to a different city and moving away from the comfort and familiarity of the beauty industry, I realized that God was moving me in a new direction and placed a new desire in my heart. In 2013 I designed a curriculum called I’m The Boss Now! that is used to teach kids ages 5 – 11 about entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Then in 2016 I turned my attention to starting a non-profit organization called Kids Rule Now! Inc, which is designed to expose kids to entrepreneurship and mentor kids and youth who aspire to own their own businesses. Since 2016 Kids Rule Now! has held numerous events and interacted with more than 50 kidpreneurs and teenpreneurs. And I never imagined a shift like this would occur in my professional life. It has been very fulfilling.
2023 marks our 2nd year of hosting our 2 day events in Saginaw, Michigan. Our 2nd Annual KRN! Awards Gala is on Friday, October 20th and our 6th Annual KRN! KIDposium is the following day on Saturday, October 21st. Our Gala allows us the privilege of recognizing and awarding successful kid/teen led businesses and our KIDposium is a full day conference of fun, entrepreneurship-based learning experiences for youth that concludes with a keynote address. Gabby Goodwin, CEO of Confidence by GaBBY and the creator of GaBBYs Bows is providing the keynote address. And in addition to these 2 events, I’m releasing my new book before the end of the year.
It’s exciting to be able to have an impact on youth who are taking the risk of starting their own businesses through Kids Rule Now! Inc. And its fulfilling to watch them mature as entrepreneurs. I often say that there is no “baby-entrepreneurship.” Ultimately, children and youth entrepreneurs experience the similar challenges of their adult counterparts. Owning a business is challenging yet I encourage parents to allow their children and youth to experience it mainly because of who they become in the process. The life skills and social skills they learn in the process of running a business is of immense value.
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?
As I look back, the first of three qualities that has been impactful in my journey is the quality of risk. Don’t underestimate the value of taking calculated risks. My perspective has always been that there’s always the possibility of a great outcome on the other side of risk. And I firmly believe that our growth as entrepreneurs is limited if we are too hesitant to take risks. Think through your major decisions, seek the counsel of trusted mentors, pray, and do your due diligence through research, etc. and then, move. Not every decision will result in a positive outcome. When things have gone poorly for me, I’ve taken the time to reflect, recover and learn the lesson meant for me to consider. Don’t linger or wallow in “could have” or “should have.” Instead, get set for your next adventure.
The second quality is resilience, which is an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. Yes, there have been moments in my journey when things turned out bad. Sometimes due to decisions I made, other times just due to timing. But I have always been committed to recover. Its necessary to assess what responsibility you may have shared in the outcome. But in the end, you have to understand the value of getting back up,
The third quality is recognizing the value of mentors because entrepreneurship is not a journey to be taken solo. I have been blessed to be surrounded by incredible mentors. For me there hasn’t been a formula for finding them. But as I have shared my passion, or talked about what I’m doing with my non-profit or curriculum, my colleagues have suggested that I connect with certain individuals and have often made the introductions for me. And the attitude that has helped me to have long-term relationships with my mentors is that they know I’m teachable and I commit to following their recommendations and completing the assignments they have given me. And expectation is key. Believe that God is aligning the best possible connections for you and that you are ready when they come into your life.
3.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My mom Katie Mae McNezer, is my hero. And the most impactful thing she did for me was to model entrepreneurship, even though she didn’t realize that’s what she was doing. She became my very first example of a business owner. When I was a little girl she took a Wilton Cake Decorating Class and used her skills to start a home-based baking business. She did this for over 30 years and I made two observations; she enjoyed doing it and it supplemented her income from her day job. And she also became a Sarah Coventry jewelry representative who was doing very well in the company. And I noticed how her side-jobs brought her personal satisfaction in addition to supplementing her income. Besides that, I recall how creative my mom was as I was growing up. In addition to baking elaborate cakes, she was also a talented seamstress, making clothes for herself and her daughters, also enjoyed crocheting. While I never got interested in sewing, I really enjoyed crocheting and continue to do so, and eventually took a Wilton Cake decorating class. She also attended cosmetology school for a short time and as a little girl I distinctly remember playing in her “blue suitcase” when she came home from a day of instruction. At the time, I just thought of it as my little case of surprises, not realizing that years later I would have my own blue suitcase as a result of attending beauty school and becoming a licensed cosmetologist. She continues to give me a wonderful example to follow.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.kidsrulenow.org www.imthebossnow.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsrulenow/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidsrulenow/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonda-alexia-webb-299034a6/
- Other: https://totalmichigan.com/kids-rule-now-with-rhonda-alexia-webb/
Image Credits
Awesome Images by DJ Xavier D. Holmes Photography
