We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shakirah Fayson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shakirah below.
Shakirah , thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
Listen!
I was born and bred to be generous 🙂
Growing up, I was nurtured by women who professed with their mouth and more importantly, their life, various spiritual principles around generosity and giving.
I would often here my mother show and tell this very scripture “Whatsoever a man sows, that he shall reap” Galatians 6:7
Even at church, my late Bishop would always say, “Giving Starts the Receiving Process”
Or how about this one . . . God Loves a cheerful giver! 2 Corinthians 9:7
For as long as I can remember, I was taught to sew generously and organiclly through whatever means I had to help meet someone else’s need.
Generosity will always be a love language for me!
Whether I’m being unselfish with my financial resources or giving of my time and energy, which over the years has proven to be the most priceless commodity of the two; I have always been wired to serve others through kindness and generosity,
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
When people ask me what I do, I always say, “My Best” !
I’m just a Jesus Girl trying to steward the grace and gifts I’ve been granted to the best of my ability.
It’s a daily walk!
As an entrepreneur, I own and operate Sanctuary Rooms Interiors!
We are a Full-Service Design Firm that specializes in procuring creative, functional, and aesthetically pleasing spaces that reflect our clients distinct personality and taste.
Rather than a “Signature Style”, because everybody’s style is unique, we pride ourselves on providing what we call a “Signature Service”
My creative vision is consistently birthed from a heart of service!
There’s this constant evolutionary posture, of trying to physically make manifest, the clients creative thoughts, functional needs, aesthetics goals, atmospheric expectations etc.
We like to tap into what our clients are trying to articulate with their hearts, not just their words or visual inspiration.
It’s a heart to heart process that involves trust, confidence, patience, and great reward!
Thats the Sanctuary Experience!
Outside of client joy and elevation, one of the most exciting things we do is help/encourage small firms just like us to stay the course and remain acclimated with the purpose and mission they had from conception. This community side of our business entitled Sanctuary House, has been germinating underground for the past couple of years, and we’re excited to bring it more to the forefront in the coming year!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
In hindsight, the top three skills that I innatley had, but needed to be matured through process and growing pains are Prayer, Resilience, and Leadership.
Whatever Journey you find your self on, Bold or Timid, I would say Prayer is key!
Alongside designing, I teach Children’s Bible study throughout the week and encourage them to implement the A.C.T.S of prayer. It has been a life saver for me throughout my entrepreneurial journey.
Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication!
Having daily communion through prayer where I can apply these principles keeps me accountable to those that I service on a daily. Being able to create a personal Sanctuary everyday where I can be respectful and respected, vulnerable, honest, grateful, and poured into, makes it easier for me to show up for each assignment as a mirror of the sanctification process I’ve endured; and pour that into my service and art.
Speaking of endurance, let’s park right there for just a second.
Resilience is a non-negotiable! Throughout my journey, there were many days where I wanted to quit, days my speech betrayed me and I spoke against my own success, days where I let the challenges of being a business owner prematurely burn me out, days where I surrendered my joy rather than my frustration; however it was those days that put definition and shape to the level of resilience I already possessed!
I’m quick to affirm in every entrepreneur I meet, that the low moments build character and sharpen leadership!
One of the catch 22’s about the being a boss is that the shortcomings are just as much a reflection of our leadership or the lack their of, as our victories!
Hence, growing as a leader whole heartedly means accepting that I am imperfect!
And guess what? Thats ok!
In fact, imperfection is the qualifying characteristic that gives me range and permission to cultivate and awaken every skill and gifting that lays dormant on the inside of me!
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Listen,
Im looking for my people!
If you are actively working in the design space; not necessarily as an interior designer; but in any capacity as it relates to design, decorating, architecture, home staging, construction/trades, real-estate photography, art curators, etc.
Come sit with us!
If you are a small firm that values Community over Competition and feels an urgency to connect to, grow with, and glean on, like minded people in the IAD field, this part of the article is for you!
Visit our IG Page and shoot us a DM that says #Community
Looking forward to meeting you 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sanctuaryrmz.net
- Instagram: sanctuaryrmz
- Facebook: Sanctuary Rooms
Image Credits
Clay Vincent
Tate Cohen-Kristiansen
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
