We were lucky to catch up with Sonya Pannell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sonya, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I inherited my work ethic from my parents. Even though they divorced when I was young, I was fortunate to still have them both as role models in my life. It’s from them I learned the importance of dependability and structure when it comes to working and achieving my goals.
I watched my mother get it done every day as a single parent. Regardless of the weather or how she might have been feeling, she walked to the bus stop every day. I can’t recall there being a time that she didn’t.
My dad worked just as hard, also never taking days off.
A strong work ethic has always been important to me. I always give 100%. It’s who I am. And for that, I have my parents to thank.
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 am the Owner/CEO of The 502 Candle Collection, LLC. I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I am a mother, daughter, wife, sister, aunt and most importantly, a grandmother of 4 girls!
I had always wanted to start my own business, but I was a little scared and really didn’t know where to begin. In the midst of the pandemic, a friend suggested I become a consultant for a makeup company. It sounded like a good idea until it wasn’t. After doing some research and sitting in on a few meetings, I decided it wasn’t for me. I thought if I was going to work that hard for only 50%, I can work that hard for 100%. That’s how The 502 Candle Collection was born.
502 is to honor my late father. The date of his birthday, May 2nd, is the name of the company. Each “Suite” collection is inspired by the birthdays of my son, granddaughters & niece. The name of each candle is inspired by something or someone special in my life.
The 502 Candle Collection is a small woman-owned business that prides itself in a quality candle. Our mission is to continue to expand our product line, collaborate with other small businesses, and host workshops and events for candle enthusiasts.
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?
When I began toying with the idea of my candle company, I literally had notebooks full of ideas. I doubted myself at first, wondering if I could even do it, but giving in to the fear wasn’t an option. I just needed to double down and refocus my energies on the big picture.
As I look back on my journey, the three most impactful qualities would be:
- Passion: I’ve always loved being creative, and I knew my love for candles would be perfect to share with the world.
- Persistence: There were times I wanted to give up because it was hard. It was something I had never done before, and I was terrified of failing. Even so, I knew I had to keep going. And
- Grace: Allowing yourself room to make and learn from mistakes.
My advice would be to believe in yourself even if no one else does!
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played an important role in your development?
The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom
This book has provided me with some great advice on how to better control my money. It’s given me insight on how to build generational wealth. It’s also pointed me toward setting better financial goals and working my way to financial independence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.502candlecollection.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_502candlecollection
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The502CandleCollection/
