Meet Trayonna Smith

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Trayonna Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Trayonna below.

Hi Trayonna, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

When I am the only one in the room that looks like me I become very observant. You don’t have much time to do this but you scan the room and read everyones personality. I tend to want to do what they are not doing and that’s how you stand out from all of the others. When I walk in the room I am a black African American female who stands about 5 foot and 2 inches. They tend to size me up and think what can little old me do that they can’t. When I speak I speak with confidence and determination. I stand for my opinion and always have facts to back it up. I use a vocabulary that I don’t use day to day. I make sure I have good posture and pronounce each syllable in every word I say. Asking questions can set you apart and also hearing others out and reflecting on things they may say. This has cause many doors to open up for me to become very successful and for others to actually listen, understand and respect me as a young female African American entrepreneur.

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?

Hello my name is Trayonna Smith. I am an 19 year old female entrepreneur. I am a braider located in Greenville SC. I have been braiding for about 4 years now and have grown tremendously overtime. As of right now I am focused on spreading my knowledge. I have learned so much now that I am ready to show others what they can learn. I am looking forward to becoming an instructor to help others in my city to become braid bosses as well. I feel as if me spreading what I know to other people will give them hope that it can be done. I did it starting at 15 years old about to go high school, having a baby at 17, graduating with a 11 month old , to now making 10k a month by just braiding hair. While doing that I will also be launching new products such as bonnets, braiding gel, combs and more. Braiding is more than what people think of it to me. Its ART. It is amazing to see what I can do starting from a fresh clean scalp to a beautiful ending result. I love meeting new people, engaging with them and building relationships I never knew could come out of sitting in a chair for a couple of hours. What amazes me the most is how my clients mood change once they get up from the chair to see how beautiful they look with a style I just done. I am ready to spread my knowledge and craft so that others that have a passion for it can do it as well.

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?

Looking back three qualities that was very impactful was discipline, respect and confidence. Discipline is within ones self. It takes a lot to stop doing the things you used to do or limit them for something that docent happen within the snap of a finger. This skill is very important because it gets you very far in life to to the things that suits you best. It’s not easy but its worth it in the end so you have to just pray and see it through. Respect in the hair industry is a big thing. You want respect as a service provider and your client was respect as an individual who is coming to get serviced by you. It is a very big thing and can either make or break your business. You have to give respect in order for you to receive it. How ever other may not give you the respect you deserve but as a person in business you do not dim who you are to stoop to others level. Confidence goes a long way in this profession. You have to be confident in what you are doing in order for others to want to pick you. You are in the crown of a persons head when you are servicing them. They have to wear that crown and they would love if you are confident in what you are doing so that they can feel secure as well. No you are not gonna be perfect but you get better as time progress so you still should be confident and let no one make you feel otherwise.

How would you describe your ideal client?

I don’t have an “ideal client” but here are some characteristics that would make someone an ideal client for me. First respect. I am human and so are you so we both deserve it. Respect works both ways, we both give it and we both receive it. Another thing would be an understanding person. I am not a robot and neither are you but things to happen in life that is out of our control. As a stylist we are held so high in this industry to where it seems as if we are not allowed to make any mistakes that a normal human can make. Understanding goes a long way on both sides. As a stylist I am very understanding if you are late, if you have had an emergency or anything in general that you cannot control. I would also have to say my biggest is communication. It makes my job and yours so much easier if you communicate with me through all aspects. This includes before your appointment if you have any questions, during you appointment if you feel as if you need to inform me on something, upcoming which is if you’re running late, can’t make it or something came up and also after if something is wrong from. your service or you would like to ask me any other questions. These are all big factors that plays a huge roll in clients and stylist.

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