We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tacara Cannady a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tacara , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
Being a minority means facing daily challenges. We are often overlooked and have to work diligently everyday to prove that we are qualified in many different forms. As a black woman I face these issues due to race and gender. I have often felt like “the only one in the room”, but refuse to let these obstacles dictate who I am and who I want to become. I’ve learned to be effective just by being myself and letting my light shine. When you are true to yourself, and committed it will reflect to anyone in any room. As a construction company owner I really set the tone in the room. Women are becoming more prevalent in construction, but we are still considered minority in this workforce. People often question my capabilities to run a company that most “men” do, but I just keep focused and let my work speak for itself.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am the owner of Top Tier Construction of Raleigh. After 2 years of dedication my company launched at the start of the year. Starting this company reminds me daily that anything is possible. My vision started on paper three years ago and now three years later we have launched. Anything is tangible so never give up on your dreams. I’ll be dedicated to providing services for commercial and residential NC customers. Top Tier Construction of Raleigh specializes in new construction and renovations. What sets this company aside from most is that we are committed to quality, and customization. We go above and beyond to be sure that we provided Top Tier services only so that every job is done at 100% satisfactory.
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?
On my journey to starting Top Tier Construction of Raleigh three qualities that were most important were learning to use my resources, setting goals, and staying confident. Using resources can be very impactful to any business. Not only does using resources help you gain knowledge, but it also informs people about you and your business. Word of mouth is like a free form of advertising. Setting goals was certainly a key factor to keeping a steady path towards success. You can have dreams, wants needs, etc… but if you are not working towards accomplishing these desires you can not be successful. Learning daily is a true part of becoming successful even when you fail. Failing means you gain education and when you become more educated you learn to make wiser decisions. Lastly, stay confident! It doesn’t matter where you are in your journey. If you are putting forth your best efforts you are already winning and success will find you in the near future.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
My biggest improvement over the last year I’d have to say is becoming more social. I have always been somewhat shy. I realized rapidly how much of a hindrance that not being social could have on growing my business. I’ve learned to just open up and let people know about myself and my business. I’m a woman who started her own construction company and people are excited to hear about it. If customers aren’t aware that your business is out there they won’t know to come to you. Now that I am opening up more its like second nature, and I can certainly see the impact that it has on my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.toptierconstructionofraleigh
- Instagram: @toptierconstructionofraleigh
Image Credits
@iamjwjphotos
