We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tahirah Goins-Nall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tahirah, thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I have always been a risk-taker. My grandmother has joked since I was a child that I have always been “busy,” and she’s right. I have never met a conversation I don’t like. I have always loved adventure. I have always sought the path to the greatest amount of fun. I have always been drawn to interesting, incredible people. So my risk taking has been birthed from a true personal vivaciousness for life and a passion for creativity. But I believe this skill was honed in advocacy; in service.
My mom has always told me, “If you don’t like something, change it.”
And with that mindset, I have allowed myself to take a leap even when I have been scared to do so. I have allowed myself to speak up even when I am scared, because if I don’t like something, the onus is on me to change it.
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?
My name is Tahirah Goins-Nall, and I am the founder of ClothesPetals, a fashion styling company based out of Los Angeles, CA. I bring ease to the lives of busy women by empowering them through their style to love their bodies and build their personal brands!
I am thrilled to share our exciting journey and the unique offerings of our brand with your readers. At our core, we are dedicated to empowering individuals on their path to self-discovery and confidence. What makes our brand truly special is our commitment to helping people look and feel their best, not just through style and fashion but through personal growth and self-assurance.
We have recently introduced some exciting developments, including the launch of our engaging podcast, where we share valuable insights, stories, and expert advice to inspire and uplift our audience. Additionally, our confidence course has been a game-changer, guiding individuals on a transformative journey towards greater self-esteem and self-belief, so they can increase their social and personal visibility.
One of our most significant achievements has been our partnership with Nordstrom, which has allowed us to host a masterclass showcasing the unique perspectives and talents of diverse women leading luxury brands. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and collaboration in the fashion and style industry.
Lastly, I’m thrilled to share that we’ve expanded our clientele, and we’re now bicoastal, reaching even more individuals who seek to enhance their style, confidence, and personal growth. We are incredibly excited about these new developments and look forward to continuing our mission of empowering and inspiring individuals on their path to self-assurance and style excellence.
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?
Looking back on my journey, I can pinpoint three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been incredibly impactful: Patience, Perfection, and People.
Patience: It’s important to understand that success often doesn’t happen overnight, and this is something I often have to remind myself. Whether you’re pursuing a career, launching a business, or striving for personal growth, it requires time and effort. Early in your journey, I strongly recommend cultivating patience. Recognize that progress can be slow, setbacks are common, and not everything will go as smoothly as planned, but keeping a long-term perspective in mind is key to achieving your objectives because they will manifest.
Perfection: Waiting for perfection can be a significant roadblock on your journey. Perfectionism can lead to procrastination and delay your progress, and as a perfectionist, this was the area in which I struggled the most. It’s essential to find a balance between aiming for high quality and recognizing when something is good enough to launch. Early on, it’s crucial to develop the ability to set clear standards for yourself but also know when to take action and iterate as you go. Some of the best advice I ever received was from a mentor who said, “Launch it dirty, ugly, and quickly. It’s about building momentum, not perfection.”
As an entrepreneur, I had to understand that waiting for things to be perfect can hinder your growth, because the only way to grow is by learning from your mistakes. Adaptation will come naturally; but we have to have a place to start.
People: Surrounding yourself with a supportive and like-minded community of fellow entrepreneurs can be a game-changer in your journey. These communities can provide guidance, inspiration, and a safety net of support during challenging times, which come frequently and often! To those starting out, I advise actively seeking and engaging with communities that align with your interests and goals. This can be achieved through networking events, online forums, social media groups, or local entrepreneurial meetups. Collaborating with others, sharing your experiences, and learning from your peers can be immensely beneficial. It’s not only about what you can gain from the community but also about what you can contribute.
My advice for those early in their journey:
Balance Patience with Ambition: While having ambitious goals is important, it’s equally crucial to be patient and focus on the smaller, incremental steps along the way. Recognize and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem.
Don’t Let Perfection Paralyze You: Striving for excellence is admirable, but perfectionism can be a roadblock (take it from me)! Understand when something is good enough to launch and be open to iterating and improving as you progress.
Actively Build Your Entrepreneurial Community: Seek out mentors, peers, and friends who share your entrepreneurial spirit. Engage in events, groups, and networks that can provide guidance, encouragement, and valuable connections.
And also….Share Your Experiences: Don’t just passively participate in your community; actively share your knowledge and experiences. You never know how your journey can inspire others, because despite the goals we set for ourselves, there is always someone who is looking up to us. We have to recognize our innate value, on every step of the journey.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
“We Should All Be Millionaires” by Rachel Rodgers is a book that I suggest often to every single person I come across along my entrepreneurial journey.
Why?
Because she offers a refreshing perspective on wealth-building and success for women and marginalized communities and she tackles an area many of us struggle with–lack.
Rodgers, a successful entrepreneur and lawyer, emphasizes the importance of financial empowerment and encourages readers to aim for financial success and independence after taking us through her own journey of growing up without wealth, and breaking down her own conscious and subconscious limitations she developed as a young person when it came to wealth and her relationship with money.
Because those building blocks truly impact how we charge for our services, how we see our own value, and often inhibit us growing and scaling our business.
Some of the most valuable touch-points in the book?
1. Embrace Ambition: Why stop at six figures when there are seven? One of the central themes of the book is that women and marginalized communities should embrace ambition without hesitation. It encourages readers to set big financial goals and not be afraid to pursue them vigorously. The bigger, the better!
2. Check Your Prices & Double Them: Often times, we as women (especially women of color), find ourselves not making enough or hitting our financial goals because we simply aren’t charging enough. We have limited our value by charging by time, or doubting others will pay for our services at the price we know we should be charging at. Rodgers makes us confront this lack mentality and do something about it. Immediately. Double your services, sis.
3. 10k in 10 Days: Throughout the book, Rodgers provides actionable steps and practical advice to help readers on their path to financial success. She provides a step-by-step plan with her own challenge and guide to make $10,000 in ten days, forcing readers to put action and drive momentum behind their goals. In this one challenge alone, she encourages us to begin or challenge our financial planning, negotiation strategies, and self-confidence!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.clothespetals.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clothespetals
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahirahnall/
- Other: Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tahirah-nall6
Image Credits
Kenzie Rich
