Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tyra Withers, Founder of Touched By Tyra Loc Service, located in Beverly Hills, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a loc preneur, "the dreaded professional." Touched By Tyra is my business name. I've been in business for three years. I help people with natural hair start their Loc journey, and I help people with locs manage their locs. To retwist, I use two products: Youngwood's all-natural rosewater and oil.
Tell us about yourself
I fell in love with locs while watching my father grow his own. I believe he has had his locs for about 10+ years. Talk about patience. While growing up, I remember being fascinated by all of the transformations his hair underwent. Years after he started his journey, I started mine. Before getting them the first time, I never did fundamental research on Locs, so my first batch lasted only a short time. My only concern at that time was to get mine to look like my father's.
The second time I restarted, I still needed to be educated and discover the true meaning behind wanting them so badly. So, I took them out again. The only thing I knew for sure about locs was that I loved the way they looked and felt. Come the third time, I understood more of what they meant to me and how to take better care of them, but I needed to be more comfortable with how mine were transforming.
I love to refer to locs as plants. Sometimes you can know too much about a plant (locs), so you over-analyze everything, and that's how my third batch took a turn. I started to over/underwater it, give it too much or not enough sunlight, nitpick with every stem, etc. I encourage people thinking of starting their loc journey or already loc'd to do less. Learn what your plant requires to grow healthy, and let it rise in peace. Less is more.
All of this to say, entrepreneurship is just like an uneducated person wanting to start a loc journey. You'll never have all the right pieces to build a six-figure business on day one. But if you keep learning and grinding for new knowledge on what you love to do, you will always be moving forward toward your goals. So, I'll restart my 4th pair of locs on December 11th, the day I was born. I've done more research, gained patience, restarted a few times, and fell in love with the process. Massive shout-out to the community God graced me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is growing a community full of supporters who want to see me win. I enjoy connecting my clients with others who are on the same pathway as them. It brings me joy to have a support system. I also love having freedom.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The most difficult aspect of becoming a business owner is learning to balance and prioritize yourself. Many days, I've come home too tired to do anything. My family at home would say I'd look like a zombie. I had a habit of making sure other people were good before I was.
In reality, that's not a healthy work-life balance nor an intelligent thing to do. I love to give my clients my best performance. To do so requires setting boundaries set and thinking of myself first. Self-care isn't selfish.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- You are the only one who needs to believe in your company. Money will come and go, but your time won't. If this is important to you, work on it every single day. Entrepreneurs do not have days off.
- Seek therapy and love yourself. You are the engine of your business; get tune-ups and oil changes on a regular basis.
- Here is a bonus: Only do business with clients that you feel comfortable around and trust. This allows your workday to go smoothly and not feel like work.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.touchedbytyra.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/touchedbyty21
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/touchedbyty21/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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