Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Yecheilyah Ysrayl, Founder of Yecheilyah Books LLC, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am an award-winning author and poet writing to restore black historical truth through fiction and poetry. My targeted readers are people tired of watered-down, white-washed history and searching for more depth. These are readers passionate about Black people, the black experience, and how the contributions of African Americans have shaped our world.

Tell us about yourself

Growing up in one of the poorest urban communities in the United States in the early 90s, I saw firsthand how political policies and poverty could destroy the Black family. From an early age, I wondered why we have suffered so much different than others. When I began to study African American studies in college and actually read my bible and explore the spiritual understanding of who we are as a people, I got my answer. Upon realizing our problems were just as spiritual as they were physical, I am empowered with the knowledge to educate others through my writing. It is black history and our collective experiences that motivate me each day. But it's deeper than race. It is life itself that inspires me to write. How we live it, and why we live it the way we do. It is the human experience.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I struggle to answer this question because I do not think I have yet accomplished my biggest accomplishment. I've done things I am proud of, but I am still becoming the best version of myself. For now, working with young people and sharing my writing journey with them has so far been my greatest joy.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

One of the most challenging things has been keeping a healthy mindset when things aren't going as I think they should. To not give into the urge to give up on myself. And I know that kind of vulnerability isn't what we often hear, but it's real. Having faith in who you are and what you do when things go well is much easier. That is not when we are mostly using our faith. When things are not going well, when you are not making money, when people are not supporting you, or your plans are not going as planned, is when I believe we are mostly using our faith. It is the expectation of what we cannot see because if we see it, do we expect it? To keep a strong mind amid trial is probably one of the hardest things.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Work more on your belief than your business. You have already lost the battle if you don't have strong faith or a strong mind. Believe in your ability and ground yourself in something greater than yourself.
  2. Know your target audience or the group most interested in your work, and build a community around your tribe. You can go far alone, but not far enough. Invest in connections and collaborations. It will take you places and money, and degrees won't.
  3. Know your price. This goes back to number one, but deeper. Never sacrifice your integrity for success or perceived success. What you see on social media or TV does not always reflect the truth. The most "successful" people are often the most lonely and unhappy. Let your moral compass guide you and know your limits. Be very self-aware because drinking from every cup of opportunity is how you get poisoned.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.yecheilyahysrayl.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yecheilyah/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/yecheilyah
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yecheilyahysrayl/

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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