Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxanne Leighty.
Hi Roxanne, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Here I am 44 and starting over again, but this time I’m being the true Roxanne. My story began in Lancaster, Pennsylvania…yes, with the Amish. LOL In fact, my Great Grandma didn’t have any electricity in her house and she still drove a horse and buggy. I was raised with the core value of “Do unto others as you want done upon yourself.” I remember going to Grandma’s house where all my aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered for every main holiday. We played games, pulled taffy, exchanged gifts, and ate. We also helped each other out. If someone needed cupcakes baked for a birthday and didn’t have the time or couldn’t, someone in the family stepped in. If someone needed the house cleaned or the yard mowed, we were there to help, and then we ate.
Growing up in a small town gave me the curiosity to explore the world and see what else the USA has to offer. I decided that I wanted to be me and live a life of adventure. Me and my bestie used to hop down to Philly and go to the nightclubs, then skirt down to AC to see if we could become rich overnight, and sometimes we would just get in the car and take a two-day vacation. The entire time I was having fun, I also learned various skills. Being a bigger girl, my self-confidence was low, and I was slipping into depression. So at 20, I decided to become a bartender to force myself into the public eye. I went to a training course in NJ and obtained my Bartending License, came back to PA, and started working at the “Rawhide Saloon.” I loved it!!! It broke me out of my shell, started making new friends and living the life I always wanted. That gave me the confidence to use my communication skills at a daytime job.
My professional career started at TruGreen doing telemarketing. After a couple of months doing that, I was promoted to Call Ahead person, then six months later offered a job in York, PA as a CSR. I left my little town for the big city! LOL During that time, I also became a Tastefully Simple consultant. I was able to carry that side business with me to York, as well. I was a CSR for about six months then was promoted to sales and acquired another new skill set. After three months of sales, they offered me an Accounts Receivable Managers position in Baltimore, MD..an even bigger city!!! From that point on, I knew that I wanted to learn everything there is to know about businesses. I was unable to work and go to college at that time, so I just acquired my skills from on-the-job training. Each position gave me the drive to learn the next step in the process of running a successful business. I put my personal life on hold so that I could gain the knowledge I needed to be who I wanted to be. The doctors told me at a young age that I was unable to have kids, so I decided then that I was going to love life and travel. I knew that I wasn’t made to be in one spot too long; my soul needed to explore.
For 18 years, I did just that. I became an Office Manager at 33, acquired my passport, and traveled to Mexico City to train a new Office Manager. After learning valuable management skills for four years, they decided to move CSRs to Canada. So, I took a two-year mini-retirement and moved to TN to enjoy my goddaughter and the simpler things in life. After two years of being away from home, I moved back and started in the professional field again, but my soul wasn’t into it. I was still selling Tastefully Simple, but I wanted more interaction with people, so I went back to bartending. That’s where Bu was born, in the bar. While tending bar, I heard all sorts of stories of who these people wanted to be, but something else changed their course in life. I would ask them, ” What is stopping you from being U? Nothing!” So, I sat there and did a little drawing of Bu, and my friend turned it into a logo. I told her one day, I hope that people will just be what God created them to be and not what society wants them to be.
At the age of 38, I took a trip to Charleston, SC with my boyfriend and fell in LOVE! We came down in September for 2 weeks to visit his Mom, and I didn’t want to leave, but sadly we had to. We went back to PA and in October, decided to pack up and move. We had everything packed and were in SC on 12/22/16 with no snow! I knew I wanted to be around people, but couldn’t swing the night shift anymore, so I became a Barista. I brought my Tastefully Simple business with me and did a couple of small house parties, up until I was thrown a huge curve ball…I was PREGNANT!!! What, wait, no?!? I just turned 38 and moved 636 miles away from all my family and friends. Had money saved to go to Italy, and bam… nope, God said you’re gonna be a Mommie! I was blessed with my first and only son at the age of 39! Wow… what a shock! Being a mom was now my first priority, so TS had to be put on hold for a bit. But, no worries, I was able to hold my spot and just continue my online sales. I tried to do the events and be a Mommie, but I was thrown another curve ball, I was now a single mom at 41. So… I picked myself up, dusted off, and went back to what I know and love…selling Tastefully Simple. I wasn’t able to support us doing TS part-time, but I needed a real job! I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so again, I acquired a new skill set of being a recruiter. Which was like bartending, but during the day so I could do it from home and raise my son.
Fast forward to 5/12/23, when I received a call that I was being let go due to company restructuring. So here I go again, starting over. Why?!? What was I going to do? Well, God stepped in again and had my friend call. She called me 3 days later, didn’t know that I lost my job, but she needed help recruiting and taking her market to the next level. I was like that’s it; I know what my next step in life is going to be, helping people achieve their dreams! I went through my files and found my Bu logo from nine years ago, and created Bu Businesses. Another friend of mine told me to trademark my logo and put it on everything. So I did just that. I actually took it a step further and created my own website. Not knowing how to, I taught myself, and now it has been up and running for a little over a month. I am about to launch my services section on 10/22/23. I want people to just be at peace, but they can’t be unless they are their true selves. Life is tough, but it can be easier if you just Bu!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There has been daily speed bumps, mountains to climb, and rivers to cross, but with determination, I thrived. The first challenge was knowing where to start. I didn’t know how to start a business from scratch, but I knew that I had to help people. So I did my research, spoke to some knowledgeable friends, and went for it. Made a business outline, wrote down every step needed, and then took it day by day.
My second challenge was finding the money to put out to start my business. I took my savings and invested in me. I didn’t have the money to have someone create my website, so again, I learned. I am learning new things every day so that I can overcome any hurdle in my way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Bu Businesses was created to help others be themselves. Society has formed us into being what we see, not what God created us to be. There are two sides to Bu. One is the logo, where it is going to be a movement! I want it to inspire people to be themselves, and if they can’t figure it out, let me help you, Bu! Bu is simple…”Be yourself!” Second part of Bu, is my services. It is all the knowledge that I have acquired so that I can help people be themselves. A lot of people have hidden talent, but they don’t know how to share it with the world. That’s where I come into play. I want to help them figure out LIFE because it is simple. I want Bu to be known for “Inspiration & Achievement”. My proudest moment on my business journey was when I took the step to being my own boss and having the fear that I could be let go at any moment. I now follow the path that God has created for me. I was given the gift to connect to people instantly, to understand their side, and to be able to give a positive view on their current situation.
My Tastefully Simple business has been my backbone to allow me to make connections, support my family, and to just be me. TS is known for their beer bread, spices, and desserts. I love to be able to bring new flavors into people’s lives. My proudest moment was when I did my first event in SC. I had no idea how to set up or what to sell, but I did good, and it gave me the courage to do move events. All our products are produced in Alexander, MN and created by a woman.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have had a mentor named Leslie ever since I was 24. We met at Kalas Mfg. I was her CSR, and she was my sales rep. When I first met her, I wanted to be like her. She was professional, had a heart of God, and was the most knowledgeable person I knew. We instantly connected and grew to become the best of friends despite that she lived in Texas and I was in PA. The company sent us on several trips together, and she educated me on life, work, and God. She opened up her home to me on business trips and personal ones. I call her all the time to get her advice on life, and she is always there to help me.
James came into the picture when I had my first recruitment job. He was our client, and he gave me the opportunity to fill a driving position. The person I filled it with is still there to this date. Once I left that company, I called him, and he set me up with his HR department. They were looking to hire a corporate recruiter/HR person. With his recommendation, I was hired on and expanded my business skill set. When the company was split and sold to two different companies, he went with one, and I went with the other one. We still remained in contact and helped each other out. I was then let go from my company because of restructuring, and he was right there to help me again. I explained my Bu Businesses to him, and he has been helping me from a corporate point of view. He also has led for me once I am finalizing all my documents for recruiting.
My last inspirational person came into my life about one year ago at an event. I was setting up my tent, and she rolled up in a small car and a brace on her knee. I stopped what I was doing and started to help her. I asked her her name, and she said “Roxana”. I was like no way, that’s about my name. Again, I instantly connected with her, and we became friends. We did a couple of events together, but then life got in the way until one day, she called me out of the blue. It was three days after I was let go from my job; she asked me to help her with her Latina Bazaar Market. She was looking for vendors and sponsors. At that moment, I said I was done working for someone else, and I created Bu Businesses. She encouraged me to be my own boss, so I helped her throughout this past summer, pro bono, and built my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bubusinesses.com/ https://www.tastefullysimple.com/web
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bu_businesses/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuBusinesses https://www.facebook.com/RoxieTS9333/
