Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kimyatta Brown of Atlanta

Kimyatta Brown shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Kimyatta, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What battle are you avoiding?
There is a small battle in transitioning “well”. It’s not full avoidance, but there is hesitation in letting go of the former and moving into the new and now.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, I’m Kimyatta Brown. Owner of Manchester Design group a Staging and Design business. I’ve been in business for approximately seven years, enough time to have a small crew, a medium warehouse, and enough product and furnishings to Stage eleven properties for the market at once. Things had been going just fine, taking on small Design/Decorating clients occasionally – but Now engaging in full residential and rehab for out of state investors. Turning point!

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
Funny thing is life has taught me about work… Here me out! My God designed life steered me through one winding road to another. My tenacity to continue required me to work, but my choices of work were always tunnel vision. Lot of jargon, right… I call it on the job training. The jobs I sought after were jobs that were visually appealing to me – like the front desk clerk at a at a high end Hotel. It didn’t pay a lot (even though it looks glamorous), but it taught me Customer Service and how to show up polished and poised. Working concierge at the same hotel taught me customer relations – more of how small talk with customers landed you more information about them, which in return could be very valuable. Every other job since that point has taught me elements of my industry. I designed kitchens and baths for many years at the Home Depot, I’ve designed, and sold window coverings for JCPenney’s for x-amount of years as well. I’ve also worked as a designer for The Pottery Barn and was in furniture sales for a short period at Ashley Furniture, this was while getting my real estate license and starting in the world of marketing – which is a large percentage of what real estate is (marketing yourself, marketing the property). It is priceless that I can now check a-lot of boxes for what I do and all that I engage in. I’ve had endless on the job training.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
It’s wild to say the way I talk has held me back a portion of my life. I was never the one to speak up. As a child I stuttered extremely bad and of course I was teased for it. But it wasn’t just the teasing that made me not want to speak up. My stuttering mixed with my hyper nature (undiagnosed ADHD) allowed insecurities to set in at a young age. It was hard wanting to express myself, but not able to get the words to come out fully to do so. This is me looking back understanding what was taking place. A undiagnosed mess! After all these years portions of my insecurities still exist. The good thing is knowing what I know about my craft allows me to speak securely in my element, it gives me a level of confidence.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Well nevertheless, regardless to what’s going today, I will do a truly final pivot in to the hospitality world. My final stake is to open a Bed & Breakfast. I’m so looking forward to it. I hope my expectations don’t disappoint.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When it’s said and done, and I’m gone, I hope people see the potential I saw in “life”, and just decide to do it… Just know that I relied on God for every outcome. My story has to be, “it had to be God” leading her through life – but she had to decide to follow.
There’s no logical way to come out of the mud clean. Come out with full directions. There’s no way the choices we make on our own, leads us to the success we’re intended for. How with out a road map I decide to take this lane, decide to travel that way, shake those hands, plan to pivot, say yes, give that to them, go through this door, don’t burn that bridge, avoid the upcoming mirage, tell the truth, keep that window behind me open, consider what that “no” is actually saying, love, be patient, let it go, go back, come away from there, continue on, turn the next corner, don’t agree to that, decide to live…

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Manchester_Design
• Facebook: Manchester_Design
• Yelp: Manchester Design
• Youtube: Manchester Design

Image Credits
Kimyatta Brown, Designer, Project Manager
Danielle McCurdy Hale, Realtor
Joe Ramos, Investor
Larry Hill, Contractor