Today we’d like to introduce you to Aubrey Lemon & Sharon Newell.
Hi Aubrey & Sharon, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sharon: About a year ago, I started following DSD on Instagram and this guy kept talking about epoxy and floors. I was intrigued because I’ve always loved art. In elementary school, I was really good, several of my drawings went to the school district’s competition. In middle school, my attention turned to academics and I slowly lost my creative edge. As I got older, I learned that I was good with my hands in so many ways and that I wanted the freedom of working and living for the enjoyment of life, not out of necessity. I took a leap of faith and purchased the countertops epoxy class and brought my family in to start a business.
Aubrey: Shay (Sharon) was the one who brought my attention to the idea. When I first looked at the DSD video, I knew it would be something that we could tackle together. The hands-on aspect and level of freedom it gave us to create really fit our personalities. I used to draw a good bit when I was younger and still doodle here and there, but this was something that really piqued my interest.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Sharon: It definitely has not been a smooth road but I think that’s part of the beauty in seeing a dream to fruition. Learning how to manage my time between full-time work and the vision of a small business was and still is a lot to balance. My family members have some small businesses as well but we never talk about the financial part of what it entails to bet on yourself. I had to do a lot of research to feel comfortable enough to go all in. I am very type A so I feel the need to know everything I can before jumping, I stalled for a while. I sat on the epoxy class for 3 months before I felt ready enough to watch, then another month before I was ready to practice.
Aubrey: Not quite smooth, but I wouldn’t say bad either. We understand that this is a process and we’re still in the beginning stages of this journey. We’ve had some small bumps here and there. The financial side of things was definitely something that took getting used to, as well as where to get our supplies from. Had some trial and error with a few products, but there have been plenty of wins for us too. We make sure to celebrate those wins and enjoy the moment.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Sharon: For almost eight years, I was an educator and worked on the elementary, middle, and high school levels as a teacher, RTI/504 Support Specialist, and administrator. I loved working with students and teachers and truly enjoyed developing training modules. I left education in March 2022 to work from home as a manager for an online tutoring company. I am able to utilize my collection of degrees (B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, M.S. Human Resources, Ed.S. Curriculum & Instruction) to manage a team of 17 and create standards of practices for clients with learning differences and pilot programs. I also have my life coach certification and a program with my personal business assisting students with organizational skills. I am most proud of still having a connection to education but doing so in a way that allows me to be more present for my family and businesses.
Aubrey: I am going into my 5th year of teaching and my 2nd year at my current school. I coach football and track for my school as well. I’ve taught high school English in Florida prior to teaching in Georgia. I actually do love teaching which is always funny to me because I would always say that I never wanted to be a teacher. However, I’ll always have a passion for coaching track. I’ve had an attraction for the sport for as long as I can remember. I’ve coached track since 2010 and have worked on the college, high school, and middle school grade levels. I also work individually with athletes for personal training. I love being able to coach our daughter Leah as she prepares for her first track season.
What does success mean to you?
Sharon: Success to me is living life on your terms. I have this dream of owning a few acres of land and building a compound with a few tiny homes for my family. I envision a future where our daughter, Leah, can work her summers with us and learn the importance of managing finances and building the future she desires. She uses our leftover epoxy to make keychains and locker magnets so I think it’s paying off already. A big part of being successful to me is being able to use my time to help others. I like to use the knowledge I’ve gained working in education to help parents and students. Having not only the time but resources to give back is what success means to me.
Aubrey: Success is about finishing the task or goal at hand. It might not happen when you want it to or when others expect it to happen, but if you complete the task then you have to look at it as a win. I think most people get so caught up on trying to keep up with everyone else that they think if they don’t do something within a certain time frame, then they feel like a failure. I don’t judge my success based on others’ standards because we’re all moving at our own pace.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ujamaaco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ujamaaco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Ujamaa-Co/100083044636949/
- Other: https://www.shaymartindesigns.com/life-coaching.html#/
Image Credits:
Michael Waller
