Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherrie Alphabet.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a native to the city of Atlanta but my journey began in August 2012 when I enrolled at Beauty College in Douglasville, Georgia, a few years after high school. Later I transitioned back to Atlanta for a faster-paced lifestyle to generate more income. I always wanted to be an infamous hairstylist but was unsure of how to become known or how to build an actual business. After many attempts of starting a business, I allowed my ideas to lapse due to lack of knowledge and confidence and found myself back to my place of a comfortable discomfort, The office desk. Due to a single-parent lifestyle, I was forced to put cosmetology school on pause while I took HR classes online instead. I spent many years working as a Human Resource Administrative Assistant because I felt I was creating my purpose by following the guidelines laid out by society’s standards as well as family expectations. After many years of dedicated service, I woke up to the reality that I was unhappy and unsure of who I had become. Hours of typing lead to arthritis and two months of family medical leave.
During this downtime, I opted to tap into my creative side and begin advertising my business. The business was slowly picking up but was certainly not enough to cover my bills. I drove rideshare food delivery around Atlanta to pick up the slack for the missing work hours. My goal was to generate multiple streams of income to support my family so that I did not need to return to the desk.
As I neared the end of my FMLA benefits I soon realized I had a decision to make because my business plan was not producing the income I expected. I remember falling back on my bed, taking a huge breath, while trying to sort the plan. I reached and grabbed my phone to check IG and there was a video of Steve Harvey. The first thing he said was “Jumping is Scary!” He continued, “when you first jumped, you thought you were going to have a shop full of clients, but it’s not going to work that way. You are going to get some skin torn off you on those rocks. At times it’s going to feel like an uncontrollable tumble as your life spirals in a new direction. But… If you don’t jump… you will never know. You will sit there at the desk with all your skills in your backpack and never know how much you can soar because you are afraid to jump.”
I dropped my phone in disbelief at the timely manner of the message and began to cry because I knew I had to make the jump in order to change my life. So I jumped! I quit my job and continued my same routine of making money with very few clients and rideshare. Two months later, I lost everything. My home, car, and storage. I was forced to move my son and me to my mother’s home in Atlanta’s Oakland City West End.
On my first day at the new complex, I was warmly welcomed by gunshots and sirens. Over time I got to know the neighbors and realized there’s love in the hood that’s equally joyful as much as it is bitter. During the nine-month journey, I learned a lot about myself that I otherwise would have never discovered. I learned new confidence. I knew that the fear I once had of public speaking was a hindrance and It was time to make an immediate change if I ever wanted a shot at becoming successful. I began flooding the entire neighborhood of local businesses with my business cards and catching trains to cover more ground. I do not recall hearing back from anyone but at least I broke away from fear.
Towards the middle period of my stay in Oakland City, I met and became familiar with the global artist, Lil Baby. He played a vital role in my will to strive because his success started in this very neighborhood. I was still living there at the time he made the video called “out the mud”. That song stirred a fire in me that made me drive harder. I knew if he could make it out… so could I. Since meeting him, he’s been my biggest motivation. I listen to “Global” & “Out The Mud” religiously to set the tone for my day, along with Janelle Monae and other local artists.
After nine months of journeying, I was finally blessed with my own home. Upon arrival at my new home, the first thing I set up is my styling chair. I used myself as a live model to attract clients and sampled styles on mannequins, family, and friends to better showcase my work. After months of providing free services, I received my first paid client. Word of mouth spread quickly and business continues to flourish. I can humbly say I am happy that I decided to jump toward my goals. I’m able to do what I love and earn a living for my family while doing so. Plus, making more money than I did working in the office. However, this is only a part of my journey. The goal is to grind hard until you no longer have to introduce yourself. I pray for Franchise and Global Success over my business.
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?
My journey definitely was not a smooth sail. I sacrificed everything for my business. One struggle, in particular from many years ago, taught me to embrace obstacles that I may face. I began to rummage my brain for ideas on how to quickly change my circumstance from being an average business owner with no cash start-up to a 6 figure business owner. The best and riskiest thing I could do is sell my only possession, my car, and pray I yield a substantial return. The car sold within hours on craigslist. With the money collected, I paid for business supplies and purchased a seat in a bartending training course. A few days after mastering the week course, I began working at Vibes Nite Club in Decatur. I told the owner I was looking for a job and this would be my first bartending gig. All the owner asked for was integrity and hard work.
In return, he taught me to be one of the best bartenders in the game. Within a week’s time, I was cleaning, slinging glasses, and creating beautiful cocktails. In a few days, I was pulling in 500 a night in tips. I was able to save enough within three weeks to purchase a used honda. Always with my first love in mind, the second thing I bought was a styling chair and a mannequin head. I immediately began recreating styles I’ve done to showcase my work.. Staying consistent through pitfalls and distractions took me from zero clients a month to roughly 20 to 30 new and returning clients combined monthly. After having gone through this, I realized the word No, giving up, or tapping out is never an option. In a sense, I began looking at life as a video game. With each new level, there will be a challenge that derails you from your original course. Although the hidden curveball or “door” has nothing to do with your current level, If you just outwit the game, the sooner you can get back on course to secure the prize waiting at the end, the sooner you can begin living out your dreams doing what you love.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Her Goddess Studio Hair Salon’s motto is to Enhance Natural Beauty One Goddess at a Time.” After going through a series of names attempting to combine all of my beauty talents in one (Hair, Makeup, Nails, Fashion). Ultimately, I chose “Her Goddess Studio”. I wanted to create a space where a person could transform head to toe and become the ultimate Goddess. Transformation always includes a safe place to speak and be free. My styling chair holds many secrets that I would never tell. I’m grateful to be able to share my strength, courage, and my story to encourage others.
Though I’m a woman and creator of many hats, clients really love the way that I braid. People are usually even more impressed when they find out I braid my own hair. My top specialty styles would be Locs and loc styles, stitch feed-in braids, sew-ins, and Knotless Braids, just to name a few. I love to take a journey with each of my clients to ensure their hair goals are met. I must say I truly love what I do.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk-taking to me is like the fresh air you breathe at the top of a mountain on a cold winter morning. Although the cool air stings, It too feels just as good after a long struggle to the mountain top of your goals. I am a firm believer in taking risks. I would not have been able to find out how strong I am mentally, spiritually, and physically without risk-taking.
The fear, excitement, anxiety, and passion associated with risk-taking are the foundation of achieving beyond what I can feel, see, or hear around me. Risk-taking is not for the faint of heart for sure. You have to know deep inside that what you are about to do is worth losing sleep, time, money, and people over. Risk-taking involves turning pain into passion because risk-taking can definitely lead you to an uncontrollable tumble in life. Moments where I felt I could cry or give up, I’d remind myself that the end goal is the most important.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.styleseat.com/hgstudio; www.hergoddess.studio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hergoddess.studio
Image Credits
Brent Baker Media is the photographer of the red dress photo with the long braids.
