Follow my conversation with Shanquita Greggs as she shares her story of how she recreated herself after being laid off from her job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You were a flight attendant at some point. What led you from being a flight attendant to making candles for a living. Where did the inspiration come from?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, yes, I was a flight attendant during the 911 crisis. I had only been flying 2 years when the 911 situation happen. And of course, people stopped flying; they were afraid. So, we had to get laid off and I was always the person to get laid off because I hadn\u2019t been flying that long. After the second or third layoff, I was like man I need to find something else to do. I was watching a Martha Stewart tape and she was talking about candles and candle-making, and I was like, I want to try that. So, that\u2019s where the inspiration came from. And once I tried it, it just kind of snowballed from there and it became a passion. Then, I started selling them out of my trunk and making them in my kitchen on my off days. Then, they called me back to work and I went back to work. Then, they laid me off again so I started doing the candles full-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The candle industry has produced over 3 billion in sales and is growing. What do you think all the craze is over candles?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s anything new because the candle industry has been really big. I think it\u2019s just now kind of catching on and people are starting to notice it and realize that they can make candles. You know, I think before, it was like a car. People knew they couldn\u2019t make one so they would go and buy one. But now, as far as candles, people know that they can be handmade and so more people are getting into the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You liked making candles so much that you used your last $467.00 paycheck to start a business. Tell us about your business, Simply Scents by Shan.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yeah, I used my last paycheck from United Airlines to start my candle business which was $467.00, which later grew into a million dollars in sales. So, just believing in myself and just pushing forward, and just thriving off the passion, you\u2019ll never know when or what could happen. But you know when you\u2019re passionate about doing something, you\u2019ll never work a day in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, it did start with the $467.00 paycheck, a dream, and passion. So, that has led us to become a well-known company. My aim is for us to be a household name so everyone will know about us. That\u2019s why whenever I get anyone to interview me, I always say\u2015yes because I\u2019m thankful anyone recognizes me because of my hard work. I\u2019ve been in business for 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You were blessed to be able to prosper in your business and you have some celebrity clients including Beyonce and her mom, Tina Knowles. What was it like gaining them and other celebrities as customers?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, I really don\u2019t see them as celebrities when I get them because, at that point, they have become my customers. I just focus on having a hustling mindset. So, whenever I go somewhere or I know someone is going to be there, I make sure I have gift bags just for them because I admire them, for one, and because I would like them to try the products, enjoy them, and potentially become a customer. So, it just all starts with admiration, and then you bring them a gift, and then you believe in your product. So, I\u2019ll say, \u201cHey, I have something good and I want you to try it.\u201d And I have confidence when I give it to them. Then, when they get it home and burn it, they be like, \u201cI like it.\u201d And they become a customer. Even if they just accept my gift that one time, and write me and tell me they love it, that\u2019s great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What was it like transitioning from working for someone to being an entrepreneur? What advice can you give to those who would like to take the leap to own a business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It was easy because I\u2019ve always wanted to work for myself. I didn\u2019t know it at the time but I\u2019ve always wanted to be independent. That\u2019s the reason I became a flight attendant because I didn\u2019t have anybody on my back telling me what to do. I could be free. I could travel. You know, I could just do me. And the transition was just simply that, a transition\u2015I was just moving on to the next. So, it was nothing to be fearful of, it was what I wanted. You know, I\u2019m not an early person. So, that was one of the things I wanted with working for myself, to be able to wake up at 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning and still get to work on time and do what needed to be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to take the leap to own your business, my advice would be to go for it. And when you go for it, make sure that\u2019s what you really want to do because you have to be there even when the money is not there. Because the money is not going to come instantly but if the passion is there and the love is there, you\u2019ll gain customers, you\u2019ll gain momentum, and you\u2019ll gain confidence in knowing that you\u2019re doing the right thing. And once you know that you\u2019re doing the right thing, then that gives you the patience to wait for whatever is next. So, even if you hit a million-dollar mark, or whatever your dream is, you\u2019ll still look forward to what\u2019s next because it\u2019s always another level. So, it might be like, you\u2019ve made this amount and now you want to make 3 million, or you might say it\u2019s not about the money anymore, or you might later decide you want to go around talking, educating, and inspiring others. So, it\u2019s just always a matter of what\u2019s next for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You were also in the United States Airforce for 8 years working with T38 bombers and inspections of F16 and F17 fighter jets for NASA. That\u2019s amazing and thank you for your service! How did the service prepare you to be a business owner?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It taught me independence and discipline, and I had a great career field meaning I was a maintenance worker with some top-notch security things. So, it gave a level of importance. It was just a great experience for me and my first time away from home. Even now, the military plays a big part in my life for my health benefits and things like that. So, I always like to instill in people don\u2019t look at the military as a last resort. Sometimes, it can be a first resort to get things accomplished and do what you want to do too. It\u2019s all about a mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You are also a community activist. Tell everyone what you do.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, I don\u2019t know, I like that word though\u2015community activist. I just do what people ask me to do and I try to do what\u2019s needed in my community. So, if I see a need and I can meet it, I do it. And for a long time, I\u2019ve been working with the disabled in my community. I work with the special education students at Jack Yates High School in Houston, Texas. We teach them job skills to get a feel for working, and once they graduate, they will know how to work in a business environment. So, I give a lot of time in that area. It\u2019s needed and it\u2019s very satisfying as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s next for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m working on a CEOshan.com brand where I\u2019m doing mentorships and going around speaking. And I\u2019m just encouraging and talking to people about how to get started in business, and I\u2019m motivating them to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How can people follow you?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Website<\/a> \u2502 Facebook<\/a> \u2502 Instagram<\/a> \u2502 Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Photography credit: JP Dewberry<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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