WORTHY BECAUSE YOU ARE
®
THE DREAMER’S ISSUE
JILLIAN ROSE REED
YOU ARE WORTHY OF YOUR DREAMS
WORTHY® M A G A Z I N E M E D I A L L C . 2 0 11
Ed i tor i n C h i ef + F ound er Ju’lia Samuels
editors Andre Samuels Tiffanni Allen Whitney Johnson Toni-Ann Martin
Creative Directors Tricia Hinds Marcus Williams
photo Editor Gavin Samuels Monteza Hepburn
BEAUTY Ashlie Monet
Mul itmedia Editor Alisa Valentin
Editorial ASSISTANT Ella Attelus
Editors-At-L arge David Michael Lais Pontes
office WORTHY MAGAZINE MEDIA LLC. Hollywood, Florida 33020 Worthy@worthy-magazine.com www.worthy-magazine.com © 2015 Worthy Magazine is a trademark of Worthy Magazine Media LLC. registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
WORTHY CONTENT Photographer: Birdie Thompson
2017
TRUSTWORTHY
WORTHY AGENDA
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE BLACK WITCH
FINANCIAL TIPS TO FOLLOW BEFORE LEAVING YOUR JOB
14 TRUSTWORTHY ACCESSORIES COUP
10 THE FLAMINGO HOUSE THE RISE OF COMMUNI-
WELCOMES YOU TO THE HIVE
TY WORKSPACES HAS MADE IT TO BOCA
12 WORTHY READS
AURORA DOMINGUEZ INTERVIEWS
28 GREGORY SYLVIA
HANDBAG DESIGNING HUSBAND
7 FINANCIAL FREEDOM RACHEL VIXAMAR’S
29 WORTHY COLLECTIVE UNDERGROUND FASHION
AND WIFE DUO TALK BUSINESS
EDITOR NOTES
FEATURE WORTHY
18 WORTHY BEAUTY JACQ’S ORGANICS NEW
5 TRUSTWORTHY EDITOR NOTES THE ART OF
LINE CELEBERATES DIVERSITY
RELAXING
19 NAFESSA WILLIAMS A RISING STAR YOU NEED TO
9 EDITOR NOTES LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
KNOW
22 JILLIAN ROSE REED BEYOND THE AWKWARD STAGE OF LIFE
27 DREAMER’S GUIDE TWO ENTREPRENEURS DISCUSS THEIR GREATEST CHALLENGES AFTER THE CORPORATE WORLD
TRUSTWORTHY EDITOR NOTES 2017
THE ART OF RELAXING AND NURTURING Outside of introducing a new signature cocktail, Rhythm and Vine located at 401 NE 5th Terrace in Fort Lauderdale, caught our attention with their new programing that really captures our personal belief system. Friends that exercise and drink together stay together. Active Tuesdays, was a 60-day fitness pop-up in their outdoor garden. Different Fort Lauderdale-based fitness companies led a 60-minute fitness or wellness session. The list of local businesses included PumpFit, The Fit Shop, CrossFit Empirical, and CycleBar with instructors including Nikki Holtz and Vibe Veda. We will be sure to keep an eye out for more amazing programing. While the fitness pop-up may have passed, The Coco OG cocktail remains. served in a branded coconut, rumhaven coconut rum, Milagro tequila , fresh lime, pineapple, oj juice, homemade blackberry syrup topped with tropical Red Bull. 5 WORTHY MAGAZINE
Relax You Are Already Worthy
FINANCIAL FREEDOM Embracing Employment Freedom by Assertive Financial Management Team Rachel Vixamar President/Founder also known as the Credit Repair Queen
Have you ever woke up and literally had to push yourself to attend work? Do you perform job duties and wonder where you could have been and dream about how far you could be if you had decided to take the route towards entrepreneurship. Many people make the wrong choices by not embracing their skills and beginning the work process towards employment freedom. Now I am not saying that you should get up and just leave your job, instead what I am saying is work towards your goal. The way you would work towards the goal is by finding out the route you need to build your brand. Many people start companies and begin to sale or perform duties without the proper steps. Not understanding what route to take can harm you in the future. A common mistake most small business owners make is also not handling their taxes properly. Some just don’t know where to begin so let’s put your thoughts to ease and help out some of these pondering questions. Do Your Research Before leaving your job, it’s essential that you search for opportunities to connect with customers and see if your product/service is in demand. Researching your area’s potential client base, identifying your competitors and determining if this is an industry that is in demand and needed. 7 WORTHY MAGAZINE
Identify Your Expenses and Create a Budget. Calculating a budget before leaving your employment is mandatory. The budget tool will be used to determine how long you can survive on your own. Along with rent, utilities, food, clothing, etc., be sure to factor in the costs of health insurance and other benefits provided by your current employer, as you’ll no longer be able to receive these. Also, always account for unexpected emergencies when crafting your budget that would be needed towards personal and business. After that, weigh your expenses against your income, such as savings, severance, stock dividends and any other cash coming your way. If you can stay afloat for at least six months while you await profitability, you may be in position to branch out on your own. If not leaving employment should not be a choice that should be made as of the moment, waiting until you are able to say yes to be able to be afloat for at least SIX MONTHS is confirmation to exit employment and embrace freedom and starting your brand. Save Money for Startup and Living Costs Once you’ve documented your living costs, it’s time to start saving up. Along with your living expenses, you will likely need money for startup expenses, including travel fees and setting up shop. Working from home until your business grows and generate customers and income is also another option you may want to consider. Register Your Company’s Name
One of the most important steps in starting a business is registering your company’s name with your state. If you plan on using a brand name other than your personal one, you must also file for a “Doing Business As” name. The company’s brand name is important which is why it is a good idea to trademark your name to prevent competitors from using it. These steps legally establish your brand, a big step in starting up. A guide to starting your own business and exiting employment is very important take these tips and being your process towards embracing employment freedom, going over and beyond is another step and you can do it yes you can! Let Assertive Financial Management Team walk you stepby-step contacting us for more information on your journey to entrepreneurship, don’t forget we are capable of aiming for anything we desire.
MAKE UP: Ianna Walker President/Financial Advisor Assertive Financial Management Team 5440 North State Rd 7 Suite 217 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33319 Phone: 954-840-0474 Direct: 754-214-1134 Fax: 954-252-3965 www.myafmt.com
THE
DREAMER’S 2017
ISSUE
Photographer: Bobby Quillard
TRUSTWORTHY EDITOR NOTES
THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT This issue is a celebration of the dreamers of the world who are constantly assaulted by everyone else’s concerns of sensibility and logic. One of my favorite and least favorite quotes states: “If your dreams do not frighten you, then they are not big enough.” I love this quote because it affirms that my dreams are indeed big. But for someone who is always dealing with the concept of self-worth, the quote creates a comfortable home for fear in my dreams. And as someone who has spent a fair portion of their life making decisions based on cautionary tales, fear has become that close, crippling friend who has no intention of leaving. The fight to abandon its influence can be difficult while feeling impossible at the same time. One of the most difficult lessons that I am still making peace with is the idea that just our everyday thoughts are insanely powerful. The fact that we think them everyday turns them into beliefs, eventually. Another one of my favorite and least favorite quotes states that: “We become what we believe.” So as you thumb through this issue, I encourage you to do the same thing that I will be doing. Allow the stories that you will read in this issue to inspire you and encourage you to make sure that your everyday thoughts remain positive. You deserve your own confidence. You are Worthy. -Ju’lia Samuels
9 WORTHY MAGAZINE
WORTHY AGENDA WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST COMMUNITY SPACES TO WORK IN THAT ACTUALLY OFFER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY CHECK OUT
TWO FRIENDS HAVE CREATED A DESIGN SPACE THAT SERVICES BOCA’S BUDDING COMMUNITY OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS
The Flamingo House, located at 4160 NW 1 Ave Suite 16 in Boca Raton, has a unique concept that mirrors its unique location. “We believe in the idea of community-based coworking. The Flamingo House is not only a professional home for our members, but a style space designed to inspire collaboration. Unlike more formal executive suites, the open floor concept of creative coworking allows for an exchange of ideas and provides a functional space to focus and be productive. Aside from the standard office perks, we also have our own built-in studio that members can tap into at any time. We knew of similar spaces existing in the high density areas of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, however there was a large gap in between. Boca Raton is not only where we grew up, but also serves as the perfect middle ground for the growing South Florida market.” co-founder Nichole Thompson said. The space also offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow and 10 WORTHY MAGAZINE
customize their brand in the space. “We made it a point to make sure that we didn’t overbrand the space for ourselves. This is everyone’s space. We have people who do shoots here and have meetings here. We want the space to feel like it is just as much their space as it is ours,” co-founder Amber Tollefson said. Flamingo House offers a number membership options from short term to no commitments at all that range from $25 a visit to $850 a month “Our membership packages vary depending on the time and space our members need. We offer a daily, drop-in rate for those testing the waters, all the way up to a double-occupancy private office and everything in between. Many of our members, start at the lower levels and quickly upgrade as their business grows. The studio and conference room rental are also very popular for those looking to secure a professional space for the day or the hour, without the commitment.,” Nichole said.
WE HEAR GOOD THINGS Check out this list of additional work spaces that we are hearing great things about.
1. SOCIAL HOUSE 512 LUCERNE AVENUE LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA 33460 2. PIPELINE ONE FINANCIAL PLAZA 100 SOUTHEAST THIRD AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 33394 3. AXIS SPACE COWORKING 333 LAS OLAS WAY, CU1 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33301
on your hairdresser no cuts, no color: just WASH BLOW GO
A quick, affordable luxury in-bar or on location. Walk-ins accepted during regular hours, 7 days a week. Catwalk-quality hair guaranteed.
blo midtown
3301 NE 1st Ave, Suite #102 Miami, Florida 33137 786 373 5BLO (5256) blomidtown@blomedry.com We’re growing - check out blomedry.com for a location near you.
WORTHY READS BY: Aurora Dominguez
My goal for THE BLACK WITCH CHRONICLES is to promote diversity in an entertaining story with fantastical creatures, epic landscapes and romance.
Laurie Forest’s “The Black Witch,” which hits shelves on May 1st, 2017, will have readers hooked from the first page. Aurora Dominguez of Worthy Reads had a chance to interview the author exclusively for Worthy. Read what she had to say about the novel. 12 WORTHY MAGAZINE
What was your main inspiration for “The Black Witch”? My husband and I were involved in the struggle for marriage equality here in Vermont, which was the spark of inspiration for THE BLACK WITCH (along with all the YA fantasy novels my then pre-teen daughters were urging me to read). Our kids are adopted so many of our close friends are the gay/lesbian parents of adopted children. The fight for marriage equality hard here, since everyone knew it was the beginning of a national fight, and hatred I never knew existed came out of the woodwork, completely blindsiding me. Gay and lesbian friends were harassed. Large newspaper ads were purchased accusing LGBTQ people of horrible, perverse things. During one of the statehouse hearings, a man got up and said, “They should be happy we’re just saying no to this - at least we’re not doing what it says in the Bible which is to kill ‘em.” During that time, someone came, in the middle of the night, and drove their large pickup truck up onto our lawn and over our pro-Civil Unions/pro-diversity lawn signs (I think one sign said “LOVE MAKES A FAMILY” with a rainbow background and a big heart). The truck driver didn’t stop until he had torn up most of our front yard. I spent about one day being terrified. The next day I got about 10 more signs and my husband hung them about 10 feet up on the big trees on the side of the road we own. But the experience stayed with me - and gave me a very small taste of what my LGBTQ friends have had to deal with throughout their lives. Around the time marriage equality finally became law, I was mulling
over prejudice in more general terms (religion-based, gender-based, etc.) and reading THE GOLDEN COMPASS series. The spark of a story lit inside me - a fantasy story where people with wings are rejected by pretty much every religion/culture for no sound reason save tradition. I tried my hand at writing that first scene down, and found myself as instantly hooked by writing as I had been by reading fantasy fiction (it felt like magic). My fledgling story rapidly found its own trajectory and rapidly veered off into pure fantasy territory. When it comes to writing, how do you get “in the zone” and ready to write a story? Well, strong tea is essential (Irish Breakfast usually). I have a dragon-esque lair of sorts - a quiet room full of fantasy books where I can be quiet, drink tea enter fully into the alternative universe of THE BLACK WITCH CHRONICLES. I do quite a bit of mental writing when listening to music while working out or driving in the car. And the Vermont woods, especially on an overcast day at twilight, are a great place to walk through and ponder storylines. Alone time is key - as is moody weather, which we have a lot of here in backwoods Vermont. Tell us something (no spoilers) that might surprise readers about your upcoming novel and something that excites you about your characters. I think readers will be very surprised by the story arc of the MC, Elloren Gardner - there’s a lot of surprises in this world, and a lot of what Elloren Gardner believes gets turned on its head. I’m excited about Elloren’s hidden power (which readers find out about in the prologue - and I think that’s a lot of fun, for readers to know something
about the MC that she doesn’t even know about herself). And I’m excited about what’s in store for characters who may be beaten down in BOOK ONE, but come into their own (and into their full powers) in future books. Anything you can tell us about your next projects or books? I just finished WANDFASTED, the e-book prequel to THE BLACK WITCH (it happens about 20 years prior to THE BLACK WITCH and gives readers a glimpse of the original Black Witch in action on the front lines). I’m so happy with how this book turned out - my first foray into fantasy romance (with some compelling underlying themes) - I think my leads have some very hot chemistry. It’s more a book than a novella (I think it will be around 250-300 pages when formatted) and it’s a little like PRIDE & PREJUDICE meets LORD OF THE RINGS. I had a great deal of fun with this project. Next up is my second novella which is about Sage Gaffney (a side character in THE BLACK WITCH) and how she came into the possession of The White Wand. And I’ll be editing BOOK TWO of THE BLACK WITCH CHRONICLES very soon (which is full of explosive surprises!).
I am a book-loving teacher and writer looking for the most worthy reads for your bookshelf.
TRUSTWORTHY STYLE & SUBSTANCE
COUP HIVE WRAP $160.00
WELCOME TO THE HIVE We are celebrating the triumphant return of glamorous accessories that celebrate the beauty of nature and all it has to offer. Take a look at a few of our favorite noteworthy pieces that we can not stop talking about.
COUP RAIN $250.00
COUP BEEHIVE-HALF MOON $160.00
COUP BEE ARMY OF THREE CUFF $240.00 14 WORTHY MAGAZINE
COUP WAS BORN OF THE DESIRE TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY THAT WE SO OFTEN MISS ALL AROUND US – THE RESTLESS, GRITTY, DARK MAGNIFICENCE OF REAL LIFE AND IMAGINED FICTION.
COUP ONE IN A MILLION RING $300.00
COUP BLUE MOON $320.00
COUP DAY & NIGHT $350.00
NOTEWORTHY STYLE
AVEC LES FILLES was created by fashion industry favorite Joyce Azria for the self-assured and stylish woman. French for “with the girls,” AVEC LES FILLES is a stunningly constructed collection that embodies a playfully sophisticated French aesthetic—think ‘70s Parisian chic with California ease for a range that is equal parts confident, sexy and feminine.
WORTHY BEAUTY JACQ’S ORGANICS
CELEBRATING DIVERISTY
Barbara Jacques founded Jacq’s Organics in 2012
18 WORTHY MAGAZINE
Organic, sustainable, vegan and exceptional are the words that usually come to mind when discussing the carefully hand-crafted beauty products that Barbara Jacques creates in her Hollywood Florida studio office. I don’t think that it is a secret at all that the brand has been a personal favorite for a few years now. However, the promise of Barbara’s new collection is undeniable. “It is a celebration of diversity,” Barbara said when discussing the new line.” She shared what can be expected from this new line and to say that I am excited is an understatement. “We are creating a new beauty line that focuses on the beauty of being a woman. When you are in your teens your skin is not the same. I wanted a line that would accommodate women as they age in a way that highlights a woman’s differences and allows you to love your skin at any age. I also wanted to make sure that your bathroom counter doesn’t look like a department store.” - Ju’lia Samuels
REASONS TO LOVE JACQ’S ORGANICS The mission statement of Jacq’s Organics was crafted from a noble and sincere cause. Barbara discovered an ovarian cyst at the same time that she was expecting her daughter. The promise of motherhood led to her decision to become aware of what she was putting into her body. The result of endless research resulted in Barbara creating organic and vegan beauty products that were made from fresh and local ingredients. There is an honesty in her hand-crafted serums and soaps. She is not creating anything for other people that she wouldn’t use herself and that is one of the reasons the brand has been a favorite for so long as well as successful. You immediately feel the positive effects of using her products. Personal favorites like the rosemary and lime face wash will leave your skin feeling pampered and protected. We aren’t even going to mention how Barbara’s smoothie masque feels like an entire day at the spa or how her personal favorite the carrot con leche cleansing bar is a dream come true in the form of a lightly fragrant and delicate cleanser. Every product feels like love. The command of knowledge that Barbara gained from her long nights of research has allowed her to create products that work for all kinds of ethnic backgrounds.
A personal favorite of Barbara’s is the Carrot Con Leche cleansing bar. The cleansing bar has organic carrots, organic rice milk and moisturizing aloe vera in each and every batch. For more information visit: www.Jacqsorganics.com
FEATURE WORTHY NAFESSA WILLIAMS “I AM WORTHY BECAUSE I AM HARDWORKING. I AM A QUEEN AND I’VE MADE UP MY MIND.”
Photographer: Bobby Quillard
Stunning and all-around phenomenal actress, Nafessa Williams lights up the scene as the star of Netflix’s “Burning Sands,” playing ‘Toya’ the friend all the boys seem to love and who lives her life in the moment. “I love her. She is so fun. She is strong and powerful. She doesn’t follow others. She follows her own rules. She is a free spirit, the life of the party and she knows what she wants,” Nafessa said. She is also appearing in the highly-anticipated reboot of “Twin Peaks,” premiering May 21st on Showtime. Possessing a lethal combination of brains and talent, Nafessa was born and raised in Philadelphia. Despite always having an affinity for acting, she started her career as a hair and beauty model with QVZ and Nick Chavez showcasing his products. At the same time, Williams was also juggling school at West Chester University where she graduated and intended to pursue a degree in law. After working in the homicide department for the D.A’s office she realized law was not her path. “It was a really cool experience. I got to sit in on cases to cases to see the ins and outs and it helped to see what I really wanted to do. It was truly awesome,” Nafessa said. Nafessa began to grow her skills and started taking acting classes with Tasha Smith and Susan Batson, and those classes would soon pay off as she booked her first job on “One Life to Live” She then decided to move to L.A and pursue acting full-time and has since been seen on shows such as “Code Black,” ‘Survivor’s Remorse,” “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” to name a few. When Nafessa is not filming, she enjoys modernizing her online fashion boutique “Saturday Dreaming,” with her best friend - inspired by women who are following their dreams and embracing their individuality along the way. She also loves staying in shape physically and mentally through running, toning, and meditation. Nafessa believes that everyone should live their purpose. Additionally, she hosts the “VIP Happy Hour” on YouTube with her friends where they inspire and motivate women to live the life that is destined for them and be #girlbosses. Beyond inspiring women, she also gives back to the community through The Beatrice Foundation where she feeds the homeless on Skidrow in downtown Los Angeles. Her advice to fellow dreamers is pretty direct. “Do what makes you happy. Follow your heart not what society or family tells you should be doing. Remain positive. Block out the noise of people. God didn’t give them your dream.”
“I AM WORTHY BECAUSE I GIVE WHAT I WANT TO RECEIVE. I’M AN OPEN-MINDED, STRONG, LOVING, FEMALE WHO LOVES NOTHING MORE THAN LIFTING UP OTHERS. WHEN YOU GIVE LOVE, YOU RECEIVE LOVE, AND I TRY TO KEEP THAT IN MIND EVERY DAY.”
JILLIAN ROSE REED
BEYOND THE AWKWARD PHASE IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO BOX JILLIAN INTO ONE CATEGORY FROM MTV TO THE DISNEY CHANNEL, THE ACTRESS SHARED WITH US HOW THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO HER THAN HIT TV SHOWS.
Photographer: Birdie Thompson Make-Up: Mandy Perez Hairstylist: Breck Csicsai
FEATURE WORTHY JILLIAN ROSE REED Let’s chat about Naomi on “Elena of Avalor” what do you love about playing her? Elena is Disney’s first Latina princess, and I play her best friend Naomi. She’s super spunky and smart! Also, she sings which is really fun! What is your favorite genre of music? Singer/Songwriter. I love John Mayer and Jason Mraz Coffee or tea? Or something else? Tea! All day everyday. Favorite genre of film? Why? To watch and potentially star in? I love comedy. I love being able to make people forget about their problems and laugh for whatever amount of time. It’s my favorite to watch and to act in. What is your definition of self-love and how do you practice it? My definition of self-love is trusting myself. I trust in myself to make decisions for my health and overall happiness every day. I trust in myself to get rid of things in my life that don’t make me happy, and I trust in myself to fill my life with things that make me feel awesome! What are your favorite television shows right now? Netflix and chill or Amazon Prime and commitment? I have a commitment problem when it comes to TV, I never watch things on time. My current fav show is UnReal on Lifetime…I can’t wait until next season! Did you want to share any news on any upcoming or current projects? “Present Tense” is streaming now on FullScreen so you can binge watch every episode! Photographer: Birdie Thompson
South Florida native, Jillian Rose Reed, gets personal and talks about moving on from the Awkward stage in her life and shares some advice with the dreamers of the world.
Viewers loved Jillian for the comedic magic that she brought to her character ,Tamara Kaplan, on MTV’s hit series Awkward. With five seasons under her belt, the actress admits that moving on took a fair of amount of effort. Nevertheless, she is embracing the new chapter of her life.
“I had to take a look at my life and career to figure out what I wanted to do next. This has definitely been a challenging, yet exciting, change in my life. I loved playing her.” So who is Jillian Rose Reed beyond her craft?
“If I had to use three words to describe myself, they would probably be: Fun-loving, stubborn, and cat-obsessed. Technically, I made that last one up but I think it counts. I have a sick obsession with trashy reality TV. Honestly, I think I have the most deluxe DirectTV package you can have, but the TV is only ever on two channels: Bravo and HGTV because I am all about home renovation shows.” The actress bolsters a number of additional titles to her resume that includes producer, singer, host and dancer. “Producing and hosting is something that I find a lot of joy in,” Jillian said. Despite all of the titles, acting remains her passion. “I was always taught that as long as I put in the work, I can achieve anything. I think that’s why I haven’t given up on such a tremendously difficult career, because I know if I put in the work that I can reap the benefits.” Her fearless doctrine is something that she advises all dreamers to follow. “My advice would be to push yourself far above and beyond your limits. Don’t let fear stop you from going after your dreams because that’s silly.” As if her fearless doctrine is not “life goals” enough for us, the actress recently a purchased a new home, which she also decorated. “It was totally cool, awesome, chaotic and stressful. It was an experience unlike any other but I loved every second of it. My favorite room is definitely my kitchen. It just feels so comfy and inviting.
WORTHY APPROVED
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IS WORTHY APPROVED
Worthy Approved
#WORTHYAPPROVED
DREAMER’S GUIDE We sit down and interview some inpsiring entrpreneurs who are making waves doing things their own way. If that doesn’t make you dream, we dont know what will. They have an open exhchange about the challenges of entrepreneurship
SHANIEISM
Shantel Turner-Collins quit her corporate job and created her own pop art stationary company that won’t stop growing. Her new planner will be the first of its kind featuring pop art of women of color shanieism.com
I have a sarcasm nature about myself. You can call it the Aries in me. When I set out to rebrand my business last November I decided that if I was going to be in business then I had to be true to myself doing something that I could actually find myself still doing five years from now. For the past couple of years I had been doing graphic design but I didn’t really like it. It was just something that I did because it paid the bills. Fast forward to November 2016. I was broke, sick as hell and really down because I was stuck doing something I hated and it wasn’t making me the kind of money that I thought it would. Believe it or not the whole idea for the product line came together two nights before I launched it on Black Friday in November, 2016. I was prompted to start Shanieism actually by sheer chance and the fact that I was tired of doing graphic design. I stumbled upon this artist who drew Pop Art with African-American women and I was like ‘oh goodness let me get with her and develop a business relationship.’ To my surprise she was honored and agreed to be my illustrator. I didn’t have a solid plan other than I wanted to creatively combine the beautiful images with cute sassy sayings, some full of profanity others full of sarcasm but all of them full of fun and make them into products that I knew women would love. The most difficult obstacle has been lack of funding and being a one woman operation, while trying to raise my daughter in a brand new city and state. However, by nothing but the Grace of God I’ve learned in very short time how to overcome those obstacles and still get things done without much static.
TIFFANY LANIER
Public speaker, Facilitator, Lifestyle entrepreneur and Shift-maker at Livewithtiffany.com
I have a diverse background which includes: Leadership, Diversity, Mass Media and Digital Marketing. Currently I’m a Public speaker, Facilitator, Lifestyle entrepreneur and Shift-maker at Livewithtiffany.com. My brands include focuses around Personal growth, Clarity, and Conscious leadership and entrepreneurship. What has been the greatest obstacle that you have overcome? Professionally or personally. There’s not enough room on this page. But one of my greatest obstacles was the complications I endured during my pregnancy. It tested my life, the life of my daughter, and the life of my business in one clean swoop. Although the doctors told me that my unborn daughter wouldn’t make it to the 24th week of my pregnancy and that I could lose my life in the process, I decided to shift from panic and into purpose. In this moment I had to become very introspective, I had to get back to the core of who I was and what I was capable of. I became centered, clear, and focused on the outcomes that I desired. Within a few months of my diagnosis, I was able to heal several of the complications, which put me in the clear for delivering on time and I ended up making more money than I ever had in business to that date. So the Moral of the story is ‘Shift into what’s possible’ because at any moment you have the power to change your circumstances no matter how gloom and doom they may seem. What has been the advice that you have been given? “You can do it all but you can’t do it all right now.”
How would you describe your customer? We would describe our customer as an elegant, design-focused woman who likes to look great while achieving greatness.
GREGORY SYLVIA HUSBAND- AND-WIFE DUO DOMINATE IN CREATING ONE- OF- AKIND LEATHER GOODS
Gregory Sylvia is a luxury brand of fine handbags and leather goods for the discerning, design-focused consumer founded by Gregory and Terri Sylvia Pope. Through innovative design, Gregory Sylvia’s product lines create a sense of timeless appeal. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Gregory Sylvia is one of the luxury leather goods market’s fastest growing brands.
28 WORTHY MAGAZINE
What would you say makes your handbags unique? Our handbags are inspired by a wide range of sources including engineering, automotive design and even nature. High emphasis is intentionally placed on innovative product design as a point of distinction to separate the brand from others. Do you have a favorite design from your collection? My favorite design would be the Ramsey bag. Its linear structure and the belted suspension design provides a bold look. What advice would you give to someone about pursing their dreams? Begin with the end in mind. Once you’ve determined your end goal, then focus on taking the next reasonable step. Stay focused and don’t allow challenges and doubt to deter you from your dream. How is it working together? What advice would you give to couples who are going into business together. While working together can have its disadvantages, it has really been a good journey for us. It has given us a common goal and has encouraged open, honest communication in business as well as other areas of our lives. It’s always a process and something that we continue to work on every day. For couples who are going into business together, we would say to first take personal inventory of each other’s strengths and weaknesses then use this to establish clear roles within your business. Finally, we would say to also take time away from work together with no discussion of business.
WORTHY COLLECTIVE Underground Fort Lauderdale Fashion Week
2.
3. 1.
4.
5.
7.
6.
Nina Garcia Hosts The Nicole Miller 2017 Spring Collection At The Underground Lauderdale Fashion Weekend Brought To You By The Greater Fort Lauderdale Conventions & Visitors Bureau And Presented By The Colonnade Outlets all photos by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Underground Lauderdale) 1. Model walking in Nicole Miller show. 2. Darnell Nicole and Hencha Voight. 3. Nina Garcia and Nicole Miller 4. John Deluca and Kavita Channe. 5. nina Garcia. 6. Model walking in Nicole Miller show. 7. Ashley Nicole Roberts and
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON