I had never met Theresa before, and despite having natural hair, had never before heard of her beauty supply store either. It was in fact one of her customers who told me about her. She spent most of her time telling me what a beautiful person Theresa was inside and out. It was mostly because of this I just had to meet her, see her for myself. I knew her business needed the attention of the natural hair public too, but that was more the backdrop to this story.

When I arrived, I knew from the moment our hands locked this would be a God moment for both of us. It was her touch, the warmth in her eyes, her humble spirit, her gentle accord that drew me in. My spirit did a somersault, it did. I had a, "This moment is bigger than you. Go with it moment with Theresa." I allowed God to direct my next steps.

What I liked so much about meeting T&S Beauty Supply (Meaning Truth and Spirit) is how there was no separation between Theresa's authenticity and the authenticity of her products. All were so real and organic. Products that work so hard at healing, restoring, maintaining a healthy presentation.

It was clear that at first, Theresa did not know what to make of me, loud, giggly, "extra", touchy. I was being all me while also trying to connect with someone I wanted desperately to help. As it turned out, we helped each other. I took a part of Theresa away with me. I am a better person just from the few minutes standing in sisterhood at her beautiful natural beauty supply shop in Snellville, GA.  Over a million people from around the world have witnessed our encounter. God is pleased. That I know. http://bit.ly/MoneyHeartProject (MEETING THERESA)

Before I left Theresa whispered to me...This was the Holy Spirit at work.

I agree with Theresa. Www.Tnsbeautysupply.com

We were driving down main street in East Point largely due to a detour my husband took to return home that day. I noticed how eerily quiet the street was this Sunday evening. More than just quiet it seemed like a place that called out to me. Out of my peripheral vision I noticed the words "CUPCAKES MAKE YOU HAPPY". I filed the thought away.

I spend a lot of time using social media, mostly Facebook. There, I read a lot about the problems in the world and who is to blame for this or for that. Sometimes it becomes too much. Too much negative finger pointing for my consumption. Everything wrong is someone else's fault. Far on blame short on solutions I tell myself. Why is the solution side of the fence  always the least inhabited?

On Monday, one day after the cupcake sighting, I opened a new bank account at a Black Owned Bank, Citizen's Trust. It was my first time. That night I decided to throw both feet into the solution side of the fence and I developed a plan. My plan? I would use my skills to help others who look like me succeed in their small business. I called it, "Putting my money where my heart is."  I am funding this by giving away all the profits from a book I wrote along with a group of my friends. I seed my profit to other small black businesses in my community.

I graduated from Howard University majoring in business and Harvard Business School majoring in marketing. I have owned several small businesses over time, most owned successfully. It is my intention to help others succeed not by reminding them of their failures but by offering them a real opportunity at success. These owners can Google the perils of failure on their own. What I aim to give them is a tangible chance at success. I am doing this by introducing them to their target market, by giving them a platform to be seen and heard. By bringing the marketplace to their doorstep. It is called exposure and a fair game at winning and building a legacy for generations to follow! Simple as that. Working together we will succeed on a level playing field.

So in under five minutes businesses share their story with others. We then come out in support of them because that is how it should be in our community. We buy from one another, support one another, root for one another, and celebrate one another. Just as it should be.
 
I am encouraged! And this new side of the fence is getting some real attention. Just as it should be.

I had never met Gator before this day, didn't know I needed to really. I was too busy getting rejected by two other small businesses. They told me we don't want to grow. Thanks but no thanks to my featuring them among my community of friends on social media. For more than a minute, my feelings were hurt. I wasn't at all prepared for no thanks, but God was and he got me ready and passed it.

While licking my wounds, I remembered a late night call from my baby sister a few days before. She said, De De, I know you are in the blessing business and I know just the small business. She went on to tell me it was a young family business with all hands on deck. They had a perfect product, delicious southern BBQ. The owner and most of his family worked in some way or another in the business. What she may not have known is this young business was struggling to stay ahead of the expenses versus revenue. They closed their doors for a few days because the air conditioner broke in the peak of summer. Gator, the 30ish year-old owner and father of six young children, was in trouble and he knew it.

On a whim, I decided to follow my sister's suggestion and go find Gator's BBQ & Soul Food. I found him alone sitting at his empty small BBQ shop one Friday evening. The first thing I noticed were his many trophies won from BBQ competitions displayed so proudly. I knew nothing of his troubles, but in any case, his fate was about to change.

I liked Gator instantly. He told me the name Gator came from constant teasing when he was young due to his eczema. He said, "I took a negative and turned it into a positive!"  Over the next 4 1/2 minutes I directed a video on Gator and let him tell me about his business. The rest is history!

What is so beautiful about this story is God led me to Gator. His wife told me by phone that just two days before Gator was at his lowest point. He said, God usually sends me a sign that everything is going to be okay and I haven't seen any signs. I am worried this business may not have been the right thing to do.

HIs sign came on 8/5 at about 5:15 PM. Our paths crossed and now Gator's business has been seen by over 600,000 people in the first two days. It has been shared nationally on FB over 9,000 times already. The afternoon after the video went live so many people came near and far to support him, he ran completely out of food. YES! But people waited and so many said they would be back again.

I wrote a book along with 31 other women telling of our personal challenges and how through our faith we overcame them. The book, "This is my story, but it is not my life", has been well-received. With those profits, I have been able to give back. I left Gator with a hefty seed check to help him along his way and get him over the hump. I simply put my money where my heart is. We all did a great thing working together!
THE VIDEO LINK I WILL TRY TO ADD pic.twitter.com/6HdI4a6v35
GATOR BBQ & SOUL FOOD 2195 Brockett Road Clarkston, GA