January 19, 2025 • 23 mins
Ever wondered how a simple desire to create something meaningful can spark an entire movement? Meet Makeba Griffin, the visionary behind Makeba Design Print, who turned a passion for art and graphic design into a flourishing business that champions diverse beauty. Discover how a quest to design backpacks that reflected her daughters' identities not only birthed her brand but also catapulted her into the spotlight, with features in Essence magazine and collaborations with retail giants like Walmart Canada. Makeba opens up about the power of customization, a request inspired by her son, and the intentional choices that set her apart in the creative industry.
Our conversation with Makeba is a testament to the magic of community support and unexpected opportunities. Listen as Makeba discusses the importance of being intentional in both design and business, aligning decisions with personal and professional goals, and her exciting future endeavors in STEM and STREAM. As we reflect on the enriching journey of podcasting, we celebrate each listen and look forward to sharing more inspiring stories with you on "Three Keys for Your Journey.
Thank you for listening! YouTube - @3KeysforYourJourney -Tune in for a new episode every Sunday. Connect with us at www.ocfo.info
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
are you ready to unlock your potential?
Tune in to three keys for yourjourney podcast, where business
owners share invaluable insightsand empowering strategies to
guide you towards success.
Based in Oklahoma City, ourhost, greg T Jones, will inspire
and motivate you every week.
Get ready to join ourconversation as we build
(00:36):
community together.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
All right, good afternoon, makeba Griffin.
I have the privilege.
Oh, y'all don't understand.
Right now I feel nervous andshaking over here sweating.
I got the one and only MakebaGriffin.
Makeba Design and Prints livein studio.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
How are you today?
I'm doing well.
You're talking about nervous.
I'm the one rubbing my knees.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Oh God, Y'all are in for a treat today.
Oh my gosh, we were justreflecting before the show
started.
It sounds like we first metabout two years ago.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Two years ago and midweek.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
OK, so Minority Enterprise Development Week and
we were on the same committeetogether.
We were yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yeah, and you know I have to tell like the story
because I kind of shared it withsome people, how I say the Greg
Jones.
So the story behind it isbecause I, you know, was looking
for different fun is when I waslooking at this big business
had, well, manufacturer,retailer kind of contacted me
(01:44):
and they wanted some of my itemsin a store.
So I contacted like smallbusiness of commerce and a guy
there.
He was like hey, the personthat you need to talk to is Greg
Jones.
So we had just got throughhaving a midweek committee
meeting and you know how I havelike the notations on the names
(02:07):
and I was like greg jones.
Man, that name sounded reallyfamiliar right now.
Wait, I think we was in ameeting.
So here it is, the next week.
I was like okay, let me see.
And there greg jones was.
I was like okay, so I calledand I was like hey, this is
makiba, he's trying to figureout.
How do you even know my name?
I was like we are on the isMakiba he's trying to figure out
.
How do you even know my name?
I was like we are on themidweek committee together and
(02:28):
the rest is history.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Wow, that is good that you remember that.
I do remember that now.
But yeah, because you wereinstrumental in putting a lot of
the graphics together and justall that stuff, and you know how
you meet virtually and youdon't really get a chance to
meet people and know people.
But that's ironic that somebodyknew you, told you to call me
and we're on the same committeeworking together.
Yes, the rest is history.
(02:49):
So for our listening audienceout there, we made a big deal
about who you are, who I am.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Tell people what you want people to know about you.
Hi everyone that's listening orviewing.
My name is Makeba Griffin andI'm the founder of Makeba Design
Print, where we create coolthreads and stylish bags that
celebrate diverse beauty withrelatable designs.
(03:16):
You know, just with childrenespecially my children and mine
there was no representation ofthings that looked like them, so
I just created it.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
So that's how Makeba Designs was birthed.
Okay, so do you have abackground in graphic design?
I mean, how did you get thislove for wanting to create
things?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Graphic design and art has always been like my
passion, so art is just in thefamily.
We have carpenters andsculptors, artists with oil and
paint.
I've been drawing since I wasabout four or five years old and
I kind of just went back to thehistory of my passion.
I was trying to see well, howcan I, you know, bring that
(04:01):
passion back and just picked upthe pen and pencil and started
digitizing some of my artworkand research.
How can I get this, theseillustrations on bags?
For it was really just for mygirls, but it just became bigger
than that.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Wow, okay, some point today you got to tell the story
, because all I remember thestory about how the backpacks
got started.
Okay, can you tell that story?
Speaker 3 (04:28):
yes.
So my girls wanted to go backto school with backpacks that
look like them, but we didn'thave.
I could look online, looked inthe stores and couldn't find
anything at all.
So I just researched, trying tosee how can I do this for them.
(04:48):
So I end up, you know, find amanufacturer.
Long story short find amanufacturer.
And I was at a natural hair showand just wanted to introduce
some of the items to see how,you know, the ladies want to
gravitate to it.
Boy, it was a big hit.
People was, you know, kind ofpre-ordering then.
And then what one thing thatsets me aside from other um, you
(05:13):
know the customers were fromthe competition is my
customization.
So customization is one factorthat a lot of people know me as.
So thanks to my son, my son.
He had his oldest son and heneeded a diaper bag and he
didn't want just a regulargirly-looking diaper bag.
So he wanted a backpack and Iillustrated my grandson and put
(05:36):
it on a bag.
And boy, they went viral.
So now I'm just doing custom,getting notice from different
magazines and retail stores.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
So that's how I started.
Okay, so you're dropping dimes.
We need to know what some ofthese dimes are Now you've been
featured in a few differentmagazines.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I have one of the biggest magazines, Essence, so I
was featured in Essencemagazine and from that feature
you never know, like, like,who's watching you and just keep
pushing.
So I was featuring at EssenceMagazine and a year later a
buyer from Walmart Canadacontacted me.
It was like hey, I remember youin this magazine.
(06:17):
We want 10,200 units of yourbackpacks and lunch bags.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Oh my gosh.
Wow so you got Wow.
So OK, we haven't got to thekeys yet, but I'm taking that
one Keep pushing, Keep pushing.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, that's good transition leaders in their
respective places with keysalong the journey, and I think
of keys as unlocking doors.
I think sometimes you have keysin your pocket, some keys I
don't use, some keys I do needto use, and the idea around the
podcast is that we want toprovide people with keys.
(06:56):
So what are some things thatyou've learned along your
journey that you can share withour listening audience?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
So some things that I've learned along the journey,
even from others and my mentorhave to say I have the most
amazing mentor and businesscoach, greg T Jones.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
So here we go, thank you.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I have to say you know, just on this journey I'm
going to name one key is to beintentional.
If you look at like, one of mymissions is to just be
intentional on, like my designaspect or who I'm trying to
reach.
So I'm always trying to beintentional.
And this other key is somethingthat I had to learn and if it
(07:42):
wasn't for my mentor to say no,that's a major key.
Learning to say no, there'snothing wrong with, you know,
saying no and I know we're kindof elaborate a little bit more
on it and then collaborateprogress and not just results.
So that's another key okay.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
So, oh okay, which one do we want to start with?
Cause, those are all good.
Where do you want to start?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
We can start with learning when to say no.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Okay, learning when to say no.
What's the power of that?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Man, let me tell you.
So we, you know, my mentor andI, greg, we had at that time
because we were still learning,and he's we had at that time
because we were still learning,and he's coaching me through my
different Walmart, different,you know, deals and talking
international.
And he already knew that I wasjust at the point of overwhelmed
(08:37):
and I'm saying yes, it is yes,it is yes, it is Even with
family, friends.
But he had to tell me you'regoing to have to say no, it's
okay, it's okay to say no.
And when I started saying no,I'm like, hey, this feels kind
of good, it's freeing up sometime I get to some me time again
(09:01):
.
And I wasn't feeling bad.
So here it is, I'll you know,I'll next week call.
So how's it going?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
I'm like I'm still saying no wow, so it freed you
so that you got your time back.
What would you say?
It did anything else.
When I say that, I mean sayingno, freed you, you got your time
back, but did it make you anyless productive?
Did it make you more productive?
Speaker 3 (09:26):
It made me more productive.
In that meantime, I was able tocreate a new product.
I have my STEM and streamproduct with the coloring books
and the puzzles, with thecoloring books and the puzzles.
So it's yeah, taking that metime.
Just allow me to be strategicon me bringing in a new product
(09:47):
line or even just taking timefor myself.
Not even have to just createsomething new.
Just taking some of that timeback.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Wow.
We've had another guest on hereand he shared something about
that.
He said saying no makes myyeses more effective.
And so, as you're talking aboutthat, it makes me think so
again.
If you're listening out thereand you're like, yeah, that's me
, I say yes to everything.
Well, you just heard it todaythat maybe saying no more often,
(10:17):
freeing up your time, will helpyou become more effective.
Exactly, that's wonderful.
Wow, exactly.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
And I have to even add with, because I'm such a
collaborator, I lovecollaborations, but sometimes
you have to think does this makesense?
Not necessarily what's in itfor me, but it just still has to
make sense.
So don't even say yes to allthe collaborations, because
sometimes the collaborations maynot even line up with your
(10:47):
mission or your vision or justthe integrity part of your, your
business, because I definitelyhad to say no to a business that
it just wasn't um, somethingthat that Makeba Design would do
.
So, I can't say yes toeverything, even if you think
well, I have the time, but itstill has to make sense.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Well, I like that as well.
So I'm pulling out what yousaid there is you need to have a
mission and a vision statement,and let that be your litmus
test.
So, whether you say yes or yousay no, and so if you're trying
to figure out, does it makesense?
Use as as some guardrails kindof in your decision making
process?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Exactly.
Oh, wow, ok, yeah, ok, exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
OK, all right.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
What else we can.
Number two let's talk aboutnumber two.
Ok, the celebrate progress, notjust results.
What do you mean by that?
Celebrate progress, not justresults?
What do you mean by that?
Let me tell you, so you know.
So it's so easy kind of gettingcaught up on celebrating just
big wins.
So I had to kind of take a stepback in just appreciating the
(12:00):
journey and celebrating smallwins.
So if I got an order yesterday,it's probably two orders.
I'm celebrating that there'stwo other people that didn't
know me that now knows me, andyou know it's just repetitious
because those two people isprobably going to introduce to
20 or 30 people.
So I'm just learning tocelebrate when I can 20 or 30
(12:21):
people.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
So I'm just learning to celebrate when I can.
I love that example, becausesometimes the way we equate wins
are only the big wins versusone customer at a time is one
more customer than I had.
And then you said somethingelse that that I think is worth
repeating that if you do a goodjob, provide the right service,
(12:45):
that customer tells other peopleExactly.
Has that happened to you?
Speaker 3 (12:48):
It has it happened so many times because, you know,
word of mouth is always just thethe most marketing strategies
that you can do.
It's one person you know, um,ordered for me and I was like,
oh you know, because I Icelebrate small wins, but that
(13:09):
one person worked at thiscompany and I end up doing the
entire company shirts and mugsso that one order turned into
150.
Wow, so celebrate your smallwins.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
And when you say, celebrate what I'm saying to you
as a business owner out thereis, celebrate that to yourself.
Like it doesn't have to be somebig party you throwing for
people like to yourself.
You take some time out toactually celebrate the win and
then, when you have theseopportunities where that win
turned into something else, howgood is that and how good does
(13:45):
that feel?
When somebody else toldsomebody else about your
business and about you, Exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
I mean, it just feels amazing even to just reflect on
well, this happened becausethis happened, and now this is
happening because of thathappened.
So it you know, it's just feelgreat when you just sit back and
cheer for yourself.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Well, and I have to share with our listening
audience as well the time ofthis taping this podcast.
I literally was on our way toour meeting place, where we are
now, and heard a commercial.
It was Makeiba's commercial onthe radio that she ain't never
heard before, and then, shestarts telling me the backstory
that she was uh meeting with oneof the radio executives and yes
(14:29):
he heard about her and said Iwant to do something for you and
literally cut her some radiospots and then put the radio
spots out there to promote yourbusiness I mean a shout, shout
out to Perry Publishing becauseyou know we were at an event
with Urban League and I saw themacross.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
You know, sometimes you're kind of hesitant when you
see you're in this room, whereit's like, man, I don't even
supposed to be in here, but I'min this room with all of these
different leaders.
And I saw him because he wasone of the hosts and recipients
and I just went over and waslike hey, you know, I just want
to speak.
(15:08):
And he was like you know,makeba, because you know,
sometimes you think you're notbeing impactful but you are,
because he remembered me fromWomen of color expo.
But he was like, you know, yousoared into me, I want to soar
to you, come to the office.
And I was like, okay, you know,not expecting to be having a
(15:31):
radio ad, but you know, justshout out to um kevin perry and
perry publishing.
You guys are, uh, amazing and Iappreciate.
You know the ad and thenotification is crazy.
You just never know who you'reimpacting.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And that's awesome and I, you know, I've had
relationships with them over thelast number of years and you're
right, I mean very supportiveof things that are going on in
the community, and so when youtold me that story, it wasn't
surprising at all.
But I think that's an attributeof and I say this all the time
common and unity equalscommunity.
And when you find things incommon, then that's how we build
(16:10):
a community.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Wow, that's fantastic .
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I just had to share that because you know this is
real time, like what are thethings that actually impact us,
what are the stories that areactually happening?
And is real time like what,what are the things that
actually impact us, what are thestories that are actually
happening?
And wow, this just happened.
And so we were literally, Iliterally got my phone out and I
said girl, let me, let me playthe, the, the, the ad for you,
and played it for, and shehadn't even heard it yet, I mean
.
So I just think that that'samazing, that's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Yeah, that was amazing, or?
Speaker 2 (16:34):
as you would say.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Your word is wow, wow , wow wow, that is my word wow,
wow, wow okay, so we've talkedabout a couple of them.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Which one have we not talked about?
We haven't talked about beintentional okay, let's talk
about that being intentional sobasically like being intentional
, this even when it's coming todesigning.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
So I'm intentional on the audience and you know, I
have to say at first I was kindof closing myself off in the box
just trying to design forchildren of color, but that was
my inspiration on how and why Igot started.
So now I'm being intentionaland trying to reach outside of
(17:23):
that box because it's otherchildren that also need
inspiration and representation.
So I'm just being moreintentional on just not just
designing, but you know,throughout the my process,
everything within my keyboarddesign.
So it's just intentional.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Well, what I'm hearing, what you're saying, is
the questions that you're asking, really trying to understand
your client's kind of heartpurpose what they're trying to
get accomplished.
All those things becomecritically important, so that
when you produce or designsomething, you keep all those
things in mind.
(18:04):
So, what I think you're sayingis it's not the cookie cutter
approach.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Right.
And then you know, in additionto that, and say you know you're
making a decision, is thatdecision making you closer to
your goal?
So it's all about just beingintentional on you trying to get
to the goal you're trying toreach.
So is that decision, is itgoing to help me or is it going
(18:32):
to hinder me?
So just kind of be mindful andintentional.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Well, I love that.
That too.
It kind of ties to thisintentionally being able to say
no to things right, exactly,yeah, because you got to be
thinking, you got to have inyour mind is it hurting me, is
it helping me?
But you got to come to thatrealization.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
So, as your growth process over the last number of
years, I mean, you know, if youlook back and go, man, where I
was, you know, two years ago orthree years ago, where I am now
as you look forward, what aresome things you're looking
forward to?
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Oh, wow, wow, it's some things is definitely in the
works, especially in the STEM,because I'm adding STEM and
stream.
You know, I have to kind ofgive thanks to Kidvation Global,
kind of give thanks toKidvation Global.
I've been, you know, invited tospeak to their children there
about because I'm a productbased business and a lot of
(19:23):
businesses, you know, don't talkabout the product base of it.
Yeah, just being able to be ona panel with with them and
working with those kids andbecause I'm getting ready to
launch my STEM streamsubscription box so the kids at,
you know, millwood would beable to help me prepare that box
(19:46):
.
So I'm excited about that.
With Kidvation, I just had acollaboration with another small
business, with K-20 Gear Up, sowe was there talking to those
students about the productbusiness.
You know, learning about fixedvariables and just different
things costs that you don't hearjust on your day-to-day, but
(20:08):
being a product-based business,but yeah, it's some things
that's in the work and you justneed to be watching, watching
Makeba Designs.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I like it, I like it, I like it.
So you know, we're in the earlystages of this podcast, and so
what that means is when Makebacomes back, you know, I don't
know, it might be our 50thepisode or 100th episode.
We're going to expect biggerand better things.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
That's right Wow.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
So for our listening audience, people are going to be
hitting me up saying Greg, howdo I get in contact with Makeba?
How can people find you?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Listen, you can go online MakebaDesignscom if you
just want to shop.
We do have a ready to ship tab.
You can go there.
We ship those items out withintwo to three days.
We ship those items out withintwo to three days.
I'm on Facebook, Instagram atMakeba Designs and my personal
business number is 405-352-3557.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Wow, okay, she gave the website Don't worry Website
phone number her socials.
When you get a chance to listento this podcast, we'll put all
of this information in thecomments so that you will have
the opportunity to reach out toMakeba Designs and Prince, and I
always tell people get in now,get in where you can fit in,
because you know we already have.
(21:28):
She talked about international,so we don't know what our next
stop is, but we're glad that wehave you here, based out of
Oklahoma City, and thank you somuch for being on our podcast,
anything you, any lasties thatyou want to add.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Before we wrap things up, let's see anything that I
want to add, um, just to eventalk about.
To finalize on the celebrateprogress.
Celebrate the journey is justas important as the destination.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
And we'll just sit there for a while on that
Celebrate.
The journey is just asimportant as the destination.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Wow, wow, yep Again, thank you.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I'm going to celebrate the journey, celebrate
, celebrate the journey Each andevery podcast.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
I'm gonna celebrate the journey, celebrate,
celebrate the journey.
Each, each and every podcast,I'm gonna celebrate.
I'm celebrating the journeyevery listen, every download,
every share, you get wow becauseI don't even know what the
destination is, to be honestwith you.
But I do know that I amenjoying this journey and I have
enjoyed our conversation today.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
I have too.
It's always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Thank you so much and we will look forward to having
you back on the show.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Thanks for joining Three Keys for your Journey.
Tune in next time for anotherepisode.
are you ready to unlock your potential?
Tune in to three keys for yourjourney podcast, where business
owners share invaluable insightsand empowering strategies to
guide you towards success.
Based in Oklahoma City, ourhost, greg T Jones, will inspire
and motivate you every week.
Get ready to join ourconversation as we build
(00:36):
community together.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
All right, good afternoon, makeba Griffin.
I have the privilege.
Oh, y'all don't understand.
Right now I feel nervous andshaking over here sweating.
I got the one and only MakebaGriffin.
Makeba Design and Prints livein studio.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
How are you today?
I'm doing well.
You're talking about nervous.
I'm the one rubbing my knees.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Oh God, Y'all are in for a treat today.
Oh my gosh, we were justreflecting before the show
started.
It sounds like we first metabout two years ago.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Two years ago and midweek.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
OK, so Minority Enterprise Development Week and
we were on the same committeetogether.
We were yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Yeah, and you know I have to tell like the story
because I kind of shared it withsome people, how I say the Greg
Jones.
So the story behind it isbecause I, you know, was looking
for different fun is when I waslooking at this big business
had, well, manufacturer,retailer kind of contacted me
(01:44):
and they wanted some of my itemsin a store.
So I contacted like smallbusiness of commerce and a guy
there.
He was like hey, the personthat you need to talk to is Greg
Jones.
So we had just got throughhaving a midweek committee
meeting and you know how I havelike the notations on the names
(02:07):
and I was like greg jones.
Man, that name sounded reallyfamiliar right now.
Wait, I think we was in ameeting.
So here it is, the next week.
I was like okay, let me see.
And there greg jones was.
I was like okay, so I calledand I was like hey, this is
makiba, he's trying to figureout.
How do you even know my name?
I was like we are on the isMakiba he's trying to figure out
.
How do you even know my name?
I was like we are on themidweek committee together and
(02:28):
the rest is history.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Wow, that is good that you remember that.
I do remember that now.
But yeah, because you wereinstrumental in putting a lot of
the graphics together and justall that stuff, and you know how
you meet virtually and youdon't really get a chance to
meet people and know people.
But that's ironic that somebodyknew you, told you to call me
and we're on the same committeeworking together.
Yes, the rest is history.
(02:49):
So for our listening audienceout there, we made a big deal
about who you are, who I am.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Tell people what you want people to know about you.
Hi everyone that's listening orviewing.
My name is Makeba Griffin andI'm the founder of Makeba Design
Print, where we create coolthreads and stylish bags that
celebrate diverse beauty withrelatable designs.
(03:16):
You know, just with childrenespecially my children and mine
there was no representation ofthings that looked like them, so
I just created it.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
So that's how Makeba Designs was birthed.
Okay, so do you have abackground in graphic design?
I mean, how did you get thislove for wanting to create
things?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Graphic design and art has always been like my
passion, so art is just in thefamily.
We have carpenters andsculptors, artists with oil and
paint.
I've been drawing since I wasabout four or five years old and
I kind of just went back to thehistory of my passion.
I was trying to see well, howcan I, you know, bring that
(04:01):
passion back and just picked upthe pen and pencil and started
digitizing some of my artworkand research.
How can I get this, theseillustrations on bags?
For it was really just for mygirls, but it just became bigger
than that.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Wow, okay, some point today you got to tell the story
, because all I remember thestory about how the backpacks
got started.
Okay, can you tell that story?
Speaker 3 (04:28):
yes.
So my girls wanted to go backto school with backpacks that
look like them, but we didn'thave.
I could look online, looked inthe stores and couldn't find
anything at all.
So I just researched, trying tosee how can I do this for them.
(04:48):
So I end up, you know, find amanufacturer.
Long story short find amanufacturer.
And I was at a natural hair showand just wanted to introduce
some of the items to see how,you know, the ladies want to
gravitate to it.
Boy, it was a big hit.
People was, you know, kind ofpre-ordering then.
And then what one thing thatsets me aside from other um, you
(05:13):
know the customers were fromthe competition is my
customization.
So customization is one factorthat a lot of people know me as.
So thanks to my son, my son.
He had his oldest son and heneeded a diaper bag and he
didn't want just a regulargirly-looking diaper bag.
So he wanted a backpack and Iillustrated my grandson and put
(05:36):
it on a bag.
And boy, they went viral.
So now I'm just doing custom,getting notice from different
magazines and retail stores.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
So that's how I started.
Okay, so you're dropping dimes.
We need to know what some ofthese dimes are Now you've been
featured in a few differentmagazines.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I have one of the biggest magazines, Essence, so I
was featured in Essencemagazine and from that feature
you never know, like, like,who's watching you and just keep
pushing.
So I was featuring at EssenceMagazine and a year later a
buyer from Walmart Canadacontacted me.
It was like hey, I remember youin this magazine.
(06:17):
We want 10,200 units of yourbackpacks and lunch bags.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Oh my gosh.
Wow so you got Wow.
So OK, we haven't got to thekeys yet, but I'm taking that
one Keep pushing, Keep pushing.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, that's good transition leaders in their
respective places with keysalong the journey, and I think
of keys as unlocking doors.
I think sometimes you have keysin your pocket, some keys I
don't use, some keys I do needto use, and the idea around the
podcast is that we want toprovide people with keys.
(06:56):
So what are some things thatyou've learned along your
journey that you can share withour listening audience?
Speaker 3 (07:03):
So some things that I've learned along the journey,
even from others and my mentorhave to say I have the most
amazing mentor and businesscoach, greg T Jones.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
So here we go, thank you.
Speaker 3 (07:19):
I have to say you know, just on this journey I'm
going to name one key is to beintentional.
If you look at like, one of mymissions is to just be
intentional on, like my designaspect or who I'm trying to
reach.
So I'm always trying to beintentional.
And this other key is somethingthat I had to learn and if it
(07:42):
wasn't for my mentor to say no,that's a major key.
Learning to say no, there'snothing wrong with, you know,
saying no and I know we're kindof elaborate a little bit more
on it and then collaborateprogress and not just results.
So that's another key okay.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
So, oh okay, which one do we want to start with?
Cause, those are all good.
Where do you want to start?
Speaker 3 (08:10):
We can start with learning when to say no.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Okay, learning when to say no.
What's the power of that?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Man, let me tell you.
So we, you know, my mentor andI, greg, we had at that time
because we were still learning,and he's we had at that time
because we were still learning,and he's coaching me through my
different Walmart, different,you know, deals and talking
international.
And he already knew that I wasjust at the point of overwhelmed
(08:37):
and I'm saying yes, it is yes,it is yes, it is Even with
family, friends.
But he had to tell me you'regoing to have to say no, it's
okay, it's okay to say no.
And when I started saying no,I'm like, hey, this feels kind
of good, it's freeing up sometime I get to some me time again
(09:01):
.
And I wasn't feeling bad.
So here it is, I'll you know,I'll next week call.
So how's it going?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
I'm like I'm still saying no wow, so it freed you
so that you got your time back.
What would you say?
It did anything else.
When I say that, I mean sayingno, freed you, you got your time
back, but did it make you anyless productive?
Did it make you more productive?
Speaker 3 (09:26):
It made me more productive.
In that meantime, I was able tocreate a new product.
I have my STEM and streamproduct with the coloring books
and the puzzles, with thecoloring books and the puzzles.
So it's yeah, taking that metime.
Just allow me to be strategicon me bringing in a new product
(09:47):
line or even just taking timefor myself.
Not even have to just createsomething new.
Just taking some of that timeback.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Wow.
We've had another guest on hereand he shared something about
that.
He said saying no makes myyeses more effective.
And so, as you're talking aboutthat, it makes me think so
again.
If you're listening out thereand you're like, yeah, that's me
, I say yes to everything.
Well, you just heard it todaythat maybe saying no more often,
(10:17):
freeing up your time, will helpyou become more effective.
Exactly, that's wonderful.
Wow, exactly.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
And I have to even add with, because I'm such a
collaborator, I lovecollaborations, but sometimes
you have to think does this makesense?
Not necessarily what's in itfor me, but it just still has to
make sense.
So don't even say yes to allthe collaborations, because
sometimes the collaborations maynot even line up with your
(10:47):
mission or your vision or justthe integrity part of your, your
business, because I definitelyhad to say no to a business that
it just wasn't um, somethingthat that Makeba Design would do
.
So, I can't say yes toeverything, even if you think
well, I have the time, but itstill has to make sense.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Well, I like that as well.
So I'm pulling out what yousaid there is you need to have a
mission and a vision statement,and let that be your litmus
test.
So, whether you say yes or yousay no, and so if you're trying
to figure out, does it makesense?
Use as as some guardrails kindof in your decision making
process?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Exactly.
Oh, wow, ok, yeah, ok, exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
OK, all right.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
What else we can.
Number two let's talk aboutnumber two.
Ok, the celebrate progress, notjust results.
What do you mean by that?
Celebrate progress, not justresults?
What do you mean by that?
Let me tell you, so you know.
So it's so easy kind of gettingcaught up on celebrating just
big wins.
So I had to kind of take a stepback in just appreciating the
(12:00):
journey and celebrating smallwins.
So if I got an order yesterday,it's probably two orders.
I'm celebrating that there'stwo other people that didn't
know me that now knows me, andyou know it's just repetitious
because those two people isprobably going to introduce to
20 or 30 people.
So I'm just learning tocelebrate when I can 20 or 30
(12:21):
people.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
So I'm just learning to celebrate when I can.
I love that example, becausesometimes the way we equate wins
are only the big wins versusone customer at a time is one
more customer than I had.
And then you said somethingelse that that I think is worth
repeating that if you do a goodjob, provide the right service,
(12:45):
that customer tells other peopleExactly.
Has that happened to you?
Speaker 3 (12:48):
It has it happened so many times because, you know,
word of mouth is always just thethe most marketing strategies
that you can do.
It's one person you know, um,ordered for me and I was like,
oh you know, because I Icelebrate small wins, but that
(13:09):
one person worked at thiscompany and I end up doing the
entire company shirts and mugsso that one order turned into
150.
Wow, so celebrate your smallwins.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
And when you say, celebrate what I'm saying to you
as a business owner out thereis, celebrate that to yourself.
Like it doesn't have to be somebig party you throwing for
people like to yourself.
You take some time out toactually celebrate the win and
then, when you have theseopportunities where that win
turned into something else, howgood is that and how good does
(13:45):
that feel?
When somebody else toldsomebody else about your
business and about you, Exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
I mean, it just feels amazing even to just reflect on
well, this happened becausethis happened, and now this is
happening because of thathappened.
So it you know, it's just feelgreat when you just sit back and
cheer for yourself.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Well, and I have to share with our listening
audience as well the time ofthis taping this podcast.
I literally was on our way toour meeting place, where we are
now, and heard a commercial.
It was Makeiba's commercial onthe radio that she ain't never
heard before, and then, shestarts telling me the backstory
that she was uh meeting with oneof the radio executives and yes
(14:29):
he heard about her and said Iwant to do something for you and
literally cut her some radiospots and then put the radio
spots out there to promote yourbusiness I mean a shout, shout
out to Perry Publishing becauseyou know we were at an event
with Urban League and I saw themacross.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
You know, sometimes you're kind of hesitant when you
see you're in this room, whereit's like, man, I don't even
supposed to be in here, but I'min this room with all of these
different leaders.
And I saw him because he wasone of the hosts and recipients
and I just went over and waslike hey, you know, I just want
to speak.
(15:08):
And he was like you know,makeba, because you know,
sometimes you think you're notbeing impactful but you are,
because he remembered me fromWomen of color expo.
But he was like, you know, yousoared into me, I want to soar
to you, come to the office.
And I was like, okay, you know,not expecting to be having a
(15:31):
radio ad, but you know, justshout out to um kevin perry and
perry publishing.
You guys are, uh, amazing and Iappreciate.
You know the ad and thenotification is crazy.
You just never know who you'reimpacting.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
And that's awesome and I, you know, I've had
relationships with them over thelast number of years and you're
right, I mean very supportiveof things that are going on in
the community, and so when youtold me that story, it wasn't
surprising at all.
But I think that's an attributeof and I say this all the time
common and unity equalscommunity.
And when you find things incommon, then that's how we build
(16:10):
a community.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Wow, that's fantastic .
Speaker 2 (16:13):
I just had to share that because you know this is
real time, like what are thethings that actually impact us,
what are the stories that areactually happening?
And is real time like what,what are the things that
actually impact us, what are thestories that are actually
happening?
And wow, this just happened.
And so we were literally, Iliterally got my phone out and I
said girl, let me, let me playthe, the, the, the ad for you,
and played it for, and shehadn't even heard it yet, I mean
.
So I just think that that'samazing, that's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Yeah, that was amazing, or?
Speaker 2 (16:34):
as you would say.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Your word is wow, wow , wow wow, that is my word wow,
wow, wow okay, so we've talkedabout a couple of them.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Which one have we not talked about?
We haven't talked about beintentional okay, let's talk
about that being intentional sobasically like being intentional
, this even when it's coming todesigning.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
So I'm intentional on the audience and you know, I
have to say at first I was kindof closing myself off in the box
just trying to design forchildren of color, but that was
my inspiration on how and why Igot started.
So now I'm being intentionaland trying to reach outside of
(17:23):
that box because it's otherchildren that also need
inspiration and representation.
So I'm just being moreintentional on just not just
designing, but you know,throughout the my process,
everything within my keyboarddesign.
So it's just intentional.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Well, what I'm hearing, what you're saying, is
the questions that you're asking, really trying to understand
your client's kind of heartpurpose what they're trying to
get accomplished.
All those things becomecritically important, so that
when you produce or designsomething, you keep all those
things in mind.
(18:04):
So, what I think you're sayingis it's not the cookie cutter
approach.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Right.
And then you know, in additionto that, and say you know you're
making a decision, is thatdecision making you closer to
your goal?
So it's all about just beingintentional on you trying to get
to the goal you're trying toreach.
So is that decision, is itgoing to help me or is it going
(18:32):
to hinder me?
So just kind of be mindful andintentional.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Well, I love that.
That too.
It kind of ties to thisintentionally being able to say
no to things right, exactly,yeah, because you got to be
thinking, you got to have inyour mind is it hurting me, is
it helping me?
But you got to come to thatrealization.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
So, as your growth process over the last number of
years, I mean, you know, if youlook back and go, man, where I
was, you know, two years ago orthree years ago, where I am now
as you look forward, what aresome things you're looking
forward to?
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Oh, wow, wow, it's some things is definitely in the
works, especially in the STEM,because I'm adding STEM and
stream.
You know, I have to kind ofgive thanks to Kidvation Global,
kind of give thanks toKidvation Global.
I've been, you know, invited tospeak to their children there
about because I'm a productbased business and a lot of
(19:23):
businesses, you know, don't talkabout the product base of it.
Yeah, just being able to be ona panel with with them and
working with those kids andbecause I'm getting ready to
launch my STEM streamsubscription box so the kids at,
you know, millwood would beable to help me prepare that box
(19:46):
.
So I'm excited about that.
With Kidvation, I just had acollaboration with another small
business, with K-20 Gear Up, sowe was there talking to those
students about the productbusiness.
You know, learning about fixedvariables and just different
things costs that you don't hearjust on your day-to-day, but
(20:08):
being a product-based business,but yeah, it's some things
that's in the work and you justneed to be watching, watching
Makeba Designs.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I like it, I like it, I like it.
So you know, we're in the earlystages of this podcast, and so
what that means is when Makebacomes back, you know, I don't
know, it might be our 50thepisode or 100th episode.
We're going to expect biggerand better things.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
That's right Wow.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
So for our listening audience, people are going to be
hitting me up saying Greg, howdo I get in contact with Makeba?
How can people find you?
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Listen, you can go online MakebaDesignscom if you
just want to shop.
We do have a ready to ship tab.
You can go there.
We ship those items out withintwo to three days.
We ship those items out withintwo to three days.
I'm on Facebook, Instagram atMakeba Designs and my personal
business number is 405-352-3557.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Wow, okay, she gave the website Don't worry Website
phone number her socials.
When you get a chance to listento this podcast, we'll put all
of this information in thecomments so that you will have
the opportunity to reach out toMakeba Designs and Prince, and I
always tell people get in now,get in where you can fit in,
because you know we already have.
(21:28):
She talked about international,so we don't know what our next
stop is, but we're glad that wehave you here, based out of
Oklahoma City, and thank you somuch for being on our podcast,
anything you, any lasties thatyou want to add.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Before we wrap things up, let's see anything that I
want to add, um, just to eventalk about.
To finalize on the celebrateprogress.
Celebrate the journey is justas important as the destination.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
And we'll just sit there for a while on that
Celebrate.
The journey is just asimportant as the destination.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Wow, wow, yep Again, thank you.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I'm going to celebrate the journey, celebrate
, celebrate the journey Each andevery podcast.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
I'm gonna celebrate the journey, celebrate,
celebrate the journey.
Each, each and every podcast,I'm gonna celebrate.
I'm celebrating the journeyevery listen, every download,
every share, you get wow becauseI don't even know what the
destination is, to be honestwith you.
But I do know that I amenjoying this journey and I have
enjoyed our conversation today.
Speaker 3 (22:35):
I have too.
It's always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Thank you so much and we will look forward to having
you back on the show.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Thanks for joining Three Keys for your Journey.
Tune in next time for anotherepisode.
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