Meet Maame Serwaa; The Author Of Micah & Myrah books Series & Founder of Glow Village (Skin Care Company)
It is with great pleasure I introduce to you my next guest Maame Serwaa. She is a mom of 3 and the founder of Glow Village. She is also a children’s book author of the Micha & Myrah books series and glows in all she does. I am beyond proud of her tenacity and audacity to face all trials amidst all odds. Read her entrepreneurship journey and be inspired to keep going.
What inspired you to take the path of entrepreneurship? Everybody has a story, what is your story?
I have always known that I was cut out for entrepreneurship, even as a young girl. We often go through the traditional career journey as we figure it out but being a full-time entrepreneur is the ultimate goal for me. I grew up watching both of my parents manage their businesses which were intriguing for me to witness. The spark for me took place when I worked for my brother’s business in high school. The sense of fulfillment and pride that came out of his creation opened my mind to the fact that it is possible to create my own business and build up on it.
What advice will you give your younger self?
I would advise my younger self to believe in herself without any limits. Looking back now, society’s perceptions and limiting beliefs imposed on my generation made me a little scared to dream bigger. Thank God for growth, I am in a different mindset, and had I realized this sooner, I would have pursued certain goals earlier without fear or self-limiting beliefs.
Relationship building – Let’s talk about this!
Relationship building in the entrepreneurial world is pretty much a result of effective networking. I must say that I do this with caution because I believe in quality over quantity but it means the world to me. Strangers who are drawn to me, my story, and my journey are the ones who keep me going. I have met some amazing people thus far and even some, just virtually including this interview :). These people have chosen to keep my name at the tip of their tongues at any opportunity they see me benefiting from.
How important is relationship building for you and how did it help your business?
The truth of the matter is that your familiar faces won’t always uphold or support you. So, when you are blessed to rub shoulders with people who share a similar vision and who understand you, it makes all the difference in the difficult moments. I am ever so grateful to have built trustworthy relationships with people who bring me wholesale opportunities, funding opportunities, links to experts, and so forth. This journey isn’t something meant to be done alone, even if you are the sole person running the show! It requires strong bonds and fruitful connections/relationships.
Do you take risks? What risk did you take?
I always say “playing it safely provides you the surest way of losing.” There is no growth without a leap of faith…we would never know what’s on the other side. If we look back at some of the most successful entrepreneurs, just about each took some kind of risk. Success is never accidental and for me, my pursuit of it requires a heightened mindset, calculated risks, and supernormal belief that I will make it. As far as risks are concerned, I believe in calculated risks so my biggest risks still await.
Was it a good or bad risk? What would you do differently?
I am constantly working and putting things in order behind the scenes because when I do jump, it won’t be on a small scale. I will say though that my current “risk” is mass production. As I work on various marketing strategies, I am not waiting to test them out. I am moving full force ahead to prepare for success because I am fully aware that we don’t get what we want, we get what we are prepared for. So I am risking believing in myself and preparing for what I desire. So risks are based on strategies with a foundation of faith.
What do you do for personal growth & development?
I love this question because I won’t shut up about personal growth and development. I am very big on reading. I am about 35 books deep in my personal growth from the last 12 months alone. I barely listen to music while driving because I am often lost in an audible book. From you squared to the creation frequency, and many in between, I am proudly obsessed with the wealth of knowledge from successful and respectable experts. Along with such books, I am also big on affirmations, praying, meditation, and silence. I love reflecting on my journey so far and visualizing my desires. All these things fuel me and fulfill me so much. I learn something new every single day and that is really what this journey is about.
You wrote an amazing children’s book, tell us more about your book. What motivated you to write your book and who inspired you?
My first two kids were my inspiration for my books, obviously naming the characters after them. Like I said I am big on affirmations. I feel like if I was taught the repetition of positive affirmations as a young child, my confidence and self-awareness would have sparked some amazing things in me early on. When I was pregnant with my second child, I got the epiphany to turn the affirmations I wrote on my phone into a book. I would always read these affirmations to them while in utero and wanted to instill a positive self-image in them. I am just happy to have been able to share that vision with the rest of the world also.
How do you self-care?
I am a self-care enthusiast, ok? I love a simple routine so hand me a pretty vanilla candle, one of my wellness teas (preferably the one called meditative), some fresh fruits, an audible book, and my Glow Village skincare and I am the happiest. I feel so wholesome and refreshed every time. So imagine doing this nightly…I wake up like a new baby ready to glide through the day!
What advice would you give to anyone who is about to embark on the entrepreneurship journey?
Run your race at your own pace. Seeing the growth and results of other entrepreneurs, especially the ones you know, can discourage you to think you’re behind or not growing fast enough. Luckily I didn’t learn this lesson the hard way but I am aware of it because I was told to and I easily rolled it off my shoulders. I put in so much work behind the scenes and because people don’t see evidence right away, it may seem to them that I’m not doing much but by whose measurement? My vision is mine so my advice is YOUR vision is yours. Nobody thinks like you, nobody knows what you’re doing, nobody knows God’s timeline for you and nobody knows exactly where you’re going as you do. I believe it is so necessary to understand this idea because this journey is not for the weak and you have to be firm in yourself well enough so the tough moments don’t fold you. Do your own thing and execute based on what God gives you and how he guides you; not by any other person’s perception.
What is one of your greatest accomplishments in business? How did you get there?
For Glow Village, how having the opportunity to sell wholesale to various buyers as well as being able to collaborate with some amazing influential women who make my products the highlight at their retreats and events has been a blessing. Social media and small black business directories/listings brought about these opportunities that have given me more exposure and brand awareness. For my books, being amazon’s #1 new release TWICE for 2 of my books was a huge accomplishment. Also being on Barnes and Noble (not only Amazon) all these years is a big deal for me. I am getting them in the B&N stores soon and that is wild when I think about it. Every milestone in either business for me is a huge accomplishment.
You have such amazing skin. Do you have a skincare regimen? Please share
Thank you! So I developed Glow Village because although my skin was somewhat clear, it wasn’t meeting its “glow potential” and I wanted to tap into the clean beauty space with effective products meant for indulgence. I have been faithfully using Glow products for about 3 years now and launched the brand 2 years ago. I use the Complete Glow Kit which is a full day and night simple step-by-step routine to keep the skin functioning optimally and glowing at its healthiest.
Are you open to mentorship? How can you be reached? What are your social handles?
Yes, I am open to mentorship. As busy as I am, I realized that my conversations in encouraging other entrepreneurs, lending an ear, and even exchanging stories about our experiences were just as therapeutic for me. I am open to it. My e-mail address is @[email protected] and I can also be found @MaameBeThat on Instagram.
Meet Maame Serwaa; Author of Micah and Myrah books Series & Founder of Glow Village (Skin Care Company)
It is with great pleasure I introduce to you my next guest Maame Serwaa. She is the mom of 3 and the founder of Glow Village. She is also a children’s book author and glows in all she does. I am beyond proud of her tenacity and audacity to face all trials amidst all odds. Read her entrepreneurship journey and be inspired to keep going.
What inspired you to take the path of entrepreneurship? Everybody has a story, what is your story?
I have always known that I was cut out for entrepreneurship, even as a young girl. We often go through the traditional career journey as we figure it out but being a full-time entrepreneur is the ultimate goal for me. I grew up watching both of my parents manage their businesses which were intriguing for me to witness. The spark for me took place when I worked for my brother’s business in high school. The sense of fulfillment and pride that came out of his creation opened my mind to the fact that it is possible to create my own business and build up on it.
What advice will you give your younger self?
I would advise my younger self to believe in herself without any limits. Looking back now, society’s perceptions and limiting beliefs imposed on my generation made me a little scared to dream bigger. Thank God for growth, I am in a different mindset, and had I realized this sooner, I would have pursued certain goals earlier without fear or self-limiting beliefs.
Relationship building – Let’s talk about this!
Relationship building in the entrepreneurial world is pretty much a result of effective networking. I must say that I do this with caution because I believe in quality over quantity but it means the world to me. Strangers who are drawn to me, my story, and my journey are the ones who keep my going. I have met some amazing people thus far and even some, just virtually including this interview :). These people have chosen to keep my name at the tip of their tongues at any opportunity they see me benefiting from.
How important is relationship building for you and how did it help your business?
The truth of the matter is that your familiar faces won’t always uphold or support you. So, when you are blessed to rub shoulders with people who share a similar vision and who understand you, it makes all the difference in the difficult moments. I am ever so grateful to have built trustworthy relationships with people who bring me wholesale opportunities, funding opportunities, links to experts, and so forth. This journey isn’t something meant to be done alone, even if you are the sole person running the show! It requires strong bonds and fruitful connections/relationships.
Do you take risks? What risk did you take?
I always say “playing it safely provides you the surest way of losing.” There is no growth without a leap of faith…we would never know what’s on the other side. If we look back at some of the most successful entrepreneurs, just about each took some kind of risk. Success is never accidental and for me, my pursuit of it requires a heightened mindset, calculated risks, and supernormal belief that I will make it. As far as risks are concerned, I believe in calculated risks so my biggest risks still await.
Was it a good or bad risk? What would you do differently?
I am constantly working and putting things in order behind the scenes because when I do jump, it won’t be on a small scale. I will say though that my current “risk” is mass production. As I work on various marketing strategies, I am not waiting to test them out. I am moving full force ahead to prepare for success because I am fully aware that we don’t get what we want, we get what we are prepared for. So I am risking believing in myself and preparing for what I desire. So risks are based on strategies with a foundation of faith.
What do you do for personal growth & development?
I love this question because I won’t shut up about personal growth and development. I am very big on reading. I am about 35 books deep in my personal growth from the last 12 months alone. I barely listen to music while driving because I am often lost in an audible book. From you squared to the creation frequency, and many in between, I am proudly obsessed with the wealth of knowledge from successful and respectable experts. Along with such books, I am also big on affirmations, praying, meditation, and silence. I love reflecting on my journey so far and visualizing my desires. All these things fuel me and fulfill me so much. I learn something new every single day and that is really what this journey is about.
You wrote an amazing children’s book, tell us more about your book. What motivated you to write your book and who inspired you?
My first two kids were my inspiration for my books, obviously naming the characters after them. Like I said I am big on affirmations. I feel like if I was taught the repetition of positive affirmations as a young child, my confidence and self-awareness would have sparked some amazing things in me early on. When I was pregnant with my second child, I got the epiphany to turn the affirmations I wrote on my phone into a book. I would always read these affirmations to them while in utero and wanted to instill a positive self-image in them. I am just happy to have been able to share that vision with the rest of the world also.
How do you self-care?
I am a self-care enthusiast, ok? I love a simple routine so hand me a pretty vanilla candle, one of my wellness teas (preferably the one called meditative), some fresh fruits, an audible book, and my Glow Village skincare and I am the happiest. I feel so wholesome and refreshed every time. So imagine doing this nightly…I wake up like a new baby ready to glide through the day!
What advice would you give to anyone who is about to embark on the entrepreneurship journey?
Run your race at your own pace. Seeing the growth and results of other entrepreneurs, especially the ones you know, can discourage you to think you’re behind or not growing fast enough. Luckily I didn’t learn this lesson the hard way but I am aware of it because I was told to and I easily rolled it off my shoulders. I put in so much work behind the scenes and because people don’t see evidence right away, it may seem to them that I’m not doing much but by whose measurement? My vision is mine so my advice is YOUR vision is yours. Nobody thinks like you, nobody knows what you’re doing, nobody knows God’s timeline for you and nobody knows exactly where you’re going as you do. I believe it is so necessary to understand this idea because this journey is not for the weak and you have to be firm in yourself well enough so the tough moments don’t fold you. Do your own thing and execute based on what God gives you and how he guides you; not by any other person’s perception.
What is one of your greatest accomplishments in business? How did you get there?
For Glow Village, how having the opportunity to sell wholesale to various buyers as well as being able to collaborate with some amazing influential women who make my products the highlight at their retreats and events has been a blessing. Social media and small black business directories/listings brought about these opportunities that have given me more exposure and brand awareness. For my books, being amazon’s #1 new release TWICE for 2 of my books was a huge accomplishment. Also being on Barnes and Noble (not only Amazon) all these years is a big deal for me. I am getting them in the B&N stores soon and that is wild when I think about it. Every milestone in either business for me is a huge accomplishment.
You have such amazing skin. Do you have a skincare regimen? Please share
Thank you! So I developed Glow Village because although my skin was somewhat clear, it wasn’t meeting its “glow potential” and I wanted to tap into the clean beauty space with effective products meant for indulgence. I have been faithfully using Glow products for about 3 years now and launched the brand 2 years ago. I use the Complete Glow Kit which is a full day and night simple step-by-step routine to keep the skin functioning optimally and glowing at its healthiest.
Are you open to mentorship? How can you be reached? What are your social handles?
Yes, I am open to mentorship. As busy as I am, I realized that my conversations in encouraging other entrepreneurs, lending an ear, and even exchanging stories about our experiences were just as therapeutic for me. I am open to it. My e-mail address is @[email protected] and I can also be found @MaameBeThat on Instagram.