Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Antoinette Morris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Antoinette thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
The best risk I have ever taken was becoming a full time Entrepreneur. I will give you a little backstory about my family history and childhood to explain who Antoinette Morris is .And why moved to California with $900. And why didn’t I do it?
I didn’t grow up in a traditional family where everyone worked 9-5 or had careers .Honestly I can count on one hand how many family members of mine actually worked a job, went to college, or have had a career. I grew up hearing my whole family say everyone in my family saying”No risk no reward”. I am a Huge risk taker which can be a blessing and a lesson for me. I love being an entrepreneur / risk taker. I would trade it for anything in the world .And here why.
My grandfather has 19 children and maybe 70 grandchildren or more .My parents have 12 children . I work so hard to continue my grandfather legacy.Understanding my roots means everything to me .I want to be like my grandfather, I want to say that if I didn’t do something to continue my grandfather legacy it wouldn’t sit well with my sprint .I just want to make my grandfather last name stronger. I want to build a bigger, strong and better financial legal for my family .I want to be a the one in my family to break the not taken our business to a really have a successful legacy.
I want to make sure that all the children up under me understand the importance of ownership. .I want to break the financial curse of having nothing in the end .I don’t want my grandfather’s legacy to be wasted .I don’t want to continue to watch my grandfather’s hard work go unnoticed. I don’t want the inherited patterns of financial management and struggles through the next generation to be a habit. The cycle must stop with me. While on this earth I pray that I made God and my family proud of me .
I am very proud of my grandfather and to say he is my grandfather, Is my grandfather a perfect man no. But what I will say about him. My grandfather is a very hardworking man .What I love about my Grandfather is that he always shows up when it mattered the most. My grandfather is what you would call a backyard mechanic .Everyone in the neighborhood come to him to get their car fixed . The reason why he was so trustworthy with other people’s cars was that most people couldn’t afford to go to the shops to get their car fixed. And he always knew people in the shops were not often trueful people. When it came to really fixing the car problem. My grandfather always did good business. Never Never Ever heard anything bad about the work he did on their car, He took pride in his work, services and what he did to impact others lives in a positive way. However my grandfather had a 5th grade education and never wanted to go to school to become a legal mechanic . My grandfather is 75 years old and still alive, his health is still good and he still works on cars for a living. My love for my grandfather grew after my father was incarcerated when I was 13 years old .I watched my grandfather teach his wife all his children ,and grandchildren (both genders) had to learn how to become mechanics. LOL I am the only one beside some of my younger cousins that is not a mechanic. It wasn’t for me. A lot of my family members went to school to become legal car mechanics, owned car lots and car shops .Some of my family members just flipped cars for a living and were okay with just doing it that way. I am not a mechanic and most people wouldn’t label my grandfather as a real mechanic or ever business man however he would always be a businessman through my eyes .My grandfather was a real will be a risk taker, a businessman, entrepreneur ,salesman and some one who understand the value of making sure great customer services was received .Growing up in this type of environment where everyone is self independent will make you a risk taker even when you try to play it safe.
Before I moved to California from Minneapolis Minnesota I only wanted to play it safe. I never wanted to risk all my money. I only wanted to go to college, get a career, save up money to buy a house and live the good oh fashion America dream. I couldn’t even imagine moving 1,927 miles away from everything I had already built. I started to question life after three things happened to me.
1.I started doing Mindful guided meditations
2, Covid 19(Getting layer off from being a full time teacher and part time youth advocate job )
3.The death of George Floyd .
I started seeing things when I became more mindful . I started to see things were bigger than just me. This became more personal when I learned without action it’s just an illusion. I knew that I couldn’t keep playing it safe . It was about making a huge impact on the world beside me . I think that I used to play so small for others just to live a normal life like everyone else. I just wasn’t who I was. No matter how happy I was as a teacher and a youth advocate I knew my calling couldn’t be completed as much as I wanted to complete. But why give up a comfortable life for an uncomfortable life ?
Two simple things. One. GOD .Two Life was so boarding playing it safe ! I finally understood why my family got a thrill out of being a risk taker and entrepreneur. It’s fun .It will do things that make you or break you. For all the people who are entrepreneurs before me Thank You To .Thank you for not stopping no matter how hard things got for you. All your hard work and success that opened the door for someone like me.
Looking back at 2020 it was a life changer for the whole world .When Covid 19 disease happened we never thought it would shape our lives the way it did. I’m thankful it happened, however I lost the most important people in my life, my auntie( Rest In Heaven) . I would’ve still been in Minneapolis Minnesota if my life didn’t turn upside down. When Covid 19 first happened I was laid off from my youth advocate job first because I was only part time. But I Still had my full time job as a teacher. However, 3 months later they laid me off first because I was the newest worker at the company. Then I got my job back as a youth advocate. I created my business in 2019. I just didn’t want to rush it. I was working on my website for a year, I worked very hard on my leggo ,my business cards , and I saved up money to buy skincare products for 10 months. One day I was at work overnight at the shelter as the youth advocate. I was sitting down while all the children/youth were in their bed. I started doing research on how to make skincare products. The next day I started creating everything I learned how to make. Two things had happened. I didn’t like how someone could fire or hire me whenever they felt the need to. I didn’t want to wait or push it off anymore .So I started making products .When I got done making my products I went to everyone door in my neighborhood I lived in at at the time told them “I was starting a skincare brand and I wanted to give them some free samples and my business card in return for feedback. I got so much positive feedback because everyone loved it. Now it was time to push my website. I had a vision in my head of how I wanted it to look so I now had to save up more money to create a professional photoshoot , and a professional website. So I couldn’t just quit my job yet because I didn’t want to quit my 9-5 before my business became successful. Or before I had the capital. So I was happy building my business while working with youth who had the same background as me growing up. I was very proud of everything that I had made of myself. I still knew it was more for me but I was fine playing it safe for the moment. I no longer worked for anyone in my mind. I just took the steps that got me to where I was trying to go.
How did you end up moving to California with $900 ?
It was simply the death of George Floyd that happened. I quit my job as a Youth Advocate two weeks after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Minnesota. Minnesota IS NO STRANGER TO KILLING OF PEOPLE OF COLOR OR HARDCORE RACISM !!!! 52 % of Police officers’ killings of African American and people of color in the United States happened here ! LOL And everyone thing that the south is worser (that another story ) My supervisor and I got into a big disagreement about how thing were done to the children of color, how the people of color were treated and so much more at this organization so I put my two week notices in and she turned around and told me I no longer need to come in since I already put my two notices in and she will mail me my last check take care. Yes in the middle of fighting for equal rights, equal justice, ending police brutality, killing of people of color and so much more that could be fixed in the United States and ESPECIALLY IN MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA ! I Didn’t know what I was going to do for income or work and my unemployment didn’t get fixed into a year and half of living in California when the offices were officially opened back up . One day I just sat at a small table with all my skin care products on a street that had a lot of foot traffic in Minnesota. I was no stranger to selling things. My father made me sell candy as a child and teenager .All I wanted to do was play with the children at the playground but he wouldn’t allow me to play with the other kids. My father said he was teaching me a life still. This skill paid off as an adult because I made $790 and the next day I made $350. I told myself I wasn’t going to work for anyone else again if numbers could be this good . My income for 2 weeks at both my jobs was 2500 and I made 1000 in two days. I said this was life for me. I did this for 3 months not understanding the in and out of business but it was something I knew I was committed to. I left Minnesota 3 months after because I knew that it was going to snow and I outgrew Minnesota no matter how much I loved my life with all my family and friends. I still remember the day I left I got pulled over twice in one day by the Minneapolis Cops. I was like I can’t grow in this racist state .I packed up all my t business things, and all my books. I only had 900 from my last paychecks . I only had a few clothes because I knew I was going to need winter clothing as I was going. I told myself my reviews , my loyal customer reviews ,my education, and god told me this was the right move forward. I was going to let the bad weather, racist people or a bad economy stop me from achieving my dreams and for going after for more. The best thing about this story is I didn’t tell any of my family and only one of my friends that I actually moved to California. I was here for three months after moving here. My grandfather called me and asked me what I was doing I told him I moved to California he told he was super proud of me For Finishing college and going after my dream .He even said why didn’t you tell you were moving I said I didn’t want anyone to try and stop me .He laughed and said no baby I would’ve drove you there. The risk continue studies say it take 5-11 year to make a business fully successful and I pray I can make an impact on this world
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
When I first came up with the idea for my business it was only supposed to be an organic makeup company .
I love makeup, However I didn’t like the fact that most makeup companies do not have more chemical-free, natural ,clean and organic foundations. When I came up with my business name A.M Luxury Love Cosmetics I was thinking about when you first wake up you wake up you get out of the bed and get in the shower wash your face and brush your teeth. For women who use makeup now you apply your A.M early in the morning to your face .But I always wanted my brand to be luxury but not Luxury but for your Skin the products I was services i proving for it would really be real quality not in a way that rid of the nutrients benefits your face ,hair lip skin and body truly needs. We need products that take care of your skin .I didn’t add luxury in for a sales pitch. I added it because we should have more a Luxury, quality and Love for your Largest organ(your skin). Love was added to my business when I became an adult. My life has only been filled with things I love or I will walk away from it all so I love the service I provide for others and it has been the best thing I could have ever done with my life. I love makeup so much, believe it or not when I first came out with my business I would dream all day about how big I wanted my line to be. I want to gain more capital, scale and mentor to really create a high end makeup line that I can feel proud about .
Before I took my Women Biology class I only cared about make- up .In order to obtain my B.A Degree in Human Services a Biology class was required so I picked Women Biology. It seem like the interesting one out of the other choices I had .My Women Biology classes it what really shaped my business on what by learning about the body learning learning about the women Learning about the Center of Disease, learning about the hospitals ,learning about how women birth delivery infant babies rate isn’t healthy at for women in America, learning about birth control has a different effect on women of color then white women, learning about The FDA approving fake organic skincare .Is How my business was form. I learned that America was only about numbers. In my Mind what better way than creating a number game for the American people by creating something that can educate, and treat people in the way they are screaming about GOD ! BUT is doing the COMPLETE Opposite
Now I didnt come on a statement that was developed a year later.
This is A.M Luxury Love Cosmetics mission statement
A.M Luxury Love Cosmetics Love Cosmetics is a Self-Care organic make-up, organic skincare, and organic candle company. Our Mission is Speed awareness around skin cancer (CANCER AWARENESS)! We believe that we should be more educated about what goes into our Blood. At Am Luxury Love Cosmetics we want to educate as many people as possible about how unhealthy skin care products harm not just our skin but other parts of our body as well. We want to help millions of people from getting cancer, skin cancer, and other diseases that come from using chemicals on our skin. So many people are unaware of the chemicals they are using on their skin.
Our Company isn’t just about Organic. We Value Education, Mental Health, Emotional Health, Spirituality, and the well-being of all customers and employees.
We want to create social change that self-care is only a feminine thing versus a mental health issue that our society lacks. We also believe that when you take care of yourself that you create better mental health habits. When we look our best, we are on higher frequencies and higher vibrations. Our company provides non-toxic makeup, nontoxic skin care and non- toxic candles.
Here is a list of products we offer
Name of Products Organic Skin Care Organic Makeup Organic Candle making company and Robes Organic Shea Butter , Organic Mango Butter , Organic Cocoa butter Organic Oil , Organic Rose Water, Our Organic Nail Polishes, Organic Lip gloss , Organic Vegan lipstick Organic Bath bombs, Our Organic Soap moisturizer soap ,Our Organic candles are Vegan Friendly.
Description:Our Organic Shea Butter is a 5 in one Cream. Our Organic Shea Butter is used for moisturizing dry skin, moisturizing dry hands, moisturizing the body and a foot cream. It peels off the dead skin that is built up over the years. The cream is 12 hours waterproof. It also helps with calluses after working out. It pops them as if it was never there and without drying or leaving a mark .It helps with cuts, scalps burn dark spots lighting the skin stretch marks.
Our Organic Mango Butter is a 4 in one cream. It is used for your Face,Body, Hands, and Feet. Mango butter is made in India and Shea Butter is made in Africa making it two different creams .However all our Products carry the same Indigents making it similar but different. This is a 9-10 hour cream. Because It is as thick as Shea butter it doesn’t lock the moisturizer in as much as the Shea butter does with the indigents. It has Most of the same benefits listed above however doesn’t work as well on stretch marks like the Shea butter , it doesn’t help with the calluses and it doesn’t pill the feet as well the Shea butter does . However it does work for all the it is more 70-80 percent effective versus the Shea better is more of 120 percent effective. The more benefit that The mango Butter Has over the Shea butter it’s better for the Face and It helps with tightening the skin. A lot of the customers still love mango because it isn’t as thick as the Shea Better.
Our Cocoa Butter is a 3 in one Cream. Body Face and Foot Cream. Cocoa Butter is Also made in Africa And still very different from Shea butter and Very different from mango butter as well. Our Cocoa butter is Raw Cocoa butter mixed with the same indigents as the other two creams. Raw cocoa butter is very hard to work with. It isn’t as soft. However it has more benefits with the skin then the other two cream does. Plus the indigents inside are very good for the skin. This cream is very beneficial for clients and customers who have been burned in fires.
Our Organic Oils is a 5 in one Oil , We Turn our oils into a Cream. It is a Hair Face Body Hands and Foot oil. It is an oil so it doesn’t last long for 12 hours for the skin, it lasts for 6. It still moisturizes the skin very well . It is also very healthy for burned and damaged skin. For the hair it not only grows the hair however it also helps with Scalp, Burns, bald spots, hair follies, dyed ends and dying coloring.
Organic Rose Water is a Face Toner .Our Organic face toner helps keep the skin young, bright, clean and refreshed. It will help our customer with a clean beauty brand that will keep the face optimally toned and helps with essential needs for the face. Use it twice a day Morning and Night time. How to apply it: you wet your face, spray the cotton pad and last wipe with the pad and then let sit on face dry, get a clean dry towel and let sit for 2-5 min. It will help with acne. Our customer can also use this for removing make up as well.
Our Organic Nail Polishes is a Vegan Non chemical Polishes , Our Organic Nail polishes is children friendly and has no harmful chemicals inside of it. Our customer nails will be able to grow long and healthy,keep nails from breaking easily ,as well as damaging the top layer on the nail. Most nail polishes have 5 chemicals that damage women and children. We are a non-traditional nail polishes and vegan and environmentally friendly polish.
Our Organic Lip gloss is a Vegan -Non sticky 5 hours wear gloss . Our Orangi lip gloss isn’t the regular lip gloss that is sticky. A lot of organic products promote non sticky but are at a new level. It a gloss with the stick it the gloss without the hard lips after Its the gloss with the white clammy stuff in the middle It’s the gloss that thick and last for up 5 hours Its the gloss with some of the best moisturizer ever it really take care of the lips verse damaging it the lip this is the.
Our Organic Lipstick is Vegan And moisturizer Non dry lip 4 /5 hour wear,What makes our Organic Lipstick Different is It gives it shine ,it moistures the lips , and Unique colors. Our Lips are not matted. We wanted to eliminate any chances of exposing the body to chemicals and cancer. So got rid of chemical such as
Our Organic Bath bombs are a muscle relaxer , and a moisturizer for the skin .They are amazing for Hard working class people and working class parents and children. It fizzes up while in the tub and our organic oils have similar effects as the other products for the skin just for while in the tube leaving the skin unbelieve soft. Our Organic Bath bombs are made with natural ingredients and essential to also help heal the body and skin
Our Organic Soaps moisturizer soap and kill bacteria. We believe that everyone should have safe soap during bath time . This is the time where most of the chemicals and ingredients go into your skin so we wanted to create an organic and plant based soap safe for the blood and skin as much as possible .We believe everyone that works hard should relax and have quality for the skin.
Our Organic candles are Vegan Friendly. Our Organic Candles are also meditation candles with crystals inside them. We believe in yoga and meditation for Whole and mental health. We are just not a simple candle making company. Our brand isn’t just about organic vegan beauty and skin care, we are all about mental health and the over well-being of our customer. Also something else that makes our candles unique, Instead of animal and chemical based ingredients we have a soy wax essential oil candle making company . The burn is clean and wooden wick candles. We also have cotton wix candles that are more affordable for both customers . Our candles burn slowly for up to 70 hours. While
The Organic Lip Gloss is the best product I feel we offer. I am super proud of this the most that I created. The Three things that customers love the most is Our Organic Lip Gloss, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Soy wax candles.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
The Person who I listen to more than any person in the world is Bob Proctor I listen to all his full live 24-4 hours Youtube stream and I love doing his bob proctor abundance meditation its the most powerful of them all to me .I been listening to this for almost 5 years now.(REST IN FLOWERS)
Rich Woman ( Part one To Rich Dad Poor Dad ) First Book I ever read about Financial Literacy
When My auntie was in the house sick with covid 19. I started to question life. I had already lost my sister 6 months before that and now the woman who raised me was in California with no family, no friends and or no money at this time . I was in California for a year and half. At this point I was going Back and forth so much with family emergencies that it was taking so much of my money, plus business, debts ,investments for the business. Right before my auntie’s funeral I came across the Rich Women book and it saved my life because I was depressed and didn’t know how to grief. So this book makes me push even harder. She said that 50% of women will always live in poverty and that was the whole book for me ! She tells about real life and about how she became Financial Literacy with her husband the Author of rich dad poor dad. And she gives me hope no matter what emotions about the passing of someone who was like a mother to me. She taught me fight and push back or quit and have nothing. She said never give up the money will always show up.
Rich Dad Poor Dad 2nd Financial Literacy. I love this book because it taught me to think less of a social worker and more like a businesswoman. Something that made love fall in love with this book was the skill set that they learned early about how money works and how you can’t work for freedom. You have to take freedom into your own hands. This book changed my life .Before reading this book I had made the most money I have every made in my life even but didn’t have any money and I couldn’t understand where I went wrong because I used every dime I had on my business and was still coming up shot. This book taught me that freedom is like working and it looks like paying taxes because Rich people don’t pay taxes but poor people do and continue that pattern.
Sister CEO: The Black Woman’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business 1st Book I read about Business skills
This book made me rethink about everything I was doing wrong. There were so many questions in this book. That made me dig deeper. This understand how to write business better .To be honest I didn’t do anything but read this book last year and worked on a business plan
This book gave me a clear Idea that I was going to grow at the time . I didn’t even have a business plan for 3 years before I read this book. I always think that In my head. However after writing my business plan .Rich dad poor dad popped up in my head. Rich people teach their kids how to write a business plan and more people teach their children how to write a resume. So the first time I knew where I was going and found out that I needed to study the business language . So that’s what I do. Try to better myself as much as possible with this book. I felt like this was a good gift from my angels to help me grow because I don’ t know where I got the book from. But This was the first time I started seeing it more clearly when I put it on paper. All my things I imagined for years for my company I could now share with others .
The Wealthy Franchise book 2nd book I read about Business success and skill
This Book was about how wealthy franchisees, and successful business owners stay in business and go out of business. This book has so many tips on what can make or break a business. I learned things such as your location could be a small and big thing .I started reading this book while in the middle of writing my business plan. The author of this book said make sure you post your Mission statement every moment and opportunity you get to connect with your customer and future /new employee. Which also helps with other things such as grant writing, business plan, articles and social media posts .
Millionaire successful habits (currently reading this book I am on chapter 8
This book is just mainly about how to become the best version of yourself .And how to gain off the skills you should practice and turn them into habits.
I will teach you How to be rich (still Reading right now as well)
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I think building a social media presence is a lot of work and not easy .The way I gain my social media following was social event, pop up events, paid for Youtube, Facebook and Instagram ads, and last traveling state to state to networking events. I would just go up to other pop up vendor and say if you follow me right now get a free lip gloss or free hand cream in simple size. I met all my followers. This is also my third social media account. I got hacked and lock out my account twice
The best advice for anyone to me is always have business cards for others to follow you and always get in contact with you and collect as many emails as you can. It has power in small ways and it has power in positive thinking. I think that too many people think business cards are a waste of time and that a lot of the following does not equate to money when you first start. I feel it could help in sales. I think the best way you’re going to build up any following is the quality and the amazing customer service skill you or your employee has to offer to the world .The big return base is what makes you stay strong when you and your business need it the most. And that where the faith will have to come in. The people who are for you your business and your mission statement will follow and show up for the brand. I am not saying that paying for following and ads are not wroth it. I am just saying that don’t over look the foot work, networking , and quality you provide to others .Business is about problems and solutions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amluxurylovecosmetics.com/
- Instagram: Am Luxury Love Cosmetics
- Facebook: Am Luxury Love Cosmetics
Image Credits
Antoinette Morris
A.M Luxury Love Cosmetics