We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zakirah Archable a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Zakirah, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job
The most important lesson and experience I had at my previous job was hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. I was an adult program director at my previous job for two outpatient clinics in Maryland. When I first came to my old job it was in 2017 I did quality assurance and quickly I learned making calls and sitting in an office all day wasn’t the work lifestyle I wanted. In the mornings I use to watch the counselors come into the office with their clients. I saw how happy they made the people around them and the autonomy they had and knew I wanted that. I put my 100% in all the tasks that were currently given to me and asked if I can be a youth counselor. My boss noticed my work ethic and over time (a couple months) promoted me to the youth coordinator position. I enjoyed it, I loved connecting with the youth and being a great mentor to them.
However things at my job were forever changing so my position was quickly short lived and I went back to working in the office. It made my blood boil I wanted to get back to counseling it was my passion. I put 100% effort in my position, I didn’t take days offs, and I performed beyond my job duties. Months later again my boss noticed and promoted me to be a counselor for the adults in the program. I was skeptical at first but took the position and ended up liking working with the group of women I was assigned to. I went above and beyond for my clients. I helped several women escape abusive relationships, get their drivers license, jobs, and increase their self esteem and self worth. Two years into this position my other passions started to take over I was beginning to start my wine lifestyle brand line Dolce Vines and curating events for it, but I wanted to stay in mental health. I decided to aim for the highest position I could receive at my company program director. I knew with this position I could stay in mental health and actively work on my businesses. I was offered the position I was extremely happy I worked so hard for it. At the end of the year I was looking forward to my training and was told a month before my start date that they were going in another direction. Again I was angry and wanted to quit. But I didn’t I stayed worked my position and had the highest retention rate for clients in our program during covid, I continued to work harder than I did before. By the end of the year I was granted the position for adult program director of 2 of their clinics. Eventually I left this job due to relocation but the lesson I learned working there was hard work, consistency, and resilience doesn’t go unnoticed when your passion and heart is involved. This job helped me find my passion with helping and celebrating others. All the hard work I used to build up someone else’s company, I decided to do that for myself. I show up for myself everyday like its a job.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Zakirah Archable I am from Baltimore, MD. I graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in Family studies and track to services to children and youth and a minor in Theater studies. I am apart of a service sorority Delta Sigma Theta sorority incorporated. My passion is helping and celebrating others, and bringing people together. In February 2022 I relocated to Atlanta, GA to being my entrepreneurial journey. I went to originally push my wine brand Dolce Vines and begin expansion but that would take some time and I needed money right away. I purchased an interactive photo mirror as a means to make money. I called my company Zak’s Mirror. I knew my product was special and would stand out at any event just like myself it was the perfect product. Zak’s Mirror features includes customized frames, compliments, animations, on screen games, MMS and email photo sharing, printing, and more.
At first business was slow I was in a new city and only knew a couple of people. I felt defeated and doubtful that I made a bad investment but I stayed persistent and called and email prospecting clients until I got a hit. From there I continued to gather more clients and was even referred to others from events I was hired at. I even got hired for an event one of the Atlanta house wives threw for their popup and fashion show at the Bailey wine cellar. Things were looking up for my business. In June I relocated to my dream city Florida and was nervous my business would take a long time to launch since I had to start all over again but I stayed persistent. I partnered by with a photography/ event venue called the Hub Spot 954 for permanent placement for my mirror for all events they host and events clients host there. In addition I got hired for an Art Basel event and CBRE Holiday party at Rosa Sky. Zak’s Mirror sells itself it adds magic to all gatherings and brings people together.
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
A time when I took a risk in marketing was when I was in Atlanta the annual Women’s Expo was in town and I knew I could get a lot of business. I didn’t have the money to purchase a booth however I still wanted to attend to see if I could get potential clients. When I arrived to the expo I began passing out my business cards to the women there. One of the event organizers noticed I was passing out business cards and quickly gave me a warning that I would be kicked out of the event if I continued. I didn’t want to get kicked out but also wanted to accomplish my goal of getting new clients. I had to change my approach. I started having one on one conversations with individuals and handing them my card in close proximity instead of in the open. I was achieving my goal.
A couple of hours into the event I ended up talking to a popular luxury relator who was friends with a lot of prominent people in the city. She suggested I go visit Malorie Bailey at the Bailey wine cellar the next day to promote Zak’s Mirror for a pop and fashion show event they were having. The next day I was super nervous when driving to the Bailey Wine cellar I would watch these women on tv every Sunday night, never thought I would be meeting someone from the show in person and unannounced. When I arrived she just opened the store up, I introduced myself and explained to her my reason for being there. She heard me out and loved my video content for my product and immediately hired me on the spot. It was an amazing feeling and opportunity to be apart of something like this.
My business picked up a little more after that event and all I had to do was take a risk and be myself.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Lisa Nicholas motivational videos and lectures have changed my life in business drastically. Being an entrepreneur is not easy and with this rush culture of success in social media sometimes it can affect our self esteem and make you question choices and decisions around your businesses. Lisa Nicholas reminded me that taking small steps everyday is a victory. She assisted me with unlearning bad habits in order to increase my focus and discipline in my field of business. Most importantly her videos helped me increase my self esteem. She encourages others to believe and fight for their dreams no matter the circumstance. To kill the negative self talk and doubt we all may have in our businesses and replace it with positive self talk and hard work. In addition to act and do by taking a big leap and trust in faith even if you fail to keep trying. I listed to Lisa Nicholas every morning before beginning my day and it gives me the motivation, encouragement, and drive to keep my business going and also to walk into the person I am becoming and not that person I was in the past. To reinvent myself as many times as I like to always become a better version of myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: zaks-mirror.mailchimpsites.com
- Instagram: @Zaksmirror
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089100582713
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zakirah-archable-ab2b59b6/