We recently connected with Sad Renee’ and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sad Renee’ thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Along with taking care of clients, taking care of our team is one of the most important things we can do as leaders. Looking back on your journey, did you have a boss that was really great? Maybe you can tell us about that boss and what made them a wonderful person to work for?

Okay, so imagine a petite black girl sitting across from a much older Caucasian male at your local restaurant. My nervous 24 year old self sat in a chair that felt larger than I could ever be. I was just terminated from a dead end job that I probably should have terminated myself from a long time ago. I wondered if he could sense my nerves because he didn’t respond or seem to notice how I would break eye contact as he fired questions – loud and demanding like gunshots. This was my interview. This was the day that would change my life forever. Mr.N was the owner of a school for massage therapist who wanted to specialize in sports, rehab and therapeutic massage and he needed a front desk receptionist. I thought that it would be a cool job to have until I could find a better job – which I never did. I was forced into a role that I was not qualified for. I admitted that I didn’t think that I could be Director of Operations because I didn’t know what I was doing! I never received training for accounting, payroll, taxes and other worrisome business tasks that as an employee I never had to worry about. Mr.N, on the hand did not take my display of incompetence and self doubt for an answer. He simply told me that I had to learn and he would show me; but he couldn’t spend too much time because he had students to teach, ballerinas to get back on stage and football players to fine tune for the field. He taught me to never have an excuse – but an lesson. Mr. N taught me that “I don’t know is not an answer”. He kept me on my toes by being so random and sporadic that I had to be ready for whatever. He taught me how to be a leader and firm when I needed to but to be understanding and kind. He taught me how to believe in myself. That college or degrees didn’t make me great but my perseverance and hunger for knowledge. Perhaps, the greatest lesson was when I realized I never wanted to be an employee again. I wanted a business of my own so I birthed my first business at his business. He let me use his accounts to order my essential oils and products for my bath salts. He taught me about essential oils and their benefits. I no longer have that business today but it felt good to belong to a workspace where I was valued, accepted and challenged. So, even in my journey of entrepreneurship – I am my own boss. I push myself. My critiques are harsh and unrelenting. I give myself pep talks via affirmations daily. I believe in my vision. So even though Mr.Newby was a great boss, I have to say ; I am the best boss that I have ever had and will ever have. I hope to share my lessons with any future employees that I have.

Sad Renee’, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Well, I am a huge advocate for the LGBT community, mental health and all matters Black. I am a creative person and I have found solace in writing, photography, art, poetry and literacy.

Creation is rooted in my soul. My hunger for literacy began so very young. I would read anything that I could find and then I started writing songs. Once, I realized that I didn’t have a decent singing voice I began to transform those lyrics into poetry and I truly blossomed from there. I never found anything that made me feel as vulnerable and beautiful and understood as poetry. So I kept it to myself until around 2018 or so when I started sharing my poetry with a few friends and they encouraged me to perform spoken word. So I did. It was terrifying- putting myself out there like that and to strangers nonetheless. So fast forward to 2020 when I released my first anthology named “I’m Happy” by a powerhouse publishing company called Ignited Ink 717. What kind of insane person releases a book in the height of a pandemic – without any press tours or book signings. Well, I am the insane person. This wasn’t an easy thing to do. I had to work super hard to build my support online, but I had things buried so deep inside of me that I needed to release. I had inspiration and healing that I wanted to share and spread throughout the world. It couldn’t wait. Fast forward again to 2022. I am not only a published author but a published ghost writer as well. I help those souls who have a story to tell by writing it for them and turning them into authors, but it’s more than that. It’s a very intimate process where these individuals cry, they trust me with things they have not spoken aloud. I comfort them and encourage them. I care for them and I feel that we are forever connected in a way.

I struggle with my mental health and everyday is a battle to keep going. I write because I have to have. I create because it is healing for me. I am more than a writer, I am human and I put my best foot forward everyday. I have dedicated my life to inspire any being that I come across to find the light in their darkest times and I want them to know that It’s ok to not be ok. Therapy is not a luxury, it’s a requirement.

I truly believe that my gift of storytelling and love my love for what I do is what allows my light to shine. This isn’t just business for me, it’s my purpose and ministry. I am currently working on my new book and it’s so hard to write that I have decided to start up my therapy sessions again. It’s quite painful but necessary.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy that I have found for building clientele is people. They are the key. I form a connection with everyone that I speak to. I don’t shy away from the personal details, I want them to know me and I want to know them. I want to know their drive and I always try to ask how can I support them. While I may not be able to call everyone my best friend but I do see the best in them and I show them the better part of me. The part that’s trustworthy. The part of me that they feel comfortable vouching for when someone ask for a speaker, performer ghostwriter or content writer. If you approach people as people and not opportunities you will see these relationships grow organically and will create lasting bonds.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

My book “I’m Happy” is sold on Amazon, Walmart, Barnes and Noble, and a host of other commerce sites but I always push my website. While the other platforms are convenient and handle shipping and order process for me, I prefer to ship the orders my self. I like to include a surprise signed copy or message. I may throw in a freebie. It just makes me feel much more connected to my supporters and to be transparent it helps with royalties as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sadreneewrites.com
• Instagram: sadreneewrites
• Facebook: Sad Renee Writes
• Twitter: sadreneewrites
• Youtube: Sad Renee Writes
• Other: TikTok- sadreneewrites