We were lucky to catch up with Allaina Washington recently and have shared our conversation below.

Allaina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

Yes! Vacations are a necessity, not an option. Self-care is the best care. Life is always lifeing, this we know. Taking care of our family, personal needs and running a business can be a daunting task. Starting a business is a risk and it can be scary to take time away, because it is your baby that you built from the ground up. The blood, sweat and tears poured into your dreams of becoming a business owner is personal. Taking a vacation, especially in the beginning can be scary. All of the shoulda, couda, wouldas can haunt you. But what I’ve learned is that I have a more consistent stream to pour out because I took time to drink from the wells of refreshing water around me. One of those wells is vacation. It is imperative to step away and recharge your soul and rejuvenate your energy. Allowing the body, heart, mind and soul a chance to decompress is paramount. If you don’t take vacation time you certainly will experience burn out, being overworked and become frustrated. I employ every business owner to pencil themselves in and take a break.
Being a business owner can have some financial fears attached, which may defray a business owner from taking vacations. However, vacation doesn’t have to be a seven day stay in Dubai. It can be as simple as an Air B & B a few towns over with a hot tub and a swimming pool. Or take a ‘daycation’ and drive to the beach, pack a cooler full of snacks and enjoy a place away from your everyday surrounding where you can simply just be. A moment to relax and breath. You deserve it business owner. Take care of you.

Allaina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am the proud CEO of Allaina Maria 360, LLC. My mission is to cultivate motivation and self-reflection through high-quality comprehensive discussions and 360′ entertainment across music, films, motivational speaking and literature that stimulates personal growth, challenges perspectives, entertains and uplifts spirits. This mission is personal to me. A broken heart from the death of my uncle. Darryl J. Ford Sr. pushed me to go after every dream and goal that I had. Living life on the sideline became an impossibility for me after his passing. I could not allow my gift of life to go unfulfilled. I could not continue to draw breath and stay stagnant. My uncle had plans, dreams and goals that were unrealized as he departed from this life. The legacy he felt was so strong that I knew I had to honor his life. What better way to do so that to take life by the horns and become!

Daily, I became intentional with how I moved. I set out a plan and began to develop all things, Allaina Maria. What is it that I wanted to do, what did I want to represent, who was my target audience etc. How did I want to brand myself, and figuring what was my overall goal. I started out writing my debut urban fiction novel. “Mariah”. Since then I have written a 10-part “Healing From” journal series, have a two part early educational book series called, “Cir the Circle”, and have written in five anthologies. At the current moment I have two additional urban fiction books loading, “Mariah II RETRIBUTION,” and “Fat Baby.” In the spring of next year my poetry book, “Beauty for Ashes,” will be released.

My novel, “Mariah” also served into my entry into screen writing, and I wrote and am preparing to executive produced the movie based off of the book. Dually, I have started my acting career and have been blessed with opportunities to not just write but the ability to bring characters to life is a dream come true for me. It’s both humbling and rewarding to have to step into another facet of Allaina Maria.
 
When I began motivational speaking, my first audience were the stars. I would stand in my driveway and use the stars as my point of contact. I would look to the star in the east and turn to engage to the star in the west sharing my message. I didn’t have any engagements to speak as I was new. But I believed in my message and prepared myself for the opportunity. Not long after a young woman named Nia Adams gave me my first speaking opportunity. She saw me and my authenticity. she trusted my vision and allowed me to share her platform. From there I have had speaking opportunities across the U.S. and internationally. I am always honored to be selected to speak at organization to share messages of hope, faith over fear, healing, recovery from burn out, and wellness and self-care, just to name a few.

As a singer/songwriter, I have always sung in the church since I was a child. I never put much emphasis on that part of me as an adult. I decided to tap into the parts me that I let lie dormant. No gifts could be left unopened. If God gave it to me, he intended for me to use it. As a result, Allaina Maria 360, LLC.

I also will soon be releasing my ‘Becoming’ line: clothing, skin care and candles. These items are intended to align with my brand of 360′ care. I am intentional in proving products and services that empower.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Authenticity. It is so important to lead with honesty and truth. My brand is me and I am my brand. Every part of me is truth. My resume is truth. My mission is truth. My platform is truth. When I am chosen to wear any of my multiple hats, I do so in truth. People can feel and sense authenticity. Also, with professionalism in mind, I make sure to produce what is being requested and to do so in a timely and effective manner. Though this I have been able to make beautiful connections and opportunities.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Everyone is not your intended audience. I didn’t understand why some family and friends didn’t purchase my books. But strangers were supporting me through the roof. I assumed that the people who knew me would be the first to show support in the way that I deemed as support. Notice I said how “I” deemed support. I wanted to see the books flying off the shelf. I wanted to see the reviews coming in. Honestly in the beginning, I felt offended. My humanity showed up, but humility superseded my emotions. I had to step back and realize that people have free will and that is in way no a slight to me and my work. It was a humbling lesson but a needed one. I learned that people can genuinely love you and what you are doing, it doesn’t mean that they will book you or buy your products.

As an example, I have a young lady who shares my posts a lot and always show me support on social media. However, she has not purchased a book from me. Why? Because she isn’t a reader. Not that my products aren’t good, she just simply doesn’t like to read. Although I may not have received any sales from her purchasing a book, her continuous support and sharing of my post most likely exposed me to a set of people that I didn’t know, and they didn’t know me. And for that, I am so grateful for her seeing and believing in me enough to share with her friends and family. My point is, we don’t get to determine how or who support us. But in whatever way we are supported, show gratitude and thankfulness. I always say, “People don’t have to be kind.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allainamaria.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorallainamaria/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/AllainaMaria/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allaina-maria-b2224927a/

Image Credits

Scott Thomas Photography