We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Thomas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda, appreciate you joining us today. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
First off as active duty military I didn’t realize how hard this would be taking on entrepreneurship as well. So starting out I spent a lot of my own money because I didn’t know about applying for business grants. So I take out loans which in turn out me in some debt and they weren’t even business loans because the bank isn’t going to just give you money if they don’t know for sure if your business will be profitable. So I went and got my realtors license and am now in esthetician school so I can learn and do more research on how to get funding for new start up business during inflation and COVID world we live in.
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?
Small town girl born in California and raised in Alabama. I graduated high school in 2006 and went to community college right after for two and half years and then right after I got accepted in nursing school. Tried that for a year but didn’t pas the med/surg class. So I decided to enlist into military thinkn I could just go back while in military and have them pay for it. Even though that’s exactly what I did I still didn’t feel fulfilled l, it wasn’t enough. So while deployed I met a girl wit very dry skin to where it was scabbing up so I helped her and have her tips on how to keep her skin moisturized while we were deployed. When I came home I got stationed in Texas where I got my Masters and thought ok I’ll just get a job and when I did clinical I liked it but it wasn’t enough still. I happened to be tlkn to my niece and she was upset that her skin was so dry and itchy because she had eczema so right then it clicked and I set out on a goal to help her with her dark marks and itchy dry skin. I got a business coach and started my own natural skincare line. I bought and tried out hundreds of products from vendors and other small business and lost a lot of money and couldn’t really figure out why nothing was working. So I got in class and figured out how to make it myself. What sets me apart is I’m currently active duty military, Va realtor and starting esthetician school to evolve my business. My business is now called Noblem short for “No blemishes” it was originally called Modifi but had to rebrand due to trademark reasons. At Noblem we focus on reconstructing and healing of skin.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn my old ways and set new ones in order to grow. This was very challenging because once your comfortable why change? With me starting this new journey on entrepreneurship it’s out with the old and in with the new. New way of mentally thinking positive, friends and new way of life.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I started my business I had came up with my own name vermillion Belle. They say how you come up with that name I say I’m southern red girl from south lol. Got a coach and we come up with a Modifi and began the trademark a year later they say it can’t be trademark because someone had something close to it. Go back to coach and we now have came up with Noblem short for “No blemishes” and love it feel it’s more relatable and everyone’s loves the new name and branding: so after thousands of dollars of my own money here we are. This pivot I had to do more than once took a lot out of me because I felt like it was always something like why can’t it just be right so I can stay comfortable right? Wrong! What I learn in entrepreneurship and life you always have to be able to pivot because things happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Shopnoblem.com
- Instagram: Shopnoblem
- Facebook: Noblem
Image Credits
Virgil Odell Rockstar studios