Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Antoine Howlett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Antoine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Making the choice of becoming a first-generation entrepreneur was a high-risk decision that I decided to take in order to change the direction of my future. As an at-risk youth growing up in a single-family home with a hard-working mother and older brother and no positive male father figure, I never heard conversations at the dinner table about starting a business or using my talents. The typical conversations were only about working any 9-5 job that would put food on the table regardless of the title and finances being tight. At a young age as my mother worked for the same company for more than 20 years, I valued her dedication and work ethics but questioned was she truly fulfilling her purpose in doing something that she truly loved. We didn’t have much growing up, so I knew what it was like to have nothing in the fridge and the feeling of “what if we don’t eat tonight”. This memory of our low points built a spirit of resiliency in me that made me seek better opportunities because as a child, struggling was a norm. At the age of 29 I decided to seek advice and help from entrepreneurs in all fields about taking the leap of faith in entrepreneurship. From beekeepers to real estate moguls and some of the top names in personal development, much of their advice to me was to remember where I was at as a child as a push to get where I needed to be in life. To use my past pains and experiences as tools. One morning during a group call with about 15 individuals making over 7 figures yearly I had a chance to ask one individual an impactful question that changed my mindset indefinitely. I asked the mentor; how do you feel about fear? He said “Antoine at some point of your life in order to truly grow you will have to really understand that your fears are older than you…they’ve been passed down for generations. The fear of change, the fear of failure and the fear of starting over can been seen and heard when your parents or peers question the new norm of growth that you’re seeking. The best question to ask yourself is when did that person develop that fear as well.” After he shared these words of wisdom with me, I decided to never look back and chase every dream that came to my mind regardless of anyone’s opinion. From starting a trucking company to reselling massive amount of pre-owned name brand sneakers on sites like eBay, StockX, and Poshmark to speaking on stages to student and educators about how I went from being an at-risk youth on the negative side of the law to seeking help from mentors and becoming the first in my generation with multiple businesses and second in my generation with a college degree in order to break generational curses. I learned that when you’re at the lowest point of your life risk is necessary when you truly want to turn life’s obstacles into opportunities.
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?
Antoine Howlett, founder of Howlett & Associates LLC is an inspirational speaker for youth, a first-generation entrepreneur, and author whose mission is to show others how to turn life’s obstacles into opportunities. His journey connects with at-risk youth on a deep level like no other.
As a young boy raised in Queens, New York City, by a single hard-working mother, at a young age, he looked towards the streets of the city for guidance into what he thought was becoming a man. Unfortunately, that environment, including the lack of direction and resources, led him to follow the wrong peers and ultimately lose his sense of self-worth.
Antoine was left behind in the 3rd grade, selling drugs at 12 and charged with a felony at 25. But, even with all of the odds against him, his life completely changed after he decided to find positive mentors who helped him shape a new reality in his life. His hunger for a better life drove him to choose to change ever since. His experiences set him far apart from your ordinary inspirational speaker who just speaks rather than lived through hardship and is willing to provide measurable results.
Individuals have patterns and behaviors that keep them from reaching their highest potential. Antoine Howlett provides expert advice, personal development workshops and impactful motivation to our youth and older first-generation entrepreneurs to start a new journey toward achieving and exceeding their goals. As an experienced and esteemed public speaker, Antoine Howlett aims to deliver education, inspiration, and entertainment to diverse audiences. He strives to make every event a memorable experience, placing a significant emphasis on delivering actionable content that is relatable to millions of people across the world.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In 2013 after serving an 8-month sentence, I made the decision to never put myself in any situation that would lead me back behind bars and to change the direction of my future into an impactful positive one even with a felony in my background. I knew that I would have to use my 24 hours wisely rather than go back into the lifestyle of selling drugs as I did in my childhood and before my incarceration. It was normal for me to consider making fast money by selling drugs and was really uncomfortable for me to take the slow money route and work a 9-5 job. I decided that if I truly want change, I’d have to find a job and work hard in hopes of building a stronger character for myself and society. I applied for over 100 warehouse jobs and was denied because of my background. A great quote from the first inspirational speaker I ever heard by the name of Jim Rohn came to mind “If you do what you’ve always done… you’ll get what you’ve always got”. I decided to stay resilient in hopes that I would do better in life and progress. I applied to more jobs until I finally got a “YES”. A ShopRite warehouse hired me and gave me a second chance and I took it. That warehouse taught me a lot about business as I developed myself and work ethics there. Little did I know this same warehouse would then give me the opportunity a year later to become a Teamster Union Representative of over 300 warehouse employees and taught me how to negotiate corporate contracts. In the midst of becoming a Union Representative they also offered me an opportunity to go to a 2-year college for a Marketing Degree in business completely free of charge. I decided to take that opportunity as well, which helped me understand marketing and business on a large scale. If I had decided to give up when I heard the 100 declines from the other jobs, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Resiliency is our superpower when life gets rough.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My vision is to see at-risk youth transform into resilient leaders, embracing their unique talents, contributing to society, and inspiring future generations. My mission is to ignite a spark of hope within these young individuals, inspiring them to believe in their own potential and pursue a path of positive transformation. By sharing my personal journey, connecting on a deep level with at-risk youth, and fostering a supportive community, I strive to inspire lasting change in their lives. My mission is to empower these young individuals to overcome adversity, discover their passions, and build a future filled with purpose, resilience, and success. 
Contact Info:
- Website: Antoinehowlett.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/antoine_howlett?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/antoinehowlett1
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/antoine-howlett-5724a6240
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgnGAipaoDhalGyJY8C42Vw
Image Credits
Justin Klement / Tony Martinez