We were lucky to catch up with Deshawn Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Deshawn, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Am I happy as a business owner? YES! I love my business and everything it stands for! Now are all days easy and happy go lucky? No, I wish! LOL. But overall I couldn’t be more than happy to have my business. I remember about 8 years ago I had no sense of direction. I was young and just starting to do the whole “adulting” thing. I was 20 years old and just got an apartment with my then boyfriend. I remember I would have these episodes when I would literally call him crying saying how I felt so incomplete and knew working at my 9-5 at the time just wasn’t the life for me, but yet I also didn’t know what to do with my life. So to fast forward and see my self being an entrepreneur with my own small business brings me so much gratitude and grateful I trusted the process even when I felt I had no sense of direction. So although all days aren’t my best days, I still would make this choice over and over! You get to build your legacy and make YOUR dreams a reality, it really gets no better than that!

Deshawn, 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?

Hi all, my name is Deshawn Smith! I’m from Miami, Fl and I’m the owner of Hazel Rayne, a self defense e commerce business as well as a content creator, and brand ambassador. I started Hazel Rayne in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic, I wanted a business that catered to women and stood out but also something that I was passionate about. With trial and error I found my love growing in the self defense industry. Im a young woman who finds guns to be intimidating and have met many other women who feel the same way as well, so I’ve made it my business to find discreet items that look like everyday items that give women some sense of security! And I’m glad I’ve gotten feedback that this vision that I had is LITERALLY HAPPENING BEFORE MY EYES! I get messages from women who love our products and love what my brand stands for!

In addition to being a small business owner I’m also a content creator, mostly sharing workout videos in the gym and day in the life videos. I also collab with businesses and do sponsorships sharing their items with my followers.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

So for me, this was something new to me I had no idea of business grants and business credit in the beginning. Truthfully I knew nothing about business I just knew I wanted my own. Sounds a little crazy but I’m a girl with a dream LOL. I started my business out pocket with money from my 9-5. I learned to make sacrifices and budget accordingly. I spent money on things I NEEDED and sacrificed going out, eating out, etc to start building my business. In the beginning it was just $20 here and there but that added up over time and then I was able to start buying inventory!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that I’m no longer an employee, the employee mindset. I started working when I was 17 years old so I’d been used to having a manager, being assigned work, & leaving when work was done. Not dealing with much of the behind the scenes. But as a business owner YOU DO IT ALL! You’re the shipping department, customer service agent, HR, & more! So when I first started my business I was struggling because I still had my employee mindset and not full management/ business owner mindset let alone experience. But life lessons will help you grow and adapt! Even still til this day I’m learning to manage and balance the different hats/ roles I play in my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: Hazelrayne.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/BadLikeRawr
• Facebook: Facebook.com/deshaasuxx
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@badlikerawr
• Other: instagram.com/HazelRayneCo