We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Javan Richardson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Javan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
There was no manuscript or guide to becoming an entrepreneur — it was simply a leap of faith. Michael Scott once said and I quote “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” I truly believe in the scripture James 2:26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” King James Version (KJV). I was sitting in Starbucks at North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University. I had just completed my online exam and my mom, Tashauna Richardson called. This was the completion of my first semester of undergraduate studies. I’m not sure what led my mom to ask me to create her a flyer design, but she indeed asked and I was up for the challenge. My Bachelor’s Degree was in Criminal Justice — so I was a tad bit lost on how I would convert to creating a design expeditiously for her. One thing Criminal Justice taught me was to investigate and research. I took the skillset and pulled resources together on how to create a design. After completion of the flyer design, my mom shared with her clients of over 1,000 people. The seed my mom planted made room for me to become an entrepreneur. That become my full-time job while I was in school. The flyer designs turned into creating retractable banners, backdrops, logos, etc. I’ve never seen my mom work a public job, she has always operated in her entrepreneurial gifts. It’s been six years, and I’m growing strong and have serviced over 3,000 projects.
Javan, 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?
Javan Emanuel Richardson, an emerging leader, executive strategist, and evolving coach was raised in a family deeply committed to ministry. At four years old, he would sit outside and speak with a spatula serving as his microphone. His grandmother listened, encouraging him to remain humble, obedient and focused. He’s lived by these principles and recognizes that they’ve been instrumental to his achievements. He enjoys spending time with his family, especially his nephew Eli & nieces Elani, and Harleigh — they are his pride & joy. With a burning passion for achievement, Javan’s ardent desire is to help the next generation tap into their potential and recognize unparalleled success in every area of life. Trained under the tutelage of Dr. Haywood Parker and Dr. Wanda Frazier-Parker, he now walks out his calling as a public speaker, author, visionary, executor, and innovator inspiring audiences both in ministry and the marketplace. His charismatic style delivers practical truths that empower his listeners to live authentically and grow spiritually — in fact Javan released his first book in 2019 entitled “Your Wealth Is In Your Hands”. In 2022, Javan released his first coursebook “Write the Story, Make it Plain” providing aspiring authors essential steps to compose their book. November 2023, he released his newest book “The Blessings of Heartbreak”. Javan holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University and a Master’s of Science in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina Central University. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Education with a concentration in Student Affairs from Liberty University. Javan loves academia and has held positions at Duke University, Wake Forest University, & North Carolina State University. Along with public speaking Javan is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I’ve always been very programmatic and very analytical. I’m the oldest of six children on my mother’s side, so being organized was a skill I had to learn quickly. In my journey of becoming a leader, I had to first learn how to lead my home with siblings. It was Jewel, Jordan, Sean, Journey, and Jakari that taught me the effective skills on how to become a proficient and integral leader. However, being programmatic can be not such a good thing because I am so used to having a plan in place. However, as I evolve I learned having a plan is great but it is okay to just be present and just “be”. Sometimes we can be so analytical that we miss a good moment.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Before the website was developed, I just posted photos on my Facebook & Instagram pages, people would inquire of my work after seeing the postings. I later created a Facebook Business Page, and that stretched the business, and many would reach out of different ethnicities, and cultures. God has really blessed this business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.javanemanuel.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/remarkablegraphicdesigns
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/remarkablepublishingcompany
Image Credits
N/A