We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lizbeth Cooley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lizbeth below.

Alright, Lizbeth thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I have taken some risky decisions in the past, which probably took me where I am today. My last one it was a financial risk. I created and started the company Okiez Inc., a brand for children apparel that has a concept, empower our children to dress themselves, but I started as a side business, I never dedicate full time to this company. Soon after it was created I got divorced. I had to get a full time job, and with all the responsibilities of being a single parent became harder and harder to grow this business. After few years, I took the decision that I really wanted to take Okiez to the next level. I tried while still having my regular full time job. But, after months trying to work on both I see I wasn’t moving forward. The problem was that quitting my job I would have the time, but I wouldn’t have any income. On the other hand to push a brand in the market it takes time and you need financial resources which I don’t have. Few months ago I was able to contact an investor, but he is a Real Estate Investor, so we came to an agreement and 1 month ago I quit my regular job, 3 weeks ago I finished my first flip house and I am studying to get my Real Estate Licenses. I am learning as I go, which is stressful. I have to invest my savings and estates as well, which bring me to a terrible financial risk. I hope I made the right decision. Everything is hard at the beginning, but with dedication and hard work I will be able to get financially stronger and have more time that I can dedicate to grow my dream business, OKIEZ.

Lizbeth, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

First of all, I am a mom, and I started Okiez INC with and for my daughter. The idea came when I saw my daughter struggling to put on her shoes correctly. To a child, a left shoe looks just like a right shoe! I had the idea to design a pair of shoes that she could immediately know the left from the right. It worked! Family and friends encouraged me to share my design and my shoes with others and that is when I started the company.
Okiez is apparel that empower children to dress themselves using designs that help children easily know right front left and front from back
Okiez has a social cause that connect children, when a child makes a purchase a child in need receives a donation and a letter from the child and the one that receive a donation sent a thank you letter to the first child creating a connection between them
Okiez is more than a brand, it is more than just clothes, it has a concept as you can see in the products:

Okiez shoes: Each shoe has a half of a picture on them and when the shoes are put together, the child can see the complete picture – helping children distinguish their right from left.

Okiez t-shirts: These have designs that help children easily know the front from the back and are designed with graphics that encourage children to express their feelings.

Family T-shirts: each t-shirt has connecting images and phrases that help parents and children to create stronger bonds and connections between them.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I don’t give up easily. One example is my daughter’s existence. After being married for 3 years, I was trying to get pregnant, I wanted to have a bigger family, have children. That is when my journey started. I tried many procedures, I went to so many different doctors here in USA and out of the country. No doctor found anything wrong with me or my husband, which gave hope to continue trying. I was doing more than one treatment a year. Infertility treatments are very expensive. I had to work very hard to be able to save the money to continue with the treatments. My husband was tired, he didn’t want to try anymore neither want to do any more treatments. It was the 8th year of trying, and probably our 5th in-vitro treatment and I told him, “let’s do this last one please, I promise I will stop all treatments after this one”. I cried and prayed so much for this one to work, and God heard my prayers and blessed me with my baby girl. I keep the same perseverance with Okiez. Even though I still haven’t been able to make Okiez business as my primary income, I am always thinking about new designs. My latest design is the broken heart. It is a mended heart t-shirts, handmade from different upcycled fabric and vinyl pieces, put together to heal a broken heart. Being handmade made them unique like you and your life experiences which can be similar, but never the same. Remember, there is no one else like you.
This t-shirt it is a symbol that represents your unique experience, your unique heart…your unique broken heart that is on the mend.

Perseverance and resilience play an important role in life. There will always be obstacles and problems, but the key is overcome them and keep moving forward.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Things do not always go the way you plan them. At this moment in my life, at almost 50 years old, when you think you already have some stability and have settle down, I am starting something new. Going in a different direction, starting a new business where I don’t have that much experience and going all in it. I don’t know the outcome yet, I am just now in the process, but I felt the need to make a turn in a different direction to get results. I see it as a detour before reaching my original goal, OKIEZ.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.okiez.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myokiez/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myokiez/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqQTLAREmegSyFAcQhEtNg

Image Credits
N/A