We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marlina Yarbrough. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marlina below.
Marlina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I remember days, I’d go shopping and get anxiety if I wasn’t able to buy things for my daughter that I felt she needed & deserved. As a single mom, this resulted in unhappy spending habits and poor money management. I grew sick & tired of this insanity. I knew I needed a change. I went to something that was familiar to me, school. School was my safe place, comfort zone, & also validation for many insecure places in my life. I soon found that school was busy work & a way to cope but it wasn’t resulting in the change I desired & longed for my daughter & I. I desired job security & financial freedom. I braided off & on during this time, but I honestly felt like braiding versus a corporate job or highly accredited degree was frowned upon. It wasn’t until I was forced to social distance & sit with myself during the pandemic that I knew braiding was a smart risk to take. I was furloughed from work & dismissed from school during a global pandemic. Crazy, right? The only thing that stayed the same was the demand of clients wanting braids. I was ready to risk it all! Risk resulted in me leaving my job of serving the behavioral & mental health community to better my mental health & space, but also to have the flexibility needed to be present for my daughter. Whenever I give thanks, I’m always careful to thank her for sharing her mommy with so many. Braiding is now what I do full time, & let’s just say I’m healthy & happy because I took the risk
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
Affectionally known as Lina. My brand & business is, “SeKured by Lina”. I was raised in Cahokia, IL. I graduated from Jackson State University & I’m a proud member of the Illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. I am a licensed hair braider. I pride myself on time & quality. I specialize in knotless braids & traditional box braids. I provide protective styles for clients that promote hair growth & protection for all hair types & textures. I teach braid courses periodically as well as sell SeKured Satin Bonnets to promote bedtime protection. My resume is continuously expanding, as I have been invited to schools to share my story of how I’ve achieved success up until this time. What separates me from other braiders is my relation to many experiences of others good or bad. I can relate to being the product of a single mother household, growing up on government assistance, being the 1st in my family to attend college, traveling aboard, attending an HBCU, being a member of a sorority, working in corporate America, being a entrepreneur, being a little sister, friend, daughter, & the list goes on. I’m most proud of how far I’ve come in such short time. I look forward to growth & expansion. I want each client & supporter of mine to know that I am only as great as each of them have allowed me to be. I am so thankful & appreciative.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that a corporate job was needed for benefits. In other words, entrepreneurship should only be taken on with another job as the, “main”. I’d attest that entrepreneurship should be main & corporate be a side hustle. When approached with that mentality, all things are possible.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
A few of my favorites related to business are: Next level leaders podcast by Bishop Joesph Walker, III. If you have time, check it out. Also a must read is, “We should all be Millionaires”, by Rachel Rodgers. However, my favorite author & poet is Jackie Hill Perry.
Contact Info:
- Website: SeKuredbyLina.as.me
- Instagram: @sekuredbylina
- Facebook: SeKured by Lina