Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nakia Gray. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Nakia, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
I hope my legacy will be one of innovation, boldness, and creativity. I want to be remembered for making the world a better place by doing my part to ensure everyone has access to the same opportunities and resources. I want to be remembered for inspiring others to be their best selves and for encouraging them to not be afraid to write their own rules in life and business.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Nakia Gray, an intellectual property attorney and business coach on a mission to help entrepreneurs I meet create, protect, and monetize their creative genius {us lawyers call this IP}.
In 2013, after 7 years of stressful litigation and forcing myself to “think like a lawyer” I took a step back and did some serious self-evaluating. I finally admitted {out loud} that I hated billable hours, blue suits, litigating, and going into a traditional law office every day.
I was sick and tired of rush hour traffic, paying late fees at aftercare, fussing over homework while trying to cook dinner, and resenting my husband because he could go to the awards program at school during the day but I had to go to court. I was completely drained.
And the worst part was I was working on cases that were no longer fulfilling.
I knew that there had to be another way.
Then I got introduced to the world of online business. I stumbled upon a free video series promoting Marie Forleo’s B-School.
Marie talked about being location independent and how she used the internet and modern technology to help people all over the world create a business and life they love. I loved the idea of running an online business so I immediately signed up.
There was just one thing – I didn’t actually have an online business…YET.
I loved everything about B-School – an inspiring international community of women entrepreneurs creating heart-centered businesses, top-notch teaching from Marie on everything from website and graphic design to marketing, to blogging and creating digital products.
About four weeks into this 8-week program, I still didn’t know what my online business was going to be. I had been answering all of these legal questions in our Facebook group:
– How do I protect my online content?
– Which contracts do I need for my coaching business?
– How can I trademark my sweet new online course?
– What’s the difference between copyrighting and copywriting?
– Should I form an LLC or an S-Corp?
Then it finally hit me…these creative entrepreneurs need a lawyer. AHA! I can practice law as my online business!
And the rest is history.
I dedicated the next 9 years to learning everything I could about the internet, online tools, and must-have modern technology to practice law efficiently.
I love that I am able to work with clients all over the world through my online law firm as long as I’ve got my MacBook and a wi-fi connection.
I also understand that the needs and demands of clients have changed and with the rise of LegalZoom came a generation of DIYers who aren’t interested in shelling out hefty retainer fees for legal advice. So I’ve created digital products and easy-to-digest legal courses to help online entrepreneurs protect their businesses, without the hefty price tag that comes with hiring most lawyers. Adding a 6-figure passive income stream to my law practice has proven to be a game-changer for me and my family.
And on top of all of that, I am serving clients that I actually love to work with…all from the comfort of my home, the Beach, or Starbucks.
I’ve traded in my blue suits for comfy PJs and fuzzy socks.
Life is pretty darn sweet.
Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?
Back in 2018, I set my first BIG revenue goal … and hit it. That was the first year I could dedicate myself full-time to business and I remember thinking, “Can I really do this?” And I could, of course, I just had to shift my mindset. Fortunately, I did because I knew that this was my big opportunity to make it rain so I could stomp with the big dogs!
My daughter, who I’d been homeschooling during high school, was off to college and I had that extra time to throw into my business.
So, I worked and I hustled. And then hustled some more. I went so hard in 2018 that I was the walking, living, breathing version of the hashtag, #nodaysoff. And it worked. I doubled my revenue in 2018 and kept pushing even harder in 2019, making more money than I could have ever imagined in such a short amount of time.
Mmmhmmm, it was all good … till it wasn’t.
When tax time came, I almost lost my mind when I saw my tax liability.
One huge mistake I made was not laying the proper foundation to support the growth I was working so hard to achieve. Yep, not having solid financial systems in place or the proper guidance from tax professionals cost me big time.
So, let me say this, if you want to stomp with the big dogs, you can’t skimp on hiring professionals and trying to do everything yourself. To be a CEO, you have to make sure your business has a solid financial and legal foundation.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
If I had to name one thing that is the worst thing that has ever happened to me it would be losing my mom at the age of 10. My parents were very young parents so my Mom was only 31 years old when I was 10.
I still don’t fully know how long the adults in my life knew that my mother was about to die but it hit me like a ton of bricks. My Mom had sickle cell anemia so she was sick a lot during my childhood. There were times when she was really well and things were great and then there were other times when she would get sick and in those times it never really occurred to me that she could actually pass away from the sickness. I always thought she was sick and then she would get better and things will be fine.
The last time that I saw her alive was on the first day of school in fifth grade, right after Labor Day. We went to see her in the hospital and she explained to me that they were sending her from Howard University Hospital in D.C. to a renowned hospital in Pittsburgh to wait for a donor for a liver transplant.
I can remember being so hopeful when we said our goodbyes, that she was going to come back healthy and better than ever. Now, back then it was long distance to talk by phone so we didn’t talk every day, we talked maybe once a week and she was always hopeful about getting a donor and the outcome of the transplant.
The last time I actually spoke with her was right after my 10th birthday in November when she called me and she was so elated because a donor had been found and it was her turn for her transplant. She was so excited and she assured me that she would soon be home and things would get back to normal.
Unfortunately, after she had the transplant her body rejected it and she had seven strokes, went into a coma, and she was brain-dead. There was this one morning I woke up and I felt sick and I didn’t want to go to school that day. I just had a bad feeling and I told my godmother {who was looking after us while my Mom was sick}, that I didn’t want to go to school and that whole day I kept going off by myself into a corner or to the bathroom and I would just pray “God please don’t take my mother from me. Please don’t take my mother from me.” 😢
Later that night I found out that died and I was very angry at God for a long time because I felt like he let me down.
It’s been more than 30 years since that day and I still say being motherless is the worst thing that could happen to anyone.
Out of everything I’ve experienced in my life nothing has been worse than being in this world and on earth without having my mom.
So each year Mother’s Day is so hard for me. I feel all of the sadness and loneliness of that 10-year-old girl, but I’ve also allowed that sadness and loneliness to inspire me to be a loving Mom to my children.
Mother’s Day 2022 was different. I didn’t allow sadness to consume me. I didn’t cry. I allowed my husband and my kids to shower me with love and it felt great. I won’t claim to be over it…I don’t think you ever get over losing your Mom {or anyone for that matter}. But for now, I can celebrate her and allow my children to celebrate me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nakiagray.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nakiagrayesq/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nakiagrayesq
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nakiagrayesq
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/nakiagrayesq
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yoursmallbizattorney
- Podcast: https://www.buildyourowntablepodcast.com/