We caught up with the brilliant and insightful NATASHIA WILLIAMS a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, NATASHIA thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.
My parents (shout out to Charles and Constance Williams) for giving me my work ethic. They showed me how to adapt with greater vision and integrity, while staying the course no matter what.
My mother worked as a high level nurse all her adult life while juggling four children, while my father worked in security- many evening shifts. My parents also built a couple houses from scratch. They knew about “side hustles” long before it became a popular term. My mother would sometimes work as a freelance writer, childcare, Avon, you name it- to keep the family budget on track. My father worked very hard but never missed kissing me on the forehead each night before he would leave. I learned work-life balance, prioritizing all of the important things in life (Family, great friendships and community) while also keeping productive. Yes, there were times of stress from having to juggle so much. But they made it work by mixing sacrifice with all the other things they truly loved doing and being. This gave me a feeling that I could do the same. I have since developed an acute allergy to excuses.
When I was little and didn’t have a babysitter, I will never forget the times my Mama would occasionally take me with her to work. I saw what she did and how she properly delegated tasks. I saw how she commanded respect from her colleagues with humor and competence. I also saw her return home to relax and more meaningfully engage; whether it was just playing cards with her kids or making a delicious meal as she could also throw down in the kitchen! So today, I now know when to work my tail off, but also when so take needed breaks to refresh and restore with self-care.
My Daddy would frequently remind me “You can do anything you set your mind to… it’s all in the mind.” This is so true. This all gave me a natural entrepreneurial mindset. When I was a baby entrepreneur around age 8, I had an idea to make a little ‘shop’, selling string (yes, just random string around the house) to my family and friends who would visit. While my older brother Tony was pretty skeptical (he was my first lesson in compelling tougher customers lol) My Dad ALWAYS supported and would buy my string for a couple dollars or more. I felt rich! I know this was somewhat playing pretend/make-believe, but he played along with me in a way that imprinted on me the beginnings of that adage “Fake it, Til You Make It.”
From selling string to more earnest endeavors my parents’ belief in me installed that inner ‘software’ of self-respect and pride in presentation. I am keen to details to this day, as I know that catching one’s eye is the first threshold to cross in making connections and ultimately selling any product or idea.
They were both enormously supportive of all of my career pursuits, including my time working in entertainment as an actor for many years. Prior to having kids and settling in San Diego from L.A. around 16 years ago. Unfortunately, they didn’t get to see the jewelry company emerge and expand in 2014, as Mom & Dad passed in 2006 & 2008, respectively. But I know they are both watching from above, That kind of love never ever dies, and it makes me smile knowing that what I get to do today continues to celebrate all that they gave me to endure and succeed. I hope very much to do the same for my two sons.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
GYPSYPOSH BY TOSH was born from the mantra of “Feeling Fabulously at Home, Wherever You Go.”
This is a jewelry line, but it’s also a way of life. It’s about being adaptable and ready for whatever the occasion brings. Many of my pieces I either hand-craft or design, are made to rock day into night. Many of my necklaces are actually convertible and can be worn in myriad ways.
I love gemstones and higher quality materials (Example: Vermeil, Gold Filled, Argentium Silver metals) I also live for powerful and gorgeous AAA quality gemstones- Labradorite & Pyrite is an all time favorite. In the last few years, I have also started creating with solid gold and diamonds. The Micro-Pavé Collection has been my obsession the last three years and I will be releasing even more designs with this show-stopping motif.
It keeps me very inspired to co-create with clients and produce custom designs. Some of those ideas have become standing designs that I would’ve never thought of prior to collaborating. Such a very cool feeling.
11 years ago, I would never have thought that making a birthday gift for one of my dearest friends would lead to a whole business and a new career as a jewelry artist. It’s been a dazzling evolution thus far and I look forward to seeing where it continues to go and grow.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Years before I had the remote idea to create jewelry, I was a film and television actor as well as fashion model. I was very lucky and blessed to have been able to work consistently in that world, beginning at age 16. When I got married and had my first son, Talan at age 28 we moved to San Diego. I had a hard time making it to auditions up in LA and got even harder after my second baby boy, Braden. I had soon realized while they were toddlers that I could no longer make peace with leaving them to pursue work up in Hollywood. So I had a quiet moment to reflect and eventually decided to relinquish my old identity but kept the creative part. It wasn’t an easy task at the time, but I just trusted that my artistic heart would make another encounter soon enough. I just didn’t know when.
About two weeks later, my old neighbor (and still dear friend to this day) Christina Hall asked me what I was up to that day. She had “coincidentally” passed by my garage after I had just returned from an art shop, determined to make some simple drop earrings for one of my oldest best friends, Alisa. I guess she saw that I was really earnest about it, so the then came over to my place later, cheerfully striding in with metal wire and a small crafts-hammer. I watched her in pure amazement as she made the first pair of hammered hoop earrings before my eyes. I remember vividly telling her I didn’t want to give those earrings away as I had been searching for that very style for years! She just replied in that same infectious cheer: “You can make as many as you want! It’s not that hard…” And the rest is history.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Covid was an epically tough year for many businesses. I didn’t participate in many of my local markets/sales channels (pop up shops, seasonal mall shops, trunk shows at boutiques, private house events, etc) So I outfitted my then SUV into a mobile shop. I endearingly called it my “Ice Bling Truck.” It was a big success as a way to work around the major restrictions to public interactions at the time. I also would put on live shop shows via Instagram to engage with my followers (I called them “V-Bous” as in “Virtual Boutique”) Customers and clients could shop and request pieces during the shows. It was so fun and I may go back to it someday- as virtual direct selling is very convenient! I also appreciated the opportunity to innovate and adapt in this way
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gypsyposh.com
- Instagram: gypsyposhbytosh
Image Credits
John Kennedy
IG @johnkennedyphotography