We were lucky to catch up with Sharee Gandy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sharee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
I actually started tutoring at the age of 11 but didn’t officially make it a business until 2020. Someone like a mother figure mentioned to me that I should take it serious. I took a few days to think about it, how I’d do it, what it would cost, the sacrifices that would have to be made. I thought about it all and then I made a plan. First, I came up with a name and then I decided how I would do it. I thought about the current situation (Covid-19) and how I could make it work. I had my daughter who was great with making flyers to make me a flyer to advertise. I originally started off virtually on my phone and then soon after I transitioned to in-person. I advertised on Facebook and within 2 weeks, I was fully booked with 8 students. I was so shocked that it happened so quickly. Soon after, I filed for my LLC, had a logo created, had shirts made and business cards made and it was up from there. My friends and clients shared the word and that’s how I took off. Almost 3 years later, I’m still here serving not only Florida but other states as well.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was born and raised in Florida, I’m the middle child of 4. I lived with my mom and dad up until the age of 3 and then was sent to live with family. I bounced around a lot from house to house, even spent time in foster care. As a child, I took my education very serious because I felt it was my only way out. I started tutoring at the age of 11 in exchange for school clothes and it just stuck. I graduated from the great Jones High School in 2008 and by that time I had a 3 month old daughter. I now had another reason to strive for success no matter what and I did just that. I started REEmixed Tutoring Services in 2020 because I saw a need for it. Not only to teach students academically but to offer them just time and to let them know someone cares about them. I didn’t always get that as a child and I knew when I got older I wanted to give to students what I always wanted. I offer virtual tutoring services to kids in grades K-8 in reading, math, language arts and writing. I help families by helping their child/children be successful in school. I help boost their confidence by reassuring them that they can do anything they put their minds to. What sets me apart is my approach to things. I recognize that each child is unique and has a their own way of learning, so I adjust to that. I’m most proud the achievements and improvements my students make. I’m happy that my work speaks for itself and I’m just grateful that I was given this gift. What I want people to know about REEmixed Tutoring Services is that I genuinely care about each and every student I come across. This isn’t just a job for me, it’s my passion, it’s what I love and it’s my purpose.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Three of the most important things in business is communication, transparency and reliability. I’ve been able to maintain those three things throughout my time of being in business and because of that I’ve earned the continued trust of my clients. Along with great customer service, without them there would be no me.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Since I’ve started my business, many things have taken place in my personal life. The year I started my business, I almost lost 3 of my children in the same year. It was a very challenging time but thanks be to God, I was able to still push through and still maintain my business. My entire life is built on resilience and I’m just thankful I have the tools to navigate through life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: ree_mixedtutoring
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/REEmixedTutoring