We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shemeka McNair a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shemeka, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

Pursuing my dream was one of the biggest risks I have ever taken in life. You leave your comfort zone and enter into the unknown. In that comfort zone is where everything is planned out, and you know what comes next. You leave everything you physically see for something you hope to one day see. That takes courage and faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen. I took a huge leap of faith on numerous occasions. I went after every dream I had. I refuse to live a life of regret. I do not want to live with a what-if syndrome. What if I would have tried? What if I would have showed up to the audition? What if I would have started the business? It is a scary thing but nothing is more satisfying than knowing at least you tried. The more I took those calculated risks the more I begin to see all those who were waiting not just for me but for what I brought to the table. If I would have never taken the risks I would not be in a position to help other risk-takers make their big leap. Whenever someone reads one of my books, watches my theater productions/films, or purchase my product and services I am humbled. I reflect and say to myself this would have never been possible if I would have never taken the risk. Remember this, that jump is not just for you but it is for all of those who are waiting for what is inside of you.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I have one agenda and that is to contribute whatever I can to our local communities to improve our way of thinking and living. I am the founder of ShiMei Enterprise which stands for She Motivate, Empower & Inspire. ShiMei is a certified veteran-owned business. My company focuses on curating new ideas, and concepts that improve the community by solving social problems through our products, services, and events. We aid our clients in improving their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives. In 2023 we will be launching The PAF Academy where we will offer Consulting, Strategic Insight, and Actionable Solutions. Personal Development, Life Skills, and Leadership training. Public Speaking, Theater, Film, and Empowerment Events. We develop the systems, support, and accountability to shift an individuals life, business, or relationship to the next level. In addition to our services, our products consist of home goods, apparel, and beauty care curated to Motivate, Empower & Inspire individuals into next level living. When it comes to Life, Relationships, and Success, I am a speaker who is always known to deliver relevant life-changing words for every situation. I have spoken at a wide range of events from church functions, Youth Empowerment, Women’s Conferences, Business Seminars, and even Outreach Events. If you are looking to be shifted into your next level I am the one for the job.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Integrity helped build my reputation within my market. A large percentage of individuals stated they trust me (the brand) trust goes a long way in business. Can your audience trust you? Can they trust you to deliver results? Can they trust you to solve their problem? Can they trust you to deliver quality? Your audience wants to trust that you (your company) have their best interest at heart. Do you care about our needs or are we just dollar signs to you? I have ended business relationships due to broken trust. I have not researched this but if I surveyed consumers in any market those who are repeat customers or clients trust that particular company. There is a particular supermarket where I purchase my fruits and vegetables. I only buy produce from this market because they consistently showed me they have the freshest produce. I can trust them to deliver every time. Trust is key in building long-term business relationships with customers and other businesses.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Business funding was my biggest challenge. I thought the smartest thing ever was having your own money to start your business. No matter how much initial capital you start out with there will still be a point where many will need some type of outside funding. I encourage anyone to start out small and then expand after that level has been mastered. Keep your expenses really low. The initial vision is almost always larger than your pockets. However, you can get there if you have the proper business plans, resources, and strategies in place. In order to create capital I focused on the products and services that had the lowest production cost but the greatest return on investment. I also made adjustments in my personal life that created capital. Instead of the new dresses every weekend or the expensive hair styles I cut back and used those funds to buy initial inventory. Discipline and a few adjustments can make a huge difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shemekalmcnair.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/coachmei
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/willucoachmei
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ShemekaMcNair
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/Allmeitv
• Other: linktr.ee/iamshemeka