We recently connected with Sierra Gresham and have shared our conversation below.

Sierra , appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

What I think it takes to be successful is FAITH! Any entrepreneur will tell you without faith their business couldn’t thrive. Other ways are customer service, money management, going outside of your comfort zone, and being able to be humble. Until this day I am still struggling with some but I know soon it will all pay off!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Well I never wanted to be a hair stylist. Lol. I always wanted to work with others and make a difference. I thought I could get a corporate job with benefits, a schedule, and uniform I could do what I wanted to do. I went to cosmetology school right after high school, was always doing someone’s hair, was an assistant to a stylist, but never took it serious. After I finished school I didn’t go to the board do to being afraid of failure. Years later I inquired about my hours and I found out it was too late. 1500 hours gone just like that! I cried for a week and my husband said nope we not doing that anymore.. I spoke to the stylist I was working for at the time (I
was also working my dream job I thought) she told me what I needed to hear. I applied at to a new school and started right away. The 2nd time around I was married with 1 child and ready to take the hair industry serious. I started not to enjoy my current career at the time and prayed God show me a way out. Well after working as a HR Assistant for 6½ years I got terminated and that was the best day ever! I finally embraced want was there all along HAIR! I worked in the hair industry and was loving the freedom! I thought everything I wanted to do and needed I could do in this industry! I’ve had some bumps on this road but I over came them. I went back to school to become a hair design instructor (something I never thought of doing). My next big thing is owning a salon. Throughout my years everything I went through taught me and geared me into who I am.today. I really am thankful for the HR Assistant job, the salon assistants job, and the salon manager positions. I finally stopped running and said ok hair I hear you!

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Hair was never something I wanted to do. I felt it had no benefits such as vacation, pto, medical and dental. I worked a corporate job in HR and thought I loved it. All while hair was my side hustle. I either was a salon assistant or neighborhood stylist. After deciding to go back to school because my hours were no good; I knew the 2nd time around would be different. I was terminated from my job and felt relieved instead of angry. I then said OK Hair I’m ready. That same year I finished as a Licensed Master Cometologist.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to learn was don’t let failure or procrastination determine your future. While I was in school another student came.in telling us her experience going to state board and how she failed. That particular moment/feeling of failure stayed with me. Years after I finished I was afraid of failing so I procrastinated about going to the board. Family and friends were encouraging me to go but that feeling stopped me. Once I checked up on my hours and found out they were no good it broke my heart. I spoke to the stylist I was working for at the time, put my big girl panties on, and enrolled back in school. One of the best decision of my life!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Siestylescreations
• Facebook: Siestyles Creations

Image Credits
K.hairextensions_ Thepinkglamroomstudios