We recently connected with Tamara Watford and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tamara, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
When I’m asked what does it take to be successful? I always state; success can be measured in different ways. For me, success isn’t in the American Dream but in my dream to set great examples as a hardworking God fearing human being! It’s not the $300,000 home I live in but it’s the endurance my husband and I have to push forth everyday to be able to keep and maintain that home. The wisdom I used to marry the right mate that would uphold these same values for life. It’s not the cars we own but the knowledge we possess to be smart enough to obtain those vehicles within our means. Me and my husband like old skool cars, so I’m wise enough to know that if I don’t over spend or live outside my budget I can obtain several cars that I like etc. Success isn’t measured by a DEGREE nor by MATERIAL things for me at all! It’s my DRIVE, my WISDOM, my STRENGTH used to endure the trials and tribulations that comes with success. My ENDURANCE to get up everyday, to work like the ants, to maintain a stable mind and the willpower to achieve! That’s exactly what it takes to be successful in my opinion! TO GOD BE THE GLORY OF SUCCESS in ANY equation!!
Tamara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a proud owner a Selfie/Photo Studio here in Atlanta called the Selfie Closet ATL.. I’m from the Midwest but I’ve resided here in Atlanta for years now.
I’m a Midwest Girl through and through! My life started in South Bend, Indiana and I was reared in Chicago, Illinois as well; that’s the environment that shaped me. South Bend is the city I grew up in, I was a well known hairstylist there. This is where I was born and raised, South Bend is a hour and a half outside of Chicago.
I was blessed to have an Uncle (Lee Gillespie) that owned a Salon called “The Perfect Touch Hair Salon” I was a teenage stylist doing hair in my mamas house, experimenting on my friends. My childhood bf (Libby) always tells people how I use to have her hair color fire with Black Cherry kool-aid lol. I was known for taking care of hair, bomb ponytails and freeze curls that I created uniquely. My sisters Erika and Chaka was my models. They had the whole city coming to me for the ponytails; both are beautiful. When I came up with a new style they were perfect. We were always together, one is chocolate and one is vanilla. I cornered the market with them as my models. It was me and Lucretia who had the ponytails on lockdown; she was a beast with them also! My cousin Corri Bethel who now owns an Entertainment Company D.A.S.A.N.I, Inc. was the one I did a lot of manifesting with as a young girl. She loved New Edition, she had their posters all over her ceiling, literally everywhere in her room! We’d lay in her room looking at New Edition and talk about our future lives. Of course at that time we didn’t know we were manifesting our lives but that’s what we were doing. She always said she was going to meet New Edition and she always told me I was too much for our city. She now books shows for New Edition, they’re her family now. She books shows for Monique and a lot of the greats in the comedian arena. We’re both doing the things we dreamed and talked about as kids. We’re very proud of one another, God is Good! I think that’s one of the dopest parts of my life experiences.
I’m now a very proud owner of Selfie Closet ATL located in the Westend of Atlanta. The Selfie Closet gives you several options for different creative Photo scenes. It’s a Closet setting with alot of personality and it’s such a vibe! I also teach people how to make a wonderful smelling Candle from scratch. If you book the Candle class you can also get the Selfie Experience in one of the packages.
In my younger years I ran with some of Detroit’s and Chicago’s real hustlers and go-getters. Detroit and Chicago was always my stumping grounds, my second/ third homes. I did hair shows with some of the greatest in the hair world from Detroit. The Hair Wars with Lil Willie, John Gooden, Shauna D, Mr. Little, Goldie, Cool C, Big Bad D to name a few. I did Platform work for Proud Lady Hair shows in Chicago and learn mad skills from some of Chitowns coldest hairstylist. I really really enjoyed my time as a creative hairstylist/ hair designer. I grew up watching the flyest of the fly in Chicago, it really shaped my perception of style. It also shaped my ambition for hustling. If you was blessed to ever go to Jew Town, Madison on the Westside, then you already know. My sister-friend Angela Lipsey was the one who took me to the strips on the Westside of Chicago. She keep me on game about Madison and spots like that: We stayed in Chicago, for one reason or another; our 2nd home! She loved to hit the highway and that’s what we did religiously. I spent a lot of time in Chicago with my Auntie Fray as a child. She’s 10 years older then me, she’s no longer here and words can’t explain how much I miss her! I learned a lot as a kid watching the shakers and movers in Chicago. Chicago was my inspiration too hustling and style. Even tho I got my uniqueness and my flamboyant style from my Daddy Cosmo Watford. He’s one of them but my mama has always been a super sharp women; so it’s in my DNA fa sure. My mama Dr. Alice Miller-Allen is behind my drive, she came so far as a teenage mother. She had me at 16 years old, she dropped out of high school but never gave up! She now has her Doctorate and has overcome any obstacles set against her.
My Uncle Lee help shaped me and my cousin Zondra (his daughter) into awesome stylist. He was alittle stern on us but with great lessons for our future. Zondra and I both are entrepreneurs, business woman and go-getters, she owns a Spa (Perfect Touch Wellness Spa) in Elkhart, Indiana. Uncle Lee gave me the direction and set the example for us to be a honorable business woman as well as stylist.
It definitely came with tough love sometimes but it’s much appreciated as a grown woman.
I’ve been in Atlanta for 16 years now, I moved here from Indianapolis, Indiana with my 2 Sets of Twins. I stayed in Nap for 5 years, my only reason for being there is because the Twins Father caught a case and was shipped that way. I was traveling to see him every weekend and decided to move closer to where he was imprisoned.
After being in Indianapolis for 5 years, I was OVER it… it’s a small City and I knew I couldn’t elevate any further there. The Twins father and I went our separate ways once he came home and Nap was not for me! I felt like I started to become depressed in Indianapolis. I worked in some Top Salons there, made the connections and relationships God needed me to make and my time was up there. Moving to Atlanta was a bigger challenge than I ever imagined! Atlanta will show you what it means too really be about this thing called life. I moved here with NO JOB, NO HUSBAND, just ME and the TWINS X2. I was great at doing hair, a beast with it! Not just styling hair but taking good care of hair! I’m known for being a dope hairstylist/hair designer throughout many regions.
I just knew I was going to come here and DOMINATE, boy did I have another thing coming. This was a Metropolitan city, I was going through obstacles with the Twins and I getting situated in the systems here. I had issues transferring my Cosmetology license, money was going fast. I was then trying to reevaluate what I had did to me and the Twins LIFE! I really thought I had moved to Atlanta with SOME money! I soon found out that was just chump change I came with!! I then started having challenges with my oldest set of boy Twins. I decided to set a date to move back home but God came to me and said I didn’t bring you this far for you to give up. I just want to say AND HE DIDN’T and I DIDN’T either!
If you go read my 1st interview (Conversation with Money Mango) I talk all about that time in my life. One of the HARDEST CHALLENGES in my life.. moving here without a job, having to build a clientele from scratch. Along with making sure I was making enough money to keep rent paid, utilities on and my children feed in a brand new city where I barely knew anyone. I want anyone and everyone to know, if you want something bad enough; there’s no obstacle that can STOP YOU!
I still provide services to my clients as far as brows, lashes and makeup services.
I have a Brow Bar located in the same location of my Selfie Closet business. I’m also an Interior Decorator, if you are in need of some Interior love; I’m who you’re looking for. Whether it’s your house that needs to be made into a home. If it’s your business space, home office, or she-shed; my creatively is Top Tier. I’ve started preparing to host business classes with tips, informative information etc for people interested in starting a business.
I hope my story inspires Single Moms, Single Dads, Everyone who’s in Pursuit of Happiness to NEVER GIVE UP!!! I’m proud of me for staying the course, standing on my faith and knowing I possess the strength and determination to be all that I can be!
Had I given up I wouldn’t have the Selfie Closet ATL. I wouldn’t have had my very 1st business Upscale Luxuries. That was my introduction to business, literally my business beginning. I’ve had a few Accessory Boutiques throughout the city where I sell unique Accessories and Fashion. I have an online presents for my accessories; Luxurie Pieces and my thrift store; Upscale ATL Finds.
Moving to Atlanta and staying the course has shaped me into a great business woman. My cousin/brother Cheo Watford talked me into moving here to Atlanta, He was all I had and knew when I stepped foot into the ATL.
Fast forward today, he helped me build out and create the Selfie Closet ATL along with my husband Jonathan and my cousin Sunny. Cheo is a creative like me, it’s in our blood, He owns a business called BLO-N-GLO Event Rental. He has an amazing outdoor rental area in his 3,000 sq ft backyard that lights up with all the fire LED furniture from his Blo-N-GLO business that sets off the Glo-Up Corner in the Selfie Closet ATL. You can find both businesses on Peerspace if you’re looking for some places to rent for any event or for some dope content creating.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I would have to say there’s a few books that really helped me along my journey as an Entrepreneur. The 1st one I would have to speak on is The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
This book literally helps you learn how to be successful with your money. It offers timeless advice on money management and financial success. It’s a very humbling book to read for entrepreneurs, anyone looking to build a business or became financially stable. It gives you an understanding of financial principles and strategies to succeed.
This is a must read for Everyone!
A couple of must reads in my opinion are:
Three Magic Words by Uell S. Anderson, this is a great Self-Awareness book. This book reveals the keys to unlocking your true potential and living a life of abundance. He artfully explains how the conscious and subconscious minds work in harmony to mold our circumstances. It’s a pretty deep book and I found through lessons the things to be facts.
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries & Jack Trout, would be my 3rd choice. It’s what I’m reading now, I feel like I’m so behind with this one. I should have read this sooner, the principles are timeless that I’ve read so far. The rules are concise and anytime you undertake any marketing or sales activities, this book provides the set of rules by which you should evaluate those activities. I’m learning so much from this book so far!
Have you ever had to pivot?
Wow a pivotal moment in my career, I’ve actually experienced a couple of those. The 1st one would be moving here and starting all over from scratch. Moving here really changed every aspect of my life and career. A lot of the obstacles I went through in that journey was preparing me for who I am today. I went through a lot of trying times! Being a single parent, working my butt off, all that damaged my relationship with my Twin sons ( my 1st set of Twin boys). That’s something I’m still trying to understand and cope with today. I’m an entrepreneur, I worked hard to provide for my children and keep a roof over their heads. That’s all I’ve known, I was trying to get back to what me and the Twins X 2 was use to in our lives before Georgia. It came a time where I had to get a job as I tried to build a hair clientele to keep bills paid. When I became an employee and started working for someone else’s dream, that showed me that was not my destiny. It wasn’t my destiny but it truly was apart of my journey!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://selfieclosetatl.square.site/
- Instagram: Selfieclosetatl
- Facebook: ATL Westend Closet
- Youtube: Selfie Closet ATL
- Yelp: Selfie Closet ATL
Image Credits
Bronner Brothers Hairshow
Selfie Closet ATL
Corri Bethel