We recently connected with Tia Williams and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tia, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
It takes persistence, commitment, and a positive attitude to be successful. I have experienced many difficulties throughout my journey, but it has all been worth it. After graduating high school, I moved to Cincinnati to attend college. Being in a new town was a struggle for me financially and socially. I really struggled to make a way for myself. Despite the challenges I was able to complete my bachelor’s program in four years. After graduating I really struggled to find employment in my field, this was hard on my self-esteem. I took some time off before eventually enrolling in graduate school. During graduate school I was able to land a full-time job but struggled to manage everything. I was working a full-time job, carrying a full course load, and managing the challenges of life. Eventually everything came to a head, and I was put on academic probation. Being put on academic probation resulted in me losing my financial aid. I picked up extra hours during that semester and reached out to classmates for additional help. Eventually I raised my grade point average and was awarded financial aid again. I went on to graduate with a master’s degree in school counseling. Over the next few years, I experienced health scares, financial struggles, and a divorce. Despite those challenges I never gave up and continued to believe in myself. Today I can proudly say that I am a God-fearing woman, the proud owner of Fashion_is_a_Habit, and I hold two college degrees.
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 back background and context?
From an early age I have always been interested in fashion, planning, and design. People would always compliment me on my creativity and my special eye for design. Event planning and styling started off as a hobby that I turned into a growing business. I offer full planning/coordination for events such as baby showers, weddings, birthday celebrations, and graduations. In addition, I offer styling services that helps my clients receive celebrity looks for a fraction of the price. What sets Fashion_is_a_habit apart from others is that I not only help clients feel good on the outside but the inside as well. I am extremely proud of the fact that I have been featured in Voyage/Canvas Rebel magazine two times. I never thought I would be featured in magazines. I want my clients to know that my brand is about feeling good and embracing yourself. As I am creating looks and designs, I always encourage my clients to stay true to themselves.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Social media is a great tool for gaining new clients and staying connected with current clients. I have been able to build my brand/business through engaging with my followers and creating content.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Although I am a business owner, I have a full-time career in Talent Acquisition. My degrees are in psychology and school counseling, but I really struggled in the industry. After completing my college internship, I could not find a job as a school counselor, which resulted in me working in the mental health/ case management sector for several years. I enjoy helping others, but I struggled in the industry. I eventually transitioned into Talent Acquisition where I have been able to utilize my previous skills and experiences. Working in Talent Acquisition has given me great work life balance, affording me the time to continue to grow my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/fashionisahabit
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/fashion_is_a_habit?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tia.m.clark/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tia-williams-30552a30
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ttmariej100