swagggirlicious:

(SWAGGGirlicious Exclusive Interview) Sometime people should take the time to reflect on the people they’ve met within the last year or so and meditate on that person. I decided to this over the weekend. Looking back in my life, I took the time to realize what phenomenal women I’ve met, women whose lives since our first encounter had been altered in some form or fashion due to a particular circumstance. Thais Mills name came to me for her life was altered in a way of good change of course; but stemming from what we now remember as Hurricane Katrina.

I like to remember Hurricane Katrina as God’s Will, if you will, no pun intended, as a driving force that changed the lives of many and while was others had and/or have the option of stepping out on faith and gratifying a vision, Hurricane Katrina would be Thais Mills driving force that would strengthen her enough to tap into her childhood early on learned business skills and really make them work for her, since she is now of age!

The  friendship between the two of us got it’s jumpstart off in the era when “MySpace” reigned supreme and newly developing entrepreneurs who were getting the hang of social networking /independent marketing/self promotions and branding.

Remaining true to the promise of keeping in touch, the two of us always started off our conversations with touching basis, congratulating each other on our newest venture and ended with wishing each other God Good Graces, lots of love and luck! This year and this week we decided to end on a different note, with a plan this time, designed to support each other in the best way we know how! Hence

I had the opportunity to catch up with Thais and what started off as a good conversation between the two of us ended up; an inspiring interview for me of course because I was able to get Thais to share some very good advice, insight and tips to share with others who I personally know could use the advice as well as our loyal readers who simply just may admire what we do.

Tip #1 Readers: If you have a brand, describe your business to everyone as though they are going to cut you a million dollar check! Most of the times in networking, you never know who you’re really talking to! ~ADL

Editor: So Thais, what’s going on with you, tell me what’s materialized for you over the last couple of years…

Thais: I now have 3 dot coms that all serve a very different but wonderful purpose.  

1.       www.EnticingObjects.com is my oldest dot com est. in 1999 – With this business, I offer Original Home Decor. Everything is made to order, such a relaxing escape painting for lovely homes around the world.  

2.       http://www.lipserviceink.com/ , which is the company I was launching when you and I met was created after Hurricane Katrina and was designed to keep in contact with my displaced readers who were known all over the world. The main focus was then and still is literacy; we strive to make reading the lavish experience it was created to be.  

3.       www.creativewritingandediting.com derived from many of my friends who had paid me to manage their Social Media platforms for years. It just made sense to build a home for more who needed the same attention.

Editor: Wow, you are most definitely staying busy to say the least. So tell me what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?

Thais: It’s important to believe so deeply in yourself that you take the biggest risk of all “Working For Self”!  It’s the ultimate challenge. There’s no one to fuss at if you’re not earning, no one to talk to about overtime, it’s a race ran with yourself. Being a business owner is designed to test you at all sorts of levels. Since starting a babysitting club at the age of 12, I’ve never wanted to do anything else but continue to add coals to that fire of “Self Employment”.

Editor: I can relate and appreciate that comment Thais. What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?

Thais: My Mother!  Even though she took the traditional route by going to college, getting the good job, etc…  she always believed in my ” Sky High ” dreams, as crazy as they seemed to others. My little sister Alyse Mills is amazing too!  Just call us the 3 little women who lived in a NOLA shoe !!! LOL  We’ve always supported each other’s dreams and goals. Another great influence for me is Nicci Carter, she’s a marketing woman of major wit and wisdom and Top News Anchor Sally Ann Roberts who is also a huge factor in my life and one of the best mentors one could ever wish to have. My Aunt Shirley Morris Adams is always there for me, my little brother Christian Adams and even my stepmom Paula Adams.  So many amazing forces in my life. I’m truly blessed  

Editor: It’s something as little girls we know that what we dream of is far from within our reach only because of age, but the ability to even dream about your future is a very inspiring thing. Sometimes my dreams ended up being the only thing I had to hold on to. So, let me ask you, what would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date have been for you?

Thais: “Not hiding my undying love for literacy”. With me being blessed to write for so many magazines, it was never required of me to review books and bring light to amazing authors and because of that, I was inspired to create and develop my company www.LipServiceInk.com. The ideal and twist for the concept was designed to make it cool to read. When I think about the entire story and how it all came to fruition, just brings tears to my eyes.  

Editor: What’s the best advice you’ve received in business that you wouldn’t mind passing on to our readers?

Thais:  “Always take advice from people WHO know”.  My mom told me that piece of advice on my first day of high school and from that day until my tomorrow, I’ve never forgotten it and will never forget it. What that one liner did for me in my life, it taught me and gave me the strength to humble myself by admitting to myself first when I don’t know something and I open myself up enough to respect the other person who has taken the time out  to show and share the path(s) to success with me.

Editor: I like that advice. Take advice from the people WHO know not WHO YOU know. Sometimes we get so comfortable with our surrounding and the people within it that we start to rely on them as our resource. I’ve too, like so many others along our way, have learned the importance of not being afraid to reach out and follow up with some great people. One never knows what riches in resources they really possess. So tell us, what has been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?

Thais: I know it sounds SO old school but just Word of Mouth. No matter who I meet, I share with them my current goals and inquire about theirs as well.

Editor: Oh yes, you have to be sure to inquire about the other person as well and not just come off as a talkative show off….LOL  A great display of listening skills AND reading ability is in high demand and  is what everyone wants if not need. What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has really worked in your favor well over the years?

Thais: To embrace the freedom of being a small business but prepare for the structure that comes with evolving into a big brand.  

 

Editor: Well it sounds to me like your definitely prepared and evolving as we speak. Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with other small business owners that have helped you run your business? And this doesn’t have to be traditional response that relates to the Policy and Procedure 101 Guildline to Owning You Own Business….LOL

Thais: The Bible. In times of my struggle I simply hold it open, drop it on the floor and whatever page it falls on I read. It’s my savior on bad days and my right hand on good days.

Editor: Funny how everyone I speak with has a different way of doing what we all end up doing which is opening the bible. I like your way as I share that way as well. Today, to digress a little, I opened up to Psalm 112: 1-2 “PRAISE ye the Lord, Blessed is the delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.” I can now appreciate what I read earlier today for I have understanding to what brought this interview together and I look forward to many more interviews with other women such as yourself who are phenomenal in their own right. I’m glad I got to start with you dear friend. So tell us, do you have any new projects coming up or have you just completed a big project,  reached a milestone, etc….? If so, please tell us about it.

Thais: I’ve structured a fun loving interactive “Creative Writing ” program for kids and teens and I’ve been testing it out at several kid friendly locales. It’s been OH so rewarding and I look forward to introducing it to more markets.

Editor: Well if nothing else from this interview, we’ve learned that you are a woman in demand but tell us, what do you do for fun or what does a simple day of relaxation consist of for you?

Thais: Oh I like doing things such as visiting museums, various types of galleries and I still enjoy new amusement parks. When time permits, I’m not one to turn down a cruises and I look forward to the times when I can travel with my family. A simple day of relaxation for me would consist of curling up somewhere with a good book or painting in which you can check out some of my work on www.EnticingObjects.com 

Editor: Great, so all the men can understand that just because you’re busy, it doesn’t mean you’re a house hermit….LOL  Tell us, what is Thais #1 Business Goal that you plan on utilizing more of over the next year?

Thais: To meet even more new interesting people and share their life story with others and included with this goal, wanting to place one million bookmarks in the hands of new readers is on the TOP of my list.

Editor: I just can’t help but to think that someone other than the two of us are really going to appreciate you for sharing yourself with us. I’ve been summoned to write a book soon! Along with many other greats who have accomplished this task before us, I wondered if you’ve been stricken with the same discernment to write a book and if you have what would you write about?

Thais: I absolutely have and most definitely will create my first edition that will house all my poetry. To date I have well over 4000 poems and one day I plan to publish them all.

Editor: Well Thais darling, it has been a pleasure as always speaking with you but before we close, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Thais: Yes. After you’ve read this interview ( cuz its almost done.. lol) find something else amazing to read. Your brain craves the exercise.  

SWAGGGirlicious News realizes that we have only shared a small piece of Thais Mills with and for those who would love to inquire and learn more about her and from her, please be sure to check out the following sites listed below and click onto the contact page(s). SWAGGGirlicious will feature Thais work throughout the week so please be sure to support her movement or at least thank you for the good advice and tips she gave us all.

If you want to check out the three (3) businesses of Thais Mills go to the following:

www.lipserviceink.com

www.enticingobjects.com

www.creativewritingandediting.com

Follow Thais Mills:

www.twitter.com/lipserviceink | www.twitter.com/enticingobjects  

www.facebook.com/lipserviceink

Interviewed by: Adrienne L.