Down 2 Business

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"You never get a second chance to make a first impression" is a saying that speaks volumes when it comes to networking and meeting new people. First impressions mean the world to Constant and he takes pride in being able to make a difference in the lives of others whether it comes physically, spiritually or mentally.

By taking this approach with all of his clients for Mangongo Fitness, he is having much success with his business thus far and is only expanding with time.

For Constant, although he has always had a passion for working out, Mangongo Fitness entails much more than that.

Tune in to episode 39 as Constant walks us through his transition from the Democratic Republic of Congo to North Carolina, details the motivation behind starting his business and drops gems to last a lifetime!

For more information and updates about Mangongo fitness:

Instagram: @mangongofitness ; @constantmangongo

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Growing up and seeing the daily sacrifices and grind from his parents motivated Dope Da Vinci unlike anything else. From creating his own apparel line to becoming a music artist, he fully embraced the arts and the messages within it all.

When you hear the story behind his journey from Haiti to the United States, you'll realize that O1 Visa Apparel is more than just clothing and accessories, but a sense of pride and accomplishment for immigrants.

Despite experiencing alienation and a host of trials and tribulations throughout his life, what continues to keep Dope Da Vinci's eyes on the prize?

Tune in to episode 38 for the true meaning of an O1 Visa, to hear Dope Da Vinci's message to those battling with obstacles and much more!

For more information and to stay up to date with O1 Visa Apparel and Dope Da Vinci:

Instagram: @dopedavinci_509 ; @o1visaapparel

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Bernard has always taken an interest in sports and doing whatever he can to strengthen the mind and body. After graduating from Morehouse College last year, he noticed that the students in the AUC didn't really have access to reputable facilities and equipment. After taking matters into his own hands, WorkNard was started with the mission to help others develop the mind of a champion and grow their overall well being.

Bernard recognizes he is running a business, but the money is the least of his concerns, but rather positively impacting and serving communities around him, especially the youth.

So how have things changed for WorkNard since Bernard left corporate America for good in July of last year?

Tune in to episode 37 as Bernard shares the journey of coming into business in 2019, explains why he is so passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and drops a plethora of gems for everyone, especially entrepreneurs.

For more information about WorkNard and to stay up to date with merchandise, sessions and events:

Instagram: @worknard_1 ; @uncle_nard23

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Ivan attributes his original love for music to 'Left Eye' from TLC and finding out particularly that his father and uncle grew up on the same block as her in Philadelphia. From there, it went on to him becoming interested in documentaries and the behind the scenes of the music industry and was always thinking about creative ways to promote music (album covers, rollouts, etc.)

At 16, after receiving some motivation from a publicist of a magazine he reached out to it was then that Earstyle was born. It was a way of putting together music for the ear as well as the style and culture that embodies it all. Being in high school at the time and seeing how many people supported his vision was nothing short of blessings for Ivan.

But how has he adapted after running this website for more than 10 years?

Tune in to episode 36 as Ivan takes us on the journey of owning Earstyle while providing something memorable for everyone, relives the impact Hampton University has had on him and how he is translating that to his life today and much more!

For more information about Earstyle and to keep up with all that Ivan is continuing to take part in:

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Often times those close to us notice things that we may attribute to simply being a part of our personality. For Nish, or "Lucky" as most call her it was her flashy accessories and how she loved to wear all types of colors. In other words, you can say she really pushed the limit when it came to fashion but her friends and family agreed that it always worked for her.

However, the journey of coming in to business in 2017 was far from easy but thanks to some help from her family, Lucky Box Accessories was born and has only elevated with time from adding various products like handbags to a newly added luggage line.

But...Nish says that Luck Box Accessories is far from its peak and adding the luggage was just another step along the way.

Tune in to episode 35 as Nish breaks down her inspiration behind coming into business, how her ties to Hampton has motivated her to want to conduct business there and much more!

For more information about Lucky Box Accessories and to stay up to date with their new releases:

Instagram: @luckybox_accessories ; @livelove_lucky

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When life places obstacles in your path, how do you respond to the challenge ahead? For Joydan, it was about honing in on a skill she had learned while taking a course at ECU and really allowing that to propel her away from the 9-5 lifestyle.

As she reflects on her time in North Carolina, relocating to Atlanta was the best decision she could've made not only herself, but her business Lash Houzz Atlanta. She has not only been able to provide a service to others in the form of lashes but she took it a step further and became an instructor in an effort to translate the skill to other women worldwide.

But it doesn't stop there...

Tune in to episode 34 as Joydan discusses the journey of truly investing and believing in yourself, gives us the details of her upcoming tour and much more!

For more information about Lash Houzz Atlanta and to utilize Joydan's services:

Instagram: @lash_houzzatlanta ; @officialjoydan

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It doesn't take being a business owner or entrepreneur for you to experience epiphanies throughout life. There is also no timeline as to when these moments can happen and what the outcome can be. However, Imani came to realization that she wanted to be a resource for other business owners and entrepreneurs when helping them elevate their brand by any means.

But at what moment along her journey did she have this aha moment?

Imani recognized that a lot of business owners may not always have access to the necessary tools to handle going viral or a drastic increase in sales or clientele. Through her experiences, she aims to teach these brands how to find that balance and work your way towards becoming a household name.

Tune in to episode 33 as Imani details her educational experiences and how her HBCU journey truly shaped her path, talks about her self-published journal: Faith & Fear and some of her favorite businesses she's worked with!

For more information about Imani's services and to purchase her journal and other courses:

Instagram: @imani_inspires_innovation

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Coming into business, Courtney knew that she wasn't going to have it all figured out in the beginning. However, having a strong support system and not being afraid to ask questions propelled her into a smooth and successful launch of DRIPD Collection Beauty. From the moment her friends at North Carolina Central University knew of Courtney wanting to get into the beauty industry, they immediately offered their help in any capacity she needed.

While Courtney was never a big makeup person, she loved the idea of a quick beauty routine that allowed her to highlight her natural beauty in the process. This holds true in the products she offers from lip glosses to personalized boxes designed to cater to each customer.

But how has Courtney been able to manage being a business owner and elementary school teacher all in the midst of a pandemic?

Tune in to episode 32 as Courtney discusses her experiences this year, how she plans on making the ladies as cozy as possible, gives a shoutout to those who have played an integral role along the journey and much more!

For more information on DRIPD Collection Beauty and to stay up to date on all products and new releases:

Instagram: @dripdcollection ; @theecourtb_

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There can be many motivations behind choosing to start your own business, but for Levi Hardy it stemmed from the idea of wanting to provide generational wealth for this family. After his son Declan was born, he truly kicked things into high gear and from working late nights and early mornings there was nothing he wouldn't do to ensure his family was always taken care of.

Levi already had experience with construction dating back to high school and would even pick up side jobs on the weekend all throughout Montgomery County. At the beginning of this year, Hardy Construction, LLC was born and despite the pandemic the growth has been tremendous.

Levi has since become a licensed contractor in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has his eyes set on expansion but knows that he must be strategical. He's been able to hire three guys and take on projects in various areas of the state which has really allowed business to flourish.

Tune in to episode 31 as Levi takes us through his first year in business, explains how he's even be able to bring on his younger brothers at times and much more!

For more information about Hardy Construction, LLC and to utilize their services:

Instagram: @hardy_construction_llc ; @levi_t_hardy

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After giving a presentation for his 'Entrepreneurship' class in high school, it resonated with Dom Wyche that he wanted to have a business of his own. His uncle was in charge of Wyche's Barbershop in West Philadelphia and that is where Dom's interest in hair sparked from. However, he wanted to take it a step further and not only focus on textured hair but also matching people with the right products and services.

When Divercity Hair Network was created, Dom surveyed hundreds of people in the Temple University community and after careful analysis noticed that a lot of them felt lost when it came to using the right products and finding shops to suit them.

Although Divercity is currently focused on the Tri-State area, Dom has intentions of growth in the future but knows that leadership is an important component to consider.

Do you know what ingredients are good/bad for your hair?

Tune in to episode 30 as Dom gives us some do's and don'ts when it comes to caring for your crown, gives some insight on staying productive and much more!

For more information about Divercity Hair Network and to check out their products and tips:

Instagram: @divercityhairnetwork ; @koiledking.dom

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