Cheryl Sutherland @ PleaseNotes: affirmation-filled products that inspires women of color
My company is PleaseNotes, and it’s a lifestyle brand of inspirational, affirmation-filled goods for the millennial woman. Our goods work by empowering a person to re-discover what they are passionate about, create a plan to make it happen, and supporting them with strategic tools and notes of positivity to help them shift their mindset, which is vital when starting something new. The signature item in the line is the Journal. It’s guided, and re-grounds you with your authentic self, lets you take a look at your present, and gets you to ask yourself what really matters to you. Every page has a different affirmation or motivational quote from thought leaders like Les Brown, Drake, DJ Khaled and Michelle Obama.
Our suite of products provide you with consistent message that you can surround yourself with. Our themes, Cheeky, Carefree and Confident, have messages that allow you step into playful boldness, fun and ease, or courage. Whether it’s the sticky notes, mirror decals, or the water bottles, the more you use them, you feel more powerful, capable, excited and overall happy. 10% of our net proceeds go to different organizations and charities that support women’s empowerment, so when you’re buying from this small business, you’re also helping others! We have been featured in The Huffington Post, InStyle Magazine, Thrive Global, and by influencers in the empowerment field like Les Brown and actress Monique Coleman!
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur? Is having your own business something you always wanted to have?
I honestly never thought of myself as an entrepreneur until I started my own business. I always wanted to be the top employee or the key person that someone had on their team. This creeping feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction kept increasing and the more I fought it, the worse it became. Finally, when I stepped up and prioritized myself, the idea came to me, and I have never experienced alignment in such a way before! I was always a little jealous of people that knew what they were supposed to do from an early age. But now I am grateful I have had these experiences, because it helped me to discover what I was put here to do.
How did you come up with your business idea? What inspired you?
I wanted to share something that had shifted my life enormously and something that I knew would make a difference for people in similar situations. Most people feel tired of settling and struggling, but don’t know what to do to change it. In addition, it can feel overwhelming to believe in yourself. I was lucky enough to know what to do when faced with a solid block in my path. I wanted to share with others how to look up.
What are your short/long term goals?
I will be attending the National Stationery Show in May, will get a plethora of orders from buyers, and get the PleaseNotes magic into more hands. I also want to step into hosting more speaking gigs, creating events and experiences for people to come together and work on their goals, create a support team and create their own success.
What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
I don’t feel like I’ve made any sacrifices; I’ve grown so much as a person as a result of being an entrepreneur. I see it kind of like having kids, you don’t value going out as much, you enjoy staying home or learning new things you can use to support you. You start looking at your financials with a different feeling, and you also make new friends.
What is your greatest fear? How do you manage it?
My greatest fear is that I am doing all this work and I am going to be a failure. Broke, unhappy, with nothing to show for all the work I have done. I manage it by acknowledging it, and staying focused on the positive. When people tell me their experience giving, receiving or using the goods. People see what I’m doing and gravitate to it, and it’s beautiful. Most importantly, when I tell people about my business, I get so excited. I feel pumped; when that stops happening, then I know that I should be moving on.
How far are you willing to go to succeed?
All the way baby!
If you were a book, what would your title be and why?
I’ve got the title! It is “The Diary of an Eternal Optimist.” It will be an autobiography and it will cover my life and how no matter what, I’ve always come out on top because I’ve chosen to see the good and the opportunity that is in every experience.
Did you have to fire someone before? What’s the best way to go about it?
I did. It was my social media manager at the time, and it was tricky because things weren’t getting turned in on time. I told her the issue that I was having and asked if this position still worked for her, and if it didn’t then it was okay for us not to continue. She actually thanked me because she was feeling completely overwhelmed with planning her wedding, and she wanted to quit, but felt really bad if she did. When people come together, it is never permanent and we make it difficult if we don’t acknowledge that it’s time to seperate. We are still friends to this day!
What is your proudest accomplishment of this year? What are you looking forward the most in the next 12 months?
My proudest accomplishment was getting endorsed by Les Brown saying, “This is a gift, this is special and extraordinary and deserves to be shared with the world.” Les is an amazing man, and an institution in the personal development industry. The fact that he sees the value, the purpose, and the power in my goods amazing!