Shelby Tinsley is on a mission is to create a platform for everyone to speak nothing but positive things into existence
I am the Creator and Founder of iShallBe! iShallBe is an interactive daily affirmation app that serves as a motivational accountability partner to the user. It provides quotes, inspirational videos, and motivational messages. Our mission is to create a platform for everyone to speak nothing but positive things into existence. iShallBe is available for download via Apple App Store and Google Play.
What motivated you to become an entrepreneur? Is having your own business something you always wanted to have?
Since middle school, I always had the desire to become an entrepreneur. However, it was life challenges that motivated me to pursue this goal. After receiving two degrees, I could not secure a job, and began to question my existence. However, with faith, determination, and perseverance I pressed through the difficult times and began to identify my purpose.
How did you come up with your business idea? What inspired you?
“iShallBe” is a play in my name, “Shelby”. My Aunt gave me the name Shelby. She stated “she shall be whatever she put her mind too”. From this I wanted to create a platform for all people to speak nothing but positivity into existence. I created a diary of quotes I collected (via church sermons, YouTube, conferences, books, etc.) over the years and wanted to come up with a creative way to share the quotes with the world. iShallBe serves as a platform to share the diary of quotes, while also bringing inspiration to someone’s day.
What were you doing before this? How did it prepare you for the entrepreneurial life?
Before starting iShallBe, I had just graduated with my masters degree and was looking for the “perfect” job. I absolutely did not prepare for the entrepreneurial life. When you have a dream or finally discover what it is you really want to do, there is not a right or wrong way to prepare for it. You go for it and learn along the way.
What is your greatest fear? How do you manage it?
My greatest fear is always taking the first step. One prime example, releasing the app and beginning the social accounts. These things may sound simple, but I was afraid of what people would say about iShallBe on social media or if there would be a bad review in the app stores. I questioned if people would follow all of iShallBe’s accounts or even download the app. I learned that your fears could stop you from succeeding. If we never take the first step we will never be aware of our capability.
"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." – Martin Luther King Jr.