Introducing The Selfmade Summit: A Creative Conference To Jumpstart Your Calling

1. How is it running a business as a wife-and-husband team, with five children no less!

We capitalize on each other's strengths, and we help each other grow in our respective areas. I try to get comfortable with the things that he's good at and he tries to get comfortable with the paperwork – and the things that I'm a little bit more good at, and being aware of those responsibilities. So as long as we do that, things work out well.

2. What’s a recent small win for you and your business?

My husband recently learned how to repair a lot of different things. He paid attention to what the repairmen we hired to do the work were doing. Our top loaders, our most popular washing machine, takes a lot of wear and tear. They're not the easiest to maintain. My husband has learned how to fix them. That's a small win.

The second one, because I said I capitalize on his strengths and my strengths, is I've been much better about working with accounting software. I used Verizon Small Business resources to learn how to make our books easier.

3. Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

My husband and I both agree that the women who contract with us for our wash/dry/fold – who we were able to springboard with support from the Verizon grant program – have inspired us because they were homeless coming out of the pandemic. They were able to come into our establishment and start their own small business, and that's something that we are super proud of these women for, for taking the steps that they did to start their own small business.

4. What's a book, podcast, or resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

Before 2018, my husband bought this DVD set by Danny D'Angelo, the KING of Laundry, and we were able to learn about the business just from sitting down and listening to him. A few years later, my husband was on his podcast! He was really, really inspirational to us.

5. How has the Verizon Small Business program helped propel your business forward?

The free resources are always a benefit because you're not obligated to do anything other than taking the time to seek out information. We're just real people and I feel like Verizon is a partnership with us in small business, supporting us, and believing in us. We've been able to expand our business because Verizon gave us a shot to do that. And that's amazing.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Team J&S.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces.

Careers are not linear, and that's OK!

Rather than feeling like a failure for not living up to our parents’ outdated idea of success, I’ve taken some wisdom from Carrie, who had this all figured out back in the '90s. She started as a columnist for a newspaper, then authored several successful books, before becoming a podcast host. In between, she also wrote for Vogue and headlined a speaker series on dating in New York City.

The moral of the story? It’s OK to change directions and to switch up your path if what you’ve been doing no longer brings you joy (or, if the industry shifts and you need to pay rent). You don’t need to cling to a decision just because you spent a long time making it.

You can make the freelance & gig economy work for you.

Carrie was a freelance writer before it was cool, but she was also an early adapter to the gig economy (see: all those Learning Annex lessons). Manhattan is expensive, and when I was laid off at the start of the pandemic, I turned to freelance work to make ends meet. I had to get really scrappy and learn some new skills on the fly, but like Carrie, it all worked out in the end (and I had some cash left over for shoes, too!)

Fake it 'til you make it!

Sure, Carrie is a member of the press, but she’s a sex columnist at a D-list publication. No shade to a fellow writer, but I love how Carrie didn’t let this stand in her way. She attended fashion week and befriended Vogue editors and talked up her accomplishments enough to get into any door she wanted (except for that LA premiere, but we'll forgive it). One thing I’ve learned is that you’re your own best advocate, and no one else is going to do the work for you — it’s up to you to make things happen for yourself.

Know your worth, and don't settle for less.

When Carrie decided to buy her condo, but she didn't have enough cash saved (a different story for a different day), she proclaimed that she was offered "$4 a word at Vogue — most people get $2." Now, even in the '90s/early millennium this was seriously delulu, but Carrie believed in herself, went after what she wanted, and earned what she was worth. In-universe, this is double what the average Vogue writer was earning, which is a major win.

Don't let the fear of making a mistake stop you from thinking big and taking calculated risks!

When Carrie is approached to write a book based on her column, she's in shock and even considers turning down the opportunity. She decides to take a meeting, but it doesn't go well and she questions whether she should be writing a book at all. Luckily, Carrie pushes through these moments of self-doubt and completes her book, which becomes a huge success and the first of many. The lesson here is that self-doubt is normal, but letting those thoughts take over will hold you back from your full potential.

Remember to trust the process, because good things won't happen overnight!

One of my favorite things about Carrie is that she's a flawed character and forever a work-in-progress, from her love life to her career path. When we first meet Carrie, she's writing a weekly column for a local newspaper. We see her writing the column every day (for six seasons!), which may seem insignificant, but she's laying the groundwork and putting in the hours for her next career move, whatever that may be. Little by little, we see Carrie start to take on bigger projects, and she ends the series as a Vogue writer, a best-selling author, and a highly respected figure in NYC society. TV and movies can present success as an overnight sensation, but in real life — and in Carrie's case — it's more often a marathon than a sprint. Remember to give yourself grace and trust the process.

What does a texturizing spray do?

A texture spray offers texture, hold, and volume to flat or thin hair. We'd recommend saving it as the last step in your hair routine (after you've dried it or applied heat). Just hold it about a foot away from your hair and spray it directly into your strands! You can apply it normally, or flip your head upside down for even more volume, and I like to run my fingers through my hair afterwards.

What is the difference between texture spray and hairspray?

Hairspray has always been used to hold hairstyles (and flyaways) in place for a perfect, shiny finished look. Texture spray is a little more flexible and gritty. And sometimes you strike gold by finding a texturizing hair spray!

Is texturizing spray the same as volumizing spray?

Yes, volumizing spray and texturizing spray can be used interchangeably.

This texturizing spray has totally transformed my hair. I just add a little bit to the middle and ends of my hair in the morning, run my fingers through it, and I'm good to go! It gives my hair shape and hold it's literally never had before.

This texturizing spray both gives your hair volume and soaks up oil and impurities. The best part is that it's lightweight so your hair will feel as well as look effortless.

Not only is this bottle super cute, but this hair product features a clean ingredient list AND is cruelty free. And not only does it offer volume, but it protects your hair from heat too!

Whether you use it in the morning or in between work and happy hour, this spray will refresh your hair no matter what time it is! The citrus, fruit, and warm woods fragrance makes us smile almost as much as the fact SGX never tests on animals.

Any beach kid will tell you the best your hair will ever look is right after you come out of the ocean. Recreate some of that magic (and make summer last all year long!) with this sea salt texturizing spray. This trio is on sale for $16!

Get your own at-home blowout when you use Drybar's texturizing finishing spray on your 'do. It's sulfate-free and works on every single hair type.

You don't have to worry about dry or crunchy hair with this texturizing spray, thanks to its nourishing pro-vitamin b5 and aloe vera.

If you want a two-in-one hair product, opt for a texture hairspray. This pick promises to give your hair beautiful shine and movement without any of the build up or flakiness you might find with other products. Yes, please!

This spray is great for thin hair AND thinning hair. Its 4-star rating caught my eye (especially since it has almost 2 thousand reviews) as well as the fact it'll instantly give your hair 40 percent more volume!

One of the frustrating parts of having straight, thin hair is how easily clips, ponytail holders, and ribbons slide out. But with a nice dose of texture spray, that problem goes away!

Not only does this product provide your hair with sexy texture, but it also doesn't cloud your hair color, meaning your style can be as vibrant as it deserves!