We had the good fortune of connecting with BreAnn Robinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi BreAnn, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The single most important decision I had to make that has contributed to my success was leaving a Fortune 500 company to become emotionally and physically available for myself and my children who have special needs. When I made that decision final, doors of opportunity started to open; however, I still wasn’t emotionally or mentally prepared and failed the first time. Once I prepared my mental and started truly walking in my purpose, another shift happened and even more, opportunities started to flow continuously.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
There are so many things I am proud of within my business, but I have to say currently to date I am most proud of being able to hire two part-time employees for my business and obtain a building. I have had lots of encouragement poured into me, and once I made the conscious decision to step into my purpose the opportunities have been limitless. My business started in 2015, a little after meeting my mentor Zenovdia Love, but I did not make it a legal entity until 2019. For the first two years, I worked in corporate America and my business as a side hustle. In 2017, my life shifted and I retired from my job and started investing more into my business; that same year hurricane Irma came through FL and I became homeless and experienced a horrible divorce. Those two situations put me in a state of depression and I started to feel like I made a mistake. Then another shift happened in 2018; I met a person online that started encouraging me every day and speaking life into me. I then decided it was time to write my business plan, repair and establish my credit, and get back to doing what I love. That’s when I met my mentor Catherine Witcher on social media. Then in 2019, I declared my business as a legal entity and got connected, again through social media, with my financial advisor Justin Ford. With their guidance, support, encouragement, and motivation I started to see real revenue and growth within my business. Next, COVID19 hit! I was thinking I was going to have to do my business less and my professional job as a Behavior Analyst more; however, that wasn’t the case. I was actually able to quit my professional job and operate my business full time. This is where I made the shift to having a homeschool co-op for children that have challenges with virtual learning. Some of those students have IEPs and 504 plans and others just are children who don’t learn their best through computers. It has brought me great success, influenced how I approach my passion of being a Master IEP Coach®, and catapulted me forward in my financial goals. Which all led me to hire employees!
None of it was easy. There were and still are many challenges I face, but I overcome them by way of staying connected to my mentors for encouragement and support. Conversing with my best friends and family about why I perceive something as a challenge and even utilizing my children’s happiness of me being emotionally, mentally, and physically available for them as fuel to keep me going.
The lesson I have learned today is to truly never give up on yourself and your dreams. Surround yourself with people that are positive, loving, compassionate, and kind. As well as never underestimate the drive you have within yourself.
I want the world to know that you can be soaring at the top, lose it all, and still rise to the occasion when life throws you a curveball. This includes people that have disabilities! Auesome Achievers was birth to prove to society that no matter what the negative report says a positive will always come forth. People with disabilities are auesome and can achieve greatness too. Doctors said my son would never formulate sentences, then teachers said he wouldn’t read, then coaches thought he wouldn’t excel in sports, but here we are proving all of them wrong. A quote that I live by is “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” When you involve the person in whatever they want to achieve, they learn it and do just that ACHIEVE!!.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh wow!! So many great places to visit in the city. I am a person who loves to eat great food and be out in nature; therefore, we would do many things in nature. Now let’s break this down for the itinerary.
Sunday: We are doing brunch at Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar located in Decatur. The food is amazing, the decor and vibe of the restaurant are alluring, and the service is great. As an activity since my best friends and I have a known love for knowledge and museums I would take them to the CDC museum since it close to the area. Lunch or Dinner I would take them to Lily Cafe. OMG!!! This restaurant is owned by women and the food is impeccable!! The desserts are EXQUISITE!!
Monday: We all hate Mondays, but since my besties are in town, then for brunch (we are not early birds if we don’t have to be), we are going to Sun in My Belly!! If you haven’t been you should go. The food is plated eloquently and tastes soooo delicious. The activity for a Monday would be going to Je Ju Spa. This place has amazing prices, great service, and is a relaxing and calming environment. Dinner will have to be at Gunshow. This restaurant is different than something my besties would normally visit so it’s worth giving it a shot. I loved the food and staff.
Tuesday: As always we starting the day with brunch: Babs Midtown; the food is amazing, but I really enjoy the setup of this restaurant. Activity for the day will have to be visiting The Gold Branch Trail. The trail is on the banks of the Chattahoochee River.
Dinner will be at Ticonderoga Club. Amazing vibes, delicious and unique foods, and very chill.
Wednesday: South City Kitchen for brunch. Every time I go to this restaurant my mouth begins to water. Therefore, I have to take them there to try the delectable food. This place also serves dinner. Since it’s Wednesday, we have to go bowling at the best bowling place I know in Atlanta: 300 Lanes Bowling Alley. Dinner will more than likely at the bowling alley because the food is actually delicious.
Thursday: Ria’s Bluebird has some delicious. It’s located off Memorial Drive. I would have to say they have the best pancakes I have tasted so far. The brisket breakfast is another favorite of mine. Now Thursdays are my days for karaoke; therefore, that’s what we are doing. One o my favorite places to go is Sudo’s Bar & Grill in Conyers, Ga. It is black-owned and DJ ML is the best!! The food is tasty and the drinks are FLAVORFUL.
Friday night: Brunch will be at Cultivate Food & Coffee. If you love goat cheese like me, then you have to try their goat cheese balls. The tapas and cocktails are perfect. This restaurant also uses free-range eggs and organic products. They even have menu options for those that are vegan and gluten-free. Now on Friday nights, there is this one spot I love and it is owned by a black man who is a Morehouse alumnus. It is called The Beverly and it’s located in East Atlanta Village. A live band is there, they have the best salmon egg rolls in all of Atlanta!! And you might get lucky and have a live singer with the band. It’s a small setting but the vibes are auesome!!
Saturday: Brunch at the Flying Biscuit Cafe. Then we would head over to Southern Bell Farm where you get to pick strawberries, peaches, or pumpkins depending on the season. It has over 330 acres of working farmland. Then for dinner, we will end our weekend trip at Sahara Cafe. It has the most healthiest house-made Mediterranean food. It is family-operated and everything is made from scratch.
Overall, it would be a time to eat great food and visit places many people might not have heard of in GA. Taking you on a journey of the little unknown.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My motivation, tenacity, and dedication come from my sons Billy Hendrix III and Lewis Hendrix; throughout this entire process, they have pushed me to be the very best mother and entrepreneur I can be. My sons’ father Billy Hendrix Jr, for being the best co-parent ever, my best friends Khadiyja Kemp-Masters, Kaprell Myles, and Kanem Allen, my down-to-ride business partner Alexsia Brown, and my family all have supported me mentally, emotionally, and financially. They are always encouraging and staying engaged with all endeavors that I become involved with. Lastly, I have to thank three of my mentors Zenovdia Love, Catherine Witcher, and Justin Ford. Without their mentorship and advisement I wouldn’t be able to continue to push forward and achieve greatness as an entrepreneur.
Website: www.auesomeachievers.com & www.auesomeachievers.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auesomeachievers/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/auesomeachievers-dyshumrobinson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/auesomeachievers
Image Credits
Professional headshot photo taken by Alexisa Brown owner of Mysterylex Visions Photography LLC.