Meet Emma Doss | Entrepreneur, Creative Professional, Food Brand Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emma Doss and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emma, how do you think about risk?
As the saying goes…”without risk, there’s no reward”.

As an entrepreneur, I think taking risks is the only way you will find out what is on the other side of the coin. Also, the younger you are, the more adventurous you are. I recommend jumping out there now if you are pre or post-college age or maybe even just a little bit older. You’ll be able to bounce back easier.

I say this because as you age, you will become more self-conscious and aware about taking certain risks and you may become more reluctant to jump out there then. I was in my early 20s when I started taking risks. At 45 now, I’m still taking risks but a lot more thought about sustainability goes into my decisions.

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?
I am the founder of “DOSS Media”, which is a creative house that provides design services for other small business owners and entrepreneurs. PR services will be coming soon to our list of services as well. I am also the creator of a new sauce and spice line brand called “Lady And The Pepper”; for people who really love spicy foods and cooking just like I do. I am really excited about this new venture because food is really my first love and being able to build a brand off that love feels absolutly amazing. It just feels natural. I also started a Youtube channel for it.

What sets me apart from many others in my arena is, I learned early on that I had to become a chameleon in order to make it as an entrepreneur with no seed money and very limited resources. I did whatever it took to make it, even if it was something I absolutely hated doing or was overqualified for. I moved around the country and hustled my butt off to make it.

My first business was a cleaning company that I started with only $2,000 in 2007 when I was living in Atlanta. I had it for seven years. Cleaning wasn’t my preferred field of choice of as you can probably tell but I learned so much about business and myself while in that capacity. It was well worth all of the hard lessons, sweat, and tears. I put myself through that on purpose though because it was one of the quickest ways to learn the real ins and outs of running a business.

There were plenty of times I wanted to give up though because a lot of times I barely had enough money left over to buy food after bills and once I did start to make real money, I had to constantly fight every month to get paid.

I still would tell any entrepreneur, young or old, who is just starting out to keep going, even if you feel crazy and question yourself sometimes because most of the time you will. It all will be worth it in the end though if you just stick with it. Just be sure to take breaks if you can afford to because you will definitely need them. You produce less when you’re burning the candle at both ends.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I absolutely love Ponce City Markets. It’s Atlanta’s version of New York City’s Chelsea Markets.

The food, the atmosphere, entertainment, and the shopping are second to none. I also really like the The Village Retail location on the second floor because they are a hub for many Atlanta-based Black Owned brands.

I would also recommend taking a rented bike or scooter ride around the belt line. There are so many things to see and do along the way. You’ll never get bored.

The Westide Provision District is also where I like to occupy. It’s such a sophisticated part of town with so many unique restaurants, shops, and boutiques.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I mainly want to shout out my creative tribe and peers within the small business community and my friends and family members who have shown me real support throughout my endeavors. I also want to send a shoutout to those who always kept me and what I do in mind even if they hadn’t seen me in years. My good friend Dr. Vertna West of “Penn State University”, my past photography mentor Calvin Evans of “Calvin Evans Photography” and my awesome friend Leslie Andrews of Leslie Andrews Photography are just a few.

Website: www.dossmedia.com

Instagram: @msemmadoss

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dossmedia/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsEmmaDoss

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DOSSMedia

Youtube: https://bit.ly/3mM3Kpx

Other: Lady And The Pepper™️ Links www.ladyandthepepper.shop https://www.facebook.com/LATPshop https://www.instagram.com/ladyandthepepper/

Image Credits
Leslie Andrews Photography | Lady And The Pepper YouTube channel | www.ladyandthepepper.shop website | www.dossmedia.com website