Meet TA-KEELA LEE | Entrepreneur & Chocolatier

We had the good fortune of connecting with TA-KEELA LEE and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi TA-KEELA, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?

Self-love is an important principle that exudes healthy boundaries and influences how others treat you! The lack of self-love shows up in many forms. A major form for me was people pleasing. I believed that taking care of the needs of others was more important than taking care of me. This consumed a lot of my time and created unhealthy boundaries.

I’ve always been kind, loving, understanding, and patient with others, but I didn’t know how to be that way with myself. I focused on my shortcomings and things I have not yet attained. I was very critical of myself. Once I became conscious that I was mistreating myself, I changed my internal self-talk.

I’ve learned to be patient and loving with myself. I give myself grace and aim to set healthy boundaries with everyone in my life. This is the beginning of my self-love journey! Now I celebrate me, flaws and all.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am most proud of running a successful business while single parenting and maintaining a suitable career. This is an affirmation of how resilient I am. I got to where I am professionally with prayer, meditation, believe, and desire. In some aspects, it was easy to accomplish professional goals.

However, I must admit there were times that difficulty did arrive. Thinking back when I started participating in local pop-up event, I remember feeling anxious because I was a new business without customers. I no longer allow myself to be overwhelmed with things that are out of my control. Instead, I replaced being overwhelmed with patience.

What I want the world to know about Selfish Joy is we pride ourselves in providing exceptional customer service and we create the most delectable handmade pecan turtles that will satisfy your craving for a sweet treat.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Well, I LOVE to entertain at home! That being said, we will have a couple of fun gatherings at home with friends and family. Other days would be filled with all my favorite spots in St. Louis!

Monday
BBQ Friends Gathering

Tuesday
Breakfast at Home
Massages/Pedicures
Lunch: The Brown Bag Bistro
Union Station/ St. Louis Wheel
Dinner: Creole w/A Splash of Soul

Wednesday
Breakfast: Freddie G’s Chicken & Waffles
Visit an Intuitive Reader
Lunch: Fahrenheit Restaurant
Boathouse at Forest Park
Dinner: Prime 55

Thursday
Late Brunch at Home
Trivia/Game Night with Friends & Family
Dinner: Imo’s Pizza
Ice Cream: The Baked Bear

Friday
Breakfast: First Watch
Shopping at Chesterfield Outlets
Lunch: Panera
St. Louis BarCycle
Dinner: El Maguey Mexican Restaurant

Saturday
Donuts & Coffee at John’s Donuts
Soulard Market
Lunch: Joanie’s
Shop with local small businesses/ pop-up events
Dinner: Prime 55

Sunday
Breakfast at Home
Worship Service
Brunch: Müürlone’s
Copper Dock Winery

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?

Yes! I want to shout out Selfish Joy customers aka My Joys. They are E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! I LIVE to hear about their experiences when sharing Pecan Turtles. Some of the reviews from my customers, state that they hide the turtles from their family members to avoid sharing them, and they even dispute with their spouses about how many each of them will eat. The stories NEVER disappoint me! And I love that I can assist in creating those unforgettable memories. This is my “Selfish Joy”.

My Joys never fail to amaze me. They always show up & show out when I participate in local pop-up events. On top of that, they encourage new customers to try the Pecan Turtles. They contribute to promoting my business by sharing my social media posts online. I am forever grateful for all their unconditional love and support!

Website: www.selfishjoyshop.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/selfishjoy

Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/TaKeelaNaCole

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/selfishjoy1/