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

Hi Takara, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
The most important lesson that my business has taught me is that you can’t grow your own business while focusing on someone else’s. I truly believe that comparison is the thief of joy. When you allow yourself to get distracted by what everyone else is doing around you, you lose sight of the very blessing God has placed in front of you. Your journey may be different than others but at the end of the day it’s yours. When you think no one else is watching, there’s always at least one person keeping up with you. When you think no one else cares about your business, there’s always at lease one person waiting for your next move to support you. Stay encouraged! Focus on the business God has placed before you and watch it grow beyond your wildest dreams. Tunnel Vision is the key.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Alongside being a makeup artist, I create content for my YouTube channel and Instagram page as a beauty influencer. I think what sets me apart from other people is that I really go out of my way to make sure that people are taken care of. Whether it’s a client or even a friend, I make it a point to do what I can to make them happy/comfortable. I understand that the things I do aren’t about me at all. It’s about that young girl that wants to pursue her passion but doesn’t think it’s worth it. It’s about that person who feels like the market they want to be in is oversaturated and don’t see the point in starting. It’s about the person who thinks their gift isn’t worth sharing. There are people in this world who are counting on me to put in the work and live out the purpose God has for me. That’s what keeps me going. That’s my motivation. I’m proud of how far I’ve come but none of it would even be possible without God. He has not only given me the most supportive circle anyone could ask for, but also the GIFT that would challenge me, inspire me and lead me to create Takara Breanna Beauty, LLC.

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 honestly haven’t been too many places, however, if my best friend came into town the first place we’re going is BQE for brunch! Good music and good food? What more could you ask for? We’d also check out Escobar, Boogalou, Hole in the Wall and a couple of other places. We’d definitely have to hit Lenox Mall to shop and people watch. I only know of the places I’ve been too, so, I’d definitely would have to hit up my friends that have lived in the area for a while to try out some new things!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I would have to thank Pastor Rick Warren for writing the book “The Purpose Driven Life”. It changed the game for me. After reading that book and realizing that God had a purpose for my life, I became more transparent about my struggles and began my beauty career. I would also have to thank my family, friends and line sisters. Without their support and encouragement, I wouldn’t be even be where I am now. I truly love and appreciate each of them.

Instagram: http://instagram.com/takarabreannabeauty/ https://www.instagram.com/takarabreanna/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/takarabreanna
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWh9Rmux6hEQ9SVmiX4ebzA?view_as=subscriber