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

Hi Taythoo, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m from Philadelphia. I couldn’t imagine being from anywhere else. Unfortunately, there’s so much violence and negativity that takes away from the greatness of my city. However, Philly is a great place to be from. Think about all the greats that come out of the city. They all have a certain attitude, work ethic, and hunger. That’s because growing up in Philadelphia is not easy.

If somebody makes it, just know that they actually put in the work to get there. You don’t have to necessarily be struggling in life, but you may struggle with getting the support from those that live there. People that try to make something of themselves sadly get a lot of hate sometimes. If you can make it out of Philly, you can make it anywhere honestly. It can be a tough crowd for its own people, so making it in other places seems like a walk in the park. One thing about Philly though is that if they do stand behind you, they will go hard. You have to be from there to understand.

Another scenario is that you did everything in your power to stay focused, dodge trouble, and create a good path for yourself. That was me! My mother kept me sheltered pretty much the entire time growing up, so I really had no choice but to choose greatness for myself. I didn’t understand it then, but I appreciate all that she kept me from. In other words, I wasn’t missing out on anything. In addition to that, I knew I was different from a young age. I wanted to see more than Philly and more of life. So that attitude, work ethic, and hunger I spoke of is truth. I was determined to show the world what a young, black, Philly girl could do. My first opportunity to leave was to go attend Spelman College, I didn’t hesitate. I’ve been chasing my dreams ever since. I haven’t stopped yet. It’s the Philly in me!

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?
Moments to Memories Events (@mtomeventsco on IG) is a photo booth rental company that I started almost a year ago. It was an idea that I came up with once I decided to leave my teaching career. At the time, I just considered it as another source of income as I embarked on a new journey. However, it was actually a life changing opportunity. I realized that it wasn’t the money I was after. It was the ability to live life on my own terms. Time freedom has been one of the most valuable things I’ve ever experienced.

This is not my first business. I had an entrepreneurial mindset since college days. My first business was an online women’s boutique called King Kouture. I discovered drop shipping in 2016 and taught myself the ins and outs. That was my first experience using e-commerce and making passive income. I’ve been obsessed with business ever since.

Having a business is not easy. You’ll go days, even weeks without new clients. If you still put in time and effort during those moments, that’s how you’ll know if it’s for you or just a phase. I don’t think Moments to Memories is a phase. However, it won’t just be a photo booth business for much longer. I have a bigger vision for it. I’m ready to take it to the next level!

I want the world to know that I’m just getting started. I haven’t even scratched the surface of what I will do in my lifetime. Through it all, my main focus is just to enjoy the journey. I love life because the possibilities are endless. I don’t have any other expectation for myself but to never stop learning and growing. As long as I’m doing that, I am living!

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 can’t really provide favorite spots in the city because I’m a homebody. If friends come, I am either online looking for things to do in the moment or we’ll make it a good time indoors. I am a big foodie. I love cooking, so that prevents me from eating out a lot. However, I do love a good brunch and good drinks every now and then.

The most exciting thing to me is traveling. In 2018, I had the opportunity to live in London, England and it was a great experience. Since then, I try to travel every chance I get. I wish I could get paid to travel for a living. That’s a dream of mine. Dubai was the last place I visited and I loved it. Very hot, but I think everyone should take a trip to Dubai if they are able. The next places I want to visit are Jamaica, Indonesia, and a few African Countries.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It wasn’t just my own hard work that got me here.

First and foremost, I want to thank God. For all that I am today and will grow to be in the future. When I look back on my life, it’s apparent that God’s hands were in everything. A lot of life- changing opportunities that I still can’t make sense of. The places I’ve seen, lives I’ve impacted, goals I’ve accomplished, and things I’ve overcome. If you asked me how, I probably would just answer “God!”
My mother. My first real life example of manifesting the life you want. That lady has superpowers obviously. I watched her turn vision boards to reality. She’s my inspiration! She sacrificed many times and dedicated her life to ensure the best for my siblings and I. I can’t thank her enough.
My brother Kyng Musik. The greatest!!! The fact that he nominated me for this interview speaks to his continued support for me. He’s always one of the first to uplift me. I couldn’t ask for a better brother. He’s so special and super talented. He’s another inspiration of mine.
For the sake of there probably not being enough space, I won’t go too deep into my list of individuals that have contributed to my life in unforgettable ways. I will say that, I would not be who I am today without these people. My goal is to continue to work hard, so that I can enrich the lives of those that have poured into me throughout my journey.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taythoo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc_Lgi8nB6woPx9P4vhOi9w

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