Page 1 of Our Elliana

ONE: Badass Boss Lady

ELLIANA: AUGUST

I like to consider myself a badass boss lady. Daily, I don strappy stilettos, deep-V necks, and attire that clings to my curves in the most sensual fashion possible. I live for strong coffee, creating the perfect piece of jewelry, and wearing the most exquisite shade of red satin lipstick that won’t smudge.

As a thirty-year-old African American woman standing at a height of five foot and a quarter inch—yes, I fucking count that quarter inch—and growing up in the lowest income part of an affluent D.C. suburb, I can’t afford to project anything less than purpose and strength.

Even if inside, I’m a hot mess. I can be boiling over with stress and self-doubt, and early on, I often was. But that’s what crying jags in the shower are for.

Thankfully, those happen less frequently now.

I’ve had a lifetime of others doubting me. Even actively trying to discourage me. Those people are the reason that I never let anyone see me sweat. They’re why I hold my head high and dare the world to underestimate me. Elliana Destiny Pinkerton isn’t one to back down.

I learned a long time ago to go big or go home.

Was it scary to pool my limited resources and apply for a loan to begin an online jewelry business? Sure. Especially since I’d attempted it back during college sans loan and failed miserably.

I tried again anyway, though. Even if I had to panic-sweat my way through the loan paperwork. Then, I poured money into ads so people would know that my designs existed. That proved just as scary. Risky, too. Could’ve even drowned my fledgling startup before it ever got off the ground. I knew the odds were against me.

But despite those odds, my business didn’t tank. Taking such huge risks grabbed the attention I needed it to. Better, it worked so well that I had tons of orders pouring in. Enough to erase all my debt. Enough to require a brick-and-mortar store to meet all the demand. Cornering a rather unique niche of the market probably increased my chances, as well.

There are lots of jewelry stores out there. And a few that, like mine, specialize in piercings. But I cater to a more... let’s say, unconventional crowd.

People who not only like pierced ears but bolts through their eyebrows, cheeks, noses, lips, and/or tongues. Those who seek out bellybutton piercings. Nipple piercings. Even Prince Alberts—yeah, a peen ring—and VCHs or vertical clitoral hood piercings.

Can’t find most of that at Wal-Mart.

Maybe because I’ve narrowed my audience down to such a tiny sliver of the jewelry buying public, it’s proved to be profitable. Like, way profitable. And that’s just with a bachelor’s in business admin rather than some pricy Ivy League MBA. Not that such a degree might not have been advantageous, but it wound up being unnecessary.

Something else unnecessary? The amount of shitty advice I received from those who knew nothing about the area I was attempting to succeed in. Most of it along similar lines.

“Elliana, why don’t you just go into accounting? I heard the grocery store down the street is looking for a payroll clerk. At least that’ll provide you with a regular paycheck.”

And...

“Girl, it’s cute of you to have dreams, but only a lucky few will ever make it. Why not do your little jewelry designing thing as a side hustle?”

And...

“If you seriously want to see your stuff on others, why not give your earrings away for free? At least that’ll provide you with some exposure.”

One, I wasn’t interested in barely getting by on minimum wage in a job I’d likely hate. Two, a side hustle would never pay me enough to make it worth my while. And last but not least, I knew giving away my hard work for free wouldn’t be a wise business model. Maybe these so-called nuggets of wisdom had been intended to be supportive, but in the end, they weren’t.

In the end, these people were encouraging me to give up on my dream.

I knew making it for real would require more from me than that. I researched the market heavily. I took my time. I stockpiled designs and made a point of understanding the different facets of marketing necessary. Most important of all, I knew going in that I couldn’t ever stop reaching for that brass ring. I looked before I leaped, but I did leap. Even though I was terrified.

But I faced that terror because of a promise I’d once made. Actually, I made it twice. As a fifteen-year-old to my dying mother, and years after that, to my dad before he too passed away.

Mama had said, “You go out there, girl, and you let your light shine. You go out there, and you make it big.”

I swore to her I would.

Then, over the intervening decade as part of my grief became about earning awards and straight-As, about winning scholarships and seizing every opportunity that came my way, my dad told me he knew I’d achieve whatever I set my mind to. So to him, too, I vowed to be a success by going full-tilt after my dreams.

And I have.

I strengthened my resolve and figured it out. I also made it a priority to ignore the naysayers. Those energy vampires who enjoy sucking the life out of other people’s aspirations. To them I say, “Get your negative ass away from my positive energy, bitches.”

---