Career and Co.: Starting a Business While Loving Your Full-Time Job, with Tamika Smith

Tamika Smith, an Executive Events Producer at Salesforce, shares her journey of balancing a full-time job with running her own business, EyeKhan Studios. Tune in to hear how she started EyeKhan Studios in 2021 during the pandemic, driven by necessity and encouragement from her former boss. Tamika emphasizes tips for young entrepreneurs, including the importance of having a clear business plan, understanding customer needs, and fostering a personal brand. She highlights the challenges of managing long hours and the necessity of staying focused and organized. Tamika advises aspiring entrepreneurs to seek free resources like local Small Business Development Corporations and to write out their business vision to stay on track. To learn more, visit AVID.org/alumni.

Transcript

Tamika Smith 0:00 Your service and your gift and your talent is one thing, but being an entrepreneur and operating a taxable business in a company is another thing.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 0:16 Welcome to AVIDly Adulting, the podcast where we tackle the wild ride of transitioning into your first career and all of the life lessons in between and beyond when life and career merge into adulting.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 0:33 Welcome to AVIDly Adulting. I'm your host, Dr. Aliber Lozano, Alumni Services Lead here at AVID Center. Our topic today is starting your own business. So you have your dream job right now, you're working eight to five, possibly longer, but you want to expand beyond that and you want to successfully juggle working this job you have right now and enter the world of entrepreneurship: Be Your Own Boss.

To help us explore this topic of having a full-time job and being her own boss, joining me today is Tamika Smith, an AVID alumni, an Executive Events Producer at Salesforce. Let's begin on this AVIDly Adulting episode, Career and Company, starting a business while loving your full-time job. Tamika, thank you for joining us.

Tamika Smith 1:28 How are you doing today? Thanks so much for having me.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 1:31 Of course. I know it's a little chilly up in Chicago.

Tamika Smith 1:35 Just a bit. We got a little flurries here and there, but we're making it. I got my little Eskimo outfit on, so we're trucking. Yeah, you definitely have a vibe there, and you're making it work for the weather, and you're keeping us warm here on the other side.

So welcome again. And I'd to start by just for the folk who don't know out there, and for those AVID alumni who do, what is your story? How has your AVID alumni journey been up till this point?

So I am originally from Freeport, Illinois. I currently reside in Chicago, Illinois. I have been here about 10 years. My journey started quite some time ago. I have been in my career for about 15 years, but I've always been a socialite.

So I started young, deep diving in music and different creative spaces. I attended Jackson State University. I have a degree in advertising and marketing, and I am all things creative, all things music, all things fun, all things production. So I get to do a lot of really cool and amazing things, and I'm so grateful for it.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 2:55 What do you remember most about how AVID helped you land in all things Tamika, all things creative, all things being here?

Tamika Smith 3:07 Great question. One thing that AVID empowered me to be was social. There in the classes, you're with a lot of different peers, and it really taught me how to thrive in a social environment and deal with different energies, different personalities, and different backgrounds of all levels.

So that was probably the greatest lesson that I learned, was just how to deal with people, because I work in a field full of people all across the globe. So that's probably the greatest lesson, on top of really being laser focused on organization, because I do a lot of projects and being organized is key.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 4:03 And you can tell you're a people person. You've got to be in the field that you've chosen or that has chosen you, and so we're lucky to explore that. You and I have talked a little bit before. Now, in your college, you transition from one campus to the next, didn't you?

Tamika Smith 4:19 I somewhat did. So I started off in a JUCO in my hometown, and of course, this is hometown, so everything is very familiar. And then I transitioned into an HBCU, which was a total culture shock, even for me, as a black woman, going to a university that is predominantly black. I come from a space that is majority and there wasn't a lot of black culture, so to go to an HBCU was very much a culture shock that I embraced, but it was a little difficult making that transition.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 5:02 Yeah, and it happens to a lot of first-generation college-goers, or a lot of firsts. You're going from a culture that you know into a culture that you'd expect to be really successful at. And you were successful because you embraced it. Tell us how that shock and that transition, as you moved from college into career, replicated itself, but maybe you did a little bit better, because you had some learning right underneath your belt.

Tamika Smith 5:33 As I mentioned, I honestly started my career very young. I was in the field maybe about 19 or 20 years old, and I was still very fresh in college, and still learning about all the things that I would be doing today. And to be able to be exposed to that at a young age was so helpful, especially because the field in which we know it now was really just coming onto the scene back then.

So for me to be in the prime of my learning at HBCU, and then being able to implement that in the field, was just so healthy. And I'm grateful for the opportunities that I got, even at a very young age, because, I mean, I started off working in expos and conventions at McCormick Place as a child. I mean, I was 19 years old, peddling one of the biggest convention centers in the world during the summers of me coming home from college.

And now to see me running huge activations, building these crazy exhibit booths on the floor, even 10 and 15 years later, it's very much full circle. So if it wasn't really for that learning early on, I wouldn't be as strong as I am now, but I still have so much more to learn because I work in a field that is always evolving and always changing and always innovating itself.

So just to stay on top of the trends and different technologies, that's really key. Learning is lifelong, and that is one thing that AVID also taught me, is that you'll always be a student of the field. You'll never really be a master. But I love learning, so I'm always up for the challenge.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 7:38 I know you are. And while you're learning, we're going to end about how your desire is to give back, and you have so much to give based on your learnings and experience. For our subscribers, McCormick Place is a huge convention center in Chicago, so if you heard it referenced, you're going to hear it again.

But let's get to it right now. Tamika, you have a full-time job, and you're really successful at it with Salesforce. Yes, it is a world company that is in almost every business that we know about. What is your role at Salesforce? Currently, I know I mentioned your title.

Tamika Smith 8:08 I am an Executive Events Producer, or an Executive Events Coordinator, if you will. My role is to produce very world-class events and activations in the Chicago tower of our company. Salesforce is a global tech company with the towers literally all over the world, and we really focus on customer meetings, keynotes, receptions, employee activations. We really bring the fun to the tower, and we provide white glove service to everyone who comes to our location for any special occasion.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 8:55 Yeah, and those activations, or the occasions, as we already know, run beyond our normal eight to five. So let's get down to it. You also chose to be an entrepreneur. So you were standing on top of that metaphorical Tower, or actual tower there in Salesforce, overlooking the city, you said, "And I have a dream to be my own boss." Tell me about your entrepreneurial start.

Tamika Smith 9:21 So I actually started my company, which is called Ikan Studios.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 9:27 Alright. Spell that for us.

Tamika Smith 9:31 It's spelled E-Y-E-K-H-A-N studios, and it's a bit of a play on words, because I look at myself as a visionary that supports other visionaries. And I is this thing—I because it's all about vision. And I was trying to create a cool spelling name, because it's all about creativity. So I call my company Ikan Studios, because we create iconic experiences, right?

And I started my company in 2021, in the middle of the pandemic. And the reason why I started my company, it wasn't because I wanted to, it's because I had to, because I wasn't working anymore. The company that I was working for, unfortunately, had come to a halt because of the pandemic.

And my former boss, now one of my closest friends, he encouraged me to start my own business because he said, "Tamika, I don't know how you were able to find the opportunities that you found while working for my company, but just imagine the opportunities that you could cultivate for yourself." So he really encouraged me to start my own business, and I had to go through the process of actually learning how to run a business, which I'm still trying to figure out, but he really, he empowered me to do that, and I'm so grateful that he did.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 11:12 That's excellent, because to start your own business, you said: One, for you, it started out of necessity. Necessity. Two, someone identified what you currently had as potential, similar to AVID: What's your fullest potential? And three, it's your passion and your joy.

So while your days are eight to five and longer, working your current job, you added more to your plate to be an entrepreneur. Take us through those initial days when you said, "What are the first steps?" I have a passion. I have a gift to fill the gap in this world. So how did you start to build Ikan Studios?

Tamika Smith 11:55 Honestly, I've always been a busy body. I have always, for as long as I can remember, just been doing the most, okay? I have never done one thing. I have never done one job. I have always just done all the things.

And when I first started my company, I was trying to figure out what that looks like: what my service is, what my product is, who my consumer is, who are my customers, who are my clients? And the great thing about it is that I'd already had a great career at this point. I was maybe in my late 20s, 30, and I created a name for myself as a producer, as a project manager, working with these different brands, working on these different projects. So I already had traction for myself.

And when it came down to starting my business, I did have to go through some learnings in order to actually start the business, which was, I needed to file an LLC, which I had to go through the Secretary of State and pay, I think it was about $150 to declare my business as an actual business.

From there, I was: "Okay, I don't really know what I'm doing. I need to actually learn how to run a business, because your service and your gift and your talent is one thing, but being an entrepreneur and operating a taxable business and a company is another thing."

So what I did, I reached out to my local SBDC, which is the acronym, the Small Business Development Corporation. A lot of cities have this resource, and it's free. It's free resources for small businesses to learn how to run and operate their businesses and understand all the resources thereof.

So I enlisted in my local SBDC. I received a business coach for free, and she walked me through my business plan. She walked me through creating literally a full strategy plan on what the profile of my business was, who were my clientele, who were my competitors, what my pricing structure was, also financial forecasting for three years, and all of the different services and the sub-services that I was charging for, helping me create my contracts and agreements. This lady, her name was Rebecca Chauncey, shout out to you. She literally held my hand to help me understand what I needed to jumpstart my actual business before I actually started working for myself.

So that process lasted quite a bit of time. Honestly, I still do one-on-ones with her, because, again, learning is lifelong, and business is always evolving, and there are always new resources. So that was a great resource for me, and I highly, highly recommend if you ever want to start a business, find your local Small Business Development Corporation and get a business coach, because it will literally help you in the long run.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 15:52 Good. And this is the boss lady that I was talking about, Tamika, earlier. We have a passion, and in the iconic studios that you have, and you know your consumer, you know your delivery. But then you started talking about all the smarts, all these technical terms, and you didn't do it on your own. I like that you reached out to local and free. You scared me when you said you now have a taxable business. It's scary.

Tamika Smith 16:17 And I still am learning how to file taxes. It's a process, you guys, it is such a process. And there are so many tricks and trades and, oh my gosh. Also, shout out to Instagram University, because there are so many great business owners that give you cold information even in spaces social media. But yeah, no, it's a journey.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 16:50 Yeah, and it's good to hear that even other businesses, maybe even your competitors in this community, are helping. When you start talking about state and federal, that's where you've got to dot your i's and cross your T's and start your LLC, make sure you have your taxable number. I mean, these are the smarts that when someone has a dream and a passion, you need to make sure you're also following all of the regulations.

And you being a mentor, having a mentor that you found that can give you some coaching for free, looking at your local small business opportunities, is really great. An alumni once said, an AVID alumni on stage as they were speaking, that the only time he ever looks down is when he's looking down to pull someone up and give him a hand. And that's what you're doing here. You're giving us a hand to say, "I have a dream job right now, but I also want to aspire and be my own boss. What are the first steps that follow along with my passion, my drive, my determination, my persistence, and my work ethics?" And it includes making sure that you also take all the right steps to file those. Absolutely.

So tell me, how do you balance these two ambitions? How are you not burning the candle at both ends?

Tamika Smith 18:07 It's late nights and early mornings for me, and I am not a morning person at all. I have a drive that drives itself. You have to want success as much as you want to breathe, and that is deep, okay? But when you know that you have a purpose and a destiny that's greater than you, you're willing to do what it takes to get it done.

I was just telling someone the other day, I'm: "I have to do it." And I was so exhausted, I'm: "I have to do it until it's done. Because if I don't do it, who's going to do it? Who's going to do it?" So the drive has to drive itself.

Time is inevitable, right? And I work in a field where there are extremely long days. You have to really want to do this. Dealing with all the people, all the personalities, all the energies, on top of creating all the plans. You're in front of your computer all day, you're on calls, meetings, sending a million emails. Then you have to make time and space to actually be creative. Stay up on the trends. It is a being in the creative field is for special people. It's truly for special people, because we're creating in other spaces.

Where the job, the scope of work is, if you're a lawyer, that's tried and true. If you're a physician, that's tried and true, you're going by the book. When you're creative, your job is to create on a blank canvas, and that sometimes takes a drive that you literally have to allow for it to drive itself.

I'm so grateful that I get to work with so many other creatives that inspire me. I get to see the evolution of their work. And you take little tidbits and pieces from other things, and you implement it in your plans and your vision, and you sprinkle your personality and your perspectives on it. But it really is free for all. You can literally do anything that you want to do.

And I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful that I feel free and I feel empowered, and I'm happy that I chose the career space that I'm in, but it is a lot of time. I have no essence of time. Unfortunately, I have no off button. I rarely have boundaries for myself, just because I love what I do so much. So I don't really have an essence of time. Yes, do I get tired? 1,000%! But it's a good exhaustion, because I'm giving so much energy into the things that I love to do, but it's also refueling me to continue creating great moments. Good.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 21:42 And for the aspiring entrepreneurs, and you're giving us advice, not just for the creative, but the doctors and the lawyers that you mentioned. They might want to start their own business while they're doing their full-time job, because it's their passion and their drive. For that full-time parent that you're working endless hours, but you want to start another job other than your full-time parenting job, then you're giving us advice of how to start our own business, which is really abnormal.

So I'm starting now. I'm in my first, maybe my second, year in my job at Salesforce, working right alongside of you. What advice would you give me to start laying the groundwork so that I can be and start my own business as an addition to what I'm currently doing?

Tamika Smith 22:34 Let me think about that. You really have to understand what your purpose is. And you also have to understand what they always say when you're starting your business: What problem are you solving? What void are you filling? And then you have to identify who is in need of your service, right? And that comes through strategy and business planning, because you can start a business, but if you haven't got customers, then it's kind of null and void.

So really understanding what you are the solution to. And then from there, you have to go into a little shell and actually sit down and do the grunt work. One thing that is very big in my field is plans. We create project plans. We do these strategy decks. Because if you have a vision, I actually just did a keynote on this: "If you have a vision, you have to write the vision, and you have to make it plain that those who may read it will run with it," and that is in the word, that is Bible, that is Habakkuk 2:2. And it comes right back full circle to today. Write the vision.

I can't stress enough how important it is for you to actually have a vision and a plan that is comprehensive. Because once you start reaching out and cold calling and cultivating relationships, you want people to understand the identity of your business, and you have to actually sit down and think about that before you actually deep dive into the business, because you have to have some direction. So it really helps you create a path for yourself.

And honestly, that's the part of the work that most people don't want to do. They don't want to sit down and create plans and sit down for hours doing strategy calls. It's tedious work, but it is so important, because that's honestly how you get through all of these different red tapes that are out there. Even if you're applying for grants, if you're applying for different programs, people want to be able to understand who you are, the identity of your business, and what problem you're solving.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 25:27 That's really good advice, because I what you said. The first step is you have a vision, you have a dream, you have an aspiration. Our founder of AVID, Mary Catherine Swanson, and I'm going to paraphrase: She said, "How do I know what I think until I see what I write?" And that comes down to what you said. The first thing that I got to give you is: You've got a vision, you've got passion, you've got to write it down.

And as you said earlier, it's tedious and hard work. You don't have to do it alone. Seek the small business opportunities that are in your area to help you start from the beginning in a structured way.

Now, this is a similar question. What's one thing that you wish you had known earlier about how to start a business while employed, that you know now that you wish you would have known when you first started your own?

Tamika Smith 26:26 I don't know how to answer that question,

Dr. Aliber Lozano 26:31 Because you're still learning?

Tamika Smith 26:33 Yes, oh my gosh. Again, I started my company out of a necessity, right? And because I was in my career already, I just knew that there was money to be made out here.

But I guess I wish I would have known how to foster my personal brand presence, because it wasn't something that I was really doing at first. I'm just now trying to create a greater personal brand presence. But when I first started my business, I had no website. I didn't have any of that. I was just out here on a woman of prayer and social media, LinkedIn contacts. I didn't have what most companies had, and I skated on that for a while.

I honestly didn't get that stuff really until last year. I didn't take it serious enough. "Oh, I don't need to do photo shoots. Oh, I don't need a portfolio. Oh, I don't." And now I swear by it. It's crucial. I want people to be able to go to my page and be: "Wow, she does such great work." But I just didn't feel it was necessary at the time, and now I'm just: "Yep, need that. I need that. I need that," because I still have to compete.

This is a very competitive space that I work in. There are so many dope producers and dope creators, and they're getting the projects, and they're getting the projects that I want. So I have to be able to level my personal brand up in order for others to take me and my business seriously.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 28:39 It's a good balance of advice that you said. You've got to write your business plan and you've got to think about your brand as you're thinking about what product or service and consumer or void you want to fill in the market. You've got to think about your brand.

And today, branding, as you said, is a whole lot different than before. You just talked about having your web page, having the media, your LinkedIn, your socials. Gotta reflect the professional brand that you want to do in your field and your industry where you're starting that entrepreneurship. Yeah, and the challenging thing, Tamika, is that you still gotta balance that your brand is also on your eight-to-five other dream job that you currently have.

Tamika Smith 29:24 Exactly, exactly. Luckily for me, I started working on my portfolio. One thing I'm always working on, every day, is my resume, because I'm doing a new thing every day, and I want that to reflect on my resume as different opportunities are being presented to me. And then I also designed my own portfolio that gets updated every so often as I'm doing different projects, but that's the essence of the job, right?

But when it came to Tamika, I tend to hide behind my work. I don't always necessarily put myself out there as the visionary. I let my—I always say, I let my work speak for me. I let my reputation precede me. But this year, I have been trying to focus a bit more on personal brand and who I am in the marketplace as a thought leader, as an expert in my space. And yeah, it's a different energy than the work.

You say you have a 10-year career, and you're known for your work, but what I've learned is that take the Beyoncé and the Rihanna effect, right? People love Beyoncé for her music. That is crucial to the world for both Rihanna and Beyoncé. But Beyoncé, when it comes out to her launching her clothing line and different products and services that she's launching, it wasn't doing as well, because people don't always feel a personal connection to her.

Whereas Rihanna, when she launched Fenty, Savage X Fenty, it went crazy, because she's so personable, and people have this personal connection to Rihanna, outside of the brand and outside of her music. She connects with people so well, where they feel she's their sister or their mom or their cousin. Beyoncé is just this reigning queen who you will never see and touch. And it trickles down into how people patronize our businesses, and that's just something that we talk about in the industry as creatives, right? So that's just one thing that I've been learning is: I don't really talk to people that much. I just share my projects and be: "This is what I did," and then that's it. So I'm learning how to connect with people a little bit more so they know who Tamika is outside of Ikan Studios or outside of Salesforce.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 32:40 Nice. Now, even in your perspective about branding and how the consumer reacts, and using Beyoncé and Rihanna—subscribers, I know right now we just started a full-on debate. If you have any questions whether Beyoncé or Rihanna is doing a better or not so better job, you go and talk to Tamika. Do not email Alumni Services at this point, because I know you just started a real good conversation happening with people, with our subscribers right now.

But I do want to thank you as you've taken us through: How do you work your dream job and begin an entrepreneurship, especially for those who are entering their jobs right now and thinking to the future, thinking beyond, and trying to start it up? We've shared some of the basics, which is: You must make sure you register your business. Obtain an Employer Identification Number, and it's free to do so and necessary for tax and legal purposes, as we talked about that. Secure licenses and contracts. You mentioned that in permits, and open a business account under your name. That's just to name a few.

And I that you talked about these services and knowledge is free. You can also go into the IRS website, and there's a checklist, because taxes, again, state and federal, I'm scared, Tamika is still scared and trying to learn to follow them.

So when you're starting your own business, make sure that with your vision, you also know what you think until you see what you write. And check off all of those boxes. As we leave today, Tamika, if you could leave our audience with one key takeaway about balancing career, your full-time job, in your case, at Salesforce, in somebody else's case, as a parent or as a mechanic, and this new job, entrepreneurship, what would it be?

Tamika Smith 34:38 Hmm, I would say, always stay centered. Always stay balanced, because your greatest self is going to require you to be laser focused on what your purpose is, and whatever is a distraction, you have to get rid of it.

Focus is the word of the year for me, because there are a lot of things that I am doing and want to do. So if you can find time to just recenter and clear your mind, just find clarity, find balance. Within that is so helpful, because when you get into it, you're in it.

And I am rooting for you, that you stay true and authentic to the journey, but that you also are creating the impact that you need to really take you and your business to the next level. But it is going to require focus. It is going to require late nights and early mornings, and it's going to require you to really keep your heart at a good posture, because there's going to be some difficult and frustrating moments. But anything worth having is worth fighting for. And if you really want to see your business flourish, then just being focused and steadfast is what is going to keep you grounded.

So that is really the best advice I can give. I am a living witness to that, even to this day right now, just staying grounded and staying true to who I am, because I know that I can create a greater impact, and I'm excited to see what this year holds for me.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 37:01 Got it. And you are timing it perfectly. The advice you have is to be centered and focused. And what I heard you say also, to maintain balance, you're going to have to get rid of the noise. And sometimes you're going to have to say, "What do I stop, start, and continue doing to remain focused?"

And you don't know what's happening behind you, but right now, Salesforce is a busy company, and there's someone setting up for the next event. But you remain focused and clear and limited the noise with respect to the work that's happening around you, and that's what you've got to do. So I appreciate that.

Now I cannot leave today because I know of the many services that Ikan Studios provides and the many roles that you do, because we've been talking, do a little singing.

Tamika Smith 37:48 I do a little singing here.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 37:50 Then I will put you on the spot. So with the theme in your song, whether original or something that's out there, pick a song that gives us a phrase or two that is inspiring to up and coming entrepreneurs.

Tamika Smith 38:06 So there's this artist that I have been listening to recently. Her name is Andre, and she is from New Orleans, Louisiana, and she just has this beautiful, calming voice. And she did a project with an all-girls production company called Femin Forward, and they produced a record called "What You Deserve."

And it pretty much just says, "Go get what you deserve when you're ready to flourish. Go get what you deserve despite how you feel in the moment. What's for you is for you, and you deserve it. And if you put good energy out, good energy will come back to you. So go get what you deserve, girl."

Dr. Aliber Lozano 39:06 Now, I thought you were going to sing something for us.

Tamika Smith 39:08 I charge for that.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 39:12 That's the way the big boss comes. See, an audience. You see an opportunity, and you've got to get paid for it. Go to Ikan Studios and see what you can book and you can get the star, the boss lady, the entrepreneur, the dreamer, and the inspiring person that Tamika is.

So thank you again, Tamika, for being here. I want to end with one of the quotes that Mark Twain said: "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." You've given us many tips while I have my full-time job—whoever I am, it's my first year or second year my new career—that I can have that vision and how I can start doing this. So thank you, Tamika, for sharing your advice, helping explore to be our fullest as professionals. You can love your job and build your own business.

Tamika Smith 40:01 And I love my job. Shout out to Salesforce. Such a great company, so many opportunities out there for those who want to get into tech and just all things innovative. It is truly a great company to work for. It has been a dream come true. I love my team so much. I love my manager so much. It's a beautiful building. So shout out to Salesforce for giving me an opportunity to be creative in this space. But Ikan Studios is still doing this thing here and there, and I'm looking forward to what we do this year.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 40:36 And always try to find the right fit that works for you. You've prepared yourself in your career coming out of college or any preparation coming out of high school or technical schools, find the right fit so you can find the right team in the right organization, just Tamika did, and you'll be able to give a shout out to those individuals.

Subscribers, thank you for joining us on this episode as we explored new professional opportunities while accepting the present. As Mark Twain said, "You got to get started." That's our time today for this episode of AVIDly Adulting. Be good today, because that's enough, and together, let's strive to be great tomorrow.

Tamika Smith 41:19 Thank you so much.

Dr. Aliber Lozano 41:23 AVIDly Adulting is powered by our AVID alumni and is brought to you by AVID. To learn more about AVID, visit our website at avid.org. If you are an AVID alumni, join our network at avid.org/alumni. Thanks for listening to AVIDly Adulting. Join us the first and third Mondays of every month as we feature guests and topics to help you navigate your first career with laughter, insights, and life lessons, because adulting isn't just a job, it's an adventure.