I paid the cost to be the boss! B. B. King played it. James Brown sang it. I am living it.

In other words, I made many strategic investments to pivot into becoming a multi award winning author, Know Your Hairitage consultant, and celebrity stylist. The investment in myself prepared me for bigger opportunities. Let me explain.

It all started in 2020, when I made the decision to self-publish my children’s book Zara’s Wash Day. Initially, Zara’s Wash Day was set to be a one-and-done passion project.  However, the minute I finished my last edit, I knew that celebrating hairstyles of the African diaspora and Indigenous communities was a topic that had depth and could (and should) be sustainable as a series. This meant that my investment into an author profile, book editing, book design, and illustrations would expand into website design, attorney fees, paid ads, LLC establishment, and a host of other costs to start a full-fledged business.

I even paid a fee for every single book award contest I entered.  Participating in the literary award process was one of my ah ha moments.  It made me realize that, in most cases, you don’t get discovered and rewarded for being or doing something awesome.  You actually have to believe in your awesomeness, fill out an application, and pay a fee to be considered. And while placing in any contest is a great boost to an individual’s brand and confidence, the cost ranged from $60-$400 per event.

Let’s not forget about all the applications and tools needed for brand continuity such as professional versions of art applications, social media profiles, website plugins, virtual assistants, post office box, vending set up, etc. I even had to budget for wardrobe, make-up, and a photographer to level up on my personal branding.

Starting out, I remember being told countless times how to cut corners and launch cheap. I was even criticized by a book coach on the investment I made to launch my book. I began to feel defeated and questioned all my decisions.  But when my finished product came off the press and my graphics began posting online, my book essentially became my business card.  The effort and quality I put into the presentation and content allowed me to enter rooms as an authority and be paid as such. Prioritizing your spend is important but accepting that you have to spend money to make money, is a psychological shift that many of us who did not grow up with money, have to work on. In other words, being the boss will also cost you time and your comfort zone.

I invested close to $17,000 and my return on investment was monumental. I laugh now when I think about how in December of 2020, I had to decide whether to pay my mortgage or buy my first order of books after hitting the publish button.  Three years later, I have tripled my annual income and there is no cap on my earning potential.  The best part is that even though I gave up my nine-to-five corporate job to work twenty-four-seven, I get to be a happy and present mom for my daughter, Zara.  And that my friends, is priceless.

Zenda Walker is the award winning author of Zara’s Wash Day and CEO of Know Your Hairitage,LLC-a business consulting firm.  Zara’s Wash Day and her second book, Zion’s Crown will be published globally under Running Press Kids in 2024.  Visit www.knowyourhairitage.com for more information and booking inquiries.

If you have been following me on social media, you will know that I have been on quite a journey since self-publishing Zara’s Wash Day in December of 2020. I will never downplay the steps it took to level up as an entrepreneur. I worked hard. I am a divorced mom, who at the time, worked a demanding nine-to-five job, homeschooled my daughter during a global pandemic, juggled a side hustle hair styling business, and struggled to find a glimpse of time to write my first book. However, the path to securing a trade deal with a top five publisher began with five attainable steps.

First, BE INTENTIONAL. I was intentional about my goal of becoming a full-time author, and education and workplace diversity and inclusion consultant. I knew that once I wrote Zara’s Wash Day, I had to commit to investing in the process, becoming a public figure, marketing my book daily, and potentially leaving my full-time job.

Second, CREATE A QUALITY PRODUCT. I wrote a good book. What constitutes a “good book?” Well, I made sure that I took time to research my topic from credible sources. I invested in a developmental editor. The meat of my book was great, but it needed to be refined. Truth be told, my manuscript was full of corrections and feedback notes from my developmental editor. Seeing all those “track changes” initially had me in my feelings, but her feedback made Zara’s Wash Day what it is today. She made sure the versus actually rhymed and had a fun cadence for readers. She also advised me to shorten the book which meant I had to cut out an entire section that I grew attached to. Additionally I invested in an illustrator, Princess Karibo, and book designer, Anthony Foronda. I sought an illustrator who could respect the beauty of the Black aesthetic and honor the movement of textured hair. I wanted a designer who could put the book together in a way that would stand out on shelf, in print, and online. This team understood the assignment and trusting their expertise freed me up to concentrate on my strength-writing.

Third,THINK BIGGER. I was in this for the long game. I built out a full brand with my book being the tool that established credibility and awareness. Initially, Zara’s Wash Day was going to be a one-and-done project. But by the time I finished the manuscript, I realized that the message was bigger than just one book. I realized that most ethnic communities have a hairitage-hair customs, traditions, beliefs and practices passed down by an ancestor or predecessor. So, I asked myself, ” How can I be more inclusive and set the series and my consulting business for longevity?” The next step was to change the book title to something that I knew would resonate with my community- Zara’s Wash Day.Then I named the series, Know Your Hairitage.

Fourth, BE PREPARED…TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF. I mastered my elevator speech. I left my corporate job but held onto the knowledge and relationships I gained as a corporate leader in marketing, communications, sales, and education. I operated in my strengths and applied what I learned from larger corporations. The breakthrough happened when I fully understood the mission of my books and business. Then I poured my creativity and swag into each strategy execution. As a smaller start-up (or shall I say, as a one-woman-show), I experimented with my audience and adjusted with speed and agility. This also meant that every day I was talking about myself and my product. That was difficult because I had to step outside of this notion that being humble and grateful would work better for me as a Black, woman entrepreneur. In fact, being less humble was the fuel I needed to light the fire. Even when I did not want to,  I posted, created content, carried my books everywhere, and networked-I lived a breathed my brand. Every time I left my house or got ready for a call, I had this phrase playing in my head, “Prepare right now to be sick of me!”

And lastly, DO IT SCARED. I was terrified when I uploaded my final book files and hit the go button on the IngramSpark self-publishing website. The fear of being vulnerable and exposing myself to the world prevailed. I had to get comfortable with the idea that fear can exist in the same space as courage. I took action (and paused when necessary) while allowing myself to feel all the feels.

I hope that this formula for leveling up will help someone out in the world who is ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship and/or who is struggling to breakthrough.

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Zenda Walker is CEO of Know Your Hairitage-a business consulting firm.  She is the award-winning author of “Zara’s Wash Day,” the first book in the Know Your Hairitage series.  Both Zara’s Wash Day and her second book, Zion’s Crown, will globally launch under Running Press Kids in June 4, 2024 and September 10, 2024.