Today we’d like to introduce you to Latasha Robinson
Hi Latasha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am from the small town of Lake City, South Carolina. Born in the 70’s to teenage parents and raised by my grandmother. I grew up along side my sister who is 8 months older than myself. Yes, we grew up very close and something similar to twins. During my rearing, money and resources were extremely limited and surely was in the bracket of what was deemed poverty level in the USA. I had absolutely no intentions of attending college after high school. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to graduate and land me a job in an effort to earn my own money as I was worn with being broke, never having any or enough money and of my own and depending upon others financially in the midst of access to resources and connections. In the meantime, my maternal Uncle, continued to encourage me to continue my education so that I would not have to depend on anyone to take care of myself as I become an adult. I was still adamant on not attending college and focused on landing a job. My eldest sister was accepted into the University of South Carolina, home of the Gamecocks! That is when my light bulb came on !!! I told myself, “Well I can’t let her attend college and I don’t attend college!” We did almost everything together. We were in the same grades (Headstart – 12th Grade) our entire lives and graduated high school together and shared many of the same friends! I was the athlete and she was the cheerleader. I applied to two colleges at the 9th hour and was accepted into South Carolina State University and Florence Darlington Technical College. I chose to attend SC State University in Orangeburg, SC. I did my best to find an on-campus work-study job, but I kept getting denied due to receiving the maximum amount of financial aid and student loans, they didn’t see the need. I finally landed a job off-campus during my junior year at a local clothing/retail store called Goldstein’s. I was introduced to the owner and learned that he was from my hometown of Lake City, SC. I learned the ins and outs of the business to include stocking, buying, selling, profit, loss, pricing, opening, closing, learning to meet the demands of customers, preparing set-up for massive sales around large scale events and most importantly customer service! After graduating from college I still had an eagerness and a flaming desire in me to continue to sell and serve customers! It was always a thrill for me to see people excited and happy about buying quality clothing and jewelry for themselves, family and friends, at affordable prices. I must remind you that I had no merchandise of my own to sell when I graduated from college. I immediately connected with my former college employer and said, “I would like to see if I can sell some of your goods around town.” I then began selling baseball caps, jeans and t-shirts, out of my vehicle, around my hometown and surrounding areas, generating upwards to $3,000 per week in sales, especially around majot holidays! This went on for an exciting 2 years or more. Then I had an epiphany and said, “If I can make this much money doing something I enjoy, why can’t I do it for myself?” I then consulted with my former college employer and thanked him for the opportunity to allow me to learn from him and now I am ready to sell for myself and see where it goes from here! I then secured my business licensed and named by small business “GearedUp!” and my motto is “Makin’ You Look Good!” where we focus solely on selling “Quality Clothing at Affordable Prices” I did have a stent where I sold out of a brick and mortar, but realized that selling while being mobile was best for my small business. I currently continue to sell while traveling around the state, setting up at a variety of festivals and events. I run my business as a part-time “side-hussle.” I love it just as much as when the day I started selling merchandise. It continues to bring me a joy that is unexplaineable and it gives me a peace of mind to continue to go out amongst people to help fill their desires of shopping and knowing they have invested in quality merchandise at an affordable price.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I imagine that my road to small business ownership has been as smooth as it could be, as I was blessed with a mentor, someone who knew the ropes. Whenever I ran into a problem I would just pick up the phone and call my former college employer. Also, with anything there are challenges or barriers. Some challenges that I would often run into was not having enough of a specific supply to meet the great demand, as my style of buying and selling was most often in limited styles and sizes, but much variety. A major obstacle was in my early days of selling while I was learning the ropes, I wasn’t aware that there was a need to have a license to sell items around town, which was called ‘peddling.’ I learned quickly when I was stopped by law enforcement and they questioned me about my merchandise as well as a license to sell and if I did not possessed a license to sell they would have to confiscate my merchandise. Thank God for me that I recently secured a business license to sell, which I showed to law enforcement and they told me to have a great day! Of course, I asked them if they would like to purchase anything prior to my departing from the scene. They declined with a smile. Additional struggles were knowing that you have to be all in with a business. Your days are early and long. Times to rest are minimal and lunch is always like playing “hide-and-go-seek.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have a Bachelor’s in Social Work and a Master’s in Public Health with a concentration on Community Health. I work in the field of Public Health where I work in the STD/HIV Division ensuring that we serve Peolple Living with HIV (PLWH) in S.C. and assisting with access to medical care.
Outside of the above, I am known for being “The Connector” where I connect people, places, things, ideas, organizations and entities in an effort to bridge a bigger connection for the good of mankind. At times I am also known for giving too much of myself, which is a balancing act that I am still working on daily and knowing I can’t help anyone or myself if I am on “E,” which is Empty.
I am most proud of the person that I have become, as I look back on the idea that I should have been a statistic, which is one who didn’t make it, one who is not a high school or college graduate, one who should have been the product of her environment. Yes, the odds went running and they were defeated! I am also proud to be one of the founders of the Lake City High School Alumni Association based in Lake City, SC. We consist of more than 50+ graduating classes from year the schools were integrated in 1971 – present. This organization allows us to be a beacon of light, hope and opportunity for future alumni. Please see our webpage https://www.lakecityhighalumni.com/about I am honored to be the first President and led the organization for 10 years and currently I am the “Past President.”
What sets me apart from others is that I am very persistent, I won’t stop until the job is done and I have a desire to help others whenever and wherever I can. It gives me joy and the feeling of being filled with what God would want us to do! I have a skill of connecting people, getting along with people, and the ability to work with people who’s characteristics may be ‘easy to work with” or “difficult to work with.” I tend to focus on the goal and see what avenue(s) or path(s) I need to take to align with people who are needed to assist in reaching that goal. I tend to keep business and personal matters separate or else it will become cloudy.
I believe the earth and the people within it is the largest networking session known to mankind and I try my best to be a part of this networking session daily!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
My view of risk taking is that it is necessary at times. I just continue to hope that I have the discernment to know when to take the risk or not. I view myself as a risk-taker at times, when deemed necessary.
I took a risk by not applying for college until the summer of my graduating high school. I decided to apply to a technical college and a 4-year college. I was accepted to both institutions about 1 month prior to the first day of class. If I had to do that all over again, that is a risk I would not have taken. I would have prepared earlier and applied sooner. I began feeling stressed once I was accepted and not knowing what my immediate next steps should have been and in a frenzy with completing financial aid paperwork with less than 30 days prior to the start of class. I thank God it worked out!
Another risk that I took was to write to the CEO of General Motors Company more than 10 years ago. This came about when I purchased a vehicle and began having major problems with the newly purchased vehicle. After doing some additional research on the vehicle I learned that the vehicle was in a major accident, repaired and it should have been deemed a lemon and or totaled. The dealership where I purchased the vehicle from would not take the vehicle back nor make it right. Therefore I was stuck with a newly purchased vehicle that had many issues with alignment, interior water leaks and host of things due to it being in an accident, which was not disclosed to me prior to me purchasing this vehicle. After getting to a point-of-no-where-to-turn with the local dealership, I took a chance to send all of my concerns to the CEO of General Motors. I surely thought never in a million years would I receive a response. I must tell you that General Motors responded and they made every single thing right and corrected the problems for me and placed me into a newer car with no problems! It was a dream come true!!! I had no idea how this all would turn out, but I was willing to take a risk and write on my experience and purchase from that dealership! I will forever be a General Motors fan as I totally had a chance to “Feel The Excitement!”
Another risk that I took was job related, back in 2011. I received a call as it related to an opening in Public Health. I was at the height of my current position and doing very well in that position. I had no current or immediate desire to change jobs nor a desire to relocate 2 hours away. I was doing well in my community and in church! All was going great! Sure, I could have definitely use more money, but I guess I was a bit comfortable where I was in life, in general, and enjoying it! I had no desire to relocate. pack up an apartment, learning a new job and a new city. Welp! I decided to apply for the position that I was alerted about. I clicked submit on the application at 4:59pm and the deadline was that same day at 5:00pm. As you can see I had not 2 minutes of a desire to relocate as proven by the time stamp. Some weeks later I received a phone call for an interview. Then a few months later I received another call to offer me the job. I was floored, thinking, should I take the job or should I just stay in my current position and location. I took some time to speak with the Lord, myself and my family. I sat, just pondering on taking a huge risk such as this and knowing the cost of living would be more expensive versus where I was currently living. I also was concerned with the cost of moving and would I be financially able to do so!? I must say, 14 years later I do not regret taking that risk! It was worth it all.
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