Today we’d like to introduce you to Traci Neal.
Hi Traci, 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?
Well, I originally started out performing my poetry as a side gig. This began in October 2019. I had a full-time job as a Pre-K Aide in the SC public school district then. I would perform my poetry sometimes on the weekends or evenings after I got off work. I honestly thought that this was how my life would be. I am really not a big dreamer. I just have strong faith in God. I also have a husband who is a huge dreamer! Both of these influences in my life are what led my poetry business, Traci Neal Speaker Poet, to grow.
I launched my business in January 2020, while still working full-time as a Pre-K Aide. I remember when I first began putting myself out there publicly. I was going to churches locally throughout Columbia, SC, and calling businesses of interest on the phone. I tried to do all I could to convince influential people of my poetic gift. Still, I got a lot of rejections. Times were really difficult back then. I wanted to quit poetry, but my husband refused to let me. I would end up quitting the Pre-K Aide job instead by June 2020. Things did not happen overnight, but between God and my husband, I kept going.
Although throughout March 2020 and August 2020, I booked myself for 22 radio shows to talk or showcase my poetry, things felt off and on. A major shift did not take place until April 17, 2021, when I got my letter to the editor put in the New York Times. My career catapulted. The New York Times publication gave me the leverage to have more opportunities than I ever could imagine. I, then, realized the two things working. They were putting my faith in God and learning from my husband.
The faith part did not take as much work as learning from my husband. He can be kind of direct sometimes, but it made my business grow to excellence. The logo for the brand is because of him as well. In 2020, when I was trying to create a logo, I showed him the first and second ones I thought about using. He basically told me that they looked like a cartoon. Yes, his words hurt, yet I let my emotions fuel me to do better. The third logo became the winner. All of my husband’s constructive criticisms have pushed me toward greatness. I am so grateful for it. By 2022, the poetry awards began rolling in for me. It felt surreal to know how things used to be and what it is now. The rest is history!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I said before, I got a lot of rejections along the way. Since I only made money from my writing, my husband was the sole provider. He invested in me. Throughout my poetic journey, I was told by close relatives and friends to get a job. I actually was willing to do that and give up poetry. Again, my husband would not let me. I appreciate him having diligence and determination to see me finish what I started.
We went through our struggles financially, but my close relatives willingly would help us when we needed them. It is so wonderful to know that they cared about us and eventually respected our mutual decision for me to pursue my poetry full-time. Now, at the end of it all, it has been worth it. So much good came out of those challenges. It brought me and my husband closer. I became even closer to my relatives also.
Sometimes support can be shown in more ways than one, but I cannot begin to describe what it means to have my husband as my biggest supporter. My faith in God and my husband got me through the obstacles in my poetic journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a paid spoken word artist. I perform my poetry virtually and in-person. That is my specialty and what I am known for. I am most proud of not quitting on my poetry. I reflect on what would have happened if I had let my poetry go. Everything happened for a reason and I understand this more now. What sets me apart from others is my willingness to be vulnerable. I am an open book. My vulnerability is one of the main reasons people feel a closer connection to me. It lets individuals see my heart and possibly know they are not alone.
How do you think about luck?
I do not believe in luck. Since I have faith in God, I think things happen intentionally. I believe my life showcases why I had to go through all I went through. The good I receive is my favor with God. The bad I experience are character-building methods to help strengthen my endurance. All of these things continue to keep my life and my business thriving. I just have to do what works for me.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Zachary Neal
Screenshot of PBS American
