Writer's Instagram Handle: @Godfidencemagazine @sobahibiscus
A little bit about the writer:
I was born in Nigeria and currently live in New York City. My favorite place to find peace and spiritual soundness is at ICNYU. I am passionate about Food and Finance and I'm always happy to offer those services to my community. I enjoy hiking, trying new foods, exploring new places and drinking tea.
A little bit about the work:
As a 9-5er and a business owner, finding balance between the two has been an ongoing challenge. I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey during my college days, fueled by dreams of one day turning my passion into a full-time endeavor. Fast forward six years, and I'm still wrestling with the decision to take that leap of faith. This piece is a snapshot of one of my mental struggles, a moment where the longing to devote myself entirely to SOBA Hibiscus clashes with the practicalities of my current situation.
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“I’m going to open an African restaurant one day.”
“No! I’m going to start an African drink company. That will be easier to scale. In a few years I will have the business working for me and I can go live in my dream country Malaysia” I thought to myself in 2017.
Looking back now, boy! Was I naïve. I didn’t know the industry I was getting myself into. Put it like this I didn’t know it would take me much longer to get to full automation. I didn’t know what I didn't know. I didn't know the amount of gatekeeping and discrimination I would face. The loneliness and attacks I would receive for being a Black Muslim business owner. It hasn’t been easy! I started the business in Louisiana and although my customers loved my tea, part of my supply chain (only space available in my proximity), gave me a hard time. The management there treated me like a criminal, depriving me of a key to access my own stored goods. I wanted to fight back but I also feared not having a place to scale my production, so I left Louisiana for NYC for my mental health and to find more opportunities for business. It saddens me to share this because I really thought my business would grow in Louisiana but when one part of your supply chain is rotten, drastic changes must be made before the whole chain is destroyed.
People often ask me why I started SOBA hibiscus, and the truth is I love my people and I want to see us represented in a positive and empowering light. I wanted to be someone who acts rather than complains. I wanted to inspire and empower the next person to take that chance. I have seen a lot of misrepresentation of culture in the business space. When I started SOBA Hibiscus, I was told by someone I considered a mentor that my idea from my culture wasn’t original. That I should find something more unique. Mind you this was a person who had a beverage brand that was taken from other people’s culture and was praised for it but had the guts to tell me to be original. I was very disturbed by their ill advice and parted ways with them. I was reminded in that moment that not all advice is good advice. Still, I continued to promote and celebrate my African inspired drink to the world.
Being a Black Muslim business owner comes with its unique set of challenges. I remember a
time me and my team were denied access to a festival after being approved to sell at this event. It was an embarrassing experience for us as our customers saw us being escorted out by security officers due to gatekeepers in our industry. Still, I continue to promote and celebrate my African inspired drink to the world.
I may have my ups and downs, but SOBA Hibiscus is bigger than me. One of our biggest values is tackling food insecurities in various neighborhoods. We started with a small community in Slidell, Louisiana and have now expanded to other states such as Boston and New Jersey. We work with food insecure neighborhoods in providing access to healthier alternatives either through our 2% donation plan or through our products. I’m very proud of the work that we’ve been doing, and I pray to continue to expand our business to give more.
I pray that Allah eases the heart of those who yearn to see their ideas take off. Business
owners, entrepreneurs, creatives, we're all on the same boat, aren't we? Navigating through the uncertainties of life, working just to have the basic necessities, yet longing to sail full-time with our own ideas. I know the destination, I understand the route, but I’m I prepared to take that leap of faith, risking my perceived comfort for the sake of my dreams and purpose? It's a tough call. I choose to take calculated risks, but when exactly do I go full time with my business?
Planning is one thing, but finding the courage to act is a whole different story.
With all the challenges that I have gone through in this industry, I have faith that it will all work out eventually, as it always does, but the journey through these challenging periods never feels easy. Above all, I try to be present for the little things because I know that as long as I breathe, there will always be hurdles to overcome until my last breath.
Reminders I repeat to myself as I go through life:
Work smarter, not harder.
Strive to achieve more with less effort.
Remember, the ultimate reward lies in pleasing Allah.
Give generously, as much as you can, for it is in giving that we receive abundantly.
Besides our giving back initiative of donating 2% of sales to local food pantries, one of the most significant milestones for my business has been the automation of our orders. It has been a testament to our dedication and perseverance. This is just the beginning. As I continue this journey, I welcome you to join me, to support me not just as a business but as a community striving to make my dreams a reality. Together, let's embrace the challenges, celebrate the victories, and keep moving forward, one step at a time.
P.S. We're on the lookout for passionate volunteers with creative minds to help us boost our
brand awareness. If you're interested in joining our mission, follow us on Instagram
@sobahibiscus and shoot us an email mentioning this article at info@sobahibiscus.com. Let's
work together to spread the word and make a difference one tea at a time!
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