Defining Success with Entrepreneur Tonya Franklin

“– and when people tell me something I want is impossible, that’s the very thing I work on to prove them wrong”

          Happy Hump Day! I can’t believe that I’ve been blogging for almost three months now and this segment is one of the most requested segments I’ve seen across my blog since I started back in 2019. I don’t want to blab too much here so briefly, this interview is with an individual I’ve never connected with until this segment was born. After posting on a facebook group specific for business owners to network, Tonya Franklin reached out being interested and seeing her unique touch and style really inspired me. I couldn’t pass up on this opportunity at all. 

Tell me about yourself: what kind of person are you?

         I am a sucker for the underdog. I am the type of person who wants to see everyone win, and strives to help everybody. Yet, I am no-nonsense when it comes to my business, because I appreciate the value of my education, training, and experience; even when others do not. If i were to describe myself in three words it would be tenacious, resilient and passionate.

We love to see it miss Franklin!

Tell me about your business/overall entrepreneurship journey. 

            I’m the Brand CEO of MJS Virtual Collaborative, a virtual content creation and administrative business. It is the brand house of two brands: MJS Communications, a freelance marketing and PR brand that caters to chefs, foodies, authors, non-profits, and those in health, beauty and wellness industries. While MJS Consulting, is a business development coaching and business culture consulting brand for small businesses that struggle with team/employee/leadership cohesiveness and its effect on revenue growth. 

             I’m also a best-seller award-winning and internationally selling author, and speaker. My journey is quite interesting. I was working for an insurance company and our office was shut down. I was told that I would get a satellite workspace, and to work from home for the meantime.

A lot of transition was happening, and I could sense it. I decided to start looking for additional work and came across ‘virtual assistant’ positions. Although this industry has existed for almost forty years, I had never heard of it until then! I was inquisitive and looked into it, realizing it was pretty much what I was currently doing, only with being a Virtual Assistant, I would have more financial freedom. I did my initial research and jumped in. I have transitioned so many times throughout that time since starting my business in 2014, from working out of the public library to being homeless and working out of my church to where I am now; starting over and starting wiser.

Where did the idea of business come from?

  My mother used to joke about how bossy I was as a child, and I realize over the years that I am lol! But I am always looking for ways to reinvent myself and better use my gifts and skills. I decided long ago that what may seem like a negative trait, I have the authority to turn that into something positive. I’ve never been comfortable in the “box”, and always wanted more creative and financial control, so this was the avenue to do it. Entrepreneurship was my outlet to express myself creatively without bounds and to serve others in the way I think is best.

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What or how did the idea come about for your biz, what inspired it? 

     I was working from home waiting for a new office back in 2014. I was feeling the crunch of our company’s downsizing and started looking for another job when I came across virtual assisting. I realized I was already doing that, just not under my own terms. And because I like to do more and be more, I thought about turning my other skill sets into the virtual business realm. I was actually laughed at by a business coach when I told her that one of my goals was to do event management, marketing and PR virtually. She said that was impossible, and when people tell me something I want is impossible, that’s the very thing I work on to prove them wrong. I have worked and failed on my virtual strategies, but I believe I’ve found my groove to get it done.

Key driving force for you to become an entrepreneur?

    My children have always been my driving force. I want to leave a legacy for them. Not only am I working toward building financial support for them, but I want them to see and inherit strength, passion, and drive. I want them to know they can do what they want in life if they work hard and desire to see it through. I want my legacy to them to be: She wanted it, She owned it, She made it happen.

How did you come up with a name for it? 

      When I first started my business, it was actually called UpWrite Solutions. My VA business was more focused on content writing and creation as well as my faith, but most of my clients came from the marketing brand, so I knew I had to shift my business identity and when I rebranded, I renamed it MJS, the initials of my children; my legacy.

Have you ever ‘given up’ on one of your ideas for a product or marketing strategy? 

       Whew yes! I was scrolling through my social media platforms and just looking back, and saw how many business brands and ideas I actually had. Some of my strategies were good, but they were in their infancy when I launched them, and now that I have more skin in the game, I see how much I’ve changed, my business has changed, and my ideas have changed. It’s an amazing reflection.

         One thing I’ve come to understand is that the journey of entrepreneurship is that some ideas, strategies, and concepts are not meant to be launched, but to push you to the next greater thing. You can’t beat yourself up over failed products and services; just grow from them.

Do you follow specific self control to keep you walking when things are not going as planned? 

             Faith. When I jumped into entrepreneurship I had all of these dreams and ideas of how it would be simply because I WANTED it, but I learned quickly that business is not a fairytale and it can sometimes be lonely. I have had to stop and start over as well as gain and lose. But my faith in my passions, God, having an awesome tribe of women who “get it”, and most definitely my “why” is what helps me stay on the course  – even on days when I want to quit.                          success

Are any of your family members entrepreneurs?

                  My grandmother was a teacher by passion and was a beautician – as they called it back then – by trade, and also was one of the first women of color in her community to open a cosmetology school teaching other women how to build their own generational wealth with their skills. She also helped other women in setting up their businesses in other industries; which I experienced first-hand. She was a woman of strength and tenacity. Her drive has definitely been a motivating force for me throughout my life and my career. success

What would you name a book about you

 I’d have to name it, Unbelievable. If someone had said this would be my life 20 years ago I would tell them they’re lying and that would never happen.

I really love this response. 

This is that raw bittersweet feeling of unknowing what your life looks like in 10-20 years and now looking back it’s just this whirlwind of adventures and success. Congratulations to you Tonya! We aren’t done with the post yet but, I needed to say my piece with this response. 

What sacrifices have you had to make to be successful ? 

        Oh wow…I’ve made so many sacrifices. When I hear fellow entrepreneurs complain about having to pay for things to run their business, it just makes me chuckle and makes me shake my head at the same time. Although I’m the “Queen of Free,” I know for certain that it takes money to make money. And you have to put sweat equity into your business; especially when you’re first starting! That means your previous life is scrapped; you have to sacrifice your wants and pour all you have into growing your business; you can’t get around it and be successful.

       I can remember when Krystal’s had those $1, $2 and $3 meals. I would get one of those to eat so I could pay for a ticket to a networking event and gas to get there. I’m a divorced mom of 3 who lost everything and even then, took on clients that were not a good fit for me just so I could put food on the table and purchase software for my business or marketing materials to brand my business. I sacrificed a lot of my value along the way to just make ends meet and stay afloat. It wasn’t always the wisest thing to do, but I did it, because I really wanted my business.

How do you think entrepreneurship has made you into a better person ?

     Entrepreneurship has definitely tested my resilience. I took my business seriously when I started, but when you go through this journey, you really learn whether you want it or not. Because it’s not all roses and sunshine, yet the rewards are amazing. It has definitely made me into a better servant and to be more compassionate. I love serving people and although coaching was something I shied away from for years because of what is usually associated with it, I am finding myself in that stage of my business now.

     I decided again, to re-purpose myself and realize that I don’t have to be the type of coach that anyone else is; I owe some of that realization to entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship has also taught me to appreciate my value more; not just in business, but life in general. I understand that I set the tone, I define my own influence, and I create my own wealth. It’s up to me.

Are there any missed opportunities you have wished you had leveraged?

       Whoo yes! Not acknowledging my own value pushed me in a corner to where I feared failure. I cared so much about how I might mess up and focused so much on what I didn’t have, that I missed out on opportunities to show how I would do my best and work with what I already had that was of value. success

What is your greatest fear? Manage it how? 

    My greatest fear I would have to say is that I miss the mark on being a positive influence. I want to make sure that the work I do (or have done) is not in vain and someone else learns from it and becomes a better person because of it. Fostering relationships and testimonials are two things that help me manage it to make sure I’m staying on the course. I look back at some of my old testimonials from former clients, and I stand amazed at how what I thought wasn’t good enough was perfect for what they needed.

Toughest moment to have experienced in business and how you exceeded to move forward 

     One of my toughest moments was when me and my children were sleeping in my car in 2018. Things had taken a turn for the worst personally and professionally. I currently had two clients at the time, but it wasn’t enough. I was exhausted mentally and physically, and deals that I thought would come through; failed. It was hard because I knew that this was affecting my children. Our environment was pretty unstable, but I worked diligently to try to keep it as normal as I could. success

      They still went to school everyday, participated in extracurricular activities, I was still active with PTA, went to church, served in ministries, speaking at events, worked on books for my business, even partnered with two women for a virtual networking event, and did marketing training every single week all while not knowing what me and my family would eat that every night. I knew I had to keep going; there was nothing else to lose; either I succeeded now or it was never. I kept my experience a secret because I was ashamed, scared, and just didn’t know what to do or who to trust. It was a rough 8 months, and I asked God to please never let me go down the road again.

When you’re stuck or unmotivated what do you do to get re-inspired? 

Go to my tribe. I love seeing other people win! Their successes motivate me and encourage me; if they can do it, so can I.

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What is the worst advice you’ve been given in your entrepreneurship journey? 

      That it’s impossible to do what I want. I mentioned earlier that a business coach that is pretty well known and I admired once, said this to me when I told her that I wanted to add virtual event marketing and PR services to my business. She literally laughed at me and told me I would never be successful in doing that because it was impossible to do. That has taught me to NEVER dismiss someone’s

 dreams; even if it’s something unheard of. Dare to push someone to expand their creativity and be innovative. The internet was something unheard of once; yet here we are. And yet, here I am.

When did you know this industry was just for you?

      I really think I knew this was my chosen industry back in 1996. I had changed my college major in 1993 from business to communications because of conflict with a professor. I was focused on journalism, until I took a marketing class in ’96. I was hooked with anticipation, but I didn’t feel I had enough support after that class to really want it. Then in 2000 I decided I wanted something different after working as a contributing journalist at a newspaper for 4 years. I had been reading about publicity for months, and that yearning started again.

    After I left my job, moved to another city and started grad school, I felt like I was finally in my element. I interned and learned so much about marketing, PR and advertising that I was smitten for real. I reluctantly left the industry in 2002 due to the circumstances of life, but it was still there. In 2018, I took baby steps to get back into the industry. So much had changed about the industry, but I still had a love for it and I feel my most creative and powerful in it; I knew this was where I wanted to be.

What would you say are your Weaknesses? 

Stepping and standing in the unknown. I tend to launch deep, but pull back out of fear. It’s funny, because others see my value, and I tend to downplay it. But that is a weakness of mine that I am working on overcoming, because I know downplaying in the unknown is what slows down my progress. Another weakness that I have is following up. I don’t like being told no, so I tend to take a “no” and move on to something else. Someone once told me you may have to go after a few “no’s” before you can get a “yes.”

What would your advice be to aspiring entrepreneurs? 

         It’s okay if you’re struggling to know what you want. As you grow and mature, your ideas will shift. If you fail, you fail; it’s not the end! Roll with it and learn from it. There is no one way or cookie-cutter process to grow as an entrepreneur. And don’t get caught up in how someone else becomes successful; define your own measure of success.

What are you working on now and where do you see your business in 5 years?

      Client roster growth. That’s my main focus now. I am slowly building my coaching services, and I want to finish working on a few book projects that I have in the pipeline. In five years I see myself working the PR business comfortably full-time. I want to start seeing my clients take even more visible opportunities with their brands.

Where do you see yourself in 4 to 5 years from now? 

Traveling more. My children will be on their own soon and I want to venture out more on redefining who I am as a woman and living the lifestyle I’ve been working to create.

WOW. Thank you Tonya Franklin for this amazing inside scoop to your journey. I did not know a lot about you until you’ve shared this information and I am grateful that you did. Learning about your VA journey and best selling author as well? “Jill” of all trades the way I see it. 

I truly hope that you accomplish more in your personal and business ‘boards’ of desires. If there is one thing I’ve learned here is that you can really do it all if you have the passion and resilience to do so. Thank you again for taking the time to do this form of business spotlight. I hope that all those that have read this, have learned something new because I sure did. 

You can follow Tonya Franklin’s journey for the new year and so on, here: 

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