Meet LaSean Shelby | Entrepreneur & Cosmetologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with LaSean Shelby and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi LaSean, how do you think about risk?
Risks are necessary. If you don’t take risk you will stay in the same place and will always wonder what if? I am from Albemarle, a small town in North Carolina. It’s country, family oriented, can be a little ghetto and a little racist but I love where I am from. My mother has always encouraged me to be different and not to follow a crowd. When you do something don’t just “do it” be the freaking best at it, no competition. My mother is a huge impact on my life and has always pushed my siblings and I to take risk. She taught us to not be afraid and always lean on God. God will let you fall but he won’t let you fail. She would always say “No excuses, only solutions”. As a kid that was frustrating as hell, not realizing she was preparing us for life, for some of the hard choices or sacrifices we may need to make in order to make things happen. So we’ve been groomed to think “no excuses, take risk if you need to.” Shout out to my mommy, I love you girl!

Risk play a continuous, huge factor in my life and changed it for the better. Taking risks is NOT EASY. It’s scary, terrifying but so rewarding. Moving to Cali I didn’t tell a soul except my parents and siblings. I left everything I had and bounced. My entire move across the country was a risk.. I had no idea what I was getting myself into I just knew I needed something different. So at 27 I basically had to risk it all and start over. I moved with less than 100.00 in my bank account, a suit case, not a dream in site and completely clueless about what I wanted in life. I just knew I wanted be wealthy and leave a legacy that my great great great grand kids will be able to benefit from. So I still have a long way to go but the strides I’ve made so far I’m proud of. I feel that taking risk has helped me change into a better person, checked my character and checked the type of person I was and wanted to become. So I had no choice but to do something different. When I first moved to California I was living in oceanside with my brother. I worked as a server for the first 6 months of living here and really started to get bored. Ive always styled hair as a side hustle but I start making more money styling hair than serving tables and I actually enjoyed it. I remember April 1 2019 I asked the guy was hanging with at the time should I quit my job? I remember him saying “well what do you have to lose” and then boom I called the restaurant and told them I quit.. they were tight! I could’ve left a better way but I was focused on taking a risk and not how the company felt. I was living in oceanside the first 6 months then moved to San Diego the next month because I started getting so much clientele and thats when everything started.

When I think back to that time, I was not who I am today. Taking risk also encourages growth. I have grown mentally, spiritually, physically and financially and I know that is connected to the risk I have taken and will continue to take.
I think risk is connected to fear. You will find most ppl that are willing to take risk usually aren’t “scary people” I mean they aren’t scared to do things, spend money, think ahead and isn’t afraid of “what if” but instead thinks “why not?”
I feel that I would not have created what I have or be able to have the mindset I have if I didn’t take risk. Honestly… risk strengthens my faith. I struggle with anxiety and when I am wanting to take a risk and I get the “anxious feeling”, I have trained my mind to automatically think “if I cant do it, God will provide and or give me strength to get through it.” It helps calm me down and to go ahead and take whatever risk is necessary for change! I’m still a work in progress but I am not where is used to be!

Things to know:

1. Risk=how much faith you have & how much work ethic you are willing to put in.

2. One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 41:10.. have faith, do not be scary.

3. One of my favorite quotes from Oprah Winfrey is “If you cant beat fear, do it scared”. purr.

Thank you ShoutoutA so much for interviewing me and allowing me to tell part of my story. This is crazy because I really manifested this interview! I came across your instagram page back in January 2020 and was like I wanna be on there, those people really take their business serious. Then boom I get an email, its like whatttt why not?! I was shook. I said that to say make sure to manifest what you want by taking risk, continuous praying, effective work towards your goal(s), and staying focused!!!!!! God got you and me, we cant fail!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

The lessons I have learned while creating this empire is to always bet on yourself, believe people when they show you who they are, ALWAYS keep God first, say your affirmations daily and take things one day at a time. I learned people come into your life for a season, reason or eternity deicide which category they’re in fast..Never have expectations but keep your standards sky high. Never lower your standards for others. Find your balance in life, do not overwhelm yourself. Anything that is worth having takes time so do not rush anything. Lastly, what is for me is for me and nobody can stop that, and what is not for me I do not need because God will replace it will something better.

I do want the world to know the meaning of our name “Akachi”. I get that question a lot. If you havent put together I am a woman of faith. “Akachi” comes from the igbo language and it means “hand of God”. So when you think about our business, Akachi Beauty you are reminded when you come get serviced by us you are being blessed by hands that were created specifically for this by God. You are protected because of your association with us. Anything else you wanna know just ask. I am an open book I love telling my story in hopes it encourages another person.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well to be honest when my friends come into town I tell them to have plans prior but if I planned it :

5am-8am: Me time. I pray mediate, read my book, read the bible listen to my affirmations, read them, set intension for the day.

DAY 1:

8am-10:30: My friend wakes up and gets ready.

11am-12:30: Brunch, mimosas at Farmers table

12:30pm-2pm: La Jolla beach beach

2pm-3pm: Go shower &change

4pm: Hit the DP. and chill get ready for the night

5:30pm- Get dressed for dinner, of course were wearing heels we from the south babe.

7pm: Go to Barbusa in Little Italy drink good wine and order the arrogosta pasta.

10pm: Head back to my spot call it a night.

Day 2:

5am-6am: Me time

6am: Friend wakes up.

7am-9am: Go mountain walking at Cowles mountain, I love that place.

930am: Breakfast Republic for breakfast

11am-2pm: Go change, shower and go to LA.

2pm: Go to the selfie museum

3pm: Go to roscoes in LA

5pm: Go to the walk of fame then head back

8pm: Back home and I would leave the night up to her

Now my friends will get 2 full days out of me and thats it. Running a business is my priority right now hanging out is not. I need to stay focused. I really try to avoid instant gratification when I know my goals. So the rest of the week they would go else where or I would meet with them for dinner or lunch. In my opinion San Diego has a million views. So make sure to check out all the beaches and trails if you can!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Okay so I have a few shout outs because without each one of them my transition would’ve been soo much worse:

Okay of course I have to shout out God who is my main source period. Without Allah I would not be where I am or have what I do. God has held me down and been there when I had nobody to lean on. I am alive and mentally well because of my God. I have cried many nights, felt unworthy, unloved by the guy I was dating, I felt alone, I was broker than a joke and God always came through. He always made sure I had what I needed and whatever I worked for I could have It physically mentally and emotionally.

Next, I want to thank my grandmother for her relationship with God because I know her prayers get to heaven a little faster than mine so thank you Mrs. Greene. Im shouting out my best friend since the whom my brother Bigg Redd. This my dawg for sure! He is my younger brother but when I say my brother took care of me until I could, HE CARRIED me. I cannot thank you enough, I would not be as far as I am had I not had your support mentally and physically. I want to shout out my ex for allowing me to live with him for a while and attempting to date a business woman. Its not easy we both learned a lot but I appreciate your kindness. Shout to my dad for all the encouraging phone calls, business ideas and thank you for paying for my flight when I moved here cause babayyyy I was broke and I wouldn’t be here.. literally. Shout out to my clients, they hype me up all the time and push me to be better, you all are my celebs and lastly I have to thank my mother. This lady has put up with so much and has never given up on me. She has never abandoned me even when I didn’t want her around. She is the best woman I know walking the planet, period. She is the worlds best mother, she is my super woman for sure. I set my standards so high because of how she carries herself, her accolades and her relationship with God. I pray I continue this legacy you started and help turn it into something more than either one of us imagined!

Website: akachibeauty.as.me/

Instagram: Personal: Lasean.shelby | Business: akachibeautywc_

Facebook: DeNetrice Lasean Shelby

Image Credits
@f3stive