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

Hi Anjanette, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?

Wow! I battle within myself with this question more often than you know. When you hit brick walls, roadblocks, dead ends, detours, relationships end, connections stop, little to no profit coming in – (raising my hand: “I’ll take to give up for $200 Alex” LOL!). I remember calling my sister MANY of times crying, feeling discouraged and defeated because, I hadn’t seen a profit for years. Connections were lost. I was tired mentally and physically and I didn’t know what the next step was. I felt like my daughter, sister and friends were my only cheerleaders. I would ask: Does anyone else see me? What is the purpose of all this? Am I doing this in vain? Am I good enough? Am I good enough FOR THIS? Am I the right person? Am I pretty enough? Do I dress right? Questions, challenges, obstacles, and life hit you. It makes you want to throw in the towel and give up. No more headaches. No more sleepless nights and staying up at night crying or trying to fit a square into a circle days. I mentor youth and I question myself and my mission “A LOT!!!” I emphasize a lot because it’s true. I wonder: are they listening? Was I effective in my delivery and communication? Will this work? Will they make the right choice? Could I have done something differently? What else can I do? Yes, giving up is the right answer, I begin to think. Even though it may “seem” like the right answer, another battle begins. What does it truly mean to give up? Hmmm…. You are giving up on YOU, your dream, other people, your destiny, hard work and most importantly God. This is when to keep going shows up and shows out.

I remember going into the professional beauty supply store at the beginning of the pandemic with my mask on. This young lady that was ringing me up recognized me with my mask on and said: “Are you Ms. Anjanette?” I said: “Yes.” She said, “Hey, how are you? I was in your workshops from 6th to 8th grade. I’m 18 now. I remember coming to the workshops me and my friend, my friend gave you attitude every week and you kept on “LOVING” her every week.” I thought to myself: “I’m glad I did that because evidently I left

a positive impression on this young lady.” Anyone that work with youth knows it will strengthen your patience, self-control, and self-discipline.

A few years ago in Sam’s Club, a young lady said: “Ms. Anjanette”? I replied: “Yes, hey, how are you?” Let me say this, a lot of young ladies I run into, I very seldom remember their names however I do remember their faces. My greeting is always upbeat and with a smile. Ok, back to the story. She said: “Because of you and what I learned in your workshops; I went back to college. I had dropped out and started working. Then one day I remembered some things you taught us and went back to school.” I thought: Praise God! I always pray that what the young ladies learn in the workshops comes back to their remembrance at the right time. THIS MAKES ME WANT TO KEEP GOING.

At one of my “LifeGame Changer” Leadership workshops, a lady came up to me, saying: “I’ve been to numerous workshops and I’ve always been taught “What I’m not doing, why I’m not effective and how I need to follow. This is first workshop where I learned, “HOW” to lead effectively and if you lead effectively your team will follow!” “THIS MAKES ME WANT TO KEEP GOING.” During one of the workshops one young lady stated she was out town during spring break and these two young ladies got into a fight. For the first time she didn’t instigate or jump in. This was huge for her! She tried to break up the fight. When the police arrived, she told the police office “I learned in “Precious Rubies” how not instigate and how to resolve conflict.” The police officers, her mother and I were very impressed with her behavior. I was elated she was in another state raving about Precious Rubies!! “ANOTHER REASON TO KEEP GOING.”

When you see someone else doing what you see yourself doing and what you know you are capable of doing; writing thoughts and ideas down on every sheet of paper or journal you can find or daydreaming about doing what you really want to do are all signs to persevere. To keep going requires more than words, action must accompany words! Action can involve reflection, self-examination and self-discipline which is not always easy, but it is WORTH it. Reflection on why you started, what makes you happy when you are doing it and the multitude you must keep going. Reflection can always bring a smile to your face or jump start in your spirit. Self-examination and self-discipline mandates dealing with the man in the mirror moment. The man in the mirror may need to DO something different, RESEARCH more or CHANGE his/her thinking. Doing, researching, and changing requires you to acknowledge some things about yourself, to deal with what you discover and to change yourself as well as your mindset in addition to your motives and moves. All of the aforementioned requires you to MOVE, GET UP and/or KEEP GOING!

How will you know whether to keep going or to give up? “YOU” will know as you keep going! SMILE

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work. I am a licensed hairstylist by profession and the Founder/Director of Precious Rubies & LifeGame Changer through entrepreneurship. There can be five salons on one block and 10 stylists in one building – I ascribe to the belief that your gift and uniqueness will always set you apart. It is not only your skills as most would think. This rationale stems from previous surveys as well as word of mouth from my clients over the years.

How did I get to where I am professionally? It’s a true and funny story. After graduating from college, I worked in the corporate world for 10 years. I remember one day my supervisor came up to me, saying “Angye, do you find yourself leaving yourself at the elevator?” I thought about this question and a loud voice screamed “YES” inside my head. I was professional and I knew how to talk and walk in the corporate world however my personality is unique, welcoming, energetic, and different. My spirit is what sets me apart from the rest. I believe my supervisor recognized the real ME. At times I had to make an effort to switch it off. Side bar, my former supervisor threw me a graduation party in one of the break rooms when I graduated from Cosmetology school (she believed in me).

Let me rewind a little bit … one of my sister in-law’s friends saw me on the train station platform and asked me if I wanted to sign up for hair school after work. There was no conversation or dialogue about hair prior to this

question, however, I replied “yes.” Twenty-one years later I am a licensed hairstylist, and my sister in-law friend opted not to pursue the profession. That’s divine connection, I would say.

The transition from corporate world to full-time hairstylist was not easy. Working full-time at a well-known insurance company in downtown Chicago, working part-time at Marshall Fields as a salesclerk, being a part-time “kitchen” hairstylist; and raising my daughter by myself was not easy. But I enjoyed all 4 hats. I remember praying to become a full-time hairstylist. In September of 2000, as most would say, life came my way. My mother passed away. My mother was an EXCEPTIONAL mother and a TREMENDOUS grandmother. I lost my backbone, and my daughter lost her best friend. This pushed me to become a full-time hairstylist.

The ability to exceed my clients’ expectations and to see the look that can only be described ‘pleased look’ with their finished hairstyle, when something I say encourages them and/or a lightbulb is turned on, this is what I get excited about and what makes me say this is all worth it!

As a stylist, CEUs (continuing education unit) are mandatory – not only to renew your license but to keep your skills up to par and to stay current with the latest styles. I can honestly say I was not always consistent in the past, yet I wanted to be. I remember praying about my skills and wanting to learn more. When I prayed – challenges came. Things like other stylists talking negatively about me and my work; salons closing with 2-5 days’ notice warning; clients leaving or new clients coming. I started noticing pro/cons about salon owners; the cleanliness of salons; how important integrity was as well as the work ethics of co-workers; how some stylists were unprofessional; inappropriately handing of money; stylists showing up late for their clients and unprofessional conversations being held in front of clients.

Instead of allowing the challenges to make me quit or to remain quiet, it motivated me to want to help and change the industry for the better. All these challenges and more is what developed me professionally and pushed me to create LifeGame Changer Workshops, LifeGame Changer for stylists and Precious Rubies.

Some of the lessons I learned is, 1) the importance of staying current with the current styles by securing my CEU hours; 2) it is vital to teach others from the mistakes I’ve made. I have an immense desire for future stylists to be better than me and to triumph over obstacles; 3) to take care of your business, to learn the business and to stress to others to have a business mindset. The biggest take away I would tell future stylists is the same thing I want others to know about LifeGame Changer for Future Stylists is to avoid competition but to embrace collaboration.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting me for the weekend, hopefully a great play was at our local theater or one of the theaters downtown. Before or after the play, depending on when the play starts, and if it was downtown, I would recommend Ruth Chris, Grand Lux Café, Gibson’s, or Morton’s Steakhouse. If the play is playing in the south suburbs, we would go to Bonefish Grill. They have the best Bang Bang Shrimp tacos and broccoli. The red sangria is superb. Another one is Coopers Hawk for their cobb salad and an order of the Mexican Drunken Shrimp minus the bacon. Again, their Sangria is very tasty. I would have to call some people to find out where to go to listen to some great music or invite a few friends over with us and listen to music and reminisce about when we were growing up and how great the 70’s ,80’s and 90’s R&B music was. I’m really a homebody so sitting around talking inside or outside is great to me. Lastly, maybe we can find a great movie everyone can enjoy!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
God first always, my mother (deceased), my daughter (Shaquala), my sister (Wendy), my Auntie Dianne for her support and for traveling with me, my Board of Directors, family, friends, supporters, volunteers, Ms. Johnson (former Principal at Colin Powell Middle School. She was the first person to give me a chance), and anyone that have believed in me, thought about me, connected with me, supported me, prayed for me, and even talked about me. Whether good or bad – you helped push and motivate me. I truly appreciate and thank each and every one from my heart! THANK YOU!

Website: anjanettewhite.com

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Image Credits
Janelle Jaqueline Photos FMK Media (Felice)

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