Recently, I shared that The Storytellers is the theme for Indie Cruise Retreat 2018 to Ixtapa, Mexico. This post continues the series of posts to introduce you to the five marvelous Storytellers we have selected to share with you on our upcoming retreat for Makers and Creatives. (Join us!?) You've already met Sandy Engels, our Storyteller in the Emerge Phase of entrepreneurship, and Christy Rose, our Storyteller in the Engage Phase of entrepreneurship. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce Toushonta Hogan, our Storyteller in the Evolve Phase of entrepreneurship.
Toushonta's topic on Indie Cruise 2018 is Gain the Clarity Required to Mature Your Brand.
A Bit About Toushonta
Toushonta, who earned a business administration degree from California State University, founded Scentsational Soaps in 2007. After graduating college, Toushonta looked high and low for a job that suited her both personally and professionally. No matter what she did, though, she could not settle on a career path that met all of her requirements.
She was about to become concerned, when she received a bar of handmade soap as a gift. She loved it so much that she decided to learn how to make soap for her own personal needs. It wasn't long before she found herself testing her products on friends and family members, and then selling them to complete strangers. Soon, Toushonta was out of the job market altogether, and working on building a job market of her own.
Today, Toushonta's handmade soaps, scrubs, shea butter body products and candles can be found in retail stores across southern California (and in a few other states as well), including at select Target stores.
As Toushonta's business has grown, it has evolved from her original ideas to include a far more expansive vision. This evolution is ongoing and has been hard won, as Toushonta describes the first part of her entrepreneurial journey as a kind of “dry desert.”
I've sprinkled some of Toushonta's products from her Instagram feed throughout this post to give you an idea of how beautiful her brand is.
On Indie Cruise, Toushonta will share her entrepreneurial story, including that lonely and soul-defining desert part.
Toushonta's story will be especially useful to you if you feel like you are on the right track with your business, but it is time to prune things back, strengthen your systems, and minimize distractions that could weaken your platform going forward.
Toushonta Wants to Share it All With You!
Toushonta will focus specifically on the Evolve Phase of my signature approach to entrepreneurship, called The Indie Method. The Evolve Phase consists of 9 specific and sequential steps to help you refine your business model and create a platform for future growth, new income streams, and additional brands.
Today, not only is Toushonta enjoying great success in her business, but she is also mentoring her young daughter to be successful in a business of her own: Shai's World, a brand of nail polish that is “5 free,” meaning it contains none of the following: camphor, toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and formaldehyde resins. Here is some of Shai's nail polish!
Those of you who are parents can be sure that we'll build in time for Toushonta to share how we can all do a better job of identifying and nurturing the entrepreneurial capacities of our own children and young family members.
Meet Toushonta!
You can enjoy personal conversation and Masterminding with Toushonta on Indie Cruise, but if you cannot do that, you can at least get a more personal introduction to Toushonta in this episode of the Indie Business Podcast.
Check out Toushonta's website, and follow her on Instagram, on Facebook.
Learning + Implementation
Not only will you hear from Toushonta, but you'll also enjoy some peer-inspired confidence building activities that will help you feel more comfortable as you move your business to a new level of success on your own terms. Yes! That's right — Indie Cruise is not only about storytelling. It's about embracing the mindset to take the right actions that get the right things done!
Snorkeling and Sunshine
Come snorkel and learn with us!
Toushonta and I are ready to roll out the red carpet for you.
Register for #IndieCruise NOW
Ready to up-level your life and your business?
Of course you are!
If you're already ready to climb aboard, then just click here to register NOW!
See you in Ixtapa, Mexico!
Question
Are you in the Evolve Phase of your business? What questions do you have for Toushonta? What are you looking forward to learning from Toushonta on Indie Cruise? Please do share thoughts and experiences in the comments below, or share on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
