Meet Brianna Keaton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Keaton.

Hi Brianna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey to entrepreneurship is an interesting story. I was always exposed to entrepreneurship through my grandfather who was a serial entrepreneur who created and built his success on helping the community and his family through education and real estate. However, growing up I was instilled with the belief that if I work hard, get a college education, and choose a beneficial career path, I too will enjoy the same fruits of the labor I was accustomed to growing up.

In April of 2015, I experienced a life-changing event that would ultimately change the course of my entire life. Living through the loss of one of my younger brothers. Through this journey of grief, I thought by going back to work to escape my reality at the time would help me get through it, but it ultimately cost me my job and almost my mental state. I needed an outlet to create and share a way of dealing with the different hard realities that force you into humility. I wanted so badly to create a journey of affirmations, healing, and confidence because it was so desperately needed for myself and the environment around me. Suffering major and tragic losses should not be regular. I, like so many others in this city, have lost loved ones in tragedy and you often are left feeling lost and wondering how you can grieve them.

This led me to creating a t-shirt line. There are so many words of wisdom that I needed to physically put out to the world as a reminder to self of who you are and who you can be. 2016, I vowed to heal through spreading words of encouragement on t-shirts. Thus, Humble Tees LA was born. Created to change the lives of everyone around me unconsciously with words of wisdom.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The smooth road is ahead but there is a lot of paving the way. This is quite a journey, a fun one though. I am learning every day what it takes to be a successful business owner, and a lot of it is realizing that there are definitely more struggles when running a business by yourself. You have to not only know how to handle and run a business, but you have to vet the people you do business with. One of my biggest struggles in the previous years was entrusting someone to do business with which led to my business taking a major loss. Recovering from this loss, I had to go back and start over and fulfill all the roles that would help push the business to be in a better position. Everything from financing, investing, photography, content, customer service, distribution and fulfillment, you name it, I do it. It is hard, but you know what, it is one of the reasons I continue to create. Life takes you through so many obstacles, in the end, it’s all about how you recover from them. Out of the many obstacles I’ve faced in business, the one that I thought would have defeated me the most allowed me to recover the best. It’s allowed me to continue paving the road while sharing and creating the vision of Humble Tees.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a serial entrepreneur, my business is to change the lives of others in any avenue I can. Humble Tees LA specializes in unique graphic tees & hoodies that are meant to inspire and encourage. I also specialize in teaching generational wealth through building a business within the financial services industry. Each day the goal is to teach people how to create and build a legacy of their own. I also do business consulting, marketing and advertising for small businesses and entrepreneurs looking to share their businesses on a major platform. I want to see everyone be successful in their own right just as I want to see myself.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I have learned along my journey is to never give up. There are two sayings I’ve heard this year that have been consistent with my entire journey. The first is to know that there is never a bad day, just a bad moment. The statement alone empowers you to not dwell on the negative. As easy as it is to dwell on the negative, that same energy can be redirected to problem-solving. The second thing is simply put, “Just do it.” Don’t let anyone stop you, not even yourself. You were placed in your position for a reason.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.humbleteesla.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/humbleteesla

Image Credits
Brianna Keaton, ItsABreez Alex Keaton, TVNPhotos