Today we’d like to introduce you to Nakeisha Harris.
Hi Nakeisha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I learned hard work and responsibility at an early age.
When I was 7, I started my 1st job in my grandparent’s beauty supply (Allen’s Beauty Supply). My grandfather taught me how to operate the cash register and stock shelves, while my grandmother taught me how to manage money. I would work every Saturday from 9 am-5 pm, and they would pay me $7.00. I loved working because it allowed me to learn something new every day, whether it was about the business or just my grandpa teaching me things about life.
At the age of 12, I started working for Clean and Green, a program that hired Jr. High students through my school. We painted over graffiti and cleaned up our neighborhoods. In my junior year of high school, I started selling snacks to the other students (candy, chips, juice, etc.) and I would bring home around $100 a day.
In Feb 2005, I gave birth to my first daughter, Anaya, and bought my first house in Lancaster with my mom. Next was my second daughter, Keiasja, in December 2006. At that time, I obtained a job working for an ophthalmologist, Dr. Sheila Wright-Scott, M.D., where I worked for 13 years. My duties included managing the staff, assisting in the surgery room, conducting eye exams, and billing. In 2016, I added janitorial tasks to my duties and cleaned the office in the evening hours.
I left the Ophthalmology Office in 2018 and relocated to Lakewood. I obtained a job at Rent a Wheel as a utility accountant but quickly realized that it was not to my liking. I found that I wasn’t happy and bored, and to my dismay, I started gaining weight from sitting down all day. I wanted a job with more flexible hours that would allow me to be more involved in my daughter’s schedules, who at the time were into gymnastics and volleyball. I found myself praying for a solution, and in order to take steps towards being self-employed, I started selling jewelry for paparazzi to make extra money.
In March 2020, right before COVID shut down the world, I was laid off. I got the call and, at first, was sad because I’ve never been laid off. But then, I realized that this could be a blessing in disguise and said, Thank You, Lord, for answering my prayers. A few days later, I started my first business, Dynamic Duo Delivery Service, with my best friend, DeMarco. By now, everything was shut down, and people were scared to go out. Our business helped to facilitate a need by handling personal shopping and grocery shopping, and I started a mobile beauty supply. In addition to that, I started selling Holiday baskets and clothes, and we partnered with a company, Beach Bum, which specialized in manufacturing and selling natural juice.
In August 2021, my cousin posted that she needed a house cleaner on Facebook. I thought long and hard about her post and decided to help her. It took me 5 hours and 15 mins to clean a one-bedroom one bath apartment. The next month, Dynamic Duo Cleaning Service was born. It started off with just the two of us, and later, our two daughters and two other cleaners began to work part-time. The business began to grow, and we have contracted with offices and restaurants to be cleaned either weekly or bi-weekly. We also have residential clients, and we work with several Airbnb and Vacation hosts. Our coverage areas include Riverside, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties.
Dynamic Duo hosts other services as well. In February 2022, we partnered with a Jamaican chef and started pop-up shops selling Jamaican plates. In November 2021, we started Dynamic Duo Rentals and started renting out cars and scooters on a regular basis.
In November 2022, in an effort to pass on my lessons of hard work to our daughters, we purchased a 360 booth. This booth can be rented out at parties and events.
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?
Every single day, I’m destined to being ambitious and excited about setting new goals for myself as well as my business, which includes bringing home at least $300 a day and setting aside at least 2 hours a day for personal time at a hotel logging in on my computer doing research, trying to balance and organize everything in my life. With me knowing that every day will bring a different obstacle; there may be days I will have clients, and some days I feel as though I can take on the challenge of wanting more clients.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We are a professional cleaning service that provides quality and consistent services. Working with residential, vacation and professional clients. We take great pride in being respectable, reliable, and trustworthy. We take on all challenges.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
My grandparents were a big influence in my life, which inspired me to be the type of entrepreneur I am today, and my family are my motivation that keeps me going harder every day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: dynamicdcleaning
- Facebook: dynamic duo cleaning service
- Yelp: Dynamic Duo Cleaning Service
