Tiphané Purnell- Classy Connections

Happy Tuesday #Jontourage,

Welcome back to the “Classy Gent Chronicles”, where staying classy is the only way to be. We are back with another “Classy Connections” edition, where I will be interviewing some amazing entrepreneurs. Today for our spotlight, meet Tiphané Purnell. So Tiphané and I go way back. We went to college together, became co-workers, and I am the God-father to her amazing son. Let’s learn more about Tiphané:

Jonathan: Tell us a little about yourself.

Tiphané: I have been writing freelance since the tender age of six and started my first business at the age of nine. My life-long passion for literature, service, teaching, and business has led to the establishment of my own business, True Vision Enterprises, Inc. known now as Success Dealers International, LLC.
Success Dealers embodies several umbrellas of my passions, including online courses, a publishing company, podcast, and business consulting. My natural talent for writing and love for literature, my commitment to community service, and my gift of organizing and producing amazing events are all aspects of me that have been utilized on the journey to building this empire.
Professionally, I currently serve as the Project Coordinator in partnership with a U.S. Department of Justice federal grant for the Office on Violence Against Women. I have served as an adjunct professor at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Sexual Assault Coordinator, and Residence Hall Director. In 2018, I added the role of mother onto my robust resume as I welcomed my baby boy Cayden (now 2).

Jonathan: How did your entrepreneurial journey begin?

Tiphané: When I was six selling pixy sticks out of my valentine’s day card box. It progressed to selling tacos in elementary school to writing contracts for local promoters, eventually managing local artists, consulting, event planning and finally, my publishing company. The Bible says your gifts will make room for you. I wrote my 1st song at 6, won my 1st scholarship in 6th grade, and it took me 6 years of being an entrepreneur to realize my true heart's desire and brand.

Jonathan: How has being an author changed your life?

Tiphané: Being an author has given me a sense of freedom. My 1st book The Love Between My Thighs: The Scarring of More Than a Woman’s Heart is like my personal hit single. It relates to brokenness in people that we seek in other humans to fill with bliss. Penning words has helped me channel my thoughts, emotions, dreams, and relate to many people whose voices are muted. I’m excited to motivate people to change the social norms of our society through the lens of writing. The journey to becoming an author has helped shape my dream of starting my own publishing company to help others achieve the same.

Jonathan: How does your brand stand out compared to others in your industry?

Tiphané: Our foundation of education and cross-collaborative company partnerships will give us a sustainable model with our clients that will set us apart. Many people pay others to do their work for them, but our plan is to educate our clients in finances in relation to becoming an author, understanding residual income, building contracts for author appearances etc. Building a successful business does have a lot to do with revenue, but I want to focus on making sure my clients are well educated in order to take their published book to the next level.

Jonathan: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Tiphané: I’m still young, so in five years I see myself continuing to use my career to fund my legacy. Although I have a vision, I’ve learned that God has the ultimate say, so I’ll just put my head down, work the plan and let God handle the rest. I do pray that I grow to be a leading independent publishing company 5 years from now.

Jonathan: Who/What do you look to for inspiration?

Tiphané: I look to God for inspiration. I found that some of the hardest moments and/or years of my life were made whole only when my relationship with God was at it’s best. When I am not aligned spiritually, I cannot get inspiration. In the natural realm, my son is my inspiration. I want him to have the things I never had spiritually, mentally, emotionally and financially.

Jonathan: How have you been able to balance motherhood with working full time and being an entrepreneur?

Tiphané: My family has always been tight-knit, even before I became a mother. With that said, balancing everything is largely credited to my village. Of course, even with the best village, balancing everything can be difficult. I bring my son EVERYWHERE with me. If I am speaking, winning an award, consulting, etc. my son is right there. I work a lot when he is sleeping (as long as I don’t fall asleep putting him to sleep). In my peak seasons, I function on naps and work in the middle of the night when he is sleeping. I released the preorder for my first book at 8 months pregnant and officially released it when my son was a month old. I find that my phone helps me write on the go in order to stay on deadlines.

Jonathan: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those looking to breakthrough in your industry?

Tiphané: 

1. Serve – when you serve, you connect, and connections will lead to greatness. Support others and you will reap support, but only serve and/support from your overflow, not your personal cup; this also means being okay with saying no.
2. Tunnel Vision – laser focus is essential, this is your journey, see it through
3. Build it even when nobody is looking
4. Focus every day on your dreams even if you’re not in the spotlight; start with 5 minutes a day and build more time until you are working for yourself part-time
5. Give your plans to God, align it with work ethic, and allow Him to guide you the Kingdom connections to make it all a reality.
6. Work on yourself internally so that when your hand of success is dealt, you sustain it.
7. Be results-driven
8. Don’t look at the success of others while you are building, it only slows you down, erupts emotion, and impacts your self-doubt
9. Work in excellence no matter how mediocre your surroundings are
10. Work on yourself; grow from the inside before you can obtain growth on the outside
11. Bonus: Be true to your dreams, stay true to yourself, and watch your vision(s) manifest (the motto from my company)

Jonathan: Outside of your work, what are your other hobbies/passions?

Tiphané: Building memories with my family. I am the planner/coordinator in my family. I love finding things for us to do. We all work hard so it’s good to escape to some fun together. I also love to read and listen to good music.

Jonathan: Do you have any upcoming projects?

Tiphané: You can’t be results-driven being stagnant. I always have upcoming projects. My closest project coming up is due to release in March 2020. It’s called “32: Be Sure to R.S.V.P.” The book expands on R.S.V.P. which stands for Reset Self Values and Perspective. I have some other bigger project up my sleeve as well…stay tuned!

Jonathan: How can the #Jontourage/followers stay in touch with you?

Tiphané: Email: successdealersintl@gmail.com
IG: @successdealersintl
FB: Success Dealers International
Website: www.successdealersintl.com (coming soon)

Moral of the story: Your gifts will make room for you.  Thank you, Tiphané, for being an inspiration to everyone you come in contact with.  If you know of an amazing entrepreneur who you believe should be featured, please contact me here so that we can connect https://www.authorjon.com/work-with-jonathan.html.  

Remember, in order to live out your dreams, you have to think it, feel it, live it! Until next time, stay classy...
 
For more Classy Gent Chronicles blog post, be sure to visit https://www.authorjon.com/blog