Category: Shot Caller Published on Wednesday, 25 January 2012 00:48 Written by SwaggaKings.com Hits: 658

The state of the economy is sagging and jobs are hard to come by. Finding a good job with a great wage is nearly impossible. Can you imagine someone resigning from their job to start a new business under these conditions? S.K. found the owner of MahoganyBlu Media, Sherrie Henry of North Carolina who did just that and making a way to be successful at it.

SK: Mrs. Henry, you are a new business owner. Have you been a business owner before?

Sherrie Henry: I have had small side/hobby businesses before I began MahoganyBlu Media.

SK: And why MahoganyBlu Media?

Sherrie Henry: I have a passion for small business. I enjoy talking with owners who enjoy what they are doing and I get excited at the thought of growth. Because of that I began MahoganyBlu Media to foster that.

SK: But, why go from small side hobby projects to a full time business?

Sherrie Henry: Go big or go home! I would rather be known for trying and it fail than to succeed at doing nothing.

SK: However, your background suggests that you were with a large company doing it big and yet you left that to do your own thing. This is a huge leap of faith. Why did you decide to take this step?

Sherrie Henry: It was the Forbes list #1 company to work for, for the past 2 years. It was hard to walk away. I love small business, what can I say. It has taken some and still requires faith; there are moments when I say it would be easy just to go back, but what kind of life would that be? I love vision and real entrepreneurs have vision and it’s my passion to help them run towards it via what MahoganyBlu Media does. Corporate wasn't doing it for me; it’s my season to do what I do. It makes sense most of the time for me.

SK: And in coming to this conclusion as a successful wife and mother how did you go about having this conversation with your family?

Sherrie Henry: At our church we are taught about gifts and talents and season and so forth. We teach our girls to be enterprising and know their gifts. So when my husband and I discussed it, the foundation was laid. I keep my girls involved as much as they want to be. My 10 year old wants to be a fashion designer, she found her own mentor and she makes things and sales them. My 12 year old wants to be a doctor, with her extra money she buys medical supplies and such and has a blog. It really wasn't a hard transition. Again there are times when you wish you had that expected check, but you know I wouldn’t trade anything for the experience and the exposure. My expectancy is that MahoganyBlu Media is a success, helping entrepreneurs reach their market.

SK: MahoganyBlu Media. What do you do exactly?

Sherrie Henry: We are a boutique PR firm. Public Relations, Brand Awareness, Business Management, etc MahoganyBlu Media.

SK: How old is your company?

Sherrie Henry: Two years old in July 2012

SK: Outside of paying ones, who are your clients?

Sherrie Henry: (Laughing) I work with entrepreneurs that know they need assistance. Not everyone needs it and not everyone is aware that they need it. Authors, Fashion Designers, IT startups are some of my current clients.

SK: But those paying ones are good right? (Laughing) When you come in to a new client, what do you find are the expectations that the client may have of you?

Sherrie Henry: Oh paying ones are awesome! I like to discuss all expectations of from, which the potential client and I are on the same page. I remind them that they have me something to work with. They can't come and say here's my business make me famous and rich. I ask them to explain their vision to me and lets go from there.

SK: That sounds like you are really in to the PR part of your business. You are on it I see, hard to let it go I know, but when you meet your clients for the first time do you feel they have an expectation of you that may or may not be realistic?

Sherrie Henry: Yes, most of the time. I do my very best to set expectations but to make sure they know that I am working diligently on their behalf. I can create a buzz and put the info out there and we can build together but, it still comes down to their product and services.
Once we have set the ground rules we can move forward successfully and its a wonderful thing.

SK:  What are some of the unrealistic expectations you have seen come your way?

Sherrie Henry: I had a client with no product, it was on its way, fresh out the gate gave me three weeks to make them blow up.

SK: Do you find there are common unrealistic expectations that your industry should address?
 
Sherrie Henry: I believe there are and that is one of them. Another I believe is that PR firms regardless of the size, although wanting to paint particular pictures of their clients have to keep truth alive. I believe that society has gone in a direction where bad is no longer bad and anything goes. Where it is my job to present clients and their products/services in the best possible light, I will not perpetuate lies. And sometimes it looks like that’s what's happening. Its almost like some PR firms need PR firms.

SK: Now that is funny (laughing).  What types of client are you most interested in working with?

Sherrie Henry: My scale is a little different than traditional PR firms. I allow my clients to pay monthly and I charge by the hour vs all up front. I charge $75 hourly or $300 monthly for 6 hours per month, $600 for 15 hours per month. I do hourly, 3month, 6 or 12-month contracts. I do give discounts for those that pay in advance but its not required. I do press releases, brand awareness, project management, etc

SK: Since it’s been a year now, how does one have a successful marriage and manage a new business?

Sherrie Henry: PRAYER (she proclaims)! Honestly, we know our roles. It goes back to gifts and talents. He doesn't expect me to operate in areas that I’m not good at. I know what's expected of me in my role as wife and mother. He allows me the time to operate as CEO and then transition time to wife and mother. He celebrates me and is honest with me. Date nights and lots of love. He covers me.

SK: Sounds like you have a message for other hard working businesswomen. What has now owning your own business taught you that you had no clue about before?

Sherrie Henry: My only message to other hard working married women is be the woman. Let him be the man he was designed to be. And, oh my lesson has been to always put in writing all of it, even the twiddle and the winks. I should have known that right?

SK: Right, but one time of not will teach you a lifetime of will not do that again (laughing). Speaking of date night, beside your husband now (thanks to you and this article) being the most wanted man in America in terms of his qualities, what was that thing that was done that got you two on your first date?

Sherrie Henry: We were introduced by a mutual friend and we didn’t go out on our first date until about a year later. We became best friends before we ever went on a date.

SK: So no movie fairytale type? Nada? Boooooo. Better the marriage than the wedding. It last longer.

Sherrie Henry: Absolutely! But we have two different versions of how the first kiss went.  That's for another day (laughing).

The customers of MahoganyBlu Media can expect assistance to bring their vision to life. This is done by building stories and letting the world know about these stories through press releases, info dissemination, events, and more. For more information on MahoganyBlu Media click here.