Today we’d like to introduce you to Octavia Brown.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
One thing that I learned over the years as an adult is to “get comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Often there were times I felt so uncomfortable or out place when around people who were doing more than me in life or being so shy to talk to people. Things started to change after my third year as an educator; I realized I was capable of anything I set my mind to and what my true passion was – helping others be successful.
Fast forward, during the beginning of the pandemic last year I started a podcast called Real Cultivated Podcast. The podcast was to educated, empower, cultivate listeners on things that were taking place in the community and give helpful advice and resources about life. I had the opportunity to interview prominent leaders, business owners, and other influential people in the Dallas-Fort Worth community. After the last episode of season one, I wanted to take Real Cultivated to another level and make it a business where I could help entrepreneurs and small business owners make lasting networking connections with people in the community. So, I set forth and got an LLC and got to work on my vision for my business. Of course, there were challenges along the way and it felt like forever to get my business up an running, but I worked through those challenges.
Real Cultivated went from a podcast to R.E.A.L. Cultivated LLC. What does R.E.A.L. stand for? Ready to Elevate And Lead. I came up with the acronym and motto because I want to empower others to be Ready to accomplish their goals, Elevate in their business or education, and Lead with a purpose for others.
The mission and vision: R.E.A.L. Cultivated LLC is a business to educate and empower men, women, and young adult students to achieve their goals through a growth mindset.
Our mission is to enhance the minds of adults and young adults by hosting professional seminars, providing social networking opportunities, and enriching the lives of the youth through education and mentorship.
As a business in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex of Texas, we value ourselves by seeing others grow and accomplishing their lifelong goals. R.E.A.L. Cultivated focuses on capturing and evolving the minds into making connections with others through a growth mindset.
Our background is in planning social networking events to assist adults and young adults to strive professionally and personally in what they are seeking to achieve for their business. Furthermore, we specialize in preparing 8th-12th grade students for college and career through programs and seminars, building relationships through our mentorship program, and overall connecting with school districts across the area and outside the area to bring our program into their schools for the success of all students.
In conclusion, the business has started off to be very successful with hosting unique, interactive social networking events and the start of my Leading Students to Success Mentor Program that serves high school students to ensure they are prepared for life, college and career.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with any new business start-up, it’s not easy! I registered and got the business LLC approved last year in July but had a few setbacks due to the pandemic, business matters, and me having to teach full-time during a pandemic made things I needed to accomplish a bit challenging. However, with the guidance and advice from experienced small business owners, I was able to get things off the ground and running since March of this year.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
With R.E.A.L. Cultivated, I specialize in planning and hosting unique, fun and interactive social networking events around the Dallas-Fort Worth area. What makes my social networking events different from others? Instead of the typical networking events where you just stand around or walking around a room full of professionals exchanging business cards and giving their elevator speech, my networking events consist of a theme that appeals to be fun and engaging. Those who attend will be participating in activities, mixing and mingling, dancing, laughing, you name it! Also, my networking events are open to the community instead of just entrepreneurs and business owners. Social networking events should be about networking and making lasting connections with the community because people from the community is where we get business and sales, right?! Oh and you don’t always have to worry about dressing business casual or professional; those who are interested in attending my networking events dress to theme or vibe of the event. I find that this can be more appealing to the younger entrepreneurs and business owners.
I am proud that I am able to have the creative mindset that goes beyond the traditional social networking events that we are all use to seeing/hearing about and attending. For me, it’s all about being comfortable, being yourself, having fun while still remaining personable and professional.
On the other side of planning and hosting social networking events, I have started a high school mentor program called Leading Students to Success (L.S.S.) Program. As a 6-year educator, I want to still be able to stay connected to education and students. I work with students to ensure they are well equipped for life, college and career. This is something I have done all my years as an educator and majority of my students who have graduated from high school and now attend college have benefitted from everything that I have taught them. I am so grateful that I was able to build lasting relationships with all my former students and their family and see them all being successful.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I sing and dance in my mirror to get me in the vibe when I get ready to head out to my own events or others. It calms my nerves because I am a true introvert. Haha!
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@realcultivated.com
- Website: www.realcultivated.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realcultivatedllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realcultivatedllc, https://www.facebook.com/groups/199187255381423/?ref=share
Image Credits
Well Focused Photography
