The “So Amazing! Black Culture Word Search Book” series will work to amplify the coolness, creativity, and sense of humor that makes Black culture so special. Founders Jay and Denise Myhand gave us insight into the brand and what it’s like working together.
How did the idea for your business come about?
So Amazing! Black Culture started as a pandemic project but has grown into a passion project.
During the pandemic, I had a lot of downtime, and I really wasn’t feeling productive. I had the urge to be creative. I wasn’t sure if it would be a business or a hobby, but I knew I wanted to create something. Jay was busy with his photography business, so I really wanted something I could do on my own.
I did some research on different options and I did some personal reflection. In that process, I came up with the idea to create word search books. I have made word search puzzles off and on over the years for different events like family reunions, work functions, and community events. So it was really a natural fit for me. I also noticed that there were not a lot of word search books with Black Culture content. My love for the genre combined with the need for representation was the motivating factor to create So Amazing! Black Culture Word Search Books.
I believe when you see So Amazing! Black Culture Word Search Books, you see me. I love words, our community and I am a lifelong learner.
What was your key driving force for you both to become entrepreneurs?
We spend the majority of our day working away from each other. Our energy and our ideas are making way more money for other people than our take-home salaries are for us. It really comes down to creating the opportunity for more quality time together and creating a life where the things we do allow us to invest in ourselves, support our families and give back to the community we love. We believe this business will create these opportunities for us.
How did you come up with the name of your company?
From the very beginning We wanted the company’s name to evoke pride, positivity, and empowerment. We wanted our name to be something that put a smile on people’s faceswhen they heard it. We went through a lot of variations of names over a period of time. None of the names really stuck like So Amazing! Black Culture, which was actually the very first name we came up with.
What is your favorite aspect of working together?
It’s quality time for us. We are working on a joint project with a common goal. Literally, in our home office, we sit back-to-back. This allows us to share ideas and get immediate feedback on what the other person is thinking. We are stronger together. Our strengths and weaknesses complement each other. We feel our collaboration makes for better outcomes and results.
What is challenging about working together as a married couple, if anything?
Prioritizing the execution of our ideas. We both have strong opinions on what should be done first or what direction we should take. Our destination is the same, but our vision ofhow we get there is sometimes different.
What business-related book has inspired you the most? (Or, What is your favorite book?)
Executive Stamina by Marty and Joshua Seldman. The nugget I received centers around work–life balance. The book has a section that teaches tools to help with balancing time at work and at home. A Lot of times when we make plans for work projects we don’t account for personal time. For instance, when are you going to take a break or lunch? What time are you going home? And how much energy and thought is going to carry over once you leave the office and consume your time at home, distracting you from your time with family? It helped me to understand how to be intentional with time and how to set boundaries to prioritize the things that are important and maintain a work-life balance.
Strengthfinders 2.0 by Tom Rath is a book that helps you identify your top 5 natural strengths. The book comes with an online assessment, which is easy to complete and only takes a matter of minutes, but the results are a lifelong benefit. You learn not only what your natural strengths are, but the book also shows you strategies to apply your strengths. When I took the assessment one of my top strengths was ideation. I always knew that I could generate lots of ideas for any situation, but I never saw that as a talent. After reading Strengthsfinder I was able to identify my strengths and seek opportunities and projects that best aligned with them, helping to increase my ability to succeed.
What is something interesting about you both that isn’t in your bio?
We both attended Alabama A&M University. And we were both there at the same time. We had lots of mutual friends. The crazy thing is, we didn’t know each other while attending. Somehow during that time, we never met one another. Eventually, we met after college through one of those mutual friends.
What do you want readers to gain from this interview?
We hope readers gain insight into what motivates us and fuels our passion for creating word search puzzles that are relevant, relatable, and a lot of fun.
How can people connect with you?
Website: soamazingblackculture.com
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