This Land is YOUR Land...

The Lost Months part I: Another Apology to Readers (I think there’s four of you now)

I have a lot of excuses for why you haven’t heard from me since February.

 I’ve been building a business.

 I was working. And then not working.

 And in the hospital.

 And  a drooling mess over Lemonade, utterly insensible and lost to the world.

 All of these things are true, but they are little more than empty excuses. MYStory is about difficult truths, so I’ll lay myself at the altar of full disclosure and give you an abridged version of everything I’ve been meaning to write about but didn’t:

 Ajah Hales, Fangirl

 Ajah Hales, Field Director

 Ajah Hales, Bootstrap Barbie

 I spent most of March planning and executing a Go Fund Me campaign. After December’s inspirational crowdfunding campaigns, I thought-- how hard can it be?

 Turns out, it’s really hard to run a successful crowdfunding campaign and I failed spectacularly. I raised $1275 of my $3000 goal and had barely enough to St. Louis and back. However, I learned a ton and will definitely share my insights in a future post. In the meanwhile, here’s a flashback to March and madness.

 Hi,

 My name is Ajah and I am the owner of Golden Goddess Cosmetics, a truly natural hair and skincare company.



I  started my company in 2012 because I was tired of taking the good with the bad when it came to cosmetics. I wanted to use products that were not filled with chemicals, products that were natural, safe and, above all, effective.

 I had a hard time finding products that met my standards and my budget, so Golden Goddess Cosmetics was born.

 Last year, I sold over 500 made to order units via face to face and online sales.  This year, my goal is to take Golden Goddess Cosmetics to the next level by participating in St. Louis' 3rd Annual Natural Hair  and black cultural Expo on April 9, 2016.



By attending the Expo, my company will gain national exposure and (hopefully) secure 2-5 wholesale clients.

 I need your help to make this trip a success.

 I am looking to raise $3000 by April 1, 2016 to cover the cost of raw ingredients and travel expenses for myself and one intern.

 By supporting my campaign, not only will you be helping an African American business owner change her life, you will take an important step towards changing the culture of compromise in cosmetics.

 Thank you in advance for supporting my dream. Any amount you donate will be cherished as an investment in my future and a tiny step towards changing the world.

 And remember: "The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do."

 Sincerely,

 Ajah Diangella Nichol Hales

 Update #1:
So far, the campaign is off to a great start! Your generous donations have allowed me to order 20 lbs of local raw beeswax from Sleeping Bear Farms. http://www.sleepingbearfarms.com/shop/beeswax

 This is my favorite beeswax to work with because it smells like honey!

 Great products start with amazing ingredients, and great success stories start with the amazing people who believe in your dream!!

Video Update

 Update #2
19 days to go!!!

 I am, as always, humbled by the overwhelming support we've gotten so far. I know that my dream is not singular or unique; in fact, black women start businesses at 3x the rate of any other demographic group (including white males); which means:

 #BlackWomenLead
#BlackGirlsRock
#BlackGirlMagic
#weLIT

 Despite the overall awesomeness of my Melanin Mamacitas, the reality is that minorities receive less than 1% of (over $1 Billion USD worth of) venture capital funding.

 There are thousands of black women just like me, working hard to make a better life for not only themselves, but also their families and communities. After years of putting myself last, it sometimes feels selfish to be asking for an investment in my dreams.

 That's when I remember that it's not just about me. It's about all of us, the multi generational melanin sisterhood-- we who were born in the struggle.

 It's about women who face incredible odds having the courage and capacity to love, learn, give and grow in the skin we are in-- to strut proudly like vibrantly colored peacocks amongst a covey of quails.

 Sisters, I see you.

 I feel you.

 I am you.

 Update #3
5 Days left!!!!!!

 First, I want to say thank you for all the support I have gotten so far. Your love and generosity has allowed me to order:

 -7 lbs of beeswax
-2 lbs raw local honey
-4 lbs of Baking Soda
-38 lbs of Coconut oil
-4 oz pure cinnamon
-8 oz pure catmint
-8 oz vanilla bean paste
-8 oz lemon extract
-8 oz peppermint extract
-50 1 oz amber glass jars with fine mist sprayer
-80 1.5 oz glass jars with lids
-50 1/2 oz slide tube containers
-160 3.75 oz glass jars with lids

 and

- 20 9 oz glass jars with lids.

Right now, I have ordered the ingredients for about half my products. I still need another $500-$600 THIS WEEKEND to be able to order the rest of my supplies.

 I still need:
-6 lbs beeswax @ $55
-4 oz Geranium Absolute @ $19
-4oz Grapefruit Seed Extract @ $45
-75 oz Aloe Vera Gel @ $26
-4 oz Tea Tree Oil @ $16
-4 oz Clove Oil @ $24
-4 oz Lemon Eucalyptus @ $20
-3.3 oz Thyme @ $30
-4 oz Lavender EO @ $40
- 4 oz Raw Propolis @ $40
-150 1 oz boston rounds w/ treatment pumps @ $91
-500 lip balm tubes @ $70
-16.6 oz Jojoba Oil @ $30
-33 oz Olive Oil @ $6

 plus...
-200 craft sticks
-30 quart jars
-2 b/w and color HP ink cartridges
-4 oz dried calendula
-4 oz dried marshmallow root
-85 1/4 or 1/3 oz jars with lids
-18 4lb bags of ice

 ... and also
-hotel
-rental car
-money for food

 So basically, I still need a lot of help, and I'm #not2proud2beg. I know that we only have a few days left to make a miracle happen, but I know that when people come together, impossible is nothing!!!

 Please support this campaign by donating and sharing on your social networks. Anything you can give will help get me closer to St. Louis.

 Be my Angel TODAY! Donate NOW! I can't do this alone, so please give anything you can RIGHT NOW, TODAY!!!

 Dig deep! Teamwork makes the dream work!

Update #4

 I'm extending the campaign to April 5th! The event is on April 9th, so I'm cutting it pretty close, but I know teamwork still makes the dream work and God has my back!!

 I still need $2200, which sounds scary, but really that is just 88 people making $25 donations.

 If fifteen people donate each day, I can still make it to St. Louis for the Natural hair and Black Culture expo.

 To sweeten the pot, I have added a REWARD!!! If you donate $25 or more to this campaign, you will get a coupon for $20 off your purchase of $25 or more at the Golden Goddess Store!!

 Give Love, Get FREE Rewards! Get your mom something pretty and planet friendly this Mother's day-- or use the coupon to get a gift for you!

 You deserve it, you generous wish granting Genie Goddess!

 Keep shining!

 -Ajah

I'm leaving THURSDAY! I'm still not sure how this trip will come together, but holding out for a miracle. If you haven't donated yet, THE TIME IS NOW!!!!!!

 No donation is too small (or too big ;-)... These are the last days and every penny counts!

 If you haven't donated yet, here are 5 reasons why you should stop what you're doing and DONATE right now!!

 Top 5 reasons to donate to #helpAjah

 5. Acts 20:35 says: "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Giving is a blessing for the giver and the receiver-- by helping me, you help yourself to a double dose of God's grace and kindness, Plus, Jesus said it-- so it's true! Be my angel today and donate RIGHT NOW!

 4. Stick it to the man-- People of color receive less than 1% of all venture capital- including crowdfunding campaigns like this one. Go against the grain and show that #BlackQualityofLifeMattersToo by investing in a small business owned by a woman of color. (This woman's name is Ajah, btw).

 3. Invest in YOU! The more successful my business is, the more taxes I pay. The more taxes I pay, the better our schools, roads, and libraries get. An investment in a local business is an investment in your neighborhood. So go ahead, we deserve it!

 2. Pay it forward promise-- I haven't forgotten my promise. When I reach my goal of $3000 by midnight on Thursday, I will pay 10% of it forward by investing in someone else's dream! So your donation will go twice as far. Make TWO people's day! DONATE NOW!

 1. Be my FAVORite.... Chances are, if you are reading this, you might owe me a favor. I'd like to collect now. If you don't owe me a favor, you should donate anyway and then I will owe you one. And trust me, you want me to owe you a favor. I'm going to be a big deal one day.

 In conclusion, you should DONATE TODAY for all the aforementioned reasons. No amount is too small. No amount is too large. And there is NO WAY I can do this without your help.

 Kisses,

Ajah Diangella Nichol Hales

Next up, we'll explore what Ajah Hales, Field Director was up to during MYStory: the Lost Months