Interview with Tasha Jackson of STFU Designs

In this episode, Hardin interviews business owner, entrepreneur, and designer, Tasha Jackson, of STFU Designs.

Follow Tasha's STFU Designs on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/STFUdesigns/

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https://stfudesigns.com/

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Transcript

Intro  0:01  
Hello, and welcome to life of a boss the podcast hosted by entrepreneur, public speaker and mentor, Jason Hardin. This podcast is all about helping audiences create and reach their own definition of success through positive thinking, perseverance and personal development. having survived extreme obstacles from an early age, such as cancer, poverty, abuse, family dysfunction, and even homelessness. Jason has learned how to master the art of resilience, and defy all odds to become the boss he is today. So get ready for some serious game. And remember to keep an open mind. Now without further delay, here's your host, Jason Hardin.

Jason Hardin  0:44  
Well, thank you so much. And it is an honor and a pleasure to be here. As always, for another episode of life of a boss, the podcast, you know, where we try to help folks create and live their own definition of success through personal development, perseverance, and just positive thinking and positive vibes period just positivity. You know what I'm saying?

We have an actual wonderful show today, like an actual one, you're known to say the other words weren't I guess, you know, but we have a great show today because we have a boss here with us we have another Boss, I love doing these interviews because I love tapping in to what others did to become a success. And we invited her on the show today, because she is an absolute boss in my eyes, she is an absolute success, she is creative, she is she is spontaneous she is he is she is always on the cutting edge of what works and, and and getting it. You know what I'm saying. And I respect that I respect her grind, I worked with her before. I know some of her family and they all are bosses because they all get it in their own way. So I'm not surprised at all. She is the creator of STFU Designs, which is a lifestyle brand and clothing line. And her name is Tasha Jackson. Welcome to the studio Tasha Jackson.

Tasha Jackson  2:08  
Thank you very nice introduction.

Jason Hardin  2:11  
Oh, I appreciate that. But but it doesn't do you justice, I still don't think you know, cuz I didn't mention half the things you get into, cuz I probably don't know, half the things you get into, you know, you're definitely boss. And that's why you're on the show. Today, I look at you. And I see someone full of success, first of all, but full of that drive and energy. And first of all, I want to ask, Where does it all come from? Because you do so much. So what does that drive and that, that that energy to do all that you do come from?

Tasha Jackson  2:42  
Um, I guess just wanting more, you know, just you got to do you got to be different and do different to get different. So

I just, you know, I see where I want to go and I see what others are doing and what others have what it takes to make things happen. And you just get up and do it

Jason Hardin  3:03  
like that. So let's start by asking you this. What is your definition of success? your own personal definition?

Tasha Jackson  3:12  
My own personal definition of

Jason Hardin  3:15  
your success? Yeah.

Tasha Jackson  3:19  
Well, at first, it used to just be happiness, if you were happy with your life, you know what you were doing living how you were making money, how your day to day went you were actually happy in that, that it's successful, eventually that kind of progress into more so you're successful if you have time and money. I think that is really what brings happiness. It's not just the money. It's not just the time you have to have time and money, you have to have the financial freedom. And you have to have control over your time to be successful

Jason Hardin  3:52  
in my eyes. No, I'm totally feeling that because on my list of ideas for success is definitely that freedom and flexibility. You know, and I think that that was my whole interest in entrepreneurship. And I think that's what set me free. Is that what it did for you?

Tasha Jackson  4:11  
Yes, definitely. No, go ahead. Yeah, definitely on social entrepreneurship, just knowing that it wasn't, I wasn't limited to, you know, an hourly rate or hourly wage or salary or like I wasn't capped at something I was able, the harder I worked I was able to read more in for myself. You know,

Jason Hardin  4:34  
I love that what what what what what makes you what makes you draw I guess what makes you pursue that that challenge because you know a lot of people run from jobs that are like commission based, you know, a lot of people they'd rather get that, that save $12 an hour, 14 bucks an hour, 20 bucks an hour, whatever it is, or what have you, but so what what gives you that drive like what made you want to get it into the challenges you know because it's not easy I'm pretty sure you're gonna tell me all the challenges later on but it's not easy so what makes you want to take on those challenges as opposed to just working for someone else and getting a regular paycheck and having that peace of mind?

Tasha Jackson  5:16  
Well one It started with just knowing that when you're working those hourly jobs and salary jobs you help pushing someone else's dream you know you're a small piece of the pie

Jason Hardin  5:30  
so it's still somebody's dream that's happening

Tasha Jackson  5:32  
Yeah, it's still somebody's dream that's happening so it's still a dream even though it ain't you're you're just on somebody else's boat. So you're you're working hard and you're even if you got a bonus your bonus because you work so hard was a small smidget of what you actually earn that company so it's like why would I want to keep pushing myself every day being told when to work what to do, how to do it and not really feeling the freedom to you know improve it the way I want to improve or see fit you know, because I you know, I worked at different companies and I've worked very close with the owners and help them you know, take their businesses to different levels and different ways that I thought would improve their company so just you know, which is why I kind of stuck to smaller companies but with the big companies that you make more money at you don't really have that freedom you're normally more just a number on their on their employee roster so I didn't really want that I wanted my own dream and I wanted to control my own time and I want to control how much I made and set my own price in my own you know my own life how I live my life so I To me it was worth the challenges that come with it you know things in life aren't easy so if you want something that is going to be great you're gonna have to work hard for it so

Jason Hardin  6:56  
so taking control kind of setting for you it's like the stress that came with it was part of the freedom so it wasn't really stress it was it was the joy that outweigh any of the challenges and I absolutely feel you because like I said, I go through more trying not to take a nine to five then I would then probably just going back to work you don't I'm saying I'd take on a lot of clients when I have to you know I entertain a lot of different conversations to see what opportunities on you know, I'm always working as opposed to just nine to five and at five o'clock I can cut off but like you say that freedom that comes with that and then especially if you're doing something you love, then there really is no work and then it just kind of kind of merges together? Is that how your life is do you think you have like, Is there a defining line between Tasha the the person who's off the clock and just doing Tasha and Tasha the entrepreneur or is it just one

Tasha Jackson  7:56  
it really is just one, I'll be out I'll go to a recording studio with my friends you know, she's making songs and music and stuff and I'll be sitting there creating ads on my phone and flyers on my phone and designing things and they're like are you really working you know sitting in line waiting for our food somewhere else or designing ads just because instead of scrolling through Facebook or through Instagram I might as well just put my pictures together take out backgrounds and create ads like it just saves time, so it really doesn't separate it kind of all blends together but I also have the freedom to do that. Yeah, I can work wherever I'm at I can do things wherever I'm at I don't have to be stuck at home or stuck in an office for a certain amount of time on certain days I can go and and and still take care of business. So that's always nice.

Jason Hardin  8:47  
You know what See that's why you're on the show because as you know the name of the show is life of a boss you know what I'm saying? It's not it's not nine to five of a boss you know it's not it's not weekdays of a boss you know what I'm saying it's live and that's why I say successes is a lifestyle because it's it's you know what we say? How you do anything is how you do everything. You know what I'm saying so it's in all we do it's in all our habits it's not just that victory. It's not just a win. It's not just that one paycheck. It was everything leading up to that and everything after you know what I'm saying?

Tasha Jackson  9:18  
I recently made a post on Facebook and I had said the pros of entrepreneurship with every day of the weekend. And the cons of entrepreneurship is everyday is a workday

Jason Hardin  9:29  
is that is so true. I never heard it put that way but that is so true. That is so true. So like I said so that's what and that's what I see you know that that's the image you project you know that that's that that's that reputation that precedes you. I don't know anybody that looks at you and says you full of shit. You know what I'm saying. I don't know anyone that looks at you and thinks you lagging. Are you anything but on your business? You recently came back from Africa, you know, how was that for you?

Tasha Jackson  10:00  
Definitely an experience I encourage anyone can get to Africa to go it's definitely full of culture and this is an amazing experience. Definitely.

Jason Hardin  10:11  
That's incredible. Okay, now back to the entrepreneurship and back to like I said, internalizing all this because like I said, it starts with us, anything that we want man, it really starts with us in our habits. And that's why this is all about personal development. And that's why to me the road to being a boss in anything that you want to do starts with how well you boss yourself, you know what I'm saying, How will you control and manage your own time, your own resources, that being said to do the things you do and to live that as high level as you live that what are some of the routines that you have in place? You know, because I'm pretty sure that there's something that you do that's kind of routine and something that has to be systemized I because I see a bunch of systems at work when I'm looking and you know what I'm saying from the outside looking in, I see your sales system. I see your advertising systems. I see. You know what I'm saying? Your pay point system. You Know. I'm seeing you What do you got layaway? I swear Do you use after pay? I gotta get with you after that, like you accept afterpay, don't you?

Tasha Jackson  11:11  
Yeah, after pay stop pay four different payment plan options.

Jason Hardin  11:17  
So okay, this is stuff I like to play with. The girl if you ain't got all the money now. You like something on her website where you can still get it, man. I don't I didn't even know websites do that she's on the cutting edge. That's what I'm talking about.

Tasha Jackson  11:36  
You will get the clothes before you pay for them.

Jason Hardin  11:39  
You don't find as you know, you don't get it. That's better than layaway you can finance it like a car. You know, you get the loan to get your stuff. Now you can wear it while y'all both own it while you and her still own it. But that's the that was crazy and awesome. But that's what I want to ask you. What systems do you have? Like they make you successful? That core system that kind of keeps you going? Is there any type of routine morning routine? Anything you got like that going on in your life?

Tasha Jackson  12:11  
Um, I mean, I guess you pointed out some but I guess I didn't realize because routines is getting old. They kind of they get monotonous to me. So I kind of tried not to stick Oh, at least Well, I try to make my schedule flexible. So it's more so like I I'm up usually early every morning, that values an alarm clock, I don't set an alarm clock, but I'm usually up before 7am every morning. And then I will go and look on my social media, of course, because I'm an online business. So online media is where we range. And look at what I want to post for that day. I tried to do 1 to 3 posts on social media a day, making sure I tagged the products I'm using in the post and everything like that. And then I tried to kind of just say like, okay, I want to aim for one video a week, three posts a day, I want to try to do a giveaway a month, like that. And then and then yeah, so I kind of work that way and then so I'm not stressed But okay, on Monday, I need to accomplish this on Tuesday, I need to accomplish this. I'm like, like, so it's not as stressful for me. But what works more for me the flexibility of knowing Okay, I need to accomplish these things. But I can accomplish them when I get an idea when I think about it what so it's not, I always feel like when you force yourself to do something at a certain time, you may not produce the best results that you could have, if you were actually in that mood to or in that mindset or had an idea for it. Yeah, so I try to just have a set amount of what I want to accomplish for the month. And then throughout that month, I'm just like, Okay, cool. Let me work on these flyers and work on this giveaway work on this sale and do it

Jason Hardin  14:01  
that way. I got another question. Monthly routine

Tasha Jackson  14:05  
than like a daily or weekly schedule.

Jason Hardin  14:09  
So it's like there's structure within non structure you know, like I said, I totally relate to that because I will start with a schedule of the week and time slots and then I would do everything outside of those time slots it would it would start the first day or two, you know, kind of structured and then that thing would just it'll just be all off and upside down but still everything will get done. But um

Tasha Jackson  14:33  
yeah, I always tell myself I'm a wake up first thing would do on my hit my 10 minutes on my squat machine hours and I've got my office and I was sitting there for eight hours at work. Yeah. And I was like, no like myself my own nine to five like why am I putting myself my own nine to five I wanted this business to get away from that.

Jason Hardin  14:53  
So you not gonna do it to yourself, huh

Tasha Jackson  14:56  
I'm not I'm honestly and I admired. We admire people that do that have that structure where they go in okay I'm gonna go sit in my office from 6am to 4pm or whatever they do and then like I'm cranking out whatever it is and they dedicate a certain block time so they get a lot they definitely go far but for me and my entrepreneur journey it was more about happiness and peace of mind and not stressing myself out so for me I don't do that I just have goals that I need to accomplish in the month and then I give myself that freedom to get things done because I know myself I know I'm going to accomplish what I need to accomplish I don't need to force myself to do it within the next two hours.

Jason Hardin  15:38  
I love what you just said because you touched on something about you know part of your process and your definition of success and and and I love that because you said like your flexibility and your happiness is basically just as important as the money you make you know so so it's not and that's like really the essence and the core of life of a boss because it's not that goal at the end is how do I want to live every day you know I'm not successful when I get this check I'm successful I can play golf today and hang out with my friends and then go eat at the restaurant I want and then go to work when I please. All before I get paid today, and I didn't get paid today probably didn't make $1 today, but I did some boss stuff today all day long I did me, the way I wanted to and then the things I do towards work sustain that, you know so so I love that because you're right, it doesn't cut off. You know, it doesn't cut off. But one thing I also wanted to ask you in regards to doing things your own way there's things that like you say you can't avoid even though you have to do it your own way and one thing that is learning where do you find time? Or how do you implement the things you teach yourself to apply to your business because the things that I've seen you do with the business it's not that stuff don't just come to you in a dream you know she learned how to do that Where did you take the time when did you take the time with all the other stuff so so that I think that's important to me as an entrepreneur so I know that's important to other people that are that are trying to figure it out who knows that they have to teach themselves stuff you know when me it's like illustrator and InDesign there's things that I know I'm gonna have to teach myself but sometimes I just lag on it you know So when do you find time to make yourself learn the things you need to learn to make yourself successful?

Tasha Jackson  17:40  
That definitely, I still slack, you know, there's still a thing that you know I do have different apps on my phone I haven't even really opened up I'ma play with that one day but at least when I was working so I haven't I stopped working pretty much like November 2019 at least a full time nine to five and then I did like I worked from home for a little bit part time for like another month or two but next up in 2020 well but um so while I was working other jobs I would like listen to podcasts and stuff and take notes while I was at my other job or while I'm driving I used to drive back and forth from Vegas to California a lot so I put on a podcast, that would get a little dangerous, take notes

Jason Hardin  18:32  
That's horrible now, that's taking it a step further now,  that's dangerously on yo grind even have a Tesla doing that with no Tesla

Tasha Jackson  18:45  
Ya no Tesla, Nissan Altima

Jason Hardin  18:49  
did not drive itself. But I like that and you know I just to point something out I have a chapter in my book and and this is the section is about being intentional. And I even talked about it I listen to music versus podcasts and there's something did you do with intention like like if I got some time or if I don't have time and I'm doing something I can listen to something productive so so it really like check me and like maybe understand I don't always have to listen to music you know because I know Music is my go to I love music Don't we all you know is it just finding but then there's this time in place where music is helpful and that's usually when I'm in the zone already but sometimes to inspire me and give me ideas to find more reasons to get into zone. I get from podcasts and you know and I hated talk radio when I was growing up you know I hate it and that's all podcast, talk radio, and I couldn't stand it growing up and now I just a feed off of it. You know I have some favorites.

Tasha Jackson  19:52  
You find you got to find the topics that you're interested in. Yeah.

Jason Hardin  19:56  
No matter what you're interested in the podcast.

Tasha Jackson  19:59  
You As a podcast for everything

Jason Hardin  20:03  
It doesn't have to be on some boring man you can actually learn and listen to stuff you like. stuff you're interested in.

Tasha Jackson  20:10  
Yeah, I mean like they even have you know, entrepreneur podcast made a million then they have, you know, like the but the podcast, I'm more so good was like marketing podcast yeah so I was looking at like clickfunnels podcast specifically or I learned how to do like land looking at landing pages or SEO podcast, you know, so I learned how to do my website properly and just take down different notes on that. And then a lot of times, even to when I'm scrolling through Facebook, I mean, obviously, because of cookies and stuff, I get a lot of business stuff that pops up. And I'm always looking at different ways people are doing things and they're just even if they're not a fashion brand like me, like the afterpay and stuff like that. Yeah, well, I know that from a different you know, a company that wasn't a clothing brand, but I was like, that's so smart. People would love to be able to purchase the stuff and you know, pay for it later, you know, so it could still transfer to my business. So even if they're not a direct competitor, you can still learn things that they're doing in their business that could still benefit in your business.

Jason Hardin  21:11  
Yeah, awesome, you know, yeah, yeah. And I love it all, you know, I love it all. But now it goes back because because we can get into business on day, but but really back because I want to get into what makes you that type of person is that is that, you know, the ability to or the talent or characteristic of learning something and applying it, you know, as opposed to just, you know, not applying or just learning and learning and learning and not really taking action to see if something really works has that always been in you? Because to me that's a that's a pivotal key of success, you know, that's gonna determine whether you fail or succeed in any business on any industry. You know, so So is that something that was always in you? Or did you develop that through business? What did you learn that to?

Tasha Jackson  21:58  
Um, I don't know whether or not it was always I mean, well, one business is always in the I was in elementary school, finding things at home to sell and taking them to school and selling them walking past the grocery store, buy a Snickers for four for $1. and sell em for a dollar each, at that next block, that entrepreneurs that that hustle was always in me, but as far as transferable skills, that I think I've kind of picked up more in college, at least, maybe the knowledge of it, or thinking about it more. Because they would think about when we think about resume is what you get when you put down on a resume. And that was okay, you're trying to apply for a new job and all you have are these jobs that mean nothing but is there a transferable skill in there that you can still use and take somewhere else? And so getting into that, that mindset of Okay, what have I done and what have I learned in these certain things that I've accomplished, but I can use elsewhere? So getting into that mindset, definitely start getting into into when your business okay, well, yeah, that they're doing Can I use to improve my business? You know, they always say never reinvent the wheel. It's already invented somebody out there.

Jason Hardin  23:09  
What do we got a reverse engineering?Take something is already finished and what may work? How can I make it look like that, you know, as a graphic artist, that that's how I saw things, you know what I'm saying, I would look at a professional adds professional magazine professional album cover and say, I want my stuff to look like that. You know that that gave me cuz that's why because that's what's selling that's professional. That's what somebody paid 1000s and probably 10s of 1000s to do in the industry. You don't say it's all started like

Tasha Jackson  23:41  
And that works for so many things. So like, my friend hit me up for you know, even life advice or, you know, career advice or goals, anything? Yeah. Okay, where do you see your end goal? How do you want your life to end? How do you want the end of your business to go and work backwards and write every step it would take the step you would do right before that.

Jason Hardin  24:06  
I love it. And you know what, and that's why I love this show, because I've realized through the interviews, like how much a lot of us that live this life of a boss have in common. So it tells me like no matter what your definition of success is, there's some still core values or some, some key things, some common things that can be done to put you there, you know what I'm saying and that's what I want the audience to take from this because we all do different stuff. You don't say a different ways but the things that you say I couldn't say it better myself. You know, so man, that's wonderful that that is incredible. So you know, ending it you know, what was so Final Thoughts? What, what some advice do you have for some people creating a new brand, you know, in this in this boom of new brands, you know, it's an explosion of new businesses and entrepreneurs, so it's not like you, you're gonna be original, you're gonna be the first add a whole lot of stuff nowadays. So So don't always let that limit you, if you're listening, you know, so So how can you do something that everybody else is doing? It still shine, you know, like a clothing brand, like becoming an artist, like, you know, doing just just putting another one out there, how can you still make your own stand apart? You have some advice for anybody because your stand apart? You know what I'm saying you, you might be putting practices together that you've seen in a bunch of different businesses. But when somebody looks at what you have, they don't see anything they see in a bunch of different businesses. You know, I'm saying designed, they like and sit in a process and a system that works so So what advice do you have somebody else?

Tasha Jackson  25:47  
Okay, well, first, I want to say I always use the example of the bread aisle in a grocery store is filled with different breads, different companies, it's all bread, but everybody's making money everybody has what they like, and you go pick the bread that you want to pick, nobody's in there fighting over the next version. Yeah, so many breads, and everyone still has their fair share of the market and they're still making money. They're still in the grocery store. So definitely don't let the fact that there's already a billion people out there doing it, stop me from doing it. But so advice on one, Google is my best friend. I always tell people ask Google ask Google first and then Google can't tell you that you don't understand what Google says then go ask somebody else but Google is my best friend I will Google everything and then really oh so to set your brand apart so you want to pretty much solve a problem. You want to make sure your branding your marketing is solving a problem that people need basic need so basic needs of people of course safety security, social status breaking forgetting some drama there's like five of them

Jason Hardin  27:06  
that's awesome though you really gave him the science of a need Yeah, yeah.

Tasha Jackson  27:11  
Yes. So those are those needs so even with clothes you're like oh obviously you need to wear clothes the dress yes that's one thing but so for but that can go at a basic price point so my clothes aren't basic price point. So Walmart Walmart if sufficient in your basic need of being clothed instead of naked, but when you're looking at higher priced brands like you know Gucci and stuff better $150 a t shirt or something you know higher price things that aren't a basic needs

Jason Hardin  27:42  
use a different need to fulfill a different need.

Tasha Jackson  27:50  
So with my brand I fill the need of a social status of confidence. So my I tied to all my marketing to be to make you my clothes make you feel confident. My clothes, they're gonna make you feel confident. And it's proven like I like people will say yes, I got my sister wearing your clothes now and I've never seen her like shine so bright or like, other people like oh, I was walking down the street and someone stopped me and I didn't know why they were stopping me. But they you know, want to know where I got my outfit from. And they were complimenting me. I was like, you don't want compliment, don't buy my clothes. If you're not ready to make a statement, and you seem like these clothes are gonna make you feel confident they are, they're like, they're gonna they're gonna put you out there that spotlight so that's that that need that I'm feeling so my marketing goes to fill that need that makes people want to purchase and that sets me apart from other fashion brands.

Jason Hardin  28:48  
Man, I appreciate it so much. I love it so much. Because like I said, You are a gem, full of information and good stuff, you know what I'm saying? And and, and I love what I'm surprised because when I invite people, I invite people I know you don't I'm saying because I invite people who really have proven results to me, and then I'm and I know their character and you know, and I respect the the total package so so I already you know, had a pretty good idea of Tasha Jackson before this interview, but with this interview and the game that you laid out, it is like it's flawless. You know, so it's just like you it's just stuff to keep developing and I want to tell everybody out there, man this these are things that everybody can do. No matter what industry you're in, these are the characteristics and the basic foundation of success no matter what industry you're in. So so everything to Tasha said is so universal, you know can be applied to anything even though her particular design and brand is so unique and so different. Before we get out of here, man, tell people where to find you and where they can get some STFU stuff.

Tasha Jackson  30:02  
We're definitely Our website is  stfudesigns.com you can find us on all social media platforms on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, all those slash stfudesign.

Jason Hardin  30:18  
I love it. I love it, man, check her out follower, become a subscriber and keep checking back. She got new stuff every day. Well, I know you're a busy girl, and I want to let you go. But thanks again for for being here. You know, and given all that game that you did, I appreciate it. And I know so many other people will as well. Thank you, Tasha. Thank

Tasha Jackson  30:37  
you so much for having me.

Jason Hardin  30:39  
No problem. You have a good day. Bye. Bye. Right. And there you have it. Man, Tasha Jackson STFU Designs is hot. It's fire man. She always has deals. Check it out, man. And yeah, man. That's another episode. I love y'all. guys continue to check out lifeofaboss.net. Subscribe, join the mailing list, and keep touching bases with us. If you guys got questions, please let us know. And I'll do my best to answer them and get to everybody's, you know, whatever your challenge is what's stopping you from creating a living your definition of success. That's your homework. Anyway, remember, until next time, success is a lifestyle. Peace.

Outro  31:28  
did anything stand out to you in today's show? If so, let us know. Your questions, comments and concerns are important to Jason as he is determined to always deliver to you only the most impacting information and content. Until next time, please SUBSCRIBE, like, comment, share, and leave a review whenever possible. You may visit life of a boss dotnet for more episodes and great resources to help you become the absolute boss that you were meant to be. You can also follow Jason on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at hardway harden. Thank you and to never forget that success is a lifestyle lifestyle.