Livingston Today

City of Saginaw issued the following announcement on Jan 6.

“When I was in high school, I always wanted to be an electronic engineer. I like to draw, I want to make blueprints, I want to be an architect. I like houses. ‘Well, I wanted to do something on the side’. So I signed up for a home inspection class and then it just went from there. I was the only female in my class. I was the only African American in the class. And I was the first woman to ever complete the course at Delta. 

I really liked it; inspecting homes is like a haircut because every haircut is different. Every home is different. Every home is different. I really enjoy it. I have done 39–I number them–every time I do them, I number them. I have inspected 39 homes so far. From here to Detroit. 

My snow removal–I have a contract now with a nursing home. I had it years ago, maybe back in 2000-2001. I had started a snow removal business, and then I ended up getting into an accident in my truck. Last year, I was like, ‘I'm going to start it again’. But I have a son also, so I would just think about the kids, so I started last year. 

Last year, I was just all over with it. If anybody called, I would go plow the snow. But this year, I'm only doing commercial properties. Because I took my blade last year in a driveway for $25, so I said ‘I’m not doing that’ because now I'm out $5000, so no. Since I have a contract, it’s fine. I don't have to worry about it. But then I have my own parking lot, and I enjoy doing it. I tell my son he can do driveways if he likes, but I'm not doing them. I'm just trying to send my kids up. So if something happened to me, they'll be okay.

It's really about never giving up. Don't get me wrong, it is hard if you're a felon coming out because some people don't hire felons. But at the end of the day, we are designed to have our own. You have to tap into what you like, and what you enjoy doing. Because if you don't enjoy doing it, you'll never be successful at it. Period. And anyone can start a business, but everyone's not a boss. It's easy to start a business–it is. But everyone's not a boss. 

Some people do it–you can't do it for the money, you have to really enjoy what you have. I look at it as a hobby. If you're not doing anything to become the master of what you're doing, you're not going to enjoy it. You have to really want to do it, because I have stopped barbers that don't come and work for me and my businesses. Their hearts weren’t in it. They went to barber school, they knew ‘Yeah, I can make some money’, but their heart? It wasn't in it. They quit, and done other things. But if you give your time and effort, you will be able to fulfill and succeed to greater levels and higher success.”

- Brandy Hines Jackson, Unique Cuts & Massage

Original source can be found here.