Angela Watts
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Jeremy: Hello and welcome to the
angela watts: Speeding.
Jeremy: Show. This podcast is all about exploring a wide range of topics that spark curiosity, build community, inspire action, and deepen an understanding of the world around us. Before we get started, make sure you subscribe now on whatever platform you're seeing or listening to the song by hitting the follow or subscribe button. And season three, we're shining the spotlight on women, business owners, the trailblazers, innovators, and leaders who are redefining what it means to build with purpose. Each episode will bring you stories, [00:01:00] strategies. Inspiration straight from the women who are creating businesses that make an impact. This season, we're going to celebrate and learn from powerful voices of women in business. Today's guest is the owner of 10 Squared Agency founder of Ragtrade Atlanta. She sits on the board of the Atlanta Black Arts Festival and is founder of Atlanta Fashion Week. Welcome to the show, Angela Watts.
angela watts: Thank you.
Jeremy: All right, so let's take it back.
Back in the days when you were just a youngin, what was something that you thought adults had all figured out, but that you now know they didn't
angela watts: Life.
Jeremy: life? Right. Just in general,
angela watts: Just life in general. Yeah. The things that you think would be just consistent.
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: the time. you, you quickly realize that obviously there're gonna be twists and turns that are gonna come your way, right? When things seem to be, you feel like things are flowing smooth, you got things going, you know, for the best of you.
But things [00:02:00] happen. and that's just in variations of everything. it could be career, it could be love life, It could be health, it could be many, many different facets that impact your life. Things change. And so that's one thing that I did learn over time.
Jeremy: I would agree with that. I think when you're younger, you look at these adults because they're older and you're like, they've got it all figured out. You don't recognize just the stresses of dealing with family and jobs and finances and everything else that comes along with it. So yeah, I think life is a good answer. But let's
angela watts: Cut.
Jeremy: to the biz here. Did you know that you always wanted to own your own business?
angela watts: Not at first. Honestly, I was very interested in technology and so I was adamant about becoming a Microsoft Certified systems engineer and working in it. I did get an opportunity to do that. If you're familiar with expedia.com, I was part of a team that helped build that platform
Jeremy: Oh
angela watts: from its infancy.
from the server [00:03:00] structure the name of the company was TRX and my role on the team was Access Directory, also building out servers. I actually went to Seattle and I actually went to the campus of Microsoft at that time, and we also did an install there to expand our network. So I had the opportunity to work in that space for a very long time, but I would say maybe after.
Four or five years of it, I realized that it really wasn't my passion, and I say that because I'm, I am more of a social person. I like
Jeremy: Yeah,
angela watts: out. I like hosting, I like curating. And when I realized that I did start looking for other opportunities.
Jeremy: Yeah, and that's really interesting because I, I would've never pegged you to have that background. And it sounds almost like, correct me if I'm wrong, you know, when you were growing up, you're like, okay, this is where the money is, or there's opportunities here in professional, so I'm gonna follow that.
Where people say, Hey, you should do this because that's where the [00:04:00] money is. And then you do it and you're like, Hmm, this isn't really stirring me. There's gotta be more out there. That's how I receive that. How do you respond?
angela watts: That is exactly right. I just thought, I was like, oh, you can make all this money and I get to be part of a very emerging industry. 'cause at that time the internet was technically at its infancy, right? And we were just, now we had MySpace, so we were getting on
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: on the internet for social, et cetera.
And I was working with a travel company, so there were perks that came along with that. I realized I had to be on call, but I wanted to go out in club. I'm 20 something years old, so I'm like, I wanna go to the club. So I have like the two-way pager I'm getting.
Jeremy: say, yep.
angela watts: I'm getting,
Jeremy: going off, like, ah,
angela watts: oh God, I gotta go to the car, reboot my, reboot the servers from my laptop.
'cause I would bring my laptop and leave him in the car and literally then go back in. Or if I did have to go into the actual office. I have on club wear. And so I realized, I was like, you know what? This is not for me. I got to figure out [00:05:00] another type of career. And I started doing research and when I research, PR popped up and I was like, oh, let me take a look into this.
And so I start researching and just educating myself around the industry and I was like, this is definitely something that I want to do. and I started to transition into that space.
Jeremy: Yeah, but that's actually interesting because there's been so many people, including myself, that worked in one industry and shifted industries, and that shift is really hard because one, you don't really have contacts in that industry, so how do you even get a job there? How do you network and meet people?
And then how do you convince them that even though you don't have this experience on paper, that. They should take a chance hiring you, whether it's for your own business or working for someone else. Like how did you handle that shift?
angela watts: ironically, nightlife, there was an individual, this guy named Darius Miller, who eventually decided that he wanted to start Copeland's on Sundays, if you remember. my friend, my best friend at the [00:06:00] time. She mentioned to him, Hey, Angela wants to really work in publicity. Can you give her an opportunity?
And he told her, he said, I am getting ready to start a Sunday day party. And she could come on and, and be the publicist. I had no idea what I was going to do and how I was gonna do it, but he brought me on. So that's when I started learning promotions. I started gaining and garnering contacts and eventually, he put me in contact with universal Music, and they wanted to do some activations on site, and so that's when I started to learn like, okay, this is how you approach that. Likewise, from a fashion perspective, I got a chance to meet this guy named Terrance, who was really good friends with Gary Peyton at the time, they were coming into the city to pet play the Atlanta Hawks, and they were gonna arrive maybe two days prior.
And so he asked me, he said, well, Gary wants to do a fashion show and I know that's where you really want to tap into publicity at, do you want to take on the [00:07:00] project? I said, absolutely. And so I got a chance to do publicity for that show and I actually did pretty good for my first time out working with a celebrity.
And that's how that happened. So really it was nightlife and working with Darius.
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: Copeland's every Sunday and just meeting all the people that will come out to our party.
Jeremy: That's like some real on the job training. And you had to, in your mind, kind of this whole imposter syndrome, knowing that you haven't done this before, but you gotta present like, Hey, you're the expert at this. Like, what, what was the dialogue in the mind like, you can't fail. This is your opportunity.
Like what are you saying yourself to yourself?
angela watts: I don't know. I can't remember I was just bold enough. I think I was bold enough to take the opportunity. I was determined to do it, and I think from studying the book that I created, because I literally would be at my full-time job.
Printing any and everything about publicity, whether it had to be about special event planning, [00:08:00] promotions, working with media, drafting, press releases. Et cetera, et cetera. I printed the book, I labeled each section, and I studied and highlighted everything, and I started to just work at it. And so I just kind of remember what I learned from studying and just applied it as I needed.
But I will say, Darius did teach me a lot
Jeremy: Yeah.
angela watts: about promotion. Like you need to collect emails, you need to be able to send out an email blast. You need to be able to. greet and build connections and relationships with individuals. And so all of that helps. I just took all those skill sets that I learned from promoting and applied it to those particular projects.
Jeremy: that's good. Like to have someone serving as a mentor role and you did the deep dive on the research and it's something that a lot of people aren't willing to do. they wanna proclaim that they want to get into this industry or do this or that, but they don't. in the work in order to do it, and so oftentimes you're setting yourself up for failure.
But it seems like
angela watts: Effort that you gave to
Jeremy: was like, I'm [00:09:00] going to learn
angela watts: everything
Jeremy: I can about this, and I love how you organized materials and had the bookmarks and all that. I
angela watts: I.
Jeremy: anyone that's done that, like only person I can compare it to in some respects is like how I used to study the music industry.
Like every single book that would come out, even like with the, the CDs and the liner notes, cassettes records like reading, who the engineer is, who the producer is, who the songwriters are. You know who the, who works at the labels. Like it
angela watts: Takes that kind of.
Jeremy: research and organization to really step up to the next level.
So, you know, that's awesome that you set that really to launch into what I would assume would be 10 squared and then Ragtrade. So tell me how those companies started.
angela watts: technically it was a w it was familiar faces, and then I was like, oh, I don't want that name anymore. Then I changed it to a W Media group because I wanted to sound more corporate. I got laid off August 2006. So September 1st.
Jeremy: the
angela watts: Exactly I do. And the only reason I remember that because my boss at the time told me, Hey, they're [00:10:00] gonna lay you off.
Do not say anything. I'm just letting you know. And I was so ecstatic and so happy. But then the day comes and then I'm crying like a baby. Like I can't believe I lost my job. But you know, I was able to get a really good severance to really kick off my career as an entrepreneur. so the transition to 10 squared luckily again from nightlife and just meeting all types of people with all types of backgrounds
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: Different industry from healthcare to fashion, to lifestyle, music, et cetera. One of my first clients immediately after I was laid off was a, was a dentist.
His name is Dr. Gibon and he brought me in to do some PR work for him. So then I began to, again, all the work that I've learned and I, all the experience that I was able to garner working in nightlife and work with some of those projects. I started applying it to different industries and. Gathering those type of clients.
And of course, I'm marketing myself learning how to post about the work that I'm doing, doing recap [00:11:00] deck, just in an out meeting, a lot of different people. One of the main events that I used to go to every year was milli course. They would host this entrepreneurial event. Down at one of the hotels in downtown Atlanta and that's when I got a chance to meet a lot of those individuals.
'cause you had an opportunity to apply for $20,000. I never won, but I would apply every year and, but I would also go to the event and just network amongst, a group of people obviously. Still tapping into nightlife a lot. I would meet a lot of people in the music industry and begin to win those type of projects and work in that space.
So it really organically grew as I became an entrepreneur in 2006.
Jeremy: Okay. And so that built 10 square. And how did Ragtrade come about?
angela watts: When I was laid off in 2006, fashion was an industry that I wanted to focus on, and so I started doing what I would call my version of Atlanta Fashion Week. Just different events, you know, [00:12:00] smaller events, but not at the scale where I'm, I'm taking it now, but just smaller events, Atlanta Fashion Week, fashion shows, working with boutiques, et cetera, et cetera.
And eventually. In 2013, I realized it was important for me to really make it a business. And so just from the name of the business to how we were operating, and that's what I began to, you know, really transition into that space. Ragtrade Atlanta, the name, I did not want it to be something that. Was common.
And so I researched different names about what Ragtrade meant, and it meant the business of the garment industry or the rag industry is what they used to call it. And so I was like, oh, Ragtrade Atlanta. We're gonna go with that, you know? And so everybody was like, Ragtrade. I was like, yeah, it is the business of the, the rag industry, which was back then called the garment industry, and that is how that name came about.
Jeremy: So you still have 10 Square, correct. That's your PR company.
angela watts: Yeah, I do.
Jeremy: how would you describe, just for [00:13:00] the listener, what is Ragtrade Atlanta.
angela watts: So Ragtrade Atlanta has evolved over time. And initially it was just for fashion shows, fashion events, but now it has really became more, become more of an umbrella. And when I say that, meaning that you have different designers and brands that we're working with. That we want to help grow their exposure as a management company.
So if you think about IMG, that's how we kind of model Ragtrade Atlanta as
Jeremy: Okay. More for fashion.
angela watts: mm-hmm.
Jeremy: Okay. and I love the name and I, I was actually curious about the name too. So it, it does kind of becking back to the, the olden days of fashion, I guess. But, you know, kind of what's, what's old is new and using a term that really is refurbishing it and making it new again.
So I like that.
angela watts: Thank you.
Jeremy: Yeah. And so then we get into Atlanta Fashion Week. What made you decide to do Atlanta Fashion Week? You've got like Paris, London, [00:14:00] Milan, New York, like Atlanta. tell me the process where you're like, I'm gonna do Atlanta Fashion week.
angela watts: in 2006, I was very adamant about bringing a fashion week here. I did understand though, that our market just was not ready for it. Our music industry was thriving. We had so many different artists that were coming out of the city. We also had a lot of, all of our programming, nightlife, events, et cetera, was all around the artists.
Right. And so I knew. That, Hey, start small. Let's just kind of warm it up. Let me learn mistakes early. And so that's how I kind of approached it. When I got to a certain point, like in 2013, after doing events for a while, I then realized, okay, now is the moment, now is the time. So let's just really start building this baby up and really growing and, and grooming it to become what it can possibly be in the near future with me understanding that.
New York started what, 19 44, 19 45. they will be approaching a hundred years in [00:15:00] 2044, if I'm not mistaken, of having produced fashion for America. when I learned about New York Fashion Week, they had been in the game for about 60 years.
And so I knew that I needed to just understand what was happening, understand who was in the market, how we can approach it, and so I really, really took my time to build this because I did not want to go out immediately and make mistakes and not build any type of brand reputation.
Jeremy: Did you follow a similar process you did when you started pr, like research in as many articles and attending events and a physical book like you did with the pr? As you approach it a little bit different how you did your research?
angela watts: I didn't create the physical book, but I would also, I signed up for a lot of newsletters and so I would go on a lot of different websites and just read information about what's going on. I mean, then I would also go to New York a lot to go see the shows. So I found a way at use my PR prowess to get me into shows.
Sometimes at the time, the guy that I was dating, Hey, I have this celebrity stylist. He works with this artist, da da, da. Any [00:16:00] and every way that I can get myself into a show, I work it to make that happen. And of course, when I'm walking in, I'm looking at the show, it's great.
I'm looking at the designers, but I'm also looking at, okay, what type of lighting they have, what kind of staging they're on, what is the checking process? How many people they have at the front are they using a tent or the inside of a venue? Like I, I'm looking at the entire production of how things are rolling out, and that's how I begin to approach Atlanta Fashion Week.
Jeremy: Well, and like you said, like they've got what, a 60 year jump on? Well,
angela watts: Well, they, at that time,
Jeremy: that.
angela watts: yeah, it's,
Jeremy: time it was 60
angela watts: yeah,
Jeremy: Yeah, but you gotta start at some point.
angela watts: you do.
Jeremy: to actually bring Atlanta Fashion Week here, I mean, Atlanta should have been, had a fashion week. You know, we're such a big market here and there's so much culture coming from Atlanta. It's a wonder like it didn't start a long time ago, for me to be talking to you right now, the woman who started Atlanta Fashion Week is pretty dope and that's always gonna be a part of your legacy, which I think is amazing for you.
angela watts: Thank you.
Jeremy: but it takes, you know, that confidence and courage to really have this vision and go out and pursue it. [00:17:00] So you have your hands in a few different businesses, but I'm sure along the way there have been some mistakes or blunders that have happened. So tell me a story about something that didn't go, how you thought it was gonna go and how you responded to that.
angela watts: and I'm glad that you asked that question because that is one of the main learnings that I've had over time is that as an entrepreneur, it is so important for you to always seek out new business. My mistake that I've made maybe one too many times, it's that I get a great contract and then I work on that contract.
And then that contract ends and now I don't have any more work. It's like I'm starting from the ground zero again. Right. And so I had to learn to always keep new business in rotation and always seek out new business. And also managing and bringing on people to take on the work. Because as an entrepreneur, and the type of contracts I was probably getting at the time, they weren't the biggest contract.
They were enough to sustain me, to allow me to work for myself, but I had to [00:18:00] learn formulas. I had to learn like, okay, if if I'm gonna bring this account in, I need to be able to hire staff. Because one of the mistakes that I was making was that I wasn't including staff.
And so when I did bring in staff and then I had to pay them, it's like it's, it cut into my actual profit. I was like, okay, well Angela, what are you doing here? This doesn't make sense, you know? And I can't do everything by myself. You have to have a strong team of people that can work with you, even if they're just contractors.
So those two learnings are making sure that I'm consistently looking for new work. Constantly promoting myself so that I always have a contract in the pipeline. And then also making sure that I budget out not only for myself and the HC profit, but then also budget out for additional staff and team members to be a part of the project as well.
Jeremy: And when it comes to like funding for Atlanta Fashion
angela watts: Mm-hmm.
Jeremy: even Ragtrade for that matter, do you have investors or how are you funding your business, How does that look?
angela watts: So actually it's really going after sponsorship. You know, obviously early on we would sell tickets to shows. This [00:19:00] year was the first year, we would take actually a hybrid approach. We would give out certain seats and then we'll sell seats. But this year I can say that we did not sell any seats.
It was RSVP only, invite only. And that make me very, that makes me very happy. I was selling someone. For the Adidas show, it felt like bad boy, 96
Jeremy: Oh
angela watts: of everybody trying to get into the, everybody's trying to you know, definitely trying to get into the show, but we have limited seats, and those seats were extending out by Adidas and then having to get additional individual individuals into the show.
It, it, it was a lot. It was a lot.
Jeremy: yeah,
angela watts: It was a lot, but it was exciting and it felt refreshing because. Everything is a ticket sale this year, and I didn't wanna do that. I wanted to bring that exclusivity back that I think that we're missing. having all the shows being invite only and then all the shows also still sell out.
Many people being at the event. It was refreshing and it just energized me in ways that you just do not understand.[00:20:00]
Jeremy: that's pretty amazing just to have an event. It gives it that exclusiveness to it. Like you can't even get tickets to this. It's invite only, and if you didn't get the invite, next
angela watts: I don't, I don't know what to tell you, right?
Jeremy: Yeah.
angela watts: Or, hey, get to know the designers. And become friends with the designers, you know, the, the designers that we have here we have a couple of designers that did fly from out of out of, either from out of the country or within domestically, but
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: of the designers are based here in Atlanta and they're great designers that have done amazing work, so
Jeremy: is it the designers then, or allotted like X amount of invites, I guess, or RSVPs
angela watts: yeah, they were
Jeremy: and stuff like that.
angela watts: absolutely.
Jeremy: how would you say that Atlanta, I guess two things. How Atlanta fashion differs from any other city in the world, and then Atlanta Fashion Week differs from other fashion weeks around the world.
angela watts: I just think that Atlanta fashion it's not one particular look. And I think we were able to prove that with the show this year. You had a little bit of street wear. You had ready to wear, you had cut and sew. You have more [00:21:00] that would be considered couture, which is subjective, right? But we had a, we had a variations of different looks and styles that were on the runway. I think in my opinion, it really showed that Atlanta is just not one dimensional. A lot of times people think we're very street, and that's not the case.
Jeremy: and I do love that you have an opportunity to show that to the world. 'cause when I see Atlanta on tv, really get one vibe from it. And I'm like, Atlanta is so much bigger than what some of the things are showing on TV about Atlanta. So for you to have that platform to do it, you know, hopefully it'll continue to grow in in.
Be at the, the same level as a, a New York, so the people will be invited down and see there's more happening here than one or two different styles. Atlanta's got a lot of flavor and culture that people need to check out.
angela watts: I
think that's always been like our challenge. They look at us like at the baby brother or sister of these other major markets. And for me, I understand what Atlanta brings. Atlanta influences everything did not become like our moniker for any particular reason.
'cause we do. if anybody totes Atlanta [00:22:00] flag. Angela Watts told Atlanta Flag, and I know exactly what we can offer here. The impact that we have on social media or just with content in general, and because of the creativity and the thought that goes into what is being created, it's major. And so to your point, Atlanta will be a top tier market.
That is my goal. I'm going to make that happen for sure.
Jeremy: I believe it. I believe it. And as it
angela watts: I understand.
Jeremy: how does Atlanta Fashion Week differ from London, Paris, New York.
angela watts: The thing about our, our tagline is culture and commerce. So for the designers that participate, we also, if they have the desire to do so, we wanna make a, create a way where they can also sell wares. We want them to be able to also generate income while they also participating. So that's been one of the things that we were able to do successfully ever since we started.
And I will also, it's just about culture and community. It was truly a, a, a celebration [00:23:00] of creativity the entire weekend, everybody that came and participated embodied that and they also felt it.
Jeremy: So getting into your impact fashion in the Atlanta market, you were appointed by the Mayor of Atlanta's Art Advisory Committee. So how does it feel for you to have so much responsibility shaping Atlanta's art, fashion, culture, film, and journalism scene?
angela watts: I just felt like it was my calling. I knew for a reason when I got that last ping that I needed to reboot a server. That that was not my, that was not my calling.
Jeremy: There was the
angela watts: That
Jeremy: ping,
angela watts: that was the last ping. God was, God was like, no, this is not you. You are, you're bigger than this. And, I try to listen to my inner thoughts.
'cause I feel like that's God speaking to me and telling me, no, Anthony, this is what you need to do. and when I have people in my ear, oh, you should do it this way, do it that way. I listen, but I'm gonna listen to the higher being and I let him allow me to do what I have to do. So fact that I was.
Asked and invited to be part of the mayor's task [00:24:00] force for the arts speaks volumes to the work that we're already doing, and I'm very honored to be a part of that group.
Jeremy: it's definitely a big honor. did you get the, the proclamation and everything from the mayor?
angela watts: Yeah, I have, actually, I have one, two, I have five proclamations, six proclamations. I ironically,
Jeremy: on one. What, what are the other five? I just touched on one.
angela watts: so.
Jeremy: research. Let's run through ' em.
angela watts: Well this past Saturday, Fulton County presented Atlanta Fashion Week Proclamation last year. So that's one. And then last year I got two, Three proclamations, one for Atlanta Fashion Week from the city of Atlanta. And then I got one personally for myself. And then I got a state relu. Is it a state resolution? I believe it is from the state of Georgia.
Jeremy: Now you
angela watts: Atlanta Fashion Week,
Jeremy: keep up. You're like, I don't even remember what it is.
angela watts: and then I did get one from Cassim years ago. So yeah. Thank you.
Jeremy: you're doing big things. with these companies that you are running, what are the challenges of running multiple companies at one time?
angela watts: Be able to stay [00:25:00] focused on growing a project. one of my big goals this year is to, transition fully into Atlanta Fashion Week. my goal that I have set out for myself to accomplish is to get it as impactful as Art Basel.
Jeremy: Okay.
angela watts: And you know, the Art Basel is a year round program, a year round job, obviously, that the executive director has to work on
Jeremy: Oh,
angela watts: ensure that that program runs successfully and has the impact that it continues to have.
So that's what I wanna do.
Jeremy: Yeah, It does seem like it would be a challenge to really get Atlanta Fashion Week where you want it, when you also have attention on, other businesses, but you're still successful with those as well. So it's a tough dilemma for an entrepreneur 'cause you have these talents and gifts and you've found success in, in multiple.
Businesses, you don't necessarily want to cut one off 'cause you enjoy it, but how do you, yeah. Better manage your time and maybe less involved with the day-to-day where you can really focus on growing. What, this conversation seems like it's really that, that purpose and that passion that drives you with Atlanta Fashion Week.
angela watts: Still trying to [00:26:00] figure it out. To be honest, it's not something that I've been able to really get a full grasp on, but I'm working really hard at it using my friend chat, GPT to figure some things out. But
Jeremy: GPT.
angela watts: I have not,
Jeremy: All right. 'cause some people do, I don't have a name for mine either, but some have have gone to actually give it a name. Like I talked to Eric or something like, I don't
angela watts: maybe I'll do that. It makes it more personable. Right.
Jeremy: Yeah, it's like chat gt PT, I don't know. maybe. we, next time I see you, I'm we'll both have names
angela watts: We both have names
Jeremy: mine also.
angela watts: is exactly, but yeah, I'm, I'm still figuring it out, but I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to what that will look like. But it, it really, honestly, it just comes down to business models and the way that I've been able to sustain myself while I'm working on that fully.
Jeremy: All right, so what drives you? from, based on the stories you've told me, like you really have a drive, like you put in the work, you create something that didn't exist.
You learn the ins and outs of the [00:27:00] businesses and industries that you're a part of. So what is it that is driving you to do this?
angela watts: proving people wrong. There was a lot of doubt about Atlanta. And when I say I wanted to do it, you know, oh, okay, great. I think that'd be cool, but not really believing that it can happen.
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: so don't tell me something can't happen. I'm gonna find a way to make it happen.
Jeremy: Yeah. Yeah,
angela watts: that's part of the libra in me. We, we cannot stand with somebody tell us, oh, it ain't gonna happen. No, I'm gonna make it happen. I'm gonna find a way.
Jeremy: Okay. It's like,
angela watts: Yeah.
Jeremy: it. I would say for me it's very similar. It's kind of both ends of the spectrum. People who doubt or the haters that inspires me to show 'em, oh, okay, you don't think I can? Lemme do it. But it's also people who encourage and it's like if I got people cheering for me, I wanna continue to make them happy and also have that confidence in myself that I'm doing something good.
But then other end, it's like
angela watts: Like
Jeremy: the haters
angela watts: the haters,
Jeremy: like, okay, you don't think I can do it.
angela watts: I wouldn't necessarily. Right, exactly. But I won't call 'em haters. I just call them like, they just don't believe in the, the [00:28:00] vision. Right. So it doesn't mean because you don't believe in the vision that you are a hater. you just don't see what I see. me being able to say, no, look, I told you this is here.
Wow, Angela, that's amazing. I never saw it that way. that's what drives me. I I don't necessarily call them haters, I could tell you, when I first decided that I wanted to be an entrepreneur, my friend came to me and she said, I can't believe you're quitting your full-time job.
Why would you do that? And then ironically, maybe what, 15 years later, that same friend said to me, I'm so proud of you. I did not believe that that could happen, and you proved me wrong.
Jeremy: Hey, here we are 15 years later. oftentimes it is the people who are closest to us that don't think we can do something, and those are the people that are the, probably the voices that are the loudest to us. If a
angela watts: Stranger says.
Jeremy: it's like, all right, whatever.
But it can still inspire you. But if it's someone that you really care about, that you love, they love you. And it's like, dang, really? It kind of hurts when people don't believe you and it, it gives you even more of [00:29:00] a fire to achieve and overcome the obstacles to find that success.
angela watts: Absolutely, and I think that draws a lot of people. So I'm, I'm in, I'm in agreement.
Jeremy: So how do you find balance in life with everything you have going on?
angela watts: Before when I was younger, I would literally work from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Over time I realized that that was actually burning me out, I made the effort to. Really start working out, going out, enjoying friends, going have dinner. If I wanted to go out to a party, I'm gonna make an effort to do that.
And because you have to have balance, because if you don't, you will get burnt out. you will not like what you're doing anymore. And I don't ever want that to happen. So I make every effort to. Give myself some time and some grace. This week I had to go right into two projects, but next week I'm taking time off.
I need to take a couple of days, even if it's just for 48 hours, two days of not doing, picking up my laptop or doing anything.
Jeremy: [00:30:00] So completely disconnecting.
angela watts: Yep.
Jeremy: Okay. Like phone too. Like are you able to completely disconnect, like off the grid or you're like, I'm still gonna have my phone in case someone needs to
angela watts: I'm, I'm gonna still have my phone. I mean, I answer, but I'm gonna have my phone.
Jeremy: Depends on who's calling or
angela watts: Yeah,
Jeremy: Right? Yeah. Okay. No, that's good that you're taking care of yourself because like, like you said, when you're younger you're going hard and it's different and you, you do that for so long, you get to a point where you're like, this is a little crazy.
And. I don't want to keep this pace up. And you probably still could, like I have a hard time admitting like I can't keep the pace. 'cause I think I probably still could, but even like, I don't want to, When you have some success, it doesn't mean you're relaxed about it because you're still. forward and you're still working hard, but I think before you achieve a certain level of success, like every single moment of your day is dedicated to the craft and the study and getting to that point where you can relax a little bit. But it's like, isn't this what we worked hard [00:31:00] for? We didn't work hard. To continue working hard, you know, 10 years, 20, 30 years later, like we worked hard so that we wouldn't have to work as hard. So I
angela watts: Exactly
Jeremy: that you're finding that balance now, and when you're in that mode for so long, it's hard to just like hit pause and be like, wait, why am I still doing it like this?
You know?
So do you recall who the first person was that encouraged you to do something that you are good at?
angela watts: My mom.
Jeremy: Yeah.
angela watts: Yeah, when I told her that I wanted to become an entrepreneur, she was a little hesitant at first, but then she came back around and she said, you know what? If that what makes you happy, I'm here to support you. So do what you do, but do it well.
Jeremy: Well it looks like you've been doing it well,
angela watts: Thank you.
Jeremy: and let's talk some fashion tips, 'cause you are the fashion person in Atlanta. for women, what is that one piece or that accessory that women need to have in their closet that they offer overlook?
angela watts: I would say a blazer. I think a really, like a oversized blazer is perfect for any and everything. Whether you're wearing biker shorts, if you're doing it [00:32:00] with a dress. With a dress, if you're doing it with a skirt, it just makes everything super chic for me. So I'm a person that love blazers. I also love pants suits, to wear a blazer with everything you could do a nice bralet, the blazer.
Some shorts, whatever it is. It just really makes things very super chic in my eyes and a black one at that.
Jeremy: Okay. Alright. So what about for the men? Is there an an accessory or piece for the men that's often overlooked, that is a must have for their closet?
angela watts: I don't know if it's actually often overlooked, but I'll just love a, a crisp white sneaker 'cause I feel like you could wear that with anything. You could put that, you could pair that with a, a nice pant suit
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: has a really nice cut at the bottom. You can wear that and it just makes everything look super clean.
So I love a clean white sneaker for a man.
Jeremy: Yeah, I love a good white sneaker. It's just hard to keep 'em clean. 'cause when you get that one scuff, it's done.
angela watts: It is done. Or,
Jeremy: What do you do that?
angela watts: or even that one crease
Jeremy: The
angela watts: that they, they, they, they, they're gonna get rid of. I [00:33:00] know somebody that will buy a pair of Air Force ones.
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: Every time they get one crease, they're gonna buy a new one. And the sneaker is clean. It is nice, but they're gonna go buy a new one.
Jeremy: Oh my gosh, it's too much.
angela watts: I know.
Jeremy: that's why I prefer a dark sneaker. I have one pair of white sneakers and they're clean, but I never wear 'em because I don't want 'em to get dirty
angela watts: Right.
Jeremy: one crease.
angela watts: one crease.
Jeremy: Yeah, yeah. So what have you learned so far on this journey, Angela
angela watts: to trust myself. You know, sometimes you can have doubt. You just don't know how things are gonna translate when you present them to the world. But as long as I put my heart, my heart into it, as long as I believe in myself and do my best to present it the best that I can, then I'm gonna be okay. I'm going to make mistakes
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: okay.
And I admit to the mistakes that I make. You know, and I don't feel bad about the mistakes I made because everybody at any moment, in any time, you're constantly learning. for me, trusting myself and not being afraid to make a mistake,
Jeremy: Yeah, that said, generating that confidence [00:34:00] really from within,
angela watts: okay,
Jeremy: yourself grace when you do fall short.
angela watts: absolutely.
Jeremy: If someone were to look at your playlist and your music library, what would they be surprised to find?
angela watts: And Jay-Z. I'm a trap. I'm a trap music girl. Sorry.
Jeremy: But you think people would be surprised to see that or no, there's not like some off-brand artist or a song you're like, eh, people don't know about, or you're just not gonna say it on the podcast. I got you. You have a reputation.
angela watts: No, no, in all honesty, no. That is my playlist. Like, but a lot of people were very surprised.
Jeremy: Mm-hmm.
angela watts: so into trap music like that. I am a big trap. And when I'm, if I'm out and I'm rapping the music, like literally rapping it alone, they be like, oh my god. You know, every word. Perfect example, right? Exactly.
Eight Ball. MJG,
Jeremy: Oh
angela watts: eight Ball. MJG is like one of my favorites. I'm sorry,
Jeremy: Where are you from? Angelo.
angela watts: I'm from Augusta.
Jeremy: Okay. Okay. I know if you are from Tennessee or Memphis or something, I know the [00:35:00] South loves eight Ball and MJG.
angela watts: Yes,
Jeremy: All right. So if you could instill hope in another woman who's considering starting her own thing, what would you say to her?
angela watts: just do it honestly. I mean, and, and I know my answers are very simple, but in reality you just have to do it. I don't care if you just do 10% of it, you start it. And you got something done. But just do it. It's important for you to take that step to make things happen, and once you start putting energy into something, you start to realize how easier it becomes and the opportunities flow to you, because the energy that you're putting out there, it's like the universe has sees the signal and they're gonna start bringing those opportunities to you.
Jeremy: Mm.
angela watts: And words are powerful. Words are very powerful. You have to speak positivity into your life because if you do not, then you attract the wrong energy. So I refuse to think otherwise, and that's what has kept me going for so long.
Jeremy: Yeah. No, that's really good advice. I'm a [00:36:00] firm believer in that when the, the negative thoughts come in, I just have to tell myself, shut up,
angela watts: Exactly.
Jeremy: on the positive and keep moving forward. That's great advice. so we've reached the point. We are gonna pull out the clarity cards, and your question is, how do you cultivate positive relationships?
How do you cultivate positive relationships?
angela watts: so don't laugh at me. I'm a Libra. Okay, so my birthday is coming up.
Jeremy: Okay.
angela watts: one thing about Libras, we're very social. That's what I've learned and kind of noticed about myself. And we're very caring too. So we're gonna call, we're going to check in on individuals. Hey, how are you doing? Just checking in just to say hello.
Um, I'm always going to greet people the same exact way no matter what, Hey, how you doing? I'm gonna give them a hug. You're gonna get the same Angela. That's just who I am. And so I would say the fact that I'm constantly checking on individuals and I'm really honestly trying to build genuine [00:37:00] relationships with individuals that I feel like I vibe with everyone.
I'm not going to have that type of energy or relationship with, and it's okay, but the for the ones that I feel like that could be part of my tribe based on how we interact and our energy. I am very caring. I'm gonna be that friend. I'm gonna call, I'm checking in what's going on.
Temperature check. Do you need anything? Yes, I'm that person. And it really comes from a pure place.
Jeremy: that's actually really important to not just personal, but business and having longevity in business. Like if you don't care about people and cultivate those relationships, you're not going to be able to sustain success, that's, to me, an important ingredient. I. For running a business, it's more than just numbers and trying to make money.
If you don't take care of the people and genuinely around you, your team, your family, your friends, you're limiting yourself in this world, period. So I think that's, a great approach to it. But Angela Watts, thank you again for joining the podcast today. How can people reach out to you if they have questions or wanna engage with Atlanta Fashion Week,
angela watts: they can go to either one of the sites. my [00:38:00] email address is definitely there. It's public. You can also follow me on Instagram at angela s as in Sam Watts. you can follow our Instagram pages for Ragtrade, which is Ragtrade Atlanta and Atlanta Fashion Week, which is a TL fw.
Jeremy: Okay,
angela watts: Okay.
Jeremy: yeah, and thank you all for tuning in to the Jeremy Haywood show. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to follow or subscribe, so you're always up to date when the latest episode drops. And until next time, keep following your dreams to find your purpose.
