Today we’d like to introduce you to Ceiffawn Wetherspoon.
Ceiffawn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey to entrepreneurship is not traditional in any sense of the word. Born and raised in Richmond Heights, my household upheld the idea of a “textbook” route to success; do well in school, graduate college, establish a stable career and eventually retire. I dedicated the majority of my life positioning myself to attain the prized “established career”, what I didn’t plan for was an economic recession at the onset of my college graduation, relocating twice and a global pandemic. Everything I knew about my “plan” vanished in what felt like an instant. I had invested the last ten years of my life as a corporate paralegal working for the Illinois Inspector General, The Florida Attorney General and various fortune 500 companies in between, so by 2019, to say that I was being overworked, overstressed, and underpaid is an understatement; I needed to do something to take control over my professional growth.
October 14, 2018 is that day I will never forget. A friend enlisted my help to plan a private screening event and I threw myself into the task of making the occasion a success. At the time I was working a full-time job with a new boss that needed to know when I breathed and blinked. Looking back, mentally, I was already checked out, but I knew I needed the financial stability. After months of ducking into supply closets to take calls from vendors and scheduling “doctor’s appointments” to attend site visits, the day finally arrived, and the event was incredible! After the guests left, my friend sat me down and said “Ceiffawn, what you did here today was amazing. You should be doing THIS full-time! I just had an idea and you made it real.” I wrote the conversation off as a compliment and tucked that moment away. The next day, I was back at work again and I stayed for another year.
At the top of 2020, I had to opportunity to work with Dwayne Wade’s personal photographer and manage an artist through a plethora of Super Bowl events. I knew I couldn’t take time off from work, but I also knew I needed to be in Miami every day. A week before the Super Bowl, I found myself sitting in my jobs parking lot, crying to my friend about how overwhelmed and stressed I was at work. I was at my breaking point and I needed to leave but I needed to be strategic. Ultimately, my employer and I mutually parted ways and I was finally free. Super Bowl LIV was incredible, and I was so happy to finally be in my element. I planned schedules, confirmed events, drafted and executed agreements. I even managed the logistical schedule for D Wade and Chris Paul for the NBA All-Star weekend, life was great!
March 2020, I was on South Beach working with DJ Irie’s team and other artists during spring break. Everything was great until it wasn’t; insert global pandemic and citywide shutdown. Events were canceled left and right, we all lived it, so I won’t recant the details but in short, my idea of this freelance business manager life was halted. Just like the rest of America, I sat in my house and wondered what was happening with the world. I decided very quickly that I needed to pivot and create a space where I could flourish, but on my terms; welcome The Reality of Dreams Business Management Firm.
Today, when I think about where my business is, I get emotional. I broke the mold and trusted myself. I surrounded myself with people that saw way more in me than I saw in myself. For two years, my business moved quietly, observing, building, experiencing, and learning. I established relationships that spanned far beyond a simple business transaction, I found mentors and real friends, brothers and sisters that supported me authentically. Humility and the willingness to fail and learn is how my business has flourished through some of the hardest times we have seen. 2019 Ceiffawn would have never imagined that in 2021 she would be turning the dreams of global brands, international artists, City agencies and giants in Miami’s entertainment and nightlife industry into a reality. The last few months (and really the last two years) have shown me that my skill set, reputation and determination has and will always continue to carry me.
Owning a business has been my greatest dream that I made a reality.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road? Not in the least bit. I can’t tell you how many times I have started and stopped, changed directions, overanalyzed and everything in between. The hardest part about this entire journey was starting. I didn’t get a degree in business, so I didn’t know where to start when it came to running a business. Thank God for friends because I have lost count of the amount of hours I spent on the phone asking questions and listening to their experiences.
Confidence is easier said than done. Not feeling like I was built for this life or that I was capable of being a business owner is probably the second biggest struggle I had (and some days still battle with). I thought that working in corporate America was tough, but this entrepreneurial life that I choose challenges my confidence on a daily basis.
Through it all, I always say this, “I will stay up until the sun rises if I have to, so long as I get the job done and my clients are happy”. I know that I will face many more challenges down the road, but I welcome it because I know that with challenges comes growth and understanding and that will always be the greatest takeaway for me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As a visionary, believer and dreamer, I founded The Reality of Dreams Business Management Firm to ensure that every thought, idea and wildest dreams are brought to life. With over 11 years of legal and corporate experience, I have combined my professional experience with my unique consumer-facing perspective and innate ability to plan, develop and meticulously execute ideas to bring your dreams to life.
I pride myself on the fact that I do not pigeonhole my brand to only working with a certain clientele. Everyone has a dream but not everyone has someone that believes in their dream. Whether my client is a new business owner, a government agency, or a robust corporation, I have designed my firm in such a way that I am able to cater to an array of business development needs. Whether it’s filing trademarks, developing and reviewing contracts or programming festivals and movie premieres, there is no dream that is too big or too small.
If I had to identify what sets me apart from others, it would be my attention to every detail and my remarkable level of professionalism. No matter the task, there is no detail that goes unnoticed. While working with a past client, I suggested we leave guests with handwritten thank you cards. Initially, it seemed like a minor aspect of the overall event, but when guests provided feedback one of their favorite things was the personalized notes. My thought is, you never know what will stay with a guest so never think that the details are not important! I view my clients as my teammates. The way in which I work is never one that feels like employer and boss but more team and teammate. I bring things to the table and we work together to actualize those things as a team. I pride myself in always showing up at 100% no matter what the job is because if I can’t bring you my best at all times, how can I expect that from clients?
Naturally, I am a very caring person so for me, seeing my clients happy brings me so much joy. Every day I am grateful that my peers have believed in my work product enough to entrust me with their vision and dreams. That alone is and will always be something that I am proud of.
If you walk away with nothing, I want people to know that I care and believe in what you are dreaming about. I am here to talk through roadblocks, organize your thoughts and idea and put wheels on your idea or project.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I can be reached at www.TheRealityofDreams.com or via Instagram at @therealityofdreamss and you can always text or call me at 786.571.6106. I love to hear what people are dreaming about doing so I am always available for a free consultation!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.therealityofdreams.com
- Instagram: @therealityofdreamss
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRealityofDreams
Image Credits
Melody Timothee
