March 2021 - Page 2 of 4 - The Chicago Journal

Dugan Reilly Overcomes His Chronic Illness to Teach Others to Overcome Their Own Through His Positive Mentorship

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 26, 2021

Chronic illnesses are often thought of as massive hindrances toward success. However, Dugan Reilly has never let his illness get in the way of him achieving his dreams. The esteemed entrepreneur has a strong passion for helping people with rare chronic illnesses make their dreams a reality, allowing them to become the best version of themselves.

Dugan Reilly was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at five months old and is battling it to this day. Growing up, he struggled with mental health by dealing with the daily habits of cystic fibrosis. Once he achieved his dream and turned it into a reality, he transitioned toward helping others get there with the right mindset and the motivation to succeed.

He is painfully aware that there are many other individuals out there who are just like him and are stuck in an unfortunate situation because of their certain illnesses. Most of them do not know how to be confident and go after their dreams. Dugan Reilly reinforces a positive mindset and motivation to help other people become successful through his teachings.

By the time 2021 ends, Dugan Reilly hopes to donate a majority of his earnings to organizations that are working hard to find cures for chronic illnesses such as cystic fibrosis. The renowned entrepreneur has fully dedicated his cause toward helping his clients achieve success and maximize their potential. “I know how hard it is to be stuck in that situation where you can’t get out, or you are stuck in the normal way of life,” says Dugan. “I want other people to get out of it by mentoring them and becoming their coach,” he adds.

In the near future, Dugan Reilly sees his company becoming a household name. Ultimately, he wishes to establish an exclusive community of like-minded people who are very successful in any endeavor. He envisions his company to have a program that is well-known for people to sign up for and participate in the said program.

He hopes to streamline a program that will change the lives of other people, helping them achieve their dreams in no time. Dugan Reilly is a beacon of light in a sea of negativity. When all hope seems to be lost, he spreads his positive message to others so that they may pull themselves from the difficulties of life. He wants people to know that they are never alone, for he has been in the same situation as them, and he has gotten out stronger than ever.

Dugan Reilly offers free one-on-one value calls so that he can remove the biggest roadblock that is stopping his clients from achieving their dream realities. His services are just a call away, and he wants people to know that they can rely on him for advice when things might seem too much. Dugan Reilly is an inspiring individual who is using his influence and his life experience in the best possible ways.

To know more about Dugan Reilly, make sure to visit his official website.

How Wasee Jewels Has Been Shifting the Status Quo of the Jewelry Industry

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 25, 2021

People are often in a rush to succeed at such a young age that they find themselves burning themselves out. However, some individuals have shown that success can be achieved regardless of age. Farah Wasi Ghatala is a fifty-year-old-woman who has proven that age is certainly no factor in reaching goals with her jewelry company, Wasee Jewels.

Farah Ghatala is a testimony of great perseverance, starting a small business at fifty years old within her home. She started her journey when she realized that there was not enough inclusivity to showcase other cultures’ beauty. Farah wanted to show the world that there was so much more to see, with the world setting the ‘western’ standard of beauty to the highest regard.

With that goal in mind, Farah started to learn how to make jewelry, picking up the craft of her own accord. She utilized her training in fine arts, animation, and advertising from the prestigious Academy of Arts University San Francisco. With an exceptional understanding of art history, Farah was able to incorporate her knowledge into her jewelry.

By 2016, she launched a website called Wasee Jewels that would attract the attention of celebrities who carried her work into music videos, movies, and even red carpet events like the Cannes Film Festival and Grammys. As her dream was finally being realized, Farah decided to go even further and shift her focus to diversities, genders, and people ostracized by the media to showcase how unconventional beauty really is.

Wasee Jewels strives to go beyond the jewelry industry norm by bringing the marginalized into view and providing them with a platform to speak and showcase their own beauty. Farah designs each piece with culture in mind and the goal to showcase its beauty. “We strive to edge away from the eurocentric beauty norms that have dictated our lives and embrace our own ethnicities and culture,” she explained.

The company offers a dazzling inventory that consists of earrings, necklaces, and other fine gift items. While others focus on their sales, Wasee Jewels value its customers to the highest degree. Their jewelry embodies the needs and desires of people to express their individual style. Wasee Jewels helps them acquire a piece that will outlast trends and generations when they invest in designer jewelry that will never go out of style. Regardless what piece their customer is looking for, Wasee Jewels offer timeless pieces.

While the message that the company advocates already sets it apart from its competitors, Wasee Jewels is also recognized for its dedication to its craft and willingness to stand by its rules and methodology. Others have attempted to replicate their works but can never truly match the authenticity and work they put into each piece. Wasee Jewels want to tell a story with its works and try to convey it in a way that people have described as enchanting.

Despite the massive success that Wasee Jewels has seen, Farah Ghatala hopes that her company will become a household name recognizable as Chanel or Gucci. She wants her brand to compete with other companies that comply with the eurocentric beauty standard. “I see Wasee Jewels being prominent within America,” Farah shares, “And giving more to our communities as a result and empowering both men and women through our stories and jewelry.”

Learn more about Wasee Jewels by visiting their official website. You can also reach out to them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Photographs by Lan Doan, styling by Venk Modur, and jewelry by Wasee.

Robert Nickell Shares How VAs Make Your Business Better

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 24, 2021

Starting a new business is exciting—and exhausting too, right? It’s no surprise that many startups don’t have enough revenue coming in each month to hire employees right from the start. When you’re in the planning stages, flying solo may not seem like that big of a deal because you’re certain that your will to succeed will carry you through.

How long did it take for reality to set in?

Those everyday tasks that are crucial to operations can really bog you down quickly. If your normal work day lasts long into the night, you’ll likely be kissing your social life goodbye until you get things under control. On top of that, if you’re spending all your time trying to man every position, you can’t find any time to focus on scaling your business.

All Work and No Play Wears You Down

You don’t want to get stuck in a rut that you can’t get out of because your business will eventually fail. There’s also the fact that being in a constant state of exhaustion is bad for your health. Moreover, having no time to spend with family and friends plays a negative part in this scenario too because it affects your personal and business relationships and your health as well.

Robert Nickell founded Rocket Station because he found himself in your shoes once. “When I started my first business, it wasn’t long before I was completely overwhelmed. I was so busy trying to keep up with the day to day task management that I couldn’t find enough time to properly focus on scaling my business,” he said.

There was no way the budget included setting up an actual office space and hiring employees, but he knew something had to give. Nickell had heard about other entrepreneurs who began moving forward after hiring virtual assistants to manage day-to-day operations. He knew that was the missing link that he needed to strengthen his company.

Discovering the Process Took Trial and Error

Nickell admits that things didn’t go very smoothly in the beginning. “At first, all I managed to do was create even more work for myself. I hired my VA, handed over the tasks I wanted completed, and because I made sure they had experience in the field, I assumed that would be that—it wasn’t. Things weren’t being done correctly, and so I was still up until the wee hours of the morning fixing the mistakes.”

He didn’t give up on his dream to make virtual assistants work though. He knew it was the key to freeing up his time so that he could grow the business. “I finally realized that just because I made sure my VAs had experience when I hired them, they didn’t know my specific process for completing the work. So I took the time to document exactly what I wanted done and we tried again. It still didn’t hit the mark.”

After several false starts, Robert finally sat down and documented every single step he took to complete a task. And when he says every step of the process, he means everything—to the point of specifying “press enter!”

Once he did that, he saw things change for the better immediately. It spawned Robert’s idea to start Rocket Station and the company has grown to be a dynamic force in the remote workforce industry.

You Can Soar to New Heights

Nickell believes that any task that can be completed over the phone or on a computer can be handled by virtual assistants. “The rule applies across the board,” Nickell said. “It doesn’t matter what type of industry you’re in. VAs are just as valuable to a real estate investor as they are to an agent working for a larger corporation. The secret to making it work is to get all your processes documented and stored in a place where they are readily accessible.”

It can take a while to get that process completed, but once it’s finished, Nickell says you’re almost ready to start the hiring process. The first step being to create an ad that includes all the qualities that you’re looking for in the successful candidate.

Make sure you include the following:

● A detailed list of duties

● The skill set you expect them to possess

● Personality traits that fit your culture

“You want to be very specific when you write your ad because you’ll be far more likely to hire the right person for the job the first time.” Nickell advised. “Business owners understand how costly it is having to train and then re-train someone for the same position. It cuts your profit margin and slows down productivity which is the opposite direction of where you want to be heading.”

He’s right.

It’s typical for the average company to lose between 1% to 2.5% of their total revenue during the time it takes to hire a new employee and bring them up to speed. If you have to continually repeat the process, it begins to drain your profits pretty quickly.

According to Nickell, you should map out your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) before actually placing your ad too. That’s because managing virtual employees can be a bit of a challenge and you want to be able to define success in a way that promotes growth.

He explained that your KPIs allow you to communicate more effectively, realize where you need to tweak your process, and your VAs will better perform their tasks. Of course, the fact that you don’t have to incur the expense of providing a physical location is a huge factor in this equation too.

Until fairly recently, many business owners thought that hiring a virtual assistant to handle simple tasks, such as an email campaign or calendar management, was the extent of their value. That theory has been blown out of the water because the remote workforce continues to grow exponentially—and there’s no end in sight.

ChiChi The Eternal’s Relentless Grind for his Legacy

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 23, 2021

Music heavily influences our daily lives. People dance, sing, and express their emotions through it. While many enjoy hearing music as they go on with their daily lives, many fail to recognize that for some, music is life. For ChiChi the Eternal, music is his passion and legacy. Knowing that a life filled with passion is the life worth living and a legacy filled with love is the legacy worth passing over, ChiChi the Eternal is living his best life.

Chichi The Eternal is a rapper who used to be under the name of ChiChi The Kid. A visionary who has woken up from his slumber to save the rap game, ChiChi The Eternal relentlessly grinds to achieve his success. He works hard to fight for his passion, and his effort started to pay off ever since he became who he is now.

By having to watch great plays put together by William Shakespeare, being able to have close glances at the once in a lifetime talent of Michael Jackson, and having the opportunity to witness the literary genius Lil Wayne spit the sickest raps in the hip hop history, ChiChi The Eternal saw how successful individuals were able to achieve their goals and be prominent in their field. The success stories he witnessed inspired him to make a success story of his own and the legacies they have left motivated him to be someone who will continue such legacies. Aside from these, ChiChi The Eternal also desires to continue the legacy of his late, great, earthly father, Emmanuel Amobi.

Producing quality rap that entices the casual listener’s ears, ChiChi The Eternal combines the history and culture of one of the prominent cities in the south with his street knowledge and scholarly background. He uses his immersion to write scripted tales and verses that capture his listener’s attention. Through his talent and brilliant mind, he was able to create a distinct and unique sound that is instantly recognizable.

Inspired by great musicians such as Thomas Tallis, Beethoven, Tupac, Shakur, and even Kurt Cobain, ChiChi The Eternal has embarked on his journey to be the future of this generation. His love for hip hop is unquestionable, and with such passion, he hopes to bring together any individual, may it be young or old, whose life has been positively affected by the love for hip hop.

With an undying passion for being great, ChiChi the Eternal works to save the rap game in the music industry. A mysterious and appealing man who has devoted his life to his passion, he is an inspiration to individuals who are also striving to pursue their interests. Knowing how challenging and rewarding life may be, he never fails to keep his head up against all odds. He strives to move forward, and he relentlessly keeps on walking towards his destination – success.

A life that has been lived with love and passion is a legacy that is worth passing over. ChiChi The Eternal’s life story and how he saves the rap game is a legacy worth waiting for. You may visit his website for more information.

Shante’ Armstrong Provides Health, Wellness, and Financial Freedom in a Simple Package

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 22, 2021

When someone finds their true passion, they will never work another day in their life. Such is the case for the amazing Shante’ Armstrong, who is an established business owner that’s taking things to the next level in her career and in her personal life.

Born in New Jersey and now residing in Georgia, Shante’ Armstrong is currently a NICU registered nurse who is making strides with her amazing direct sales company. Her Business has allowed her to become more present in her personal life while keeping a steadily earning revenue stream. For the past five years, the company has succeeded within the health and wellness industry through its simple yet incredibly nutritional three-step program.

Shante’ Armstrong is her own boss babe, setting her own hours and determining her own earning potential. It’s true that since starting her own passionate business endeavor, she hasn’t worked a day in her life. It’s Simply Shante has allowed her to become more present in her personal life while keeping a steadily earning revenue stream.

She’s professional, family-oriented, and loves to have fun. It’s these same qualities that will resonate with her audience—empowered women who are looking for a potential change in their lifestyle, be it from a health standpoint or financial freedom.

Shante’ Armstrong found the motivation to go on this business journey because she realized that she needed to have some foundation. “I needed something that I could be consistent with. I felt like I didn’t know who I was or what it is that I specifically had to offer that would potentially be exclusive of me that sets me apart from the rest,” she eloquently explains.

The empowered businesswoman is very passionate about what she does. She gets a huge fluttering feeling in her heart when her customers genuinely thank her for the value that she provides. Shante’ Armstrong is a genuine individual who loves to help people find their true freedom. “At the end of the day, it’s not about me. It’s about the people whose lives I just changed. It’s about the mom who wanted to have more time to spend with her children. It’s about the dad who is now able to get up and enjoy activities of daily living. That’s what the big picture is all about,” says Shante’.

True to the cause of her company, Shante’ Armstrong currently enjoys life alongside her amazing and supportive husband and their two beautiful children, who have made parenting such a dream for the esteemed businesswoman. She’s also a mom to an English bulldog whom she loves with all her heart.

In the near future, Shante’ Armstrong is poised to become a huge success. She envisions herself becoming a top earner with her current company, amassing a 5-figure weekly earning, owning multiple rental properties, a beach home, all while continuing to help mold new leaders reach their maximum potential. She’s determined to earn her success with her ambitions held high, but it’s clear that she is destined for greatness.

To know more about the amazing Shante’ Armstrong, make sure to visit her company’s website and follow her on Instagram.

Nick Luciano Gives an Insight into How He Built a Brand Around His Cowboy Lifestyle and Viral Video Creation

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 20, 2021

At 24 years old, Nick Luciano has built a brand that millions of people love, and he has gone through different stages of technological evolution in the process. His lifestyle as a western cowboy and his innate comic talent has set him on the path to stardom, and Nick is taking full advantage of that.

Passionate about making people happy, inspiring and motivating them, Nick Luciano has been in the content creation game for more than a decade. Today, he is the darling of many TikTok users, and his growth continues to transcend beyond his wildest dreams. His journey started from the days of the good old camcorders and iPods. All he did at the time was document the basic activities he participated in with his friends. Later, when smartphones came, content creation became easier, and he began to gain some traction on YouTube. The arrival of Vine changed things for him as he quickly amassed thousands of followers on the platform, which allowed him to showcase his creativity to more people. However, Vine crashed, and Nick also had other things in his life that took him off the content creation pedestal.

He got into college around that time to pursue an engineering degree at the University of North Texas. After his graduation in 2019 with a 4.0 GPA, he got a job with the US Army as a mechanical engineer. His job required him to work with high-speed cameras, bringing him full-circle to where he started. He took the role seriously, and thanks to two of his mentors, he became an expert videographer, taking on individual side projects for friends and other clients. This brought his brand, Luciano Media LLC, to life, and Nick put everything about him into the brand’s image—his cowboy lifestyle, his comic side, his creative side, and his motivational side. In his words, “Having created content all these years, I finally came to realize that my content creation skills blended seamlessly with my western lifestyle. My brand gave me room to express all the creative parts of me and allowed me to pursue other passions like motivational speaking and cinematography.”

As he continued to build his brand, Nick Luciano was moving with time and adapting to trends. When TikTok arrived, he signed up on the platform and began to post his content. One year later, he got his first 100,000 followers, and Nick started thinking about other things he could do. He created a clothing brand called Luciano Western Wear and developed the slogan “Bulletproof Mindset, Strive For Excellence,” which is imprinted on the brand’s merchandise. The clothing brand has earned a loyal following across the country, and many people have attested to how inspiring the slogan is and how much they identify with the western concept behind the brand.

Nick Luciano never stopped working, but little did he know things were still going to take an even better turn for him soon. He created a video titled “Sugar Crash,” which catapulted him to fame on TikTok, and everyone began to call him “The Sugar Crash Guy.” The video has since passed more than 220 views and 43 million likes, making it the third-highest liked video on TikTok. Nick admits that he wants his name Nick Luciano to ring more bells than being known as “The Sugar Crash Guy,” so he is working harder on his brand and image.

Nick has a unique brand, given that there aren’t many cowboy creators on TikTok. His versatile and unique approach to content creation has endeared him to many who have religiously supported his brand. Spreading positivity is important to Nick Luciano, and he’s using all the available avenues to do that.Learn more about Nick Luciano on TikTok.

DaRucci Leather’s Immediate Impact on the Outwear Brand in New York City

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 20, 2021

The fashion industry is filled with colorful brands that cater to everyone’s tastes. While most brands have a vast inventory of apparel, others specialize in a specific type of clothing. Outerwears mostly trend during the fall and winter seasons, but people still utilize them for cold or rainy days. DaRucci Leather is a brand that specializes in outerwear. While it is relatively new, DaRucci has already established its place in the industry.

DaRucci Leather is a brand that produces jackets for men, women, and children. The product line was created in 2013, born from the brilliant mind of Zohaib Shah. Initially, the brand was in partnership with other shops before Zo decided to pull the plug when he experienced an upscaling in his coats’ pricing. DaRucci would then open its doors to the public with its new location, garnering the attention of New Yorkers and even music legends like Fetty Wap, French Montana, and 50 Cent.

Zo takes great pride in his design’s uniqueness, sharing how his line’s authenticity comes from handcrafting with the manufacturing coming from DaRucci’s facility. Apart from its authenticity, DaRucci Leather provides its customers with the option to either purchase from their extensive inventory or customize according to what they want. Zo understands how people look for specific details in buying products, which is why he allows them to improvise available apparel like switching the zipper’s placement, selecting their fur color, or throwing something in to celebrate their personalities. While other brands are competing to imitate Zo’s features, DaRucci Leather stands out on an entirely different level.

Founder Zohaib Shah attributes his successful ventures to the support of his father, who constantly supported him and strived for Zo to follow his dreams. Originally from Pakistan, Zo and his family arrived in the United States when he was thirteen years old. His family was seeking a better opportunity in life and felt that the American Dream was their ticket. However, they struggled in the journey. Zo watched as his family endured the hurdles that life threw at them, taking inspiration from his father’s hustle.

Eventually, members of the family were able to set up their own businesses. Zohaib Shah wanted to emulate their success and dreamed of creating a brand. His father was completely behind him and helped Zo find the guidance to get himself on the right track. Taking advice from his relatives, Zo would also receive the help of a friend. He would start with a small loan and later became a wholesaler. During that time, DaRucci Leather was born.

Today DaRucci Leather stands as one of the most sought-after brands for people’s outerwear needs. Zo takes pride in the successful career he built and remains humble, doing his part and advising others about chasing their dreams.

“The name of the game is believing in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, you’re never going to get anything done in life,” he shared, “So have faith in yourself. Close your eyes and go for your goals. Stop worrying about if it’s going to work. Stop worrying if it’s going to take off or not. Just go for it and give it 110%.”

Zohaib Shah hopes that as DaRucci Leather continues to grow, it will establish itself as a household brand for outerwear.

Learn more about DaRucci Leather by visiting their official website. You can also find them posting updates on their latest releases on Facebook and Instagram.

Chrissy Grigoropoulos on Care and Love for Business

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 20, 2021

Chrissy Grigoropoulos and her team have appeared in the list of distinguished attorneys’ editions. Due to their good work, they rank in the top 100 magazines. The much experience gained by Grigoropoulos and her team has made their firm grow and gain popularity very fast. Chrissy is observed to be very careful and in love with her attorney business based on her performance of her roles and the Law Group’s organization. The idea of Grigoropoulos setting up ‘The Grigoropoulos Law Group, PLLC,’ demonstrates love for her work and the urge to help other people achieve their rights through the appropriate judgment of court cases. She also ensures that all the employed attorneys in the organization are well trained, experienced, and committed to attaining their clients’ best results.

Chrissy and her team are always proud of advocating for clients who have sustained an injury by other people’s negligence. They work hard to make sure that the people they represent get the results that they deserve. They offer achievable goals, realistic promises, and just results rather than filling their customers’ heads with dream scenarios. The accomplishment of the goals and objectives set by Grigoropoulos acts as one of the motivating factors to her and the overall team. A successful advocate system that yields good results to clients helps in building and maintaining strong relationships. Provision of excellent services to clients serves as a pillar of building the firm’s brand, attracting more clients in need of advocate services. The firm’s constant reputation from Grigoropoulos’ firm has helped the firm grow consistently, building more motivation for Chrissy and the whole team.

Due to the love of helping as many clients as possible, Grigoropoulos have engaged additional languages apart from English, such as French, Korean, Greek, and Spanish. The diversity in languages has helped serve many people all over New York. The firm also offers consultation rooms to new and existing customers to discuss their interests and the family’s interests to ensure that they are protected. The aim and interests of Chrissy are to aggressively respond to the needs of the clients and help them achieve optimum results from the service. The love of Grigoropoulos in her business is to ensure that legal matters are run smoothly, and the protection of rights is done.

The care and love of Grigoropoulos in her career and business have enhanced her to gain more recognition and success in her work. She has been able to expand her services into different Districts in New York. The good management of the Law Group through an assurance of quality services and qualified attorneys is also a root of its development. Excellent services that meet every client’s needs are offered, including free initiation guidance and consultations to each client. The start-up consultations help customers get the law’s legal process and the stages to be undergone to ensure that the rights are protected while eliminating unnecessary convictions and sentences. For emergency purposes, the firm offers 24/7 services throughout the week, where someone is appointed to receive emergency calls. The full-time operations ensure that no client misses the services and that all clients feel accommodated. It also helped in creating a healthy and bidding connection with clients.

Besides all the services offered by Grigoropoulos and her team, her hard work and determination are evident in the academic qualifications and achievements. Ms. Grigoropoulos was only 16 years when she completed her high school education. She later went to Saint Joseph College for a sociology degree and a Doctor’s degree from Michigan University. She was very attentive in her work and managed to be awarded a lot of certification for her profession and experiences. She is highly respected by her clients and school colleagues for her success. She is also fluent in English, Spanish, and Greek, which helps create client services diversity.

Ask Shonda: This Black Female Entrepreneur is Uplifting Small Business Owners Through Pop-Up Shops

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 19, 2021

Starting a business is no easy task, a challenge that LaShonda Johnson knows all too well. Better known as Ask Shonda, the Black female entrepreneur has been through the struggles of building a start-up with zero experience or connections. Still, Shonda has a vision in mind, not only for herself but also for a community of budding entrepreneurs.

While social media marketing and traditional advertising works for most brands, Ask Shonda believes that they are not the only promotional ways start-up entrepreneurs should abide by. As the founder of Hustlers Expo Events Inc., Shonda understands the power of showcasing products and services upfront and directly to consumers. By organizing nationwide pop-up shop events, the entrepreneur is uplifting an entire circle of start-up entrepreneurs, striving to make their marks in the industry.

Hustlers Expo Events Inc. was created to help start-up entrepreneurs showcase their products and services from one city to another. Ask Shonda and her team put together small business owners and allow them to build relationships with each other, network among like-minded people, gain organic traffic and followers, meet new customers, and ultimately, increase sales. With every pop-up shop event organized by Hustlers Expo, Shonda plays a pivotal role for entrepreneurs struggling to compete with big-name brands.

Before founding Hustlers Expo Events Inc., Ask Shonda started her own hair company called 360impressionz LLC. Unfortunately, the business failed, and the entrepreneur realized that she lacked one vital support system: a mentor. Since then, Shonda has corrected many of her mistakes and is now on a mission to guide aspiring business owners by providing them with a platform for their brands. “I feel that I create an impact on every city I pop up to by bringing 20-40+ small black-owned businesses together under one venue, working together bringing awareness to the small businesses that wanted to give up and did all they thought they could for their small business,” Ask Shonda said.

Furthermore, Ask Shonda argues that pop-up shop events bring more success than social media marketing alone. While the medium reaches broad audiences worldwide, social media impressions and reactions do not necessarily translate directly to sales. The entrepreneur also stressed that not every customer on the market is social media-friendly.

“Yes, social media plays a huge part in most big and small companies, but social media is not the only way to bring awareness to your small business, and one of those ways is Hustlers Expo pop-up shop events,” said Ask Shonda.

Additionally, as Hustlers Expo Events Inc. is built by a Black Female entrepreneur, it provides people of color with a new avenue to promote their small businesses. Ask Shonda understands that start-up entrepreneurs do not have the necessary credit line and are not granted loans right away. Hence, Hustlers Expo provides a temporary setting for entrepreneurs to join—no contract, no rent, no utilities, and no LLC is required for one merchant to become part of the growing community.

Hustlers Expo Events Inc. will also continually promote the brands and businesses that joined its community. “When you register to be a vendor with Hustlers Expo Events Inc., you’re tied to Hustlers Expo for life! We don’t delete pictures, videos, or any promotional material, so anyone visiting our website or social media pages will continue to be looked upon,” said Ask Shonda.

Besides being a business consultant and CEO of Hustlers Expo Events Inc., Ask Shonda is also a graphic designer, brand builder, online and offline business start-up mentor, logo designer, website consultant, and is well-versed with business branding. To add to her impressive list of qualifications, Shonda is also a credit repair specialist. Asked what her motto is when it comes to entrepreneurship, she shared, “Hustle Hard Like Your Lyfe Depends On It!”To learn more about Hustlers Expo Events Inc., visit its website.

The North American Collegiate League Welcomes Fitness Expert Paige Hathaway

The Chicago Journal Staff on March 18, 2021

The esports titan flexes its might by joining forces with the unstoppable health and wellness guru.

In a fitting celebration of Women’s History Month, The North American Collegiate League is proud to announce its newest brand ambassador—fitness queen Paige Hathaway. Having conquered the health and wellness space, Paige now brings her unstoppable brand to esports. Such a partnership is long overdue: in 2020, women accounted for forty percent of American gamers and that number will assuredly grow. The NACL, itself a trailblazer in esports, is thrilled to open its arms—and its resources—to Paige’s noble pursuits. To usher in the partnership, Hathaway will host a commemorative Fortnite duos tournament on March 21st, with more than $1,000 in prizes earmarked for the winners. The spoils, of course, extend well beyond the riches.

Once a niche favorite, native Minnesotan-turned-Texan Paige Hathaway has exploded into the public eye—boasting 4 million followers on Instagram (@paigehathaway) and more than 5 million Facebook fans (@paigehathawayfit). Paige is undoubtedly a role model for women of all ages, but her story is universal. And she prides herself on an ecumenical appeal and approach. The NACL is all for it: once considered the dominion of the inert male, esports is making a concerted effort to encourage physical fitness and diversity alongside mental acuity and reflexive rigor. Who better to lead that charge than Paige?

NACL founder David Chen cannot control his enthusiasm for the alliance: “To say I’m thrilled that Paige Hathaway is bringing her standard for personal excellence and story of perseverance to the NACL is beyond an understatement. I am floored and honored. I started the NACL with a vision toward helping people improve their lives in all facets. Now, with Paige onboard, I can say we’re one step closer to attaining that goal.”

Hathaway joins an esteemed pair of powerful women already installed at the NACL: cofounder Tiffany Tran and global esports news anchor Katie Scott, she of NACL Knows All fame. NACL fans will get their first real glimpse of Paige on March 21st, during what is sure to be an unprecedented and unforgettable Fortnite tourney. In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for an exclusive interview with Paige conducted by our very own VP of Media, Daniel Sozomenu.Stay up to date on all things esports and NACL-specific via Instagram (@Play.nacl), Twitter (@PlayNACL), and web at Playnacl.com. And Happy Women’s History Month!