Taylor Moxey – You Can Achieve Your Dreams. Don’t Let a Lack of Finances Convince You That You Can’t Achieve Your Goals (Social Entrepreneur, Public Speaker & Best Selling Author)

You Can Achieve Your Dreams. Don’t let a lack of finances convince you that you can’t achieve your goals. The truth is that every social entrepreneur, successful or not, starts out exactly where you are today.

1. Tell us more about your company and your journey. How did you come up with this idea and go about executing it?

My story started when I asked my parents, Vernon and Fabia Moxey, for a doll I liked at the store and was met with the challenge to come up with a way to earn money myself to purchase the doll. And so I did! That weekend I baked and sold brownies and cookies at church, and I made $175. From there (instead of buying the toy), I paid the $40.00 loan, given to me by my parents, back and invested into my business by purchasing business cards and supplies for baking. I am 15 years old now and having fun expanding my business.

Among my recent accomplishments are being honored with the 2018 Outstanding Youth Philanthropist Award, having August 18 proclaimed as Taylor Moxey Day in Miami Dade County, receiving The President George HW Bush Points Of Light Award, Recipient of the Barack H. Obama President’s Volunteer Service Award for my community service and humanitarian efforts for opening Taylor Moxey mobile libraries in Andros Island Bahamas, Omni Park Miami and in the Arts and Entertainment District of West Palm Beach, Florida.

I am also building my first brick and mortar library, arts and education center on the island of Île-à-Vache, in the republic of Haiti. I also wrote a book, The Adventures of Taylor the Chef, about overcoming obstacles and using the power of creativity and confidence to be anything you want to become and I have a line of daily Motivation cards called MOXIVATION cards. It’s a play on my last name Moxey.

2. What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that?

Overall things have been very smooth. I would say, the biggest struggle along the way I’ve faced is having to make adults take my business, foundation, and what I do seriously. This is usually because of my age. For the most part, I find that it’s more their issue than mine.

3. What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful social entrepreneur?

I think the best qualities of a social entrepreneur requires the following:

Leadership - You have to know how to inspire others by your example.
Creativity and innovation - You have to see new possibilities where others see a problem and think in unconventional ways. Think connections and patterns. For example, libraries aren’t new but how I created them to solve a problem by placing them directly in the communities and using a shipping container is.
Empathy - You have to be able to put yourself in the shoes of others, and imagine perspectives other than your own; this is one of the most valuable qualities for understanding the needs of others you want to serve.

4. What are some of the most important factors for running a successful business?

Enjoy what you’re doing
If not, believe me, it will get old and boring really fast. Your customers will pick up on your lack of care or efforts and it will be a killer to your business.
Know your market
You don’t need to know every aspect but you should have a clear view of how things run, what you make, and how to grow what you’re doing.
Learn, learn learn
It’s important to stay teachable. You are growing and so is your business. Learn from those with more experience and wisdom.

5. What are your tips for first-time and aspiring social entrepreneurs? How can one overcome a hurdle of lack of funds when starting up?

Tips for first-time social entrepreneurs is

Love what you do.
Find gaps where needs are not being met.
Be creative in your approach and address the needs with fun, creativity, and imagination.
Remember, you don’t have to do it all. Learn to build networks by recruiting other people to help you with your cause.
Be sure to secure the resources you need. This will allow you to keep the momentum of your vision going. I started by donating 20% to my cupcake company. After that, we formed a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization to provide ways that others could help and still benefit in the process.
You Can Achieve Your Dreams. Don’t let a lack of finances convince you that you can’t achieve your goals. The truth is that every social entrepreneur, successful or not, starts out exactly where you are today. Those who reach the level of
Their potential doesn’t all arrive there because of deep bank accounts or silver spoon-fed connections. They get there because they seized on their small opportunities until they added up to a big one.