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My guest today is Rhonda Shear. You may remember her as the host of Up All Night. She has come a long way from her start as a beauty queen to a lingerie mogul. She’s here today to share her journey to success and the challenges that come with it.
[01:02] From Beauty Queen to Lingerie Mogul
Rhonda started her journey in beauty queen pageants. She has always felt that you need to follow the direction that’s given to you. She was Miss Louisiana and ended up auditioning for an episode of Happy Days. This gave her the “Hollywood Bug”. She was 19 at the time and her parents told her she had to finish school before she went to Hollywood. She ended up becoming the first and youngest woman to ever run for office in New Orleans.
She auditioned for Up All Night and they were looking for someone sexy and funny. Rhonda went to her audition over the top and it led to her scoring the role. Once that role ended Rhonda’s high school sweetheart reached out to her. This sparked her curiosity and the eloped 3 weeks later.
They started their lives from scratch. He was a serial business owner which gave them the idea to start their own business. Rhonda was faced with many questions on how she will be successful in a space she’s not familiar with. Her response is that no one will provide the style of work that she can. This goes for everyone in business. Each of our styles is unique and hold value.
[09:05] Designed with You in Mind
Rhonda launched a lingerie company. She kept with a design comfortable for all shapes and sizes. This started by Rhonda designing something for her own needs. She struggled in the beginning but reinvested everything she earned into the business. Suddenly she began receiving backers who had been against her before. She’s now designed items for famous and successful people.
Rhonda has received accolades and an outpouring of appreciation. They make women invigorated and comfortable in themselves and what they’re wearing. The passion Rhonda has poured out into her products.
[17:42] Stay True to Yourself
Rhonda has faced many challenges on her business journey. She found that she was being pushed into something that didn’t feel like her. One of their buyers wanted a more sexy and sleek product and Rhonda agreed. Her sales began to drop during that time. She now has a strong stance towards not selling any products that she does not believe in. As an entrepreneur, you need to stay true to yourself and your product.
As growth came around the banks weren’t behind them. They reached out for credit to help themselves. The bank was blown away by how much they self-financed. They were granted the credit and now use it with a healthy balance or self-financing.
[21:24] Up All Night
No is a word that Rhonda heard a lot in her life. Her journey of being a beauty queen and how she looked seemed to control her path. She wanted to share her journey with women and wrote a book “Up All Night” detailing this. Men have loved reading her book as well. She’s not preparing for a stand-up comedy tour to promote her book.
The book has life lessons that any entrepreneur can apply to their life.
[26:12] Rhonda’s Bucket List Item
For the first time since Rhonda has been in business, she’ll be going to Europe for a month. She’s also learning to play golf and play harder.
Episode Outline
[01:02] From Beauty Queen to Lingerie Mogul
[09:05] Designed with You in Mind
[17:42] Stay True to Yourself
[21:24] Up All Night
[26:12] Rhonda’s Bucket List Item
Follow RHONDA
Follow Rhonda Shear @RhondaShear
