A Fearless Lesson from a Start-Up—Manifest Your Dreams

It was the summer of 2019. I remember sitting in the front window nook of one of my favorite Baltimore hideaways, Dovecote Cafe. 

The sun was in a playful mood, reflecting off the screen of my slowly dying laptop. Every now and then a summer cloud would hang close to defend my honor. The space was warm and inviting, with “A Tribe Called Quest” playing through the loud speakers.

Dovecote Cafe, May 2019 | (from left to right) Dionne Joyner-Weems, Kasaun Tianna, Aisha Pew/owner, Jason Weems, and Cole/owner.

“Can I get a hit?

(Hit!) 

Boom bit with a brother named Tip and we're ready to flip

East Coast stompin', rippin' and rompin'

New York, North Cak-a-laka and Compton Checka-checka-check it out!”

It had been 9-months since I had become the Founder and Chief Energy Officer of my consulting company, Audacity Group, which is a boutique brand shop for bold ideas. And, let me tell you something, as a mother of three boys, starting my own company required the same grit, perseverance and love it took to bring my sons into the world--and I have twins!!

I took a deep breath and centered myself. I knew I had chosen the perfect day to be in the cafe. I felt good and my peach cake was on fleek. 

(Can food be fleek? Well, it was on that day!)

Dovecote Cafe, The upside-down peach cake features buttery yellow cake and generous slices of peaches layered on top.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a tall Black man with long locs walk casually to the front counter. He had the form of a linebacker. 

“Ayo, what’s good, sis?!”  It was Aaron. It’s always a treat to bump into Maybin. Interestingly, that’s usually how it works in Baltimore. Sometimes you don’t even need to schedule a meeting because you’re bound to run into a person you have been thinking of.

I had just eaten the last caramelized corner of my second slice of cake. I turned with a smile. Aaron walked over, “So, I heard about your company. Congratulations on that”, he said with genuine excitement.

Dovecote Cafe, Jubilee Celebration, June 2019 (feat. Aaron Maybin-Center, Michelle Antoinette Nelson-right, Jason Weems-left)

“Thank you!”, I responded. 

“So, what’s your plan?”, he asked matter-of-factly.

Damn! For a second I felt like I was a finalist in a major business pitch. Aaron seemed grossly interested. And, I could tell immediately that he’s “a forever learner”...like me.  

I shot straight. “I mean, I’m good at marketing, and I love branding, so I’m going to use my gift for storytelling to help spread the word on the transformative work people are doing in our communities. You know, like you...and other folks who I admire.” 

Baltimore City Public Schools, May 2018

I paused to see if he was still following along. He gave me the “slow nod” and “curled lip” that signals to the speaker to keep flowing.

I continued, “...I will support the bold ideas of people and organizations who are committed to the necessary work of uplifting others. And, then, I’ll help them tell their story.

By now, I was so revved up, I was carried away in my dream. “It’s like that African Proverb”, I said. “Until the lion learns to write, the story will always glorify the hunter.”

Fearless Sports is a high-quality, casual streetwear line that uplifts social innovators who are committed to change.

Aaron looked at me and listened intently. When I was done, or out of breath, he paused and clapped his big hands together loudly. It felt as if the entire cafe jumped.

“Man!” he said deeply. “I love it. That sounds dope. And, so many of our folks could really use you,” he said, shaking his head in his own acknowledgement. “But, here’s my question”, he looked at me with sincere earnestness. “How are you going to eat, since it’s those same people who aren’t in a position to afford those kinds of services?” 

Baltimoreans keep it 💯!

Baltimore Business Journal, Feb, 2021

Aaron spoke as a man who understands firsthand the unseen struggles and sacrifices that come when you are driven to be a servant leader, especially in major urban cities like Baltimore. He was speaking reality.

Now two-years later, that conversation stays with me. It’s a reminder of the “Fearless Audacity” that is required for a human being to get up every day and dedicate themselves to solving the problems that most people overlook, ignore, or simply don’t care to understand.

And, it will take that same “Fearless Audacity” to tell their story right.

Fearless Sports | Black-Owned Start-Up Apparel Company Dedicated to Social Change

You can only imagine how a sistah feels right now to have an opportunity to use my passion to build a brand that “backs the doers”!

That reminds me, “I need to give Aaron a call.”🤩

#FearlessTogether