Amber J, best known as the modern-day holy hippie, and a true woman of God, discusses how she allowed her faith to lead her to launch a life-changing radio show and soon introduce a black-women-owned bee farm to the world and honey company.
Can you tell us more about who Amber J is?
I’d like to think I live a very simple life. I enjoy a good meal, a clean house, and those jokes that make your head hurt from laughter. I love the Lord, and I consult him about everything, and that is how I make it day-to-day.
You are currently in the process of launching a black-owned, woman-owned bee farm and an all-natural honey company called “Bee Strong Honey.” Can you tell us more about it and why you chose this name?
Yes! Bee Strong Honey was born out of a random conversation at work! I did not want my love for people to become tainted with the pandemic, politics, and policy. So, starting this company was my way out while still being able to do what I love, serving God’s people. The name stems from a scripture, Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” For me, that is a promise of God that had sustained me when things got hard and heavy in my life. So, with that, I want my company to stand for and on the promises of God because it is the only sure thing that we have in today’s world.
Most people are afraid to interact in any way with bees. So how do you have such comfort and ease with interacting with them?
It’s kind of funny! I relate to bees because they only sting when they feel in danger. Some species are more aggressive than others, but their discernment level is impressive. Knowing that, I always make sure that I’m calm and unbothered when I deal with them because I would want the same from anyone else when dealing with me. I love bees, and they are the hardest workers in the world, and I just wanted to support them.
How will your company stand out from the rest with so many honey brands out already?
I’m looking to stretch honey’s nutritional and medicinal value by teaching people what it can do. Most people often use honey for tea, but I hope that people use my products for almost everything.
Many women who hold the title of a mother consider that to be a full-time job. Yet, you found a way to incorporate that into a brand. How did you take something so natural and say, I want to make my being a mom into a brand?
For me, motherhood had nothing to do with me and everything to do with my son. I prayed and asked God how to raise the person he gave me because I didn’t even know what day he was coming into the world. So, my style of mothering correlates to my trust in God. It’s not always easy but trusting in God is so natural that I want all mothers and parents to experience that. Motherhood became easier to maneuver once I put all my trust in the Lord.
Can you tell us more about this journey and how it came about?
The mindset I had in customer service was always that I was serving a child of God. So, taking that mindset and expanding it to even more people via radio was somewhat strange. I did not think that my voice had a place in people’s daily lives. When the world shut down in 2020, it seemed like everyone’s aggression heightened, and I wanted to put a smile on as many people’s faces as possible. With radio, I’m able to do that and more!
Can you tell us more about your show “Get Lifted” and why you started it?
We air every Wednesday on f2gradio.net at 6 PM CST. I battled with depression, anxiety, and fear of the future in my life, and I knew that people were suffering and fighting the same battles. When I was younger, I did not have anyone I could go to for help, so I ended up in a cycle of bad decision-making. I don’t want someone to go down the same or similar path. I want people to know that there is a God who can heal that and bring you to a place of peace. This place of peace exists to move you into a God-intended future that is greater than what you ever expected.
What advice would you give moms of any age that want to start a business?
You must carve out time for yourself. Yes, children can be overwhelming at times, but you have to make an effort to get at least 15 to 30 minutes of mommy time when the kids are around. I made my business plan while my son watched the Lion King. That’s 90 minutes. You must be wise and use the time you are afforded until you can schedule that time out and add it to your routine.
Being an entrepreneur and mother of a toddler, how do you successfully balance business, family, and personal time?
I pray about everything, and I don’t waste time. I make sure that I pray about my day to know what he needs from me at that moment or throughout the day. The Bible says there is a time for everything, so I aim to live by that. I set a to-do list but, above all, my son comes first. Some days are all about work, but I make sure that meals are always together, no matter what. My son has different needs, and I always want to ensure that those emotional, social, and spiritual needs are met. God continually helps me make time for what I need and want to do.
Knowing the importance of taking personal time for yourself, can you tell us a couple of things you do to relax your mind and enjoy some personal time?
I love watching shows like The Office to relax! It’s my go-to. Other than that, I’ll try some new recipes and make my son help.
What would you like our readers to gain from this interview?
It’s okay to be weird! It’s okay not to know everything! It’s okay to love again! It’s okay to share the ugly parts of your story because there is beauty in it!
How can our viewers follow you and what you have coming up next?
You all can follow me on Instagram @ello_operator. If you want to be kept up to date about the launch of Bee Strong Honey, you can email beestronghoney1.9@gmail.com, and if you have any inquiries about the radio show, contact info@f2gentertainment.com
Photo Credits: @Proshotsraphael
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