Empowering with Erica: Michelle Sprott, The Brunchnista

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If you are a millennial like myself, you have found a love and passion for brunch. You see, brunch isn’t really a meal as much as it is an entire vibe.  
No matter your ZIP Code, brunch includes dressing up, relishing mimosas and bellinis with your tribe, all while devouring avocado and french toast. 
I recently had a chance to chat with Michelle Sprott, founder of ‘The Brunchnista.’ Brunchnista is an online digital platform that is passionate about the pursuit of the brunch lifestyle every day, not just on a Sunday. Amongst friends and family, Michelle is the go-to for all things beauty, fashion, and brunch.

1.What was your journey like, to get to where you are today? My journey was filled with years of doubt and second-guessing myself, which led down a long road of self-sabotaging.  I had the idea for my brand, Brunchnista, years ago, but I was very hesitant to start it.  So I sat on the idea for many years, filling my iPhone with ideas.  My analytical brain took me back and forth between: Would anyone care about Brunchnista?  Does this [Brunchnista] make sense?  Finally, in 2017, I promised myself that I would launch the brand or that I would never talk about the idea again.  After hearing a friend talk about her entrepreneurial journey and saying that “if you don’t do your idea, it will jump out of your head and into someone else’s,” I started to get nervous.  I began to think about how upset I would be if all the notes and ideas that I had been building for years, jumped into someone else’s head, and then that person implemented it!  That thought shook me to my core, but it was just the motivation that I needed to launch my brand, and I have been building and growing ever since.

2. What inspired you to launch Brunchnista? My inspiration for Brunchnista was simply built out of my lifestyle.  I love to eat and connect with people.  I love to dress up and have a good time — what I like to call “twirl.”  I simply love brunch, as many other women do.  And when I researched the space, I realized that there wasn’t a voice from a woman of color in that space, and I felt that I had something unique to say.  So, why not?

3. As creativities, we get burnt out.  What do you do to stay creative?  I give myself the freedom and room to step away from it all, even if it’s a week or a month.  I allow myself to step away and recharge and refocus so that I can take care of myself.  I’m still in the early stages of my brand, so I do manage a lot of roles.  It can be overwhelming at times, but taking care of myself is very important to me, and I try to make sure that I am listening to my body, heart, and mind.  When things are out of sync, I do my best to recenter myself.  So when I bring that balance back, the creativity just flows more gracefully.  However, it starts with self-care, both physically and socially.  I always say that brunch is social self-care.  It involves just having fun with the people you love.  For me, it helps me stay creative and excited about new ways to interest and excite my audience about ‘brunching.’

4. In a world that isn’t always authentic, how do you manage to stay authentic and transparent with your audience and content? I manage to stay authentic by showing up every single day as me: the good, the bad, and the ugly.  I think that’s one thing people forget about social media, is that it’s social.  I show up online as the same person that I am in real life.  When I can’t give my best, I step away and try another day when I can.  My brand is an extension of me and my life, so that is what helps me with authenticity.  What you see is what you get, in real life and in URL form.

5. What is your favorite quote and why?  “Goals have no expiration date.”  Like I said before, I sat on the idea of Brunchnista for a long time. But every day I look at my brand, I prove that quote.  It’s never too late to start!

6. A lot of people are leaving their 9 to 5 job to pursue full-time entrepreneurship.  What tips would you give any individual, before they leave corporate America?  I would say don’t quit your 9 to 5, until you have enough money to start your own business, especially during these tough economic times.  Let your day job fuel your passion.  One of the toughest things about being an entrepreneur is how costly it can become when you start building.  Make sure that you have a sure-fire way to monetize your business before taking that leap of faith. I would suggest at least six months of steady income, before you crown yourself as a successful entrepreneur.  Once you do that, then start thinking about that exit strategy. 

7. What would be your last meal?  I’m pretty boring when it comes to dinner, so that is why I love brunch and breakfast so much.  It’s where I give myself the chance to be adventurous.  My family is Caribbean, so my last meal would be a Caribbean breakfast with saltfish, johnnycakes, ackee, and callaloo with cornmeal porridge and an avocado salad for good measure, with a tall glass of sorrel. spiked.

8. What exciting things can we expect from The Brunchnista, in 2020? I had so much planned for 2020, but given the current climate, I am going to listen to my audience and see what challenges they are experiencing and see how I can be of service to them.  So much has changed for us as a culture and people, due to coronavirus.  It’s important as an entrepreneur to be able to pivot and reassess.  I will continue to share the best trends, in real life and virtually, about the brunch lifestyle through food, home, etiquette, self-care, travel, and fashion, with my followers so women can feel empowered to live their best life. 

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