Author Regina Beck  | Photographer Erica Nichole

"HEART AND HUSTLE" 

 Since she was an adolescent she dreamt of becoming a successful business owner. Seeing her family continuously struggle, she took various steps trying to change their circumstance. Through multiple failed business attempts, she failed forward, learned from her mistakes and created one of many successful brands - one of them being 'Just Pray.' 

"Who would buy these for $9.99 if I sold them?" KD Griffey said, posting on her Instagram story. "Only 50 available." That post was all the confidence she needed - because between her family and friends, she sold out of them within the same day.

The previous lessons learned through business, paved the way to take 'Just Pray' to the next level. From taking marketing courses, to making a website and creating social media accounts - she was not only ready to launch it so the world could see, but inspire other entrepreneurs as well. 

 Remaining resilient and having a clear vision towards her mission, KD recounts trying to maneuver through the business world with all the odds stacked against her. "Id go on long walks and speak my future into existence. Id say "I am open and ready to receive an infinite flow of abundance - then id replace the word abundance with other words like success, wisdom, wealth, & patience," KD said. "I just knew that I could make it all come true, whenever life knocked me down - I got back up swinging." 

 Learning how to market, negotiate and deliver was a process within itself for KD. A lot of money went down the drain and she almost gave up multiple times. "It was like I was literally right there - I could visualize my brand blowing up and sales coming in mentally, but I just couldn't get there for some reason" she said.

 "It wasn't until I used the resources that were available to me - Inexpensive courses, articles, and A LOT of YouTube videos." "I made the mistake paying  thousands for courses, and it wasn't worth it." "The biggest lesson I learned was - DONT BUY OUT OF EMOTION, it helped me find free resources or inexpensive ones to help grow my brand." KD said. 

 Being raised on the west coast also helped KD Griffey with her mindset, a true pure hustler at heart. She never gave up, even when she wanted to. "I literally went through every emotion within my business ventures, every emotion - the only difference between myself and others... is I didn't give up." 

 KD has built businesses that went from being valued at single digits and within less than a year, built it to over 6 figures. The resilience and killer instinct to never lose, always compete, and strive to get better in every area will remain within her - no matter what happens in life. If you go through life with that mindset, anything is possible. She is planning to take 'Just Pray' to seven figures while continuously inspiring anyone that has a dream to bet on themselves 100% of the time. 

"The game will test you, never fold. Stay ten toes down. Its not on you, its in you - and what's in you, they can never take away." - Nipsey Hussle