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Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch---Naturally
Miss Jessie's is a memoir and business guide rich with inspirational life lessons and unique business advice from Miko Branch, the Chief Executive Officer of the dynamic Miss Jessie’s — the company that revolutionized the hair care industry.
When Miko and her sister, Titi, were children, their grandmother, Miss Jessie, taught them independence and showed them the value of being “do it yourself” women, all while whipping up homemade hair concoctions at her kitchen table. As co-founders of Miss Jessie's, Miko reveals how she and Titi applied those lessons to create a successful business from scratch.
A family memoir with a wealth of practical business advice and handy hair tips, told in Miko's funny and relatable voice, Miss Jessie’s is her remarkable story — from her childhood learning independence as a latchkey kid in Jamaica, Queens, to building a highly regarded company with her sister in their shared home salon in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Miko reflects on her hard-won insights working for her autocratic, iron-fisted father, and how the self-sufficiency she learned in childhood helped her blossom as a single mother with bills to pay, a child to raise, and a dream to pursue. She speaks honestly of her mistakes and successes, and of her role as an industry leader, negotiating multi-million dollar deals while at the same time restoring the self-esteem of natural and curly haired women.
Charming and enlightening, chock full of entertaining stories and invaluable instruction that can be applied to any business, and illustrated with 16 pages of photos, Miss Jessie's confirms that with effort the American Dream is possible.
When Miko and her sister, Titi, were children, their grandmother, Miss Jessie, taught them independence and showed them the value of being “do it yourself” women, all while whipping up homemade hair concoctions at her kitchen table. As co-founders of Miss Jessie's, Miko reveals how she and Titi applied those lessons to create a successful business from scratch.
A family memoir with a wealth of practical business advice and handy hair tips, told in Miko's funny and relatable voice, Miss Jessie’s is her remarkable story — from her childhood learning independence as a latchkey kid in Jamaica, Queens, to building a highly regarded company with her sister in their shared home salon in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Miko reflects on her hard-won insights working for her autocratic, iron-fisted father, and how the self-sufficiency she learned in childhood helped her blossom as a single mother with bills to pay, a child to raise, and a dream to pursue. She speaks honestly of her mistakes and successes, and of her role as an industry leader, negotiating multi-million dollar deals while at the same time restoring the self-esteem of natural and curly haired women.
Charming and enlightening, chock full of entertaining stories and invaluable instruction that can be applied to any business, and illustrated with 16 pages of photos, Miss Jessie's confirms that with effort the American Dream is possible.
- GenresBusinessNonfictionMemoir
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 10, 2015
I read a pre-final edited galley copy. This is s great and deeply revealing read. I have been inspired to get my career and ideas in action. Miko's warmth and natural love shines through in the book.
Titi and Miko changed the world. This book is s chance to see how it all happened.
Titi and Miko changed the world. This book is s chance to see how it all happened.
February 7, 2023
I read this book in 2017 I believe, and was very excited to get the book considering I’ve been a customer of the brand, and like both Miko and Titi as entrepreneurs as well as their personalities and passion. This book gets personal starting with their parents to the authors childhoods, then early adulthood to becoming hairstylists then full blown businesswoman who become owners of a hair product company in an at the time niche area that wasn’t catered to in the mainstream beauty industry. Miko and Titi Branch were born to an African-American father and Japanese mother. I like that the book reveals how the company got its namesake from their gandmother Miss Jessie who they both admired, loved dearly and was a huge influence in their lives. Miko and Titi didn’t have an exactly smooth road to success as far as their relationship, actually starting a business at one point put them at odds with each other. Thankfully, they put both of their differences aside and joined forces again to create a groundbreaking brand.
This book is a great read for anyone who seeks to be an entrepreneur should read this book to gain an insight of what it takes to create a business, especially if it involves your family. However, anyone can read this book and I believe they’ll find it to be an inspiring read the way I did.
The only issue I saw with book is that there are some things that were unnecessarily repeated multiple times, other than that the book was a good read.
This book is a great read for anyone who seeks to be an entrepreneur should read this book to gain an insight of what it takes to create a business, especially if it involves your family. However, anyone can read this book and I believe they’ll find it to be an inspiring read the way I did.
The only issue I saw with book is that there are some things that were unnecessarily repeated multiple times, other than that the book was a good read.
October 13, 2015
In the preface, Ms. Branch demystifies some of the traditional concepts to be a multimillion dollar company such as needing a MBA, money to transition into a business, contacts, and/or loans or find investors. She exemplifies that it is not so much about a money enterprise but the authentic reflection of what you stand for. She adds your unique life stories into your business dreams. She has given jewels of inspiration to aspiring business or entrepreneurs.
Be the best representative for your brand! You have to dress, act, and have manners because it speaks highly about your self-worth and also has a direct impact on your [business] relationships.
With trends, what works for you and disregard the rest. With your challenging experiences makes you a better [business] leader; we also have to understand the sacrifices as well as the rewards of becoming an entrepreneur.
"may be short on many things in business and still succeed but you can't even be short on passion."
She also states know when it's time to make a change. We have to discern or be alert to the right moment for making a leap because nothing holds you back more than clinging to the safety of status quo (and add complacency).
What I gathered from this reading: do you pay attention to your "failed moments" to catapult you into your successful season?
Wrong path can lead to your motivation. Right thing seems to be the easiest revelation.
Be the best representative for your brand! You have to dress, act, and have manners because it speaks highly about your self-worth and also has a direct impact on your [business] relationships.
With trends, what works for you and disregard the rest. With your challenging experiences makes you a better [business] leader; we also have to understand the sacrifices as well as the rewards of becoming an entrepreneur.
"may be short on many things in business and still succeed but you can't even be short on passion."
She also states know when it's time to make a change. We have to discern or be alert to the right moment for making a leap because nothing holds you back more than clinging to the safety of status quo (and add complacency).
What I gathered from this reading: do you pay attention to your "failed moments" to catapult you into your successful season?
Wrong path can lead to your motivation. Right thing seems to be the easiest revelation.
September 5, 2017
Okay, so before I share my thoughts on how incredibly inspiring this book is, I want to mention how irked I am that they have the title listed incorrectly on here (I scanned the barcode on the back of the book and this is the title that popped up even though the image of the book's front cover says something totally different); but I digress... LOL.
I've heard of the Miss Jessie's brand but haven't had the pleasure of using any of their products. I am also fully aware of the passing of their co-founder, Titi Branch. Still, I was interested in knowing how the Branch sisters got their start, so I borrowed their memoir from the library. Their story is very inspiring even for people like me who don't have a small business of their own.
These sisters hustled their butts off to accomplish their professional goals (they literally setup their own manufacturing & distribution center in the basement of their brownstone). Given the instant gratification age that we live in, reading about this level of ambition and hard work is refreshing, especially for those of us out here who understand that consistent success requires rolling up your sleeves and being willing to learn & do everything. I'd love to hear Miko Branch speak in person one day in the future.
I've heard of the Miss Jessie's brand but haven't had the pleasure of using any of their products. I am also fully aware of the passing of their co-founder, Titi Branch. Still, I was interested in knowing how the Branch sisters got their start, so I borrowed their memoir from the library. Their story is very inspiring even for people like me who don't have a small business of their own.
These sisters hustled their butts off to accomplish their professional goals (they literally setup their own manufacturing & distribution center in the basement of their brownstone). Given the instant gratification age that we live in, reading about this level of ambition and hard work is refreshing, especially for those of us out here who understand that consistent success requires rolling up your sleeves and being willing to learn & do everything. I'd love to hear Miko Branch speak in person one day in the future.
May 24, 2015
As an entrepreneur myself, I enjoy reading about others' forays into the world of business. Miko and Titi had an amazing story to tell! While the copy I received had not been fully edited yet, it still contained enough of the basic premise to make me want to recommend this book to many women out there who are entrepreneurs (or aspiring ones), as it is nice to know that you aren't alone and we all face difficulties on our paths. I enjoyed learning about their products and how they were able to make things work without the need to heavy amounts of financing or loans. Great read (and great way to promote their product, which I of course started considering for myself!).
April 23, 2015
I loved the personal narrative, and voice, of Miko Branch! I felt like she was talking to me the entire time; telling me how she went from her early stage salon, in her apartment, in Brooklyn- to on the shelves at Target- and featured countless times in beauty industry media bubbles. I highly suggest reading this business tell-all if you are creating an innovative and scalable product- and trying to break into the retail world!
June 20, 2016
Took about two weeks to get through this book. Overall I liked it. Something felt a bit off about only one of the sisters writing it, and I couldn't quite get over that feeling the whole time I read it.
I did like the details about their background and how their family influenced their future. I was inspired to start my own business but also cautioned and informed to take it slow and be my own best advocate.
I did like the details about their background and how their family influenced their future. I was inspired to start my own business but also cautioned and informed to take it slow and be my own best advocate.
June 16, 2016
Love love love this book! Even if you aren't trying to build your own business, it's very inspirational!
May 13, 2016
This book was nothing short of inspirational. I love her easy prose and candor. Not only a good read but very good ideas and advise for new and aspiring entrepreneurs. LOVED IT!
December 6, 2016
Great Book..
Learning from others on their stride to build a great business.
Learning from others on their stride to build a great business.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews