Meet Chakita Hargrove | Therapist, Administrative Strategist, and Publisher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chakita Hargrove and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chakita, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I didn’t know that I would be starting my own business; as I child, I wanted to be an orthodontist. I knew that I was pretty good at writing and organizing, but I didn’t think that either would become businesses.

I won my first writing award in the 2nd grade and became published the same year. I was more so excited with the pen I received than anything else.

I noticed in college that I became the person whom people called upon to serve as the administrator of events and groups whether I was a part of or interested in the group/event or not. It was something that always came easy for me, and it never seemed like work. I realized that a lot of my time was being consumed, so I decided to monetize my time. When I graduated and got my first job, I realized that working a structured 9 to 5 was not for me and that I needed to work for myself; set my own schedule.

In 2007 or 2008, I had a dream about writing a book. I woke up remembering the name of the book and the chapters in the book. It was in 2008 that I sat down to intentionally write the book from the dream and I completed it in a week. I self-published it, and I didn’t think more about it until I was contacted by a 5th grade teacher from Georgia who informed me that their student brought the book in to read, and she wanted to know if I could publish her book. And that is when the publishing company started.

None of the businesses started because I was intentionally out trying to start them, they started because people were reaching out to me for a need or want for services.

What should our readers know about your business?
I do quite a bit. On top of being an entrepreneur with a publishing company (www.heartinkpress.com) and administrative business (www.chakitahargrove.com), I professionally work as a psychotherapist with a counseling and consulting business (www.freshwindcounselingllc.com). I enjoy everything that I do, and I do it by choice. What sets me apart from others is my personal experiences that fuel my passion to do what I do. I don’t get lost in comparison because no one has my story but me which motivates me to show people how to use their story to live their purpose and monetize it.

Getting to where I am professionally and in business wasn’t easy. It took a lot of education and hardships (i.e., trial and error financially and relationally). I overcame the challenges by learning from experiences, being consistent, not taking things personally, being quick to pivot/adjust, creating a strong accountability and vision team, self-care, being assertive, and most importantly integrity in my faith. I’ve learned the power of my “no” and sticking to my worth. I believe that many people who start a business get caught in the trap of providing services for free and at a discounted rate for family and friends which isn’t healthy because it doesn’t require family and friends to be supportive and honor your worth, time, and services.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love trying authentic foods from various cultures and the restaurant being a full experience. I’m not the one to stay in the city, I want to drive out of town and treat it like a mini vacation so I can have a time of self-care. It’s a way for me to get away from the environment (i.e., city or county/counties) I primarily work in. I’m always down for a waterfront.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d have to say that my shoutout is dedicated to my father; the late Carlton Jerome “Big Dog” Crayton. My father was big on education and helping others, he was also an entrepreneur. I can say that I got my entrepreneurial drive from him as well as his care for others and the importance of education.

Website: www.chakitahargrove.com

Other: https://linktr.ee/chakitahargrove