Hello Faithful Reader. Here is another spotlight:
We all have life to be thankful for. This edition of Bird's Eye View
with Robin Mills will showcase Tyrone Bragg, the founder of S.T.O.R.E
for Autism and Sore Thumm Clothing. Bragg is a prime example of how to
move past poor decision making processes. We must embrace the art of
reinvention. It is crucial that we do not allow moments that steal our
joy or break us down to define the course of our lives. As long as
there is life in us there is always another chance. Life can have its
way with us. Let us all remember that there is no shame in switching
lanes and trying different roads or avenues. Change is a part of life.
Our worst enemy is fear. Be fearless in your efforts to evolve and
grow into the person you were destined to become.
Some people are born with a natural knack to paint, others a natural
knack to cook....well Tyrone Bragg was born with a natural tendency
toward hustling. Tyrone Bragg was raised in Wilmington North Carolina,
where he discovered his passion for entrepreneurship. In middle school
Bragg was known to sell candy he had purchased specifically for the
purpose of resale. He was not born with the proverbial "silver spoon
in his mouth," and like so many teens before him, Bragg embraced the
street life as a means to sustain his family. You never can know what
makes a person do whatever it is they do. To hear Bragg tell it....Life
was hard. His Mother was sick and he did what he felt he had to do
because he was good at it. He's been to jail a few times and was not a
long term resident in prison....but he went to prison just the same.
Guns and Drug and Consequences slowed him down. What life doesn't beat
out of us, makes us weaker or stronger. Tyrone Bragg is the epitome of
the Come Back Kid.
There are countless intelligent black men caught up in a cycle that
often leads to jail or death. It is so easy for one bad decision to
alter chosen paths. One such incidence took place while Bragg was
attending college at Shaw University. There was fight. The result was
an expulsion from Shaw University that caused Bragg to take a good
look at his choices.
Bragg confesses, "I was young and intelligent with a spirit of death,
and I was in survival mode. Life hardened me long before college. One
fight changed everything. I was studying African American history
because I had been introduced to some information that compelled me to
want to know more about my heritage. Even though it seemed that the
bottom had fallen out, I still understood the importance of higher
learning. I went on to become a licensed barber in the state of North
Carolina and have obtained various certifications. Through it all I
knew I wanted to own my own business.
In 1997 I came in contact with the owner of KP'S Clothing. It was the
first time I had ever seen a Brother owning and running his own
successful business. It changed my life forever. He showed me the
ropes, as it related to all tasks required to keep a successful
clothing business afloat. I was a sophomore in college at the time. I
ultimately became a vendor for KP'S clothing. Mind, you this was while
I was in college.
That experience built my knowledge and confidence and was the gateway
to me open my first business called Flava4Days. I specialized in
limited addition boots, sneakers and T-shirts. Business is trial and
error. Each time we step out on faith in our abilities we grow and
learn. I've evolved from Flava4Days to Earth Worm to Carolina Kids and
the result of that path has led me to create Sore Thumm, Inc. with
Jacques Beatty, Shawn Smith, Robert Flood, and Damian McCormick. I
feel I have enhanced the productivity of the market with professional
and life skills learned along the way. "
When asked what three jewels he would bestow upon the masses if given
an opportunity to share information that would better mankind, Bragg
had this to say,
"I would tell the people to cherish their heath because health is
wealth. I'd stress the importance of passing down an understanding of
the importance of higher learning to our youth. It's not enough to
simply attend school. It is crucial that our youth learn a trade that
will keep them gainfully employed....and finally....my advice it to live
life to the fullest because we are not promised tomorrow."
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