Today we’d like to introduce you to Diamond Anderson.
Hi Diamond, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2015, I graduated from James Madison University, which is often known as the Disneyland of universities. My time at JMU was incredibly significant and life-changing, but I distinctly remember a conversation with a professor that changed my entire life. He doubted me and told me that I was not prepared to go into my field of study as a speech pathologist and that I would be better off choosing another profession. Listening to those hurtful words landed me into a journey that has set me up for so much success and fulfillment.
Coming from a family of educators, I decided to join Teach For America after college as a corps member, which brought me to Jacksonville, Florida. I stayed beyond my two years commitment making my mark as an English educator, instructional coach, and recruiter for Title I schools for over six years. When I entered my professional career, I realized that organization and management were the keys to success for growth but knew that it did not come as easy to others like it did for me. Interestingly enough, right before the pandemic, I attended a virtual assistant conference in Orlando that really set me up for what I wanted to do. I felt stuck and undervalued as an educator and was looking for ways to dive into my passions. At the conference, I learned how to hone my natural skills into a profit, and within months of connecting and networking, All Things Diamond was born!
Managing All Things Diamond has been such a blessing and transformative journey for me! Being a business owner has given me the flexibility and autonomy that I yearned for while still being able to positively impact thousands of people each day. As a former educator, I am always thinking of ways to help guide people into their best selves, and I see that happening with my clients everyday.
If I were to ever see my old professor again, I am sure that I would shock him with my tenacity and resilience!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
ABSOLUTELY NOT. I would be lying if I said that this road to entrepreneurship was a walk in the park. Sometimes I do not know whether to cry, scream, or do both! Lol. I’ve dealt with self-doubt, misaligned clients, imposter syndrome, and more. I think my biggest struggle throughout this journey has been stretching myself too thin. I took on clients that I knew I was not aligned with, compared my progress to other virtual assistants/social media managers, did not create the necessary boundaries that I needed, etc… However, I can say that all of my struggles have turned into lessons for me.
As you know, we’re big fans of All Things Diamond, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am the owner and founder of All Things Diamond, LLC. We are a Black woman-owned virtual assisting agency that supports minority small business owners and organizations with their social media management and general administrative needs. As client relationships evolved, the company grew into a full-service agency for small, minority-owned businesses and organizations. With my small but mighty team, we help manage, grow, and scale social media accounts for other business owners and organizations.
We specialize in learning and understanding our client’s social media needs and creating strategic plans and engaging content to ensure they are growing their business in the way they see fit. We create content, write copy, increase engagement, and more! If we are not dabbling into social media for a client, we are supporting their needs with general virtual assistant support.
As I think about my “first day of entrepreneurship” compared to now, I think I am most proud of the personal growth and self-improvement I have achieved. Entrepreneurship forces you to look deep into yourself, to reflect on your goals, desires, and ambitions, to really understand how you want your journey to look like for yourself. Now, I have a deeper understanding of who I truly am in all facets. Oftentimes, women get characterized as bossy when we are being LEADERS, and I have loved tapping into that energy. I have also loved nurturing the relationships that I have built since launching my business. I have met so many unique yet like-minded people who are in the same work as me – to impact others in the best way possible!
I read somewhere that consistency is the difference between failing and succeeding, and though that may be a bit dramatic, I think it has some truth in it. Your entrepreneurship journey needs to be your journey and yours only, so pick what consistency looks like for you and make it work. I had to learn that early on, and I think that is what sets me apart from others. I do not know everything, but I work hard. I get the job done, and I never quit.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I would not be who I am today without the support of my parents. Hands down, they have helped guide and mold me into the woman that I am today. They have coached me up, given me wisdom, and shown me that even in the spirit of doubt – there is no need to be weary. Besides them being my parents, they are truly some of the best people ever. My tribe of family and friends is DEEP. Without a doubt, my family and friends keep me level-headed, as they act as my sounding board for so many things. They have been my biggest advocates and supporters, even when I am faced with tough decisions. My friends have been so crucial to my success and growth. They have played simple yet meaningful parts in ATD’s growth. They have put my name in rooms that I am not even in, which is more than a friend could ever ask for. Lastly, I have a powerhouse team behind me that helps my business run with little to no kinks. My team, Vanessa, Joi, and Glorious, are some of the BEST and most resilient women that I have met. Without my family, friends, or team, ATD would not be where it is today.
Contact Info:
- Email: allthingsdiamondllc@gmail.com
- Website: www.allthingsdiamondllc.com
- Instagram: @allthingsdiamondllc
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/allthingsdiamondllc
All Things Diamond is always accepting new clients!
Image Credits:
Myisha Kinberg (Captured By Keameera)
