How a Young Entrepreneur Keeps a Positive Attitude In a Tough Business World

When talking to Jamila Smith, the young entrepreneur who created the eco-friendly streetwear line, Be Th3 Change, an old saying comes to mind. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Smith has struggled to make a go of her line, with even two failed Kickstarter campaigns under her belt. But that hasn't stop her. 

Be Th3 Change is not the only proverbial iron Smith has in the fire. At one point she worked three jobs. In November, she quit one of them, and the beginning of the year,  quit another. She had been working three jobs in order to set aside money and put it into her business account. On top of all of that, she is a single mother. 

After taking a vacation in Jamaica, she felt recharged. “I have to focus,” she told herself. She decided to add a hat to her designs. The only trouble is that she couldn’t find a manufacturer. Smith sets high standards for her streetwear. They must be eco-friendly and made in the USA. 

Photo: Be Th3 Change

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Gina-Marie Cheeseman is a central California-based journalist who writes about sustainability, environmental issues, and healthy living. With a degree in journalism and a passion for social responsibility, she writes for a number of online publications. She believes that collaboration between the public and private sectors can help solve many problems facing the planet and its people. Mashable.com named Cheeseman as one of the “75 Environmentalists to Follow on Twitter.”