Nakia Stith, Top Of The Clock, Talks Creating A Successful Business Blueprint

PHILADELPHIA - Jan. 12, 2015 - PRLog -- According to TheRoot.com, African Americans starting a business grew 3 times the national rate, however, the challenge was staying in business longer than five years. Nakia Stith is a woman on a mission to change those statistics, while challenging Black Business owners to create, build and foster a legacy blueprint for future generations. As President and CEO of Top of The Clock (www.TopOfTheClock.com), Stith featured in Business Week, Black Enterprise (cover story) and Madame Noire Business has worked to transform a generational business once in the red into a thriving company offering top-notch security and personal safety management to corporations, banks and government housing.

Founded in 1991 by the late Gregory Stith, Top of The Clock is a family-owned business. When Nakia’s dad grew ill from kidney disease, she inherited the responsibilities of Top Of The Clock, along with its six-figure debt while in her mere 20’s.  In 2002, she assumed the role of President/CEO, rescued the business and turned a profit within 3 years. Nakia Stith credits her degree from the prestigious Morgan State University and the legacy training from her dad as the catalyst for helping her press reset on the business. Stith says, "I wouldn't have believed I could do this. I could never have imagined it. One thing I do know—my dad was so hard on me when I was young, he was so intense and he would always say, 'This is preparation.' And I would say, 'What are you talking about?' But I look back, and it all makes sense now."

Nakia Stith Talks Steps To Building A Success Family-Owned Business:

1) Value is king. We don’t value black business and it’s critical that our brain is retrained to experience life differently to compete and stay relevant. Recognize that your business is just as significant as your white counterpart.

2) Customer service is your bread and butter. Top of The Clock (TOTC) would differentiate itself with its customer service from the competition. I personally wrote the rules for how the guards operate; from how they greet visitors to the order of the phone calls they make in case of an emergency. Customer service still remains a priority.

3) Failure is okay, if you learn the lesson. It is difficult and sensitive for a business to fail however necessary to grow. You have to understand the value of failing quickly so that you can do it right the next time.

4) Legacy building is important. It is important to build wealth and have a business go on from one generation to the next. Wealth building does not happen from having a 9 to 5, it happens when the leaders at the helm forecast and anticipate the needs of the marketplace while reinventing the brand/business.

5) Make a decision based upon the health of your business. When Carol’s Daughter, Lisa Price, recently sold to L’Oreal, it was because she (had) exhausted all possibilities to take her brand/business to the next level. Yes. Consumers become attached to small/organic brands (Burt’s Bees, Carol’s Daughter) however; the CEO must decide what’s best for the life cycle of the company/brand.

6) Create and attract the best team. Don’t be afraid to recruit the best and brightest person to join your team. Recognize that you can compete and land talented employees.

Quick Business Building Tips:

1)    Trust your gut each time.

2)    Make certain that you have advisors/business coach to guide your decisions.

3)    An excellent accountant (CPA) is crucial and necessary to stay in business.

4)    Pay your taxes.

5)    Go after a line of credit before you need it.

6)    Research traditional/non-traditional ways to generate funding (Credit Union, Kickstarter campaigns).

7)    Promote your business by any means necessary.

Learn more about Nakia Stith, the personal security expert and Top Of The Clock (TOTC), (http://topoftheclock.com).  To schedule a media interview with Stith, contact Karen Taylor Bass, kt@taylormademediapr.com, 917-509-3061.