Peta McCalla has always been a Dreamer, even prior to the term being used to describe children brought to the United States by immigrant parents. Peta McCalla is also a dreamer in the visionary sense. Little did she know, her dreams would be the driving force in becoming the woman she is today.
Where It All Began
As a little girl in Jamaica, Peta-Gaye McCalla’s daydreams of America included streets paved with gold, the scent of Irish Spring soap wafting through the air, and a joyful reunion with her mother who had gone ahead of her to build a life for her and her brothers.
When Dreams Become Reality
Once in the States, Peta-Gaye quickly learned that faith, vision, and hard work would be the tools necessary to succeed. Although McCalla had other plans, beauty school appeared to be the path toward a perfect life.
The Secret
As a hairstylist, Peta-Gaye often motivated the women who sat in her chair to push through their life traumas with faith. Little did these women know, Peta-Gaye was living in fear and relying on faith herself. Behind closed doors, Peta-Gaye was secretly facing the expensive nightmare and trauma of immigration red tape and running from ICE.
Time For a Change
“I usually know it’s time to make a change when there is a whisper or a gentle nudge that I
hear or feel inside. We can often miss if we are burdened with being busy or feeling unprepared.
As with anything that’s aligned with our destiny, that nudge or a sign will show up again in order
to progress. After that whisper, my first steps usually come naturally, as God will often order my
steps. It’s just a matter of being mentally prepared and obedient to what is being said”, stated McCalla.
The Hustle
“Financing my dreams usually occurs on a dime or small budget. I started off working in a
shop so I developed a trade that created income. Then, I was doing hair in my apartment without
much overhead, which lead to more income. Other things I have done include working extra hours and utilizing credit”, stated McCalla
” I used to think I needed more and things had to be perfect. I have now realized, from my humble beginnings, that I have what I need in my hands and keep reinvesting
Peta-Gaye McCalla
what those hands generate. There is always something in the store house saved up. I just have
to dig deep.
Q: When Did You Realize You Needed To Share Your Story?
A: The point that I realized my story was worth telling was when I understood that no one, not
my kids or my clients or some of my friends, really knew why I worked so hard. I was tired of
hiding my truth, pain, and reality as a black woman, an entrepreneur, and an immigrant trying to
overcome so many obstacles to get a green card.
5 Tips On How To Pivot
“Pivoting isn’t easy. I had to quickly learn that it’s what’s needed in order to survive in any
industry”, stated McCalla. Here tips on how to pivot are as follows:
- Understand your clients needs and show up with new products and knowledge based on
that. In other words, stay current and watch the trends, but be sure you are addressing
the needs of the clients vs. trying to go with a trend that doesn’t suit their taste or needs. - Add value to your client’s new norm. Shampoo and hair molding stories taught some of
my clients how to maintain hair care during the pandemic. Bundled hair products helped
them achieve it. - Automating helps to free up time and relieves anxiety and frustration. Online purchases,
online appointments, and automated emails help a whole lot. - Hire young mentees. It helps so much with branding (and marketing.) They have
different eyes and understand the workings of social media differently. Different is the
key word. Plus, it takes another task off your plate. - Find a mentor. It keeps you accountable and helps clarify strengths and weaknesses to
help your pivot go more smoothly.
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