We had the good fortune of connecting with Tiffani Sahara and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tiffani, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I think at heart I’ve always been something on an entrepreneur. I was always trying to make friendship bracelets and sell them to my classmates or other various arts, crafts, or drawings as early as middle school. If you had asked me what I wanted to be when I was a little girl, I would have told you “an author and an illustrator”. Unfortunately, I had one particular art teacher who told me I would never amount to anything, I had no skill, and I would never be an artist. I believed her and nearly gave up on art after that. Life, as it sometimes does, took me in other directions as I got older. I went to college, changed schools, changed majors, changed jobs and even after college, couldn’t quite find the right fit. I went back to school several times to try to find my niche in the world. I got licensed as a massage therapist and opened my own business for a while. While I genuinely enjoyed being my own boss, there was still something missing. So I went back to school again. I am currently working in the medical field as my ‘9 to 5’, which I find deeply meaningful, but I don’t see it as my forever job.
It’s always been a dream of mine to publish a book, but I kept putting it off. “Someday I’ll write a book.” Ultimately, I never really believed I was good enough, so I never went for it. I’m not sure exactly what got into me, but I just woke up one morning (March 14th 2021) and decided I was sick and tired of putting off my dreams. I was going to start TODAY. I started writing my first novel then and there. I am in the editing process now and on track to publish in 2023. I’ve partnered with two of my close friends to start our business Blacksteel Press. All three of us have so many creative ideas that we want to produce, from novels to comic books to table top gaming guides, and more. We’re going to use Blacksteel Press to make these things happen.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I would consider myself still a fledgling artist and author. I’m on the cusp of publishing my first book and I’ve had my art displayed in two gallery shows. I’ve accomplished these things by just taking a risk and going for it, even if I didn’t believe I could be successful, I kept putting in the work. I would (and continue) to ask myself, “Is this something that someone who is a successful author/artist would do?” If the answer is yes, then I go for it, even if I don’t feel ready.
For me, it was definitely not easy, and I’m still working towards making art and writing my full time career. In that sense, I have by no means achieved my goal yet. I would love to write epic fantasy novels, create cool comic books, and make fine art for a living, and I genuinely believe I’ll get there. The hardest part about making progress on your dreams is just taking the time to do it. Books like “Poke the Box” by Seth Godin and “Do the Work” Steven Pressfield can be inspiring and motivational. You really just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and do something every day that moves you closer towards your goal.
The best way I know to overcome challenges is to have a good support system, a mentor, and a stubborn attitude. What I mean is you need at least one person in your corner who will cheer you on no matter what. This person will be with when you cry, let you vent, and then gently put you back on your feet and send you back on your journey. A mentor is invaluable in terms of helping you shortcut your learning time by teaching you from their own mistakes. Lastly, you need to be stubborn. You’re not always going to feel motivated. You have to do the work anyway. The most successful people I know create a habit of taking time to work on their endeavors. It is consistency and the willingness to stick it out that will get you where you want to be, no matter what your goal is.
If there was anything I want to tell the world about my story, it would be that you can achieve your dreams too. It’s never to late to start, and if I can do it, you can do it. When I make progress on my book, I feel absolutely giddy inside. I’m so happy! Six year old Tiffani is down right ecstatic that next year I’m going to accomplish our dream of being a published author. I feel like I’ve genuinely found what I’m supposed to be doing in life. If you don’t know what that is for you, don’t give up, keep looking. Don’t settle for something that makes you unhappy in life. If you’re like me and you’ve found your calling, but you can’t take the leap yet, put in the work! It’s not too great a task and you can move mountains if you really try.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh man, where to start? There is tons to do Denver. I think most people come to Colorado for the mountains, so friends visit from out of town they usually want to go hiking. Red Rocks Amphitheater, Garden of the Gods, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Pikes Peak, Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park are all about a day trip away from Denver and great to experience. In terms of big attractions Denver Art Museum, the Denver Botanic Gardens, and the Museum of Nature and Science. (I’m a bit of a nerd and museums are kind of my jam.) For entertainment you can find some hidden gems like the Bug Theatre, which puts on fun stage productions, as well as small museums like the Molly Brown House. Some great places, drink, or hang out are Blue Sushi, Lowry Beer Garden, or Fruition. Some more unique experiences might be dining at Domo which is a martial arts school and restaurant or having High Tea at the Brown Palace.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As cheesy as it sounds, I wouldn’t be where I am today without my husband, Nick. He supports all my crazy dreams and believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself. He is my absolute rock. Next are my writing mentors Dustin and Phil. They have kindly, patiently, expertly guided me through the process of writing my first novel as well as supported me through the emotional roller coaster that is writing a book. I would never have had the courage to finish my first draft, or whether the storm of my second draft if it wasn’t for them. They’ve taught me so much about story craft and helped me really believe that not only could I write a book, but I could write a good one as well.
Website: www.blacksteelpress.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanisahara/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fliffani
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TiffaniSahara/featured