We had the good fortune of connecting with Eboni Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eboni, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The single most important decision I made that contributed to my success was staying true to who I am. Creating a business while completely being myself is extremely rewarding and people can relate to the authenticity. I create custom doormats with funny, edgy quotes. Many times it is things that we are all thinking but too scared to say out loud. My slogan is Let Your Doormat Do The Talking because with my company you can set the vibe of your home right at the front door! I am an introvert that can appear shy and quiet in unfamiliar environments however I have a strong opinion and will express myself when I feel the need. My brand gives customers the opportunity to express themselves without saying a word so that guests entering will know what to expect when entering their home.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is my business Kicky Mats and we create custom doormats. The thing that sets Kicky Mats apart from others is we create mats that you can’t buy in the normal store. These are far from boring welcome mats and allow customers to express themselves with their doormat in any way they please. I am most proud of being featured on Beyonce & The Oprah Winfrey Network’s websites, two of my biggest inspirations being black women from humble beginnings like myself. These features both changed my life and business. I got to where I am today by being consistent and not focusing on the money. I knew I had walked into an element of my purpose and as long as I kept going, my business would one day elevate. I am still elevating honestly I don’t think that ever stops if you remain purpose driven. Was this process easy? No! Lol if it was easy, everyone would do it. Was it worth it? Absolutely! To overcome challenges, I honestly go into things following my first mind and knowing that no matter what I will either succeed or learn, it’s a win either way in my book. Throughout my journey I’ve learned that trouble doesn’t last always and you can always pause and reset to get things back on track. I have also learned to priorities my mental health and self care. One thing I want the world to know about me and my story is if I can do it, you can too. We all have a special gift inside of us, I hope I can continue to inspire and be inspired.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite spot in the city is Kicky Mats honestly! My studio is opening soon and I have put my heart and soul into every piece of it. Shameless plug? Eh maybe but I stand firm in this being Houston’s next hot spot!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person that deserves credit and recognition in my story is EASILY my dad. He helps me so much with my business on a daily basis and plays many roles. I learned recently while decorating my new studio that I got my creative eye from him. There are times I get overwhelmed or just can’t figure things out and he is always right there to assist me. As a entrepreneur its so easy to sit back and not ask for help and suffer in silence because you feel like no one will understand; I thank God for my Dad because he make sure that isn’t my story. I am forever grateful for him,

Website: kickymats.com

Instagram: instagram.com/kickymats

Twitter: twitter.com/kickymats

Facebook: facebook.com/kickymats

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