We had the good fortune of connecting with Kish Brooks and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kish, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It all started with Hinge and a failed situationship! I got tired of mediocre conversations on dating apps that led nowhere and, I also realized that I’d spent the past 4 years with someone and didn’t really know them. The thought was 1) How can I entertain myself on these dating apps and make genuine connections and 2) How do I make the difficult conversations with “my person” easier to navigate. That’s how Rated Relationships was curated, over 100 questions that are fun, engaging, and insightful. The end goal is building deeper connections within your relationships, whether with your partner, friends, family and of course with yourself.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have a background in CX Management. The experience I’ve gained throughout the years has helped me show up for my own customers. It has prepared me to communicate, empathize, and curate a pleasurable experience for anyone who shops Rated Relationships! The simple things make an impact: Addressing people by their name, handwritten personalized letters, and proactive communication when there’s an issue! Working with customers everyday has taught me that the people build your brand, and you have to nurture those relationships.
As far as challenges building the Rated Relationships brand- whew! Where do I start? There always seems to be the need to pivot, aka “figure it out.” Building a community and assessing the content your audience wants to engage with, marketing outside of social media, and working with different personalities have been most prominent. However, these challenges have helped me not only go harder and strategize more intently but to look in the mirror and understand how I’m showing up to the outside world and how I’m showing up for myself.
What do I want the world to know about my brand? Building deeper connections and curating pleasurable experiences with others first start with the relationship you have with yourself! I’m always preaching “Healing through self-reflection.”. Rated Relationships embodies not only your relationships with the outside world but the relationship with YOU!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
City Centre! The people are vibrant! The scenery is beautiful! There’s so many food options- cocktails at McCormick & Shmicks and their Brown butter pineapple cake! Anything at Yard House- especially the nachos! And Bella Green! From the outside you’d think “it’s ok” but the fish tacos, the carrot cake! Also for a great Chai Latte and some yummy crepes try Sweet Paris. It’s a one stop shop for shopping and food! What more can you ask for?
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a shoutout to one of my close friends Shikira owner of Moonshine Skincare- an anime inspired bath, body and home brand! Through this entire journey (and some in the past), she’s been an ear to listen, a source of encouragement, and my “what do you think about this” buddy, and she brings me down to earth when I’m doing the absolute most! I don’t believe in best friends but I’ll say she’s one of my ultimate faves!
And of course I have to give a shout out to my mom, she’s my foundation.
Website: RatedRelationships.com
Instagram: @therisforrelationships