Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Mays.
Sasha, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I first started out in 2015, I just had a cell phone and selfie stick and I hit the streets of Houston. I received my first sponsorship check from African Imports Houston. Although I didn’t have a film crew at the time, local businesses and the people of Houston understood the show and what it was about. I am a vessel and my name is Sasha Nicole Mays, the Host, and creator of HOUSTON ON THE MAP. I was born in Houston, TX with the opportunity to live in different areas of Houston, with a very diverse background. My mother is from Raywood, TX and my Father is from Brenham, TX, both small country towns. I lived a life that allowed me to see what it is like to be in need. I’ve watched my mother survive abuse from my father and my grandfather, forcing me to grow up at a very young age. After seeing your mother covered in blood, running towards the car with one shoe on, from my grandfather beating her with a shotgun, it changes you. You want to be the person to do whatever you can to help.
Although our household wasn’t ideal, I come from a huge family full of love. I received my first job at the age of 15 workings at the YMCA as a camp counselor, and I’ve been working ever since. I received the opportunity to work in the field of Oil & Gas in Inside Sales, Compliance and Contracts. I have a wonderful son by the name of James from a marriage that did not work due to domestic violence, but through it all I didn’t give up, I knew that God was molding me for something great! God is using me to create this company because I know what it’s like to struggle. I’ve experienced living in a shelter as a child and in a tool shed in the back of someone’s house with six people and one toilet. In the midst of it all, the house was filled with joy, with the sounds of our handheld radio listening to the football games. I even know what it is like to live in my car, having nothing but a bag of clothes. God has brought me through more than people could imagine, and I made a promise to God that I will allow Him to use me and do whatever I can to make sure that others don’t have to experience the same. So, through this process, I want to spread the love, joy, and peace of God that lives in me, helping others along the way. I want HOUSTON ON THE MAP to share their success stories and the trials they’ve faced along the way, and as a result, encourage others to be Houston Strong and strive for their goals as well.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As soon as I got started with my business I lost someone who I looked up to as a father, my uncle Roy. I never experienced losing a parent, and he was the closet thing to it. I’ve been to funerals but never had to pick someone’s clothes out, let alone, having to clean up where their body was. I lost a lot during the process of getting started, and I honestly only almost gave up. But I continued to talk to God and ask Him to keep guiding me. People need to remember that things will not be perfect, or be exactly the way that you want it to be but keep going no matter what. The things you face prepares you for something so much greater, it makes you stronger so that you can help others along the way!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into HOUSTON ON THE MAP story. Tell us more about it.
HOUSTON ON THE MAP is a marketing company in the form of a SHOW, marketing with a twist! We meet people from all backgrounds. We not only want to learn about your company, talent or service, but we want to know about your testimony! So, when everyone is watching you can help someone else continue to strive for their goals and dreams because the obstacles you have overcome! HOUSTON ON THE MAP is a show created to highlight the best people, places, and things-to-do in the greater Houston, Texas area! According to Best Cities, Houston ranks in the top 10 of metropolitans in the country. This methodology was based on information that looks at the quality of space, reputation, and competitive identity of an area. This show provides a forum for the “Houston Strong” voices to be heard. Everyone starts from somewhere and has a story that deserves to be told. That’s where we come in; HOUSTON ON THE MAP is a vessel allowing God to use us to provide a pedestal to the great residents of Houston. Whether a business is new, pre-existing, big, or small getting their name out is key. Connecting Harris to Fort Bend, Spring to Pasadena, and all Houstonians to one another provides insight on what everyone has to offer and creates a family foundation. Matthew 10 “…Give as freely as you have received” NLT.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Today women are more open to doing exactly what they set their hearts out for. The thing is not allowing the media to sway your judgment on which path you should take, nor should you allow others to make the way for you. Today, you have to make your on an opportunity, create your own lane, the lane that God has placed in your heart, and the right things and people will fall into place. A lot of times we find ourselves knocking on the door to an empty building. But, if you put yourself in the right frame of mind, the right door can be the start of building your own legacy! I remember before starting my company I’ve always had a passion to help others through the form of entertainment. But, I was in a position of starting over in life, and it seemed like the doors I was knocking on was leading to nothing but dirt piling on top of the hole I was in. I applied for a job, after job, after job, and still nothing. I even had companies welcome me aboard as if I had a chance, only to find out a week later they decided to go with someone else. So, one morning while laying in bed I just started to give God thanks for everything that I had, everything that I was going through and I asked, “tell me exactly what you need me to do” and then, my spirit was filled with getting my company DBA and things went from there. I was already filming, so why not do exactly what I love to do while helping others through my own company. It’s important to remember that your first thought is God leading you to the right opportunity, and the second thought is the flesh, turning you away from what could be the opportunity in your life!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.houstononthemap.com
- Phone: 7133315459
- Email: sasha.mays@houstononthemap.com
- Instagram: sashan.mays
- Facebook: sashan.mays
Image Credit:
Makeup Artist: Kenisha Bell IG: MarionJohnaBeauty, Dontae Kinney T-Walk Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
