Whitley Telford shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Whitley, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
To me integrity is one of the most important qualities to have . What do you stand for ? How far are you willing to go to get where you want to be ? Would you sacrifice it all if it didn’t morally align? To me my morals principles mean everything . I uphold my self to them and won’t work with or surround myself with anyone or anything that goes against it .
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Amares Sweet Treats wasn’t born out of a business plan, a loan, or a perfect set of circumstances. It was born out of survival.
At one of the hardest points in my life, I was a single mom with no clear way to take care of my son. I had gone through a rough patch, and everything felt uncertain. But I knew one thing for sure — I couldn’t give up. That’s when I turned to baking. What started as a way to support myself and my son quickly grew into something bigger than I ever imagined.
Over time, Amares Sweet Treats transformed from a small idea in my kitchen into a nationwide business. I’ve shipped my treats all across the United States, landed contracts with big names like Mattress Mack, and stood behind tables at huge vendor events with my brand on display. From local customers to clients across the country, I’ve built something I once only dreamed about.
I’m currently working on an EBOOK that outlines everything it takes to start and be successful running a business.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Survival Mode . Survival mode for me has served it purpose . I no longer operate in that space , and for so long it was hard to navigate into the new space I had prayed for – living / thriving. To release survival mode is harder than it seems . When youve been in fight more your whole life it often seems surreal to be in anything but that .
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Something that “suffering” has taught me that success never could is being Resilient. Life will throw so many obstacles your way and just when you think you can’t take anything else . Something else will come . The best teacher In life sometimes is the lesson . We have to go through to grow through . And after each obstacle you will come out of it 10X stronger and if you ever find yourself in that space again you can recycle those same steps that got you out of it the first time .
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I like to think of myself as being very transparent/ relatable . The good , the bad , the uncertain/ uncomfortable, and the ugly . I am very open and vocal about my life and the successes and struggles I go through . I don’t want anyone looking at me thinking I have it all together , because in all reality I don’t . I’m not perfect and I don’t portray myself to be , and I feel like because of that a lot of people can relate to me because they realize we’re more alike than they originally may have thought .
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Procrastinating
