Today we’d like to introduce you to Dwayne Woods.
Dwayne, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Ms. Lucille Challenge, 87 Day Challenge Foundation. I’ve always had a passion for fitness and my community. Primarily playing basketball and running track from little league community centers into in high school and some college. I played basketball in college (Volunteer State Community College). I did not continue to play while attending Tennessee State University. I decided to focus more on my academics. However, I completely fell off the fitness wagon during graduate school. In 2014, I gained so much weight that I didn’t recognize myself anymore, so I decided to make a change and got a trainer. Timothy Knott of LaVergne, Tennessee, changed my life and got me re-engaged in my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.
In 2017, my life changed drastically when my grandparents (paternal) had a really bad accident and need more assistance, so I relocated from Nashville, TN, to my hometown of Memphis, TN, to become their caregiver. Shortly after moving home, my grandmother (maternal) Mrs. Lucille Bernard passed away aburtly at the age of 87. She was very instrumental in my upbringing, my family and my community. During that time, I was extremely depressed and my only safe haven was exercising. I continued exercising everyday and sharing it on social media. The continuous exercise led to the idea of working out 87 consecutive days and the #MsLucilleChallenge #87DayChallenge was born. Shortly after, I start selling t-shirts to help build awareness and share the movement. Quickly, participants from all over the country started to do the challenge as well. The shirt sells started to do very well and I decided to donate 100% of the proceeds to Mrs. Lucille Bernard’s church home (Greer Chapel AME Church).
We also created the Lucille Bernard Memorial that focuses on community outreach in the North Memphis area. Since then, the challenge has grown drastically. Facebook has reached over 600 members around the country. The goal is to continue to inspire people through fitness and give back to my community simultaneously. In 2019, I relocated to Houston, TX, for a fresh start and this has given me the opportunity to tap into a new market and continue to grow this amazing challenge. The rules are simple, you can start at anytime. Do some type of exercise everyday for 87 consecutive days with no days off (if you miss a day, you have to start back at Day 1), and share it on social media to help build awareness. T-Shirts and participation medals are available for anyone that is interested.
IG: @mslucillechallenge, FB Group: #MsLucilleChallenge #87DayChallenge
UH Marketing, LLC – My line brother (business partner, Brandon Moragne) and I created UH Marketing, LLC. UH, Marketing focuses on managing social media channels and web design for small businesses. We started this business in 2014 to help our chapter, Hendersonville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. The chapter’s pages grew quickly, ultimately resulting the new revenue. Shortly after, we saw an opportunity and created the company. Since 2014, we have continuously managed social media outlets for many different clients. Our greatest accomplishment to date is the websites we created and the awards we have won from those websites. We had absolutely no knowledge of building websites prior to starting the business. Our chapter requested we do a website for them, so we decided to give it try. Since then, our the website we created (www.hvillenupes.com) for the chapter was three regional websites of the year awards and one international website of the year award. My business partner still resides in the Nashville, TN area and I relocated to Houston, TX, in 2019, however, we are still are operating and growing our business.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Ms. Lucille Challenge – The road to starting this challenge has not been easy. Exercising 87 consecutive days while being a caregiver and working full time requires a lot of planning and sacrifice. The challenge got off to a really slow start and getting people started to buy into the vision. Having friends that supported the vision and my emotional health has help make the obstacles a lot easier. Start up cost was expensive but necessary.
UH Marketing, LLC – The biggest obstacle we have faced is obtaining and keeping clients. We have made a lot of mistakes with contracts and pricing at the beginning. However, through those mistakes has help us with better contracts and pricing. We do month to month contracts because of our target marketing being small businesses and foundations. Clients tend to sign up for a few months however only a few can afford to maintain the price of our services long term. We have had the opportunity tap into new markets since as Memphis, TN, Houston, TX, all the way to San Diego, CA.
Please tell us about Ms. Lucille Challenge Foundation and UH Marketing.
Ms. Lucille Challenge – Fitness through consistency and community outreach. What sets this challenge from others is the encouragement from others in the group. No matter what walk of your fitness journey that you’re in, you are welcomed in this challenge. This challenge has help many people meet their fitness goals. What makes me most proud is seeing others around the country saying my grandmother’s name through fitness and the ability to give back my community, which is in dire need of positivity.
UH Marketing, LLC – We specialize in digital marketing and web design. I’m most proud of our growth and our ability to get the job done no matter the circumstance. We are equally proud of the websites that we have created and the awards that we have won. What sets us apart is our ability to meet our client needs. We are available 24/7 for our clients to assist or answer any questions/concerns.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as doing what truly makes me happy and helping others in process. I’ve always understood success as happiness and the money will follow. I was told if I’m doing what makes me happy then it doesn’t feel like work. Setting and accomplishing my goals is at the top of my criteria list and give me a sense of fulfillinment. Another part of success is the success of other around you. Your family, friends and community. True success is making others around you successful as well.
Pricing:
- Ms Lucille Challenge – T Shirts ($25) – including shipping
- Ms Lucille Challenge – Medal ($25) – including shipping
- Ms Lucille Challenge – T Shirt & Medal ($40) – including shipping
Contact Info:
- Website: www.uncharteredhorizons.com
- Email: mslucille87@gmail.com
- Email: uncharteredhorizons@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mslucillechallenge
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncharteredhorizons/
- Facebook: Ms Lucille Challenge – https://www.facebook.com/groups/185726231973455
- Facebook : Unchartered Horizons Marketing, LLC – https://www.facebook.com/uncharteredhorizons/?ref=bookmarks
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