We recently had the chance to connect with Shakeena Melbourne and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Shakeena, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day starts with meditation, a short prayer and reading the Bible. Next I review my schedule to understand what to expect for the day along with what to wear for example if I am leaving my home office and going to file documents with the Courthouse, a suit to attend a court hearing or business casual to meet with a client. After that I get dressed, and start the coffee pot. Due to the fact that I have a home office and an away office, I will decide what needs to be done and the best method to do so. I drink coffee, eat breakfast and start with checking emails to make sure no client emergency emails or court emergency emails have been sent, Lastly, I will review the to do list that I started from the day before and do my best to get as much started before the staff starts at 9am.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Shakeena Melbourne and I am the Principal Attorney of Upton Law PLLC. Upton Law PLLC is a boutique law firm in Detroit, Michigan that specializes in business, bankruptcy and real estate law. Our company comprises of a team of 5 people that includes legal assistants, paralegals, and attorneys. Our goal is to do our best to help small business owners or potential small business owners with the need of a financial fresh start, business strategies, business resources and legal support. So far, we currently have a social media presence on Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook and a YouTube Channel to further educate our clients and potential clients with the quick and easy access to information on each of our speciality areas. We offer easy and user friendly access to book appointments to speak with our team online, zoom or phone and we offer payment plans to further assist our clients and potential clients with budget friendly services.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is the relationship I have with my mother. She is a fighter, a warrior and someone that simply refuses to give up when times are hard she found ways to work around it, when times were tough she found examples and spoke with friends to find a solution to the problem, when she was questioned about her decisions she prayed to God and found reassurance. My mother is simply resilient. And watching her as a child growing up she rarely complained about anything but if she did complain she was on a journey to find a solution and never saw a problem or issue too big that she could not handle or find a way to solve it. And I hold the same mindset today. Nothing is too big or too hard that cannot be solved. First, I must find the problem/issue. Second, accept that there is a problem/issue. Third, find a resource, a friend, an online search to find out what options are available to solve the problem/issue. Lastly, make a decision on how to solve the problem and then stick to the decision that was made.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Never stop trying. So many people along the way quit school, quit their jobs, quit their great relationships, quit their businesses because they were afraid, they saw a problem/issue and thought the best way to address it was to walk away. But young Shakeena I will tell you this, keep dreaming, keep striving, keep trying because hard work never gets unnoticed. Working in and on your God-driven purpose will allow you to see the world, visit over 30 states and several countries, open a thriving business, complete all of your schooling, hold one of the highest degrees a Masters in Corporate and Finance Law (LLM), become a homeowner, find valuable friends and business relationships and know that you will be remembered and never forgotten for the amount of time and effort you give towards community outreach. The best is yet to come!
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would really say matters to me is helping people and caring more about their thoughts, their work and their home lives more than myself. I am truly passionate to help a family that has children where the parent(s) is looking for a financial fresh start (bankruptcy) direction for a business venture, business structure or business strategy and how my knowledge can assist in real estate law. I truly believe that the law is my ministry and I can use the law as a catalyst to help solve an individual’s problem to if nothing else, help him or her sleep better tonight. By sleeping better he or she can wake up with a clearer mindset, a clearer heart, a warmer spirit, be a better friend, a better mate, or a better parent.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop procrastinating on writing the books I have in my head. I believe that books and the public library will be the best place to hold my legacy. Books have no time frames. Books on strategies and business aware may need to be updated over time but for the most part, books are essential to our day to day living, growing and scaling as individuals. And if I knew I had 10 years left I would write as many books as I could about the 3 areas of law that I hold near and dear to my heart (business, bankruptcy and real estate law) to give short handbooks and starting points to new and current business owners who may need just a little extra guidance to keep them going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.uptonlawpllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uptonlaw_pllc/
- Linkedin: https://www.facebook.com/Uptonlawpllc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShakeenaMelbourne
- Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shakeena_melbourne?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Shakeena Melbourne
