Meet Amber Staples, the beautiful wife of Tennessee Titans Linebacker Justin Staples. This proud Chicago native attended the University of Illinois where she met her prince charming, and this past spring they recently wed in the windy city in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by their family and friends. Every bride or bride-to-be knows that planning a wedding can be so stressful and overwhelming, but little did Amber know that planning her wedding, would be a gateway into her professional passion.
When and where did you and your husband first meet? What is your greatest joy about being married?
Justin and I met in college during our freshman year. We immediately connected as friends, and Justin was the strong shoulder that I could lean on for just about anything. Even as friends, I always felt a level of trust and comfort with him. Now that we are married, the greatest joy resides in the fact that I married my best friend. I can talk about anything and be whoever I want to be with Justin, without fear of judgment. The friendship we built our relationship on set a strong foundation for us and allows us to accept each other unconditionally. There is no one else in the world that I could ever imagine being with. He is my soul mate and God made us for one another.
When did you decide to pursue your dream as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to pursue this journey?
When I graduated from college, I immediately began working in corporate America. As my relationship with Justin and my career progressed, so did my work travel and work responsibilities. One of our toughest transitions occurred while planning our wedding. Throughout the planning process, anxiety and stress crept into our relationship. I was going crazy trying to work full time and plan a wedding for 200+ guests. To preserve my sanity, my then fiancé, encouraged me to take a small break from work until after the wedding. During this time I took on a few freelance opportunities and continued doing marketing for some of my clients, however this time, it was on my own time. It felt great to be able to manage my schedule and be in control of the amount of work that I accepted. This inspired me to build my brand and pursue my dreams as an entrepreneur. There was no way that I’d be able to return to corporate America and return to being micro-managed. It was time for me to be my own boss. I always refer to myself as a creative butterfly, and it was time for this butterfly to soar.
What advice would you give any woman trying to accomplish her goals especially women in the NFL life?
My advice for any woman chasing her goals is to just do it. So often we find ourselves making excuses for why something was put off until tomorrow, and then tomorrow turns into next week, which turns into next month. Do not put off your dreams until to tomorrow on what you can start NOW. No one is going to accomplish your dreams for you. Even if it’s just baby steps, you have to start somewhere or you’ll go nowhere.
What are your ultimate career goals?
I am currently working hard to make the “Stapled” brand a powerhouse marketing service. My ultimate goal is to expand this brand to open doors in many different avenues, including but not limited to the wedding and medical industry.
How do you balance supporting your husband and supporting/ chasing your own dreams? Is there ever any guilt, frustrations, added stress when juggling both of your hectic schedules?
As women in the NFL, it is very easy to lose sight of your own goals, while helping the person you love chase theirs. However, I am and always will be a wife first. I was raised in a very traditional household and I understand the importance of a strong family. I also know that the foundation of a strong family begins with a strong wife. There have been many times where my dreams were paused to insure that I was supporting my husband's career. A prime example of this is when my husband was released from the Cleveland Browns and the next day immediately signed with the Tennessee Titans. I was left with relocating our family all the way to Tennessee. Of course it was hectic, stressful, and overwhelming, and there were many moments where I wanted to get upset, but then you realize that this is what you signed up for. I made a vow, in front of God, to stand by Justin’s side, through all of the trials in life. There are millions of athletes fighting to be apart of this league. The NFL will not last forever, and it’s important that you take advantage of this opportunity while you have it. Sometimes that means that your dreams may have a slight delay, but Justin always tells me that once this NFL roller coaster is over, he will do everything in his power to make sure that I can fulfill my dreams too. It’s always important for me to remember that Justin does not want to hold me back from my dreams. He is my number one support system, and would never get upset because I want to pursue my personal career goals.
What advice would you give to Newlyweds?
Put your marriage first. Marriage is not easy, and Justin and I always make sure to put our marriage first. We have date nights every week and always make time to talk to each other at the end of our days. Communication is vital in a successful marriage. We compare notes, discuss who irritated us, and what accomplishments we had for the day.
How has creating and launching “theweddinglifeline” inspired you? What would you tell other women that may be interested in pursuing a similar path?
theWeddingLifeline is a beautiful thing birthed from stress and frustration while planning my own wedding. I did not need nor want a full time wedding planner, however, there were moments when I needed help with mundane yet necessary task like sealing invitation envelopes and finding vendors. Throughout my moments of stress it dawned on me that brides, like myself, need a lifeline.
Life Mantra or favorite quote.
“Nothing good comes easy.”
Growing up, my father never allowed us to use the word “can’t”. His favorite thing to say was “can do, will do, but no such thing as can’t do." Looking back, there have been many opportunities where I could have taken the easy road. I could have given up or settled for something that I know I’m worth more than. If I had taken the easy road, there is no way that I’d be where I am now; career wise, mentally, and spiritually. I am who I am today because of the obstacles that I have overcome. They have made me wiser, stronger, and a woman that not only my family is proud of, but I am proud of too.
Follow Amber Staples @amberroxie in her journey as “Stapled, LLC” and theWeddingLifeline continue to run and thrive.
