As a flight attendant and member of a marketing company, Tierica Berry was doing well for herself from the outside looking in, but she wasn’t as content as some may have thought. She wanted to empower women to reach their full potential, so she began writing books, but she wasn’t scoring satisfying sales. That all changed when she met Hotep, founder of business program Hustle University, which eventually led her to writing the go-to guide to self-improvement, Hustle and Grow Rich.
Berry’s book is a compilation of the greatest lessons she learned after she left her jobs and got involved with Hustle U. Those lessons helped her sell more books; start a literary arts organization, Affirmative Expression; and become a sought-after speaker. She says that these teachings worked for her because of the emphasis on action, a step to manifestation that Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich and other new-age self-help books were largely missing.
The author spoke to rolling out and explained why she was compelled to put a necessary, up-to-date spin on Think and Grow Rich, why Hustle and Grow Rich is a must-read, and more.
What inspired you to write Hustle and Grow Rich?
Almost three years ago, I was at a point where I wanted more out of life, but I was comfortable working the job I had. During this time, I met Hotep, president and founder of Hustle U, and took him on as my mentor. Shortly after, I lost my “comfortable” job, and my desire for more became a need.
I asked Hotep if he could help me. He told me to follow his direction for six months and I will be in a completely different place. For six months, I followed his directions, and I was blown away by the results! I had learned so much, and most of it was just a shift in mindset, followed by immediate action, or “hustle!”
I was extremely grateful, but Hotep told me I didn’t have to pay him back, rather, pay it forward. I began doing my best to spread this gospel and to let people know that you are one idea, one person, and one action away from seeing the breakthrough of your dreams.
Naturally, when Hotep asked if I could think of a few lessons that I have learned during my time with Hustle U, my response was, “Of course — how many do you need?” And this was the birth of Hustle and Grow Rich. I began writing lesson after lesson all centered around this counter cultural movement that, “Thinking about it just isn’t enough …”
Let me be clear, we support books like The Secret and Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. But after you have prayed, said your affirmations, and put sticky notes on your mirror, pick up your copy of Hustle and Grow Rich to learn how to take action and make your dreams a reality.
Describe some of the process of putting the book together and getting it published.
While writing this book, I identified 33 of the most important lessons that I have learned during my time with Hustle U. I wrote this book in a very practical way so that anyone can pick it up and understand how each lesson has played out in my life and also get tips on how to use it in their own lives. We also had the privilege of incorporating the lessons from other disciples of Hustle U so readers can hear what other successful entrepreneurs have learned.
I do one on one author coaching, so the publishing part was a breeze for me. The book was published by Hustle U.
What is the most important principle in Hustle and Grow Rich?
I always hear that different chapters stand out for different people. The one I hear the most from others is the chapter on being busy vs being productive. However, my favorite lesson is the one about opportunity cost.
Opportunity cost it the cost associated with taking advantage of one opportunity over the other. I don’t want to spoil the chapter in the book, but I want to share the question Hotep asked me when he was introducing me to this concept.
“How long does it take to come up with a genius idea?” he said.
I hesitated and replied, “A split second … a moment.”
He said, “Exactly! How many genius ideas are you wasting on things that have nothing to do with your mission, goal and your purpose?!”
What other books have you written?
Hustle and Grow Rich is my third book. The first two books were books of poetry for young women. The most popular book is Butterfly Tales: Motivating Stories of Transition for Young Women.
Are you working on writing another book right now?
Yes. It is an emotional development workbook titled Unpacking the Emotional Suitcase.
What are five good to know facts about you?
1. I have a passion for empowering women of all ages to reach their full potential.
2. I am a poet and spoken word artist, and that is how I got my start as a highly paid speaker.
3. I am an Emotional Development Specialist, and I help young ladies “unpack their emotional suitcases.”
4. I do author coaching for youth and adults.
5. Some of the women that have paved the way for me include: Maya Angelou, Phylicia Rashad, Angela Christian (my mother), and Andrian Berry (my nana).
What are your top two favorite books, and why?
Besides my own, my top two favorite books were actually both written by Hotep.
1. Keep it Moving: Sometimes I get distracted from my goal, as we all do, but Keep it Moving helps to steer you back on the right path with tips like “Don’t fret about things you can’t change” and “Stop trying to guess peoples reasons, motives, and intents.” I’ve gotten to the point where I will say these things out loud, and it truly has helped me to “keep it moving.”
2. The Hustler’s 10 Commandments: After I read it, I began looking at the commandments as secret tools in my arsenal, and I challenged myself to use them strategically throughout the day to accomplish goals. I would use them in personal and professional settings and at the end of the day, review how many I used that day. The fact that it actually worked was the most amazing part, and still to this day, I use them to my benefit.
Get your copy of Hustle and Grow Rich here. Learn more about Hustle U by visiting hustleu.org.
