What inspires you to show up at work every day?
Most days, I am jumping out of the bed with the sunrise and to pay homage to my fallen heroes, my ancestors. My purpose-filled mission is much like my heartbeat; it’s to infuse positive generational impact in 10 million lives.
Because of visionaries like AG Gaston, Madam CJ Walker and my great grandmother Georgianna, my inspiration is a conglomerate of the champions that have walked the earth. These individuals were committed to a legacy of character, conscious, compassion and of course, cash.
I am inspired by their stories and the stories that my future grandchildren will tell about me.
How did you determine your career path?
Ironically, life determined my career path. Entrepreneurship chose me at the age of 12. I launched a hair care business from my mother’s garage in tangent with mobile childcare services. Even with cheerleading and the honor roll requirement, I amassed funds of $10,000 toward my Spelman tuition. Then, my sophomore year, I completed a grassroots marketing campaign to raise $10,000 to study in Argentina for six months.
These were the experiences highlighting my career path. Marketing, profit and loss statements, cultivating relationships were pivotal. However, I yielded to the societal trend of graduating and working on a corporate platform. Just a few years later my comfortable life, which was just re-entering business ownership, was turned upside down.
My career path hit the most grandiose hurdle of my life. It was layered with the real estate market crash, the life-threatening conditions of my mother, father and grandmother, and the heightened misappropriation of funds in the public school system. Every element of stability was shaken. It was perplexing as I was under the assumption that caring for our kids and following the collegiate trend guaranteed community impact, security and income.
The decade presented the real estate market crash. This still affected my home that I purchased at 23. It depreciated over 40 percent and was now a toxic asset. My mother, grandmother and estranged father all had to undergo multiple and massive surgeries to survive. This was in a consecutive 12 months. Hence, my business was not hitting the numbers. My main source of income as an educator, as well as teachers across Georgia, was drastically reduced by the county.
The decade from 2008 to 2018 had dozens of hurdles, but prepared me to make the second half of that decade a gamut of gold-medal winning victories for me, my family and each of my clients. As I witnessed the financial impact on my family and those across the nation, I embraced the life of being a change-agent, a money cheerleader for families that are usually forgotten.
Describe the skill sets that will be essential to future business leader and innovators?
There is a core group of skill sets that will be prominent both now and in the future. One core will be industry specific and the other empire specific. Let’s look at the empire side. First, you must have an empire mindset and character. Your character determines your brand and your mindset determines your success ceiling. Both will yield your business success. My motto is I can teach you a skill, but you must have heart and will. That’s character and it’s invaluable. It translates to relationship-building. I would say this is the main gem in developing a sustainable business model. Secondly, manage your money with a professional committed to educating and empowering you. Thirdly, developing an action-oriented goal strategy. Fourth, infuse your business with technology that duplicates you and time.
Describe innovative methods you apply to your business and life.
Life and business demand innovation. We must duplicate the original 24-hour day. One method is accessibility. I use various platforms to give select groups access to me. I initiate and cultivate relationships via phone, e-mail, social-media, skype and am even developing an interactive playbook. Secondly, my squad and I are innovating the entire legacy game. We are building strategies that will still yield positive results four generations from now.
Each one of you must infuse your business with a new technological element in order to keep up with the evolution of society.
Describe goal setting methods you use and how you evaluate your success.
[My] goal-setting methods are parallel to those that parents or community leaders have for each new person born. From that specific date of birth, the older generation starts envisioning all of the wonderful paths this child will take. This could very well be 20 to 40 years later. Maybe the child is projected to be a money manager, an entrepreneur, an engineer or an educator.
Parents start with the end in mind by placing the kids in extracurricular activities that may very well spark that interest. Then the bookcases are filled with information that support these goals.
When you have a goal, think of the desired end result. Cherish and guard it like it’s your very own baby. Hold it close to your heart. Stay fully engaged with it. Put together milestones or baby steps to make sure you’ve charted a clear path to reach the first set of goals. Every month assess your progress and make the necessary adjustments. Find an accountability partner that will cater to you just as a parent would for their child. Goal-setting is the heartbeat of life. For this reason my squad and I are designing a transformative, goal-activating event for this year November, the DreamBowl.
Identify the proposed generational curses and turn those into generational hurdles that a parent overcame for their kids.
Names 3 books that changed how you saw life that you would recommend to others?
Nelson Mandela, Lessons of Life, Love and Courage, was a transformative and intimate read. Just two years before the Olympics came to Atlanta, Nelson has become the first black president of South Africa. This was against the backdrop of apartheid, racism and his 27-year jail time. It highlighted the power of unwavering leadership, character and compassion. Nelson’s cheerful smile and resilient spirit permeated the prisoners and citizens so much that he had an entire squad supporting his efforts. This book is a first-hand and recent glimpse into using intended oppressive powers as a springboard for your greatest victories.
Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill was a book that demonstrated the powerful ability of one person to take their family empire from the first yard to a generational touch down. It underscored million-dollar, family empires built by people like Rockefeller and Carnegie. The anecdotal format hones in on the core routines necessary for business success and financial wealth.
“177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class” by Steve Siebold is a great read. Whether in sports or life, whatever we practice, life will make it our daily performance. The book gathers positive affirmations that will double your productivity and the returns you get from life.
All 3 of these books are always reminders that economics and education will give you ten times more power, but the first time, you, queen must be educated, empowered and economically sound.
Describe why lifelong learning is important to you.
In reading ideologies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Maya Angelou, I’ve gleaned that education is transformative. People begin to die at the age of 18 but are buried at age of 81. This onset carries over into their dreaming power. Where there is no vision, the people will perish. Looking at education here in the United States, it is less competitive that other countries and even with the greatest technological advancements in healthcare, the lifespan is still lower that some third world countries. Here, education is not mandated by law after 16 and most people graduate at 18. From this stage of life, the desire for greater knowledge becomes a personal choice. Without personal guidance and a support group, people adopt mediocrity. There is a direct correlation between education and economics. Statistics show that more people that continue learning will acquire greater wealth. Lifelong learning is the catalyst for living life on purpose. The brain is a muscle and with exercise or learning it becomes stronger. Education taps into the right-side and left-side of the brain. A person committed to lifelong learning gets book sense and street savviness.
What are the three most important factors of being a successful woman?
Realize the power of your mind, body and soul. As a Spelman graduate and a person raised with two sisters and a mother, I believe women are the most powerful beings just as their kings are powerful too.
Mentally, you must have an unapologetically, strong conviction that you are determined to rise. Regardless of the world being built on the power of a patriarchal system, it was not done without the matriarchs. Hence, the odds seem like they are not in your favor, but nor were they for Lebron James or Gabby Douglas.
Women must adopt the mentality that you didn’t come to play the man’s game, but you are here to totally revolutionize the game and make it your own. Own your greatness and the success.
With women being the greatest consumers and controllers of the economy, our physical stock must be high on the priorities list. Internally, consume tons of green food so you can help tons of people and make tons of green money. Stay hydrated with water, green juices and matcha green tea. Cherish and pamper your body for it’s the only machine you have.
Your soul is the most dominating force within you. It’s our link to our God and our energy source. It is the powerful element that was inherited from your great-grandmother all the way to you. Your soul is your character and spiritual identity that you envision your future great-grandkids inheriting. The connections of you with four generations is your inspiration. Your soul gives that your solace when you are meditating or journaling in a whirlwind of challenges, maybe even just life. In managing your time, carve out hours for meditation and nurturing personal relationships with those that are on your squad, friends and family.
All three of these elements will determine your ability to achieve your goals. Lastly, know your worth queen and reign!
Technology plays what role in your daily life?
It’s a major role and led to creation of my virtual brand a the “money cheerleader.” It’s the field where people gain financial insights. Technology is the megaphone to my grandiose, ten-million people mission. Over 80% of my daily actions are between my phone and yoga computer. From developing my team and consulting with clients across the nation, technology makes it all possible. It also promoted the fourth tier of our strategy in going green as most projects are done paperless. It’s really the driving force behind my business right now.
What social media or digital tool has made the biggest difference in your life and why?
Today, as consumer and a provider, the majority of my decisions are impacted. Intertwining this element in my life, was a big, but needed adjustment. Prior to Facebook and then Instagram, I was unplugged from the media and social media. Now, it is literally my main plug. From global news to kids launching businesses from their parent’s home, the social media world provides the connection to the world and my family. It is the microphone to your voice and when you use it as positive it can create, if not double social impact.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Since the family unit and mindsets is not scalable and has too many qualitative variables, I would say the educational system since it is required in most countries, at least until middle school. Even working in the school system, my business hat was consistently doing a S.W.O.T analysis. The strengths of this centralized infrastructure is that attendance and leadership is required. It’s a melting pot of various ideas and molds the minds of the majority of the globe’s citizens. The weaknesses are the end-results. Most kids are taught to leave their homes or country. Then, they become employees for another person. Secondly, the curriculum must teach kids how to compete, collaborate and co-exist on a global level. Each child must be given the chance to learn their real history not that of the colonist. There is power in knowing one’s true identity. Primary education presents a real opportunity for change-agents to show kids that they come from greatness. Hence, the expectations are now that these kids leave a footprint of an even greater greatness on the world. Now, kids would be purpose-driven to be innovators and employers. The biggest threat to this educational overhaul would be funding and getting every nation to adopt on global curriculum in all schools.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
One thing would be creating a balance that is consistent and incorporates more vacations. Since I reflect quite frequently, especially after a great read or experience, I am a lily that is consistently blossoming. There is no cookie-cutter approach to balance. You dissect the 168 hours of each week and decide the hours each element of life will be given. We will tackle this essential life skill event in November.
Who or what motivates you and why?
From my grandmother who is now 92 and my youngest niece Aria, and everyone in between motivate me. By being positioned in the 3rd of those 4 generations, I can see the progress that has been made and that what still needs to be done. Outside of my family, I am motivated by people like Sojourner Truth who fought to escape slavery and women’s rights paired with modern-day, activist like Michelle Obama. This first lady represent the powerful balance, the perfect hybrid, of a powerful independent woman and an amazing, empowering wife. The generational leaps of my family and the world consistently motivate me.
What are the do’s and don’ts for young women in business?
Be grateful! Your gratitude determines your attitude which sets the tone for your success altitude. Perspective is everything.
Be courageous! Be fearless!
Never lose your unwavering zeal and thrill for life. Remember A.B.C. Always be courageous! Whether you are a youthful 92, like my grandmother, the first cheerleader of my family or 22, be courageous.
Be energetic and creative!
Corporations accept the high turnover rates of recent graduates because their intellectual and creative power yield higher dividend for the company. It’s a well-known fact that people in their 20s are innovative and risk-takers.
Identify your squad.
Your squad Is your support group that insulates your dreams. This team of 4 to 8 people is the tribe that you trust, adore and connect with on a variety of level. They serve as your checks and balances. The feedback given from this core group allows you to organically grow. Be sure your squad includes a range of people with respect to their experience and age.
Be the queen of legacy!
Be sure you have a will or trust in place. Give each dollar a goal. Read tips and getting professional guidance. You can follow me
@themoneycheerleader to get weekly tips on reigning in your family empire.
How do you successfully grow from business failure?
In order to grow and sustain the growth, you must identify the hurdle and landscape in which it transpired. The size of the failure is determined by your courage to get up after the fall. The longer you wait to jump back on the business bull and ride again, the bigger the failure’s impact on your mission.
Simply, assess the steps leading up to the fall. After personal reflection, look at the moving elements surrounding the hurdle. As tenacious women, most failures occur when exhaustion it at an all-time peak. Hence, taking a step back to regroup of go on a quick vacation may be necessary. Be sure to leverage your network;consult with your squad. Failure is a crucial part of the process to becoming legendary and building a sustainable business.
Once, you’ve developed a new strategy with a restored mind, put your uniform on and get back in the game!
Name your three most successful female role models and explain why you hold them in high esteem.
Personally, my mother is my biggest cheerleader and role model. She’s beat cancer! Nadia has jumped over other hurdles considered generational curses. She transforms challenges into sweet victories all with poise and a smile. Even at her most vulnerable moments, she still wore her super hero cape and stepped in for people missing their own mothers.
Michelle Obama is a national cheerleader for her kids and the nation’s kids. She is consistently committed to her family and Obama. Michelle’s life totally eliminates the notion that a powerful woman cannot be a wonderful wife. This first lady is fit, intelligent, beautiful, sincere and should be the president of the United States.
Shakira is that global role model. We both speak Spanish and have a common mission: to gather with progressive thinkers across borders. Her song entitled Africa along with her crossover productions with Beyoncé, Wyclef and Rihanna explode with unity. More importantly, this shows that no one has to minimize themselves when working as a team. The groups get together and great people maximize the greatness of all.
All three of these women are entrepreneurs, mothers, role models, centers of influence and committed to progression of mankind.
