How did you determine your career path?
I didn’t plan any of this. I was a young mom and a high school dropout. One day, a social worker told me I had potential, and it was as if my path was set aflame. I began to believe I could achieve anything I set my mind to. Not to say that it has been easy. It hasn’t been. In fact, there were times I wanted to quit.
Were you always interested in being a motivational speaker?
Contrary to popular belief, I’m an introvert. I am a writer, and that brings me joy and comfort. I am a freelance writer and enjoy ranting and writing short stories, political pieces and poetry. The doors that opened as a result of me publishing my memoir, My Pretty and Its Ugly Truth, required I step from behind the curtain of shame and introversion.
Describe how you set goals and evaluate your success.
I am not in denial about the demanding life I live. It is said that we technically have 12 productive hours in one day; I can’t afford to waste a single minute. I am a bit old-fashioned. I still use notebooks, and I create to-do lists. Seeing things written down etches them in my brain. I check things off my list when they are done, and that gives me immense satisfaction.
How does music impact and influence you?
I really don’t know where I would be if I didn’t always have songs to inspire and lift my spirits. I listen to music all the time. I love to sing, and on my low days, I sing to my soul. I sing gospel, neo-soul and R&B. It’s my way of self-medicating, and it has gotten me through some critical times in my life.
