Pretty and Prosperous Profile: Renee Rivers

What steps did you take to get where you are today?

Very simple: setting goals and tackling them one day at a time. One of my major accomplishments was completing college and obtaining my bachelors degree. As a single parent working two jobs, it was tough, but I did it. Now I’m working on continuing my education by pursuing a masters’ degree. Last year I took a leap of faith and started my own business. Living a healthy lifestyle is something that I’ve always practiced, so becoming a fitness consultant just made sense. I have a desire to help others become healthy and fit, so this business is aligned with not only my professional goals, but personal goals as well. Becoming an Independent Beachbody Coach has allowed me to realize my true potential in life. Living out my passion was something I would only dream about---now it’s my reality. It has opened up so many doors for me. Right now, I have a lot on my plate, but I love it and wouldn’t change it for anything! With faith in God, persistence, dedication, and determination, it can only get better from here.

Did you always know you would get here?

No, after I graduated from high school I went away to college for civil engineering, which doesn’t even come close to what I’m doing now. During that time, I felt as though becoming an engineer was my dad’s dream and not mine. After changing my major several times, I decided that the communication program would be best. Once I graduated, I continued to work multiple jobs, neither of which were in my field of study. In 2006, I did a lot of soul searching, praying (and crying). I continuously asked myself “What is my purpose? What do I want to do with my life?” At that time, I was miserable and working long hours in an automotive factory with a bachelors’ degree. Something was seriously wrong with that picture and I knew that it was time for a major change. From there, I started setting goals, one of which was to enroll in grad school. That was my first step in living out MY vision…MY dream and not someone else’s.

Did you have a plan?

I didn’t have a concrete plan, up until I realized that I wanted to go to grad school for health promotion and education; and now that I have my own business, planning is a must! I am continuously writing down in a notebook my short-term and long-term goals. Each day, I complete small tasks, which are “bread crumbs” leading up to my bigger goals. I’m starting to realize I need to have a plan to achieve what I want in life in order to be successful. Without a plan, I feel lost.

What kind of distractions did you have to deal with or overcome?

People are so quick to blame others for their failures, but I believe that we are our own worst enemies. The reason why I was “stuck” and not succeeding in life was due to my inability to be proactive and productive. My negative thoughts became my distractions, which resulted in negative outcomes. I had to realize that if I was going to be successful, I had to take risks, do more, be more, lead by example, and live life to its fullest. I have learned to overcome my distractions and now, I couldn’t be happier.

How much of an impact did others play in your decision making?

I tend to value the opinions of those who are close to me, such as my family and friends. Before starting my own business, there were a few individuals who did not believe that it was in my best interest to do so. In the end, I am going to do what is best for me and my family. I would like to have the support of others and I absolutely love constructive criticism. I take it into account whether I deem it to be negative or positive. It motivates me to push harder and work harder. The number one deciding factor in starting my own business was my son. I want to provide a better life for him and I believe that I can do that by setting an example for him by achieving my goals.

Were there times when you wanted to give up?

Yes, there have been plenty of times where I didn’t know if I was cut out for this (owning a business). Once I started writing down my goals, networking, and establishing relationships with other successful people, it has not crossed my mind one bit. I also had to learn not to compare my success to others, but instead concentrate on my actions and gain a better understanding on how to build a better business for myself. I’ve never been known to be a quitter; once I start something I’m going to finish it despite any obstacles that may occur along the way. There are people in my community that need my help. That in itself is enough motivation for me to keep going and not give up!

What made you keep pushing towards your goal?

Again, my son is my number one motivator. As his mother, he looks up to me and I do not want him to see me fail or give up on my dreams. I want to show him how success is not about accumulating millions of dollars, but by sharing our God given talents, skills learned, and knowledge acquired. For me, my success is measured by the number of people who are successful in achieving their goals, whether it is to become physically or financially fit. With the increase of obesity rates in the U.S., changes need to be made now in our society; especially in the urban community. I believe that I am a small solution to a much bigger problem. Knowing that I can make a difference in the lives of others allows me to keep pushing towards my goals each and every day.

What advice can you give other women who are striving for their own goals?

Prayer changes everything! My conversations with God have given me so much strength and faith. I’ve developed a great relationship with Him and can attest that He answers prayers, which is never on our time, but His. I’ve realized that God has His own plan for us and with patience and understanding; He will eventually guide us towards that path.

Renee Rivers

As a health enthusiast, Renee Rivers decided to start her own business as an Independent Beachbody Coach by helping others become healthy and wealthy.  She is well on her way with pursuits of obtaining a personal training certificate and a masters’ degree in health education. Understanding the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, Renee’s goal is to assist others in achieving the same lifestyle for themselves.

For more information on Renee Rivers and her services, please contact her via the following: Website: www.jabkickpunch.com

E-mail: jabkickpunch@gmail.com

Befriend Her: www.facebook.com/jabkickpunch

Follow Her: www.twitter.com/jabkickpunch

Pretty and Prosperous Profile: Erin Baker

 

What do you do?

I am the Program Development Manager for MORE mentoring (Mentoring Offers Rich Experiences). MORE mentoring is a collaborative effort between three Leona Group, LLC charter schools in partnership with the University of Toledo. The school-based program focuses on giving youth in grades four through eight opportunities to form positive relationships with caring adults to build skills, exercise leadership and help their communities. Essentially, my role is to develop, manage and implement program initiatives through strategic event planning and brand management through various new and traditional media outlets (twitter, facebook, website, etc). In addition, I manage and maximize opportunities to grow meaningful relationships with current and potential mentors and community partners in order to further enrich program depth and overall mentee experience.

What steps did you take to get where you are today?

With the help of prayer, family, friends and education, I was able to begin taking steps to get where I am today. While attending graduate school at the University of Notre Dame, I had the opportunity to study under a curriculum that had the mission to educate the heart and mind. As a result, I had a clear understanding that my education was to be a tool that should assist in leaving a mark on the world. Prior to receiving my MBA, I had been an active volunteer in many facets from raising funds by running races to a volunteer marketer for the MORE mentoring program. After graduation, it became obvious to me that my passion for philanthropy didn’t have to be recreational rather it was one that could fuel a career. After lots of prayer and the unconditional support of family and friends, I was able to ultimately take a leap of faith and move from a corporate job into a non-profit career.

What was the defining moment when you knew if you didn’t change you would never reach your goal?

My education immediately afforded me opportunities for career advancement. While I was grateful to have the chance for promotion to climb the corporate ladder, it became apparent to me that I had a different purpose. The defining moment came to me in the form of a greater and deeper calling to give back in order to give others the same and more opportunities that I had been granted.

Did you always know that you would get here?

From a young age, I truly felt that I was destined to do something great. Throughout my childhood my parents instilled this feeling and over the years ive found motivation in that feeling and even repeat it almost as a mantra, “You are bound for greatness”. As a result, I’ve always been diligent in my work, in my education, in my philanthropy actively working towards greatness.

Did you have a plan?

The basis of my plan was identifying non-profit organizations that had values that were in alignment with my personal beliefs and ethics. Having worked fulltime while attending graduate school for two years, I felt strongly that to deviate from this plan would be a great disservice to all my time, work and effort.  As result, I was able to easily identify a clear path towards what I wanted to achieve.

What kind of distractions did you have to deal with or overcome?

The greatest distraction that I needed to overcome was fear.  The stability of my corporate career was very appealing.  Therefore, the decision to leave was one that pushed me completely out of my comfort zone.  Despite having a plan, it truly felt like in order to answer this greater calling it was necessary that I close my eyes to fear and step out on faith.

How much of an impact did others play in your decision making during your building process?

In making my decision, I did a lot of soul searching and praying prior to engaging any outside thought or opinion.  In addition, I sought out resources in order to empower myself with knowledge to make an informed decision.  Primarily, the words of advice and feedback that I received were in the form of affirmation.  Overall, the greatest impact was that of overwhelming love and support of family and friends.

Were there times when you wanted to give up?

While there is great security in corporate America, I feel that there is no greater reward than non-profit work.  Despite the potential for lower wages and longer hours, I enjoy every minute of it and that is priceless.

What made you keep pushing towards your goal?

The idea that I am fulfilling a greater and grander purpose keeps me pushing each and every day. I truly believe I was meant to be of service of others to assist them in achieving their goals, their hopes, dare I say their dreams.  During a recent mentoring session, I had the opportunity to ask over 50 mentees, “what is your dream?”  After hearing everything from the President to a doctor, a mentee asked me, “what is your dream?”  In short, it is to help these young dream believers become dream achievers and that is what keeps me pushing towards my goal every single day.

What advice can you give other women who are striving for their own goals?

Recently, MORE Mentoring implemented the BIG initiative: Build, Improve, Grow.  In short, it is pertinent to surround yourself with peers, mentors, role models who are actively helping you to build in mind, improve in body and grow in spirit.  I have been very fortunate to be surrounded with such positive influences throughout my life within my family and friends.  In the end, I am blessed to say that these are the people who not only support me, but hold me accountable as I strive to achieve my goals.

How do you feel about where you are today?

I am extremely excited about where I am today and look forward to the many great things that lay ahead for MORE Mentoring.  Each day, the program enriches the lives of youth and creates opportunities for them to flourish in all they strive to do.  I am truly thankful to be a part of an organization that does such meaningful and fulfilling work.  Mentoring truly is a powerful opportunity to fill the void in a child’s life and bridge gaps of social inequality; I invite and encourage everyone to become a MORE Mentor today!

For more information on Erin Baker and MORE Mentoring:

Visit MORE Website: http://www.morementoring.webs.com

Friend or Like MORE on Facebook: http://facebook.com/more.mentoring

Follow MORE on Twitter: http://twitter.com/morementoring

Email MORE: more.mentoring@gmail.com

Pretty and Prosperous Profile: Rose Toth Gallardo

What do you do?

I own Rose Custom Interiors; I specialize in residential, small commercial and senior living interior design. I also am a realtor to best serve my clients with all of their home needs, from staging to remodeling, to building, to selling or buying. I can help with as little or as much as the client or project needs. I am inspired by people and their surroundings and look forward to projects small and large.

What steps did you take to get where you are today?

I originally went to college for recreation management. I focused on travel and tourism and marketing which included branding. I was later recruited by The Limited and worked in fashion store management. Realizing my love of sales and wanting to control my schedule, I took a position in telecommunications doing outside sales. After a few years of that I had my aha moment. I loved fashion and sales but I didn’t love what I was selling and that’s when I decided to go back to school for interior design. I believe each of those steps were key components to starting Rose Custom Interiors.

What was the defining moment when you knew if you didn’t change you would never reach your goal?

I was really struggling with anxiety and more and more I didn’t want to work in telecommunications.  I knew I had to make a big change; I didn’t want to continue in this job for another week, so I started looking into interior design programs.

Did you always know you would get here?

I knew that when choosing what I wanted to do I would choose wisely and go in a specific direction. I think with learning new information the goals have changed along the way. For example, I knew I wanted to do residential interior design. Since I started my business, a portion of it is with working with seniors. Now people are downsizing and still want well designed homes with less maintenance. I was able to change the dream and stay true to the passion.

Did you have a plan?

I did. I think the plan changes constantly, but I did sit down and make a plan. I decided to go back to school and get as much experience as I could and I also was able to use the experience I gained when I was in sales. When I started to gain clientele I sat down and made a business plan for Rose Custom Interiors. I’m very proud of my business and what I’ve accomplished. It’s nice once you have the career in place where you feel comfortable and confident. At this stage I do want to have a family and I know I have the balance within to do so.

                                                                                                   

What kind of distractions did you have to deal with or overcome?

Leaving corporate America was a big step.  Starting your own business is not a get rich quick scheme. Really having the ambition and courage to see it through is really important. There were many times where I wished I could punch a clock and get a paycheck. I took second jobs. I worked part time at flooring, paint, and furniture stores. Along the way learning as much as I could about the field, I can’t stress enough how important these experiences are and have contributed to being a well rounded designer.

How much of an impact did others play in your decision making during your building process?

The majority of people thought I was crazy for leaving my job and starting over. Every single one of those people are proud of me to this day.

Were there times when you wanted to give up?

Yes. When people don’t pay timely and you’re doing the dance at the PO Box waiting for money it makes it very difficult. I don’t always get paid on time. A reminder to everyone out there, pay your small business owners! J

What made you keep pushing towards your goal?

I love what I do. I am inspired by people, their surroundings, and personalities. The mission of my business is to design around people and not trends. I will always be on top of the latest products and techniques, but it always comes back to what will be best for my clients.

What advice can you give other women who are striving for their own goals?

Stay true to yourself. Have a real understanding of who you are. All relationships personal and business will be better because of it. Take small baby steps and grow it when you’re comfortable. Too often people want big, faster than they are ready. No one knows themselves better than you, trust your gut.

How do you feel about where you are today?

I’m really happy. I recently got married, that was a huge step. Not many other people have come before my business. I feel like I am at the point where I am achieving the balance that I want. Through good relationships and a passion filled career.

For more information on Rose Toth Gallardo and Rose Custom Interiors please visit http://www.rosecustominteriors.com/

Rose Toth Gallardo

On February 19, 2004 my dream of having an interior design business became a reality with Rose Custom Interiors. I have 20 years of experience in fashion, marketing and sales, which has led me to find my true passion in interior design. RCI is now 7 years old and I still enjoy spending each day designing for my unique clients and their personalities.

Pretty and Prosperous Profile: Aja Wright

What steps did you take to get to where you are today?

There were certain things I did to make it a successful business. I gave away a lot of work in the beginning for free and then at a very low charge to get enough for my portfolio to earn the trust of others. Once I felt I had enough for my portfolio then I started going back to those clients that I had previously worked for and started asking them for referrals, which they happily gave me. From there I started to promote myself and my services to continue to build business relationships. And now I am here today with a thriving photography business.

What was the defining moment when you knew you if you didn’t change you would never reach your goals?

We were living the dream and after 3 years of living the life of going on 2 to 3 vacations a year, going to the mall and buying whatever I wanted, I said I can’t do this anymore. I told Eric that I wanted to quit my job. I attended church one Sunday and a woman came to talk about following your dreams. She said to pray into your dreams. I continued to speak with Eric about quitting my job, but he couldn’t understand what I was going through because we still had bills to pay. At one point I came close to having a nervous breakdown because of what I was dealing with my mom and being in a job where I was unhappy. One day I was called into the office at my job for a review of my performance which was always stellar, but this time they said I wasn’t working up to my potential. I told them that day was my last day. I walked to my desk got my pictures and other belongings and went to my car and I never looked back. I gave up that career to follow my dreams.

Did you always know you would accomplish your goals?

No, I didn’t think I would. I never thought I would get where I am today, but I always had a goal.  I’m glad that I am accomplishing them. My past made me what I am today. People try to ruin you. Don’t listen to other people.

Did you have a plan to reach your goals?

No, I did not always have a plan. My love for taking pictures started in the 7^th grade, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a photographer but I knew I wanted to take pictures.

What kind of distractions did you have to overcome?

The biggest distraction was definitely my mother’s cancer. At the same time it was others telling me that I couldn’t or shouldn’t do what I felt in my heart was the only thing I could do and that was to leave my position in the corporate world. In my mind I wanted to quit my job to take care of mom when her cancer went into remission. In 2008 my mom was getting sicker, my brother went to jail and we were depleting our savings. In 2009 my mom was dying. I continued to do photography through all of this. I ended up getting a better job as consultant so both me and my husband were making a lot of money together, but I was completely unhappy. The job was consuming my entire life. I was bringing work home; the baby sitter was making dinner and my Mom was washing our clothes. I was trying to be there for my husband and for my kids. We normally take a trip every year and I said I didn’t want to go because my mom was sick, but she told me to go and live my life. I went on the trip that lasted 2 weeks and when I got back the doctors said my mom was going to hospice. Because of where I worked I knew why people were sent to hospice. The next 3 weeks were hell for me. I truly stepped out on faith and trusted God.

                                                      

How much of an impact did others play in your decision making on following your dreams?

I had to make the decision to leave my job, but it was hard because of the kids and we were used to a certain lifestyle. When people tell me that I can’t it makes me work harder to prove them wrong which is the case for a lot of people.

Were there times when you wanted to give up on your dream?

I won’t say I wanted to give up. There were times where I felt I may have made the wrong decision. Not leaving my job, but you don’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are hard times, thinking about my marriage, my children. Makes me think I need to think harder for all of my decisions. There are times I wish I would go faster. There is not one day where I feel I should have never left. I thought the decision through. You are going to have days where you think back like, wow remember all the money we used to have.

What made you keep pushing towards your goal?

The biggest thing for me is that I had a fear of not reaching it. When I followed the course of what other people wanted me to do I wasn’t happy. When you’re making over fifty thousand dollars a year, the company you work for is going to work you. I was working eight to ten hours a day. People think that if you’re making money then you’re happy, but that’s not the case. I still don’t feel like I’ve accomplished it completely. I’m still working towards it. I have to continue to push through to reach all of my goals.

What advice can you give other women who are striving for their own goals?

If you know what you want and you have a goal insight, pray on it first. Your biggest counselor is God. You have to be willing to listen. Go to your spouse if you have one and make sure you include them. Be willing to take that leap. You have to be prepared for success and the let downs. There are going to be times when you are not going to be satisfied. Realize where your happiness lies. Only you know what makes you happy. Doing what you want to do is the only root to your happiness. I’m still getting that revelation.

How do you feel about where you are now?

My lifestyle now (having less money) does not take away from my happiness. We still travel, we’re happy and I’m living exactly how I want to. Leaving my job and following my passion is paying off for me and my family and I love it! I knew that money wasn’t everything but coming to the realization that it isn’t is another thing. God provides everything for my family. The pay cut does not take away from the happiness. I love what I do and I’m happy! I’m successful in life, I’m a successful woman, wife, mother and friend. Since I left my job I’m able to be at home with my kids, my son’s grades are sky rocketing and I cannot explain how happy I am even though we didn’t have the same amount of money as we did before. I valued being at home and I would have never been able to spend that time with my mom if I would have been working in the corporate world. Being in the corporate world vs. leaving and following my dreams worked out in the end. I was able to be there for my mother where as I would not have I was able to be the mother, daughter, wife, aunt, and sister that I needed to be in order to be fulfilled in my heart.

Aja Wright

I am first a child of God, a proud wife and mother of two and I am living my dream. I am currently a family photographer doing what I love best, taking your memories and making them priceless portraits. I take great pride in making sure I capture those memorable hidden and unplanned moments in families’ lives. I love being a wife to my wonderful husband, and the ability to be here as a mother raising my children. That was the most important decision that I have ever made, leaving my career and coming home to be a mother to my children. I took a Leap of Faith 3 years ago and I have not looked back. In this journey I hope to be an inspiration to those women who are at a standstill in life, personal, spiritual and professional. God orders my steps and I hope and pray that you all allow him to order yours.

For more information about Aja Wright and A Love for Memories, LLC please visit http://mrs1wright.webs.com/

Pretty and Prosperous Profile: Psychelia Terry

Psychelia Terry, Founder Urban Intimates

What steps did you take to get where you are today?

Prayer and planning. Those are the two top things I did. Lots of graphs and charts all over my walls. A lot of reading books and magazines about women who are living their dreams. Printing out stories about these women and putting them up all over the walls to keep me motivated.

What was the defining moment when you knew if you didn’t change you would never reach your goals?

After I graduated from college I worked for a fortune 500 company in sales and marketing. I always had this thing that I wanted to work for myself. After a lot of let downs, I still had in my mind that I was going to be the vice president of that company. I was doing everything according to the plan, I had million dollar accounts and I was making a lot money for them, but I wasn’t making any of this money for myself. I decided to walk away to follow my dreams. I had the faith and experience. It was all about me going for it.

Did you always know you would get here?

Let's just say I always had a feeling that I'd be successful. I didn't know how or at what but I could always tell. I always found myself pushing harder to accomplish more than what was expected of me.

Did you have a plan?

I’m a go for it kinda girl. I can’t promise I had a plan. I had a passion, a passion for more. Passion to work for myself, a passion for longevity, to leave a legacy for my family. Sometimes I find myself back pedaling trying to figure things out.  I shoot for the moon first, and figure out what stars I need to hit in order to get there later.

What kind of distractions did you have to deal with or overcome?

Definitely naysayers, people saying that it wasn’t going to happen and also myself.  A personal distraction of mine was low self esteem. Even though I got my MBA last year and I was the only black woman in the class, sometimes I thought I couldn't do it. These were distractions that helped me to reroute how I was going to reach my goal.

How much of an impact did others play in your decision making during your building process?

I think I would say about 25%. I always considered myself to be a person that knows where I'm going, but I will definitely listen to what other people have to say. I listen to mentors and people who have done it before. My husband is my biggest my supporter and my best friend. We call each other our front row seaters. We say that because you always need that one person in the front that’s going to cheer the loudest for you. I will never be able to claim that it’s all me.

Were there times when you wanted to give up?

Every other month it seems like. But I quit my full time job. That day I was driving home, asking God what am I doing? Am I really walking away from my job? That was the day we got the email from Essence Magazine. We can be our own worst enemy and that’s where issues can arise. Every time I want to quit I think about that time. I have such a special relationship with God that he sends me messages that push me and help me know this thing is real. I also received a letter from Abercrombie and Fitch from a high powered lawyer that they were going to take legal action against my business. They claimed that I infringed on their trademark. I knew that everything was developed by me. They were going to take me to court and fight me for my brand. That almost deterred everything. At that time I had so much support and I was able to lean on my husband. I knew that we have to be doing something right if a company like this is coming after us.

What made you keep pushing towards your goal?

I’ve always known I’m here for a reason because it could have been different. I was third in my class. I was a part of a matriarch family raised by single mothers and experiencing that I always wanted better for myself and my family. That’s what pushed me. I wanted to be able to accomplish my goals and pass my story on to my children.

What advice can you give other women who are striving for their own goals?

I tell other women the same thing I tell myself. For them to be their loudest cheerleader so that whenever negativity comes and things aren’t looking up they have enough confidence to push themselves. Without confidence, it’s going to be hard. I walked into an event where I knew I did not have an invitation to ask the celebrity guest speaker to support the company and the foundation. He actually denied me, but after the show I pushed through the crowd and handed him my business card. That was my self confidence. Even though his bodyguards denied me, seconds later I bumped into the Chief  Essence Magazine editor who offered to pass along my information regarding my interest to be featured in their magazine. Always be prepared, keep your business card with you at all times. You never know who you will meet.

How do you feel about where you are now?

I feel blessed and privileged. Blessed on a spiritual level. I feel like God remembered me in my quest. Privileged that I’m able to fill this role. I feel privileged to have the friends in my life that believe in me and to have learned what I learned so that I can implement it now.

Psychelia Terry

As a young professional, Founder of Urban Intimates, Psychelia Terry experienced challenges finding companies that understood and appreciated her uniqueness. Using her innate sense of style, love of fashion and affinity for urban culture, Terry hopes to provide women with designer products at prices that are much more accessible. "I've done a lot of research to have these fabulous experiences of girlfriends noticing there is something radiantly different about my beauty, and I created Urban Intimates to share that experience."

For more information on Psychelia Terry and Urban Intimates visit http://www.urbanintimates.com or email her at info@urbanintimates.com