On today’s episode of Happy Black Woman, Rosetta chats with another valued member of the HBW inner circle, Sharmie Williams. Sharmie discusses her mission of creating custom memory quilts for women who want to preserve their family memories. Her business, Digital Sphinx Designs is founded on 3 principles that are at the core of who Sharmie is: Artsy, Fit, and Secure. In this chat with Rosetta, Sharmie shares insight into how she found her purpose and turned it into a business, as well as what it was like to transition to civilian life after retiring from the Army.

Finding a secure space to create and feel safe in being yourself.

Sharmie has always been a creative person. As a child, she grew up with a grandmother who made quilts for every member of the family, no matter where they fell on the family tree. This inspired a love for art and all things creative in Sharmie. Her love of quilting came after spending many years working in needlecraft and other creative pursuits. Sharmie says that when she found quilting she knew she’d be doing it for the rest of her life. That kind of passion is what led to the development of her business. Sharmie is passionate about helping women preserve memories and she shares how quilting can be personalized to the individual in order to create a truly one-of-a-kind memory quilt.

How to create structure after retiring from the Army.

Sharmie spent 20 years in the Army, living a life of intense structure. After retiring, it became clear that she needed to approach life with some degree of structure in order to accomplish her goals and run her business. Sharmie discusses her typical day and how she manages her time in order to make the most of her day. She also shares the importance of defining your schedule in the way that best suits you. With this in mind, Sharmie structures her day to start a bit later in the morning, when she feels the most productive.

Accounting for time when pursuing your passion.

Sharmie discusses the value of accounting for your time, which is particularly important with creative pursuits. She manages her time by using a time tracking app that gives her a better understanding of how long each project takes. Sharmie shares why it’s important to manage your time effectively so that you maximize your schedule and structure your day more effectively. She and Rosetta discuss how easy it is to have your time eaten up if you don’t properly account for your time.

Stay the course and keep pushing forward.

As she closes out her chat with Rosetta, Sharmie shares a tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business: Choose to be fearless. She expands on this advice further by explaining that there will always be naysayers and doubters, but you can’t let them prevent you from living your life’s purpose. Sharmie shares her personal mantra and a favorite book that has inspired her on her journey. Sharmie’s story will inspire fellow creatives and anyone that wants to pursue their dreams.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:32] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Sharmie Williams.
• [1:19] Sharmie’s mission and the work that she does.
• [2:52] Understanding what a custom memory quilt is.
• [5:05] What inspired Sharmie to create this business.
• [6:51] Action steps to get started with creating a memory quilt.
• [11:22] Some reasons people go to Sharmie for a memory quilt.
• [12:48] How the business works and how Sharmie spends a typical day.
• [17:05] Transitioning from the military to a happy life in retirement from the military.
• [21:24] A book that has inspired Sharmie on her journey.
• [23:44] Sharmie’s personal mantra.
• [25:25] Sharmie’s #1 tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business.
• [26:36] How to connect with Sharmie.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life”

MANTRA: You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you. ~ Maya Angelou

Sharmie Williams’ website: www.DigitialSphinxDesigns.com – Sign up for Sharmie’s newsletter for access to tips to help you foster your creativity.

About Sharmie Williams

Sharmie Williams provides visual art creations that will inspire you to use art as an expression of memories, exploration, growth, and empowerment. Sharmie started this journey as a passion for designing quilts as personal family heirlooms. Along the way, she found designing and producing quilts and art provided an outlet to pour her stress, heal emotional wounds, and clear frustrating thoughts. Art refreshes us in so many ways, and Sharmie wants to share that passion with her community. In her spare time, she loves to travel and run (literally) all across the world; and she can talk computer security, too. ;0)

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Today’s guest on Happy Black Woman is a valued member of the HBW inner circle, Veronica Richardson. Veronica is on a mission to guide women who are in transition from broken relationships, failed attempts, and stagnant mindsets to a place of self-discovery in creating the life they truly desire. In this chat with Rosetta, Veronica shares her passion for the work that she does and what led her to discover her true purpose in life. She is inspiringly open about her journey and the “why” behind the work she does today through her business A Renewed Mind. Veronica helps women embrace their true selves and life an authentic life.

Find your way to an authentic life.

For Veronica, embracing her true self didn’t come naturally. She was raised in a single-parent household and faced the trauma of having an addict father from a young age. This forced Veronica to take on responsibilities in the household that would prevent her from being – or even seeing – her true self. She explains how she lived a life devoted to taking care of others, which in turn led to neglecting herself. This lack of self-care became a habit and – in 2011 – she was faced with a devastating separation, which became the foundation of her journey to truth. After finally being okay with loving herself and being authentic in the things she desired, it became clear to Veronica that she was meant to help other women. And so, A Renewed Life was born.

The value of being okay with loving yourself.

In Veronica’s life, taking care of others took precedence over self-care for many years. It wasn’t until she truly began to understand that it’s okay to love herself that she started to heal and become her authentic self. Veronica discusses how her childhood contributed to her inability to nurture herself and the power of finally coming to a place of self-love. She also shares the importance of really taking inventory of your life and making sure the people around you are living the life you want. Veronica offers some action steps that can help women who are ready for a renewed life get started.

Start now and improve later.

Veronica delves into one of the most important lessons of her journey: embracing fear and doing it anyway. She shares the importance of starting now and improving later and why this mindset can be truly transformative. Veronica goes further into the concept of envisioning the life you want – no matter what your life is now – and why you must surround yourself with people who are moving in the direction you want to go. She also discusses why it’s important to clean up your friends list when you realize some of the people in your life are holding you back.

Giving yourself permission to try.

This powerful discussion with Rosetta is filled with wisdom, insight, and inspiration that will leave you feeling ready to embrace your true self. Veronica shares some final advice for women who are ready to follow their dreams and start a business doing what they love: give yourself permission to try. She explains why it’s so important to get out of your own way and get out of your own head. Veronica gives insight into how we can actually be holding ourselves back from living an authentic life and it’s time to let yourself follow your purpose. She also shares her personal mantra: Say yes to my no, which is all about facing your fears and doing things that make you a little uncomfortable. According to Veronica, if you want something different, you have to do something different.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:32] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest,
• [1:41] Veronica’s mission and the work that she does.
• [4:33] How Veronica is able to help women and the process they go through with her.
• [7:04] The importance of being okay with loving yourself.
• [8:44] What that inspired her to turn her purpose into a business.
• [13:26] Some action steps that women can start with if they’re ready to have a renewed life.
• [16:21] A few more tips from Veronica you can implement today.
• [21:52] A book that has inspired Veronica on your journey.
• [23:17] Veronica’s personal mantra.
• [25:27] Veronica’s #1 tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business.
• [27:16] How you can connect with Veronica.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “Their Eyes Were Watching God”

MANTRA: Say yes to my no.

Veronica Richardson’s website: www.ARenewedMindToday.com  – get your free guide: Starting Over: Create the New You

About Veronica Richardson

Veronica Richardson MS, CLC, Founder of A Renewed Mind is an expert in the field of coaching and counseling. Both her personal and professional experiences lend themselves to her delivery.  A Renewed Mind comes from a place of self-discovery for founder, Veronica Richardson.  After experiencing a separation, being forced into single parenthood and becoming a “side chick” to a married man, she discovered that being true to your own desires is the only way to be FREE. A life of pseudo-happiness, bitterness, confusion and resentment became normal.  However, as her personal growth story evolved, so did A Renewed Mind.  “My main goal in starting A Renewed Mind has been to guide other women who are in transition from broken relationships, failed attempts and stagnant mindsets to a place of self-discovery and learning to take A.C.T.I.O.N in creating the life they truly desire.”  “I’ve been the wife and mother and for years played my part as the side chick. In both situations I thought I was happy. I have no regrets because every moment helped strengthen me and bring me to the realization of what happiness really is.” “I now go BOLDLY after all this life has to offer, unapologetically.”

Prior to becoming certified life coach, Veronica earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Old Dominion University and her Master’s Degree in Study of Human Behaviors from Capella University. Professionally, she has served as an Adult Protective Investigator, Mental Health Counselor, In Home Counselor and Therapeutic Day Counselor (School Based) as well as a Social Worker.

Veronica loves to travel and has created a life that allows her to visit a new island every summer.  She is a foodie, loving all things food related.  She enjoys a good book, time with family and friends and a good glass of Moscato.

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Today on Happy Black Woman, Rosetta chats with another valued and inspiring member of the HBW Mastermind, Dr. Angela M. Shuttlesworth. Dr. Angela is on a mission to heal the world by changing one business, one strategy at a time through her business Creating Healthy Villages. Her background in social work inspired her to go deeper towards her calling of working with organizations to create happy, healthy workplaces and therefore increase profits. Dr. Angela believes that through strategic planning processes, it’s possible to create a workplace that leaves everyone, including the client, feeling happy and fulfilled.

How Dr. Angela found her calling.

Dr. Angela is passionate about social work and, when that was her primary career, she enjoyed it but knew something was missing. After a close friend lost her job, Dr. Angela suggested she attend Rosetta’s webinar. On her friend’s urging, Dr. Angela attending the webinar as well and that’s when she knew what her purpose was. She began pursuing her purpose with passion and could see the impact she could make. Dr. Angela wanted to couple the work she loves to do in order to help the most people, so she set her sights on working with organizations. Today, she works with agencies to assist in identifying strategies and implementing processes that can drive long-term success and workplace happiness.

How you can work to create a healthy workplace.

Dr. Angela believes that, as long as the organization is willing, any workplace can be healthy and happy. She shares with Rosetta the value of honoring the experience of everyone on the team, along with that of the client, and how that can truly pave the way for a healthy workplace. Dr. Angela also offers a blueprint that can help you better understand the strategies that you can begin to implement in your own workplace. She also explains a free gift available to HBW listeners that spells out a step-by-step process for workplace happiness.

How creating healthy villages can drive profits.

Dr. Angela delves into her belief that healthy workplaces drive profits. She believes that when we create a healthy, supportive space for employees, clients are happier. And when clients are happier, the business is more successful. Dr. Angela explains how she creates a healthy, happy space of her own and how she implements her own strategies into her daily life. One of the most important things to Dr. Angela is creating a space filled with positive affirmations. She also lives by her personal mantra, “I deserve me at my best”.

Following your purpose and creating happiness in your own life.

Dr. Angela’s journey is inspiring and she shares it with great honesty. As she and Rosetta finish out their chat, Dr. Angela shares her #1 tip for women who are ready to follow their purpose and create a business: Just do it. She explains why it’s important to just go after what you want and how she believes that everything else will fall into place. Dr. Angela also shares the value of taking the time to reflect on what you’re grateful for and make room to celebrate as well as grieve. Dr. Angela offers great insight into how businesses can create healthy, happy spaces while driving profits and success for the business.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:34] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Dr. Angela Shuttlesworth.
• [1:30] Dr. Angela’s mission and the work that she does.
• [2:25] How Dr. Angela achieves her goal of changing the world one business at a time.
• [3:37] What inspired Dr. Angela to pursue this as a business.
• [7:44] Some action steps you can implement if you want to create a healthy workplace.
• [10:27] How do you practice healthy workplace behaviors?
• [12:26] A blueprint of how you start to bring these behaviors into your workplace.
• [14:49] A breakdown of Dr. Angela’s healthy process.
• [17:51] How to get Dr. Angela’s free guide to creating a healthy workplace.
• [18:19] The strategies Dr. Angela implements in her own life to create a healthy space.
• [21:21] A book that has inspired Dr. Angela on her journey.
• [23:22] Dr. Angela’s personal mantra.
• [24:14] Dr. Angela’s #1 tip for women who are ready to start a business doing what they love.
• [25:21] How to connect with Dr. Angela.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “When Love Calls, You Better Answer”

PERSONAL MANTRAS:

“I deserve me at my best.”

“My success is tied to my imagination.”

Dr. Angela’s website: www.CreatingHealthyVillages.com – Subscribe to get your free guide.

Dr. Angela on Facebook

About Dr. Angela Shuttlesworth

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On today’s episode of Happy Black Woman, Rosetta chats with another amazing member of the HBW tribe, Wilma Jones. Wilma is on a mission to help people and organizations become happier and more successful in life. Her mission began with her first brand, Living Happier After, which spawned a book (Living Happier After) about life after divorce. Today, she helps individuals and organizations through workshops, speaking engagements, and individual coaching. Wilma’s passion for helping others is clear, and the transparency with which she shares her own story is truly inspiring.

Why you need to prioritize happiness.

As Wilma shares her story with Rosetta, it’s clear that she’s overcome a lot to find her happily ever after. She explains how struggles with career and her personal life inspired her to find positivity and pave the way to happiness. Wilma believes the key is to prioritize your own happiness above all else. She gives 2 tips that can make a huge difference in your daily life and, more importantly, how you approach obstacles in life. Wilma also shares her belief that you experience the most in life when you’re stretched.

The role of gratitude in your daily routine.

Wilma shares her daily routine and how important gratitude is when it comes to making a big mindset shift and, therefore, a huge life change. She offers some action steps that can help other women begin to make small changes in their daily life in order to make a big impact. Wilma’s big tip: have a gratitude journal. She explains how she uses it to record 3 things she’s grateful for each day and how that truly trains your brain to start looking for the good in life. Wilma goes on to offer some valuable advice on how to live happier at work, including the role exercise can play in dealing with those difficult conversations or meetings.

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

Rosetta and Wilma chat about the value of being mindful throughout the day and keeping your mindset in check. Putting positivity out into the universe, says Wilma, is the best way to begin living happily ever after. Wilma gives us a glimpse into her daily routine and how she maintains focus on what truly matters, even with a busy schedule. She also gives insight into exercise, specifically yoga, and how it has helped bring a sense of calm into her life.

How making small changes can have a huge impact.

As Rosetta and Wilma close out their chat, Wilma shares her go-to book for inspiration, The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. She also delves into her #1 tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business. Wilma’s perspective is refreshing and her ability to help others is inspiring. Her final tip for Happy Black Woman listeners? Don’t be afraid to fail – fail hard, fail often, and fail early.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:35] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Wilma Jones.
• [1:35] Wilma’s mission and the work that she does.
• [2:48] How Wilma decided to make this a business.
• [5:01] Why it’s so important to prioritize your happiness.
• [7:43] Some action steps that other women can implement in order to live happier in their lives.
• [11:14] Tips to help you live happier at work.
• [16:05] Wilma’s routine and how she stays productive and focused.
• [22:19] What makes Wilma a Happy Black Woman
• [25:06] A book that has inspired Wilma on her journey.
• [29:10] Wilma’s #1 tip for women who are thinking about starting a business.
• [32:31] How to connect with Wilma.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “The Success Principles”

Wilma’s Book: “Living Happier After”

Wilma J’s website: www.WilmaJ.com – get your free eBook “5 Tools to Start the Day”

Wilma Jones on Facebook

Wilma Jones on Twitter

Email Wilma Jones: Wilma <at> WilmaJ <dot> com

About Wilma Jones

As an expert speaker and workshop leader at WilmaJ, LLC, Wilma Jones helps organizations develop an enlightened workforce that is able to use the proven results of positivity to increase productivity and improve teamwork.
 
Wilma is an author, award-winning blogger and frequent guest expert on national radio. She understands how to use the tools and strategies of the Science of Happiness to inform, persuade and motivate people to make small changes in their lives that lead to big results.
 

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Today’s episode of Happy Black Woman features another valued member of the HBW Mastermind group, Tara McLeod. Tara (aka The Comeback Queen) is on a mission to help women who feel trapped in an unhealthy relationship and/or a mediocre life to find the strength, courage, and confidence to show up for herself and make a comeback. Through her own experiences, Tara inspires women to face their fears and transform their lives. Her goal is to share her own comeback story with honesty to help women see what is possible. Tara’s story is inspiring and her message is clear: to help women learn to love themselves.

The 5 pillars of making a comeback.

Tara’s own comeback started just after her 43rd birthday. It was then that she realized she had been in denial of her own unhappiness and knew it was time to make a change. In spite of her fear, Tara decided to show up for herself and create the life she deserved. She shares the 5 pillars to making a comeback that she shares with clients: Live, Love, Laugh, Leverage, and Learn. These powerful steps truly help to transform the women Tara works with through her Signature Coaching Program. She passionately pursues her purpose of sharing her story to inspire other women to make life-changing decisions.

The most important step in starting your comeback.

As Tara discusses the process of coaching women facing the difficulties of feeling trapped in an unhealthy relationship or living a mediocre life, she shares with Rosetta some important strategies that can help women get started. One of the most important steps, Forgiveness, is all about healing. Tara explains that forgiveness is not about forgetting, but about allowing those wounds to heal so you are able to live your fullest life. She also shares her typical day and the most important things she does to stay focused on her mission.

Knowing when to let go.

Another essential step in the healing process is letting go. Tara explains the value of letting go of what no longer serves you and the importance of taking inventory of your life. She says you must evaluate the things you need to release in order to create the life you want. Tara also discusses the role of prayer, meditation, and exercise in her daily routine. She goes on to share some valuable insights you can implement to help you stay focused and on track with your goals.

Find a way, because you’re worth it.

As Rosetta closes her chat with Tara, they talk about her favorite book and a personal mantra that inspired her on her journey. Tara also offers her #1 tip to women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business. The tip? Find a way. Tara delves a little deeper into how you have to find a way to overcome your fears and excuses because you’re worth it. This inspiring chat will motivate you to leverage your skills to make a comeback and create the life you’ve always wanted.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:33] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Tara McLeod.
• [1:55] Tara’s mission and the work that she does.
• [2:54] How Tara guides women through the process of living life on their own terms.
• [4:27] What inspired Tara to pursue this as a business.
• [6:34] Why it’s so important for women to make a comeback and show up for themselves.
• [7:25] Some tips and strategies that can help women get started.
• [12:56] Tara’s typical day and how she stays focused on her purpose.
• [15:07] How Tara stays productive.
• [17:33] A favorite book that has inspired Tara on her journey.
• [18:30] Tara’s personal mantra.
• [20:08] Tara’s #1 tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams.
• [21:24] How to connect with Tara.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “The Game of Life and How to Play It”

PERSONAL MANTRA: “You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.” ~ Brigham Young

Tara McLeod’s website: www.TheComebackQueen.com – go to The Queen Chronicles to get your free guide: Just Call it a Comeback.

About Tara McLeod

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On today’s episode of Happy Black Woman, Rosetta chats with a valued member of the HBW Mastermind group, Anita Jeter-Peterkin. Anita shares an incredibly powerful story of survival and beating the odds, and how her own experience helped her find her true mission in life. Anita is very clear about her mission: she mentors men and women (with a focus on women) who aspire to do more of what would bring greater satisfaction of capturing their dreams to create and live their ideal lives. She believes she was gifted with the ability to help others live their dreams, even when life has thrown a curveball. Anita shares with great candor the incredible odds she faced in her own life and how she found her way to live a life that makes her a Happy Black Woman.

Rediscovering your passion and creating a plan to get results.

Anita was a young mother when she faced the most difficult challenge of her life. At the age of 22, she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and wasn’t expected to survive. It was then that she began to live a life of gratitude and her perspective completely changed. After overcoming a seemingly impossible obstacle, Anita realized she was destined for more. She woke up filled with gratitude for each and every day and believed she needed to inspire others to do the same. As she continued to face obstacles in her life, Anita realized she had a gift: she could turn an obstacle into a motivator. That’s when she knew she found her mission in life – helping others do the same.

Finding a way to help others fulfill their dreams.

After spending many years in sales and being a top producer, Anita initially dedicated herself to helping others in sales find success. As she applied her mentoring skills, she realized her passion could be used to help people in any field – and in their personal lives. Anita founded Empower to Produce to help ignite the passion in others who have had a curveball thrown at them. She wanted to share her story with others to make it clear that anything is possible if you persevere and believe. Today, Anita dedicates much of her time to public speaking and events, sharing her gifts of motivating others and inspiring them to follow their dreams.

The importance of capturing a dream.

20 years after her initial breast cancer scare, Anita faced the unthinkable – she was diagnosed with breast cancer again. Overcoming her second scare inspired her to write a book, Wrapped’N’Pink. Anita discusses the importance of the book in her journey and how it has helped others faced difficult obstacles. She goes on to share how she stays focused each day on what is possible, rather than how difficult things may seem. Anita explains her belief that you can’t just dream a dream, you have to capture it. She also shares the value of waking up with a sense of gratitude because each day is truly a gift.

Staying motivated and empowered, no matter what.

Anita is no stranger to hardship and obstacles. But, through it all, she’s gained a sense of profound gratitude that is contagious. As Rosetta closes out her chat with this inspiring guest, they discuss Anita’s go-to books for inspiration and a personal mantra she wrote. She also shares her #1 tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams: invest in yourself and your business. Anita also discusses her belief that you must embrace the process and celebrate progress – even when progress is slow. What makes Anita a Happy Black Woman? Spending time with her family and helping others. This is without a doubt an incredible story that will leave you feeling inspired to conquer your dreams.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:34] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Anita Jeter-Peterkin.
• [1:58] Anita’s mission and the work that she does.
• [2:59] How Anita works with clients to achieve their goals.
• [3:41] What inspired you to start your business?
• [5:39] The inspiration behind the name of her business, Empower to Produce.
• [7:59] A tip to help you identify the area of your purpose in life.
• [8:56] Anita explains the book that she wrote and what inspired her to write it.
• [12:59] Some action steps that help Anita stay motivated in her daily routine.
• [18:10] A book that has inspired Anita on her journey.
• [19:30] Where to find Anita’s book, “Wrapped in Pink”.
• [20:06] Anita’s personal mantra.
• [20:56] What makes Anita a Happy Black Woman.
• [23:38] Anita’s #1 tip to a woman who is thinking about starting a business doing what she loves.
• [27:12] How to connect with Anita.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “Wrapped’N’Pink”

PERSONAL MANTRA: Stay motivated, be empowered, and continue to follow your dreams even when life has thrown a curveball at you, because your dreams are meant to be captured and they are meant to be lived.

Anita Jeter-Peterkin’s website: www.AnitaJeter-Peterkin.com

About Anita Jeter-Peterkin 

I am Anita Jeter-Peterkin; an awesome mom, nanna, and author of “Wrapped-N-Pink” and “A Moment of Thoughts”. I am a mentor, motivational, and inspirational speaker. I am also the founder of The Wrappednpink Breast Cancer Awareness Organization and Healthy Lifestyle Changes…Eating Better, Moving More, Stressing Less and the CEO of Empower2Produce for business and personal development.

I have always had the desire to help others get ahead in life and in business. I believe I was gifted the ability to inspire, motivate, and ignite others to become empowered to succeed in whatever they wish to do.
I work with people who have dreams to uncover their potential in life and create the lifestyle in which they are meant to live. Health, Business, and Ideal Lifestyle is my focus and my mission. I speak with women and men on a daily basis. These women and men have aspirations to do more of what would bring greater satisfaction to creating and living their ideal lives, however, become trapped in a rut because of a curve ball life has thrown their way. My mission is to help them to rediscover the passion they once had, capture their dreams, create a plan, and implement it to gain positive life changing results.

Over the years, life has thrown many curve balls my way. From losing loved ones, losing my job, broken relationships, losing my home, work place discrimination, failed businesses to being diagnosed with breast cancer and being told I would not survive a year. These curve balls were obstacles in my path of following my dreams to live the life I wanted to live. For many people, some of these life changing events have reaped havoc over their lives, causing them to give up and put their dreams on hold indefinitely. I could have been that someone. I came darn close to digging a deep hole and burying my dreams and goals in its entirety.

Instead of digging a hole to hide in, I dug deeper in my faith and leaned on God to guide and equip me with the tools I needed to persevere and create my ideal life. I believe the trials which I have experienced has made me a stronger, resilient, more focused, and determined person. With the ultimate goal of providing them the inspiration to move into a life of a world full of possibilities, I reach out to others by assisting them with hitting that curve ball and knocking the ball out of the park.

Outside of building my business, I enjoy spending time with my family, creative writing, dancing and local travel.

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On today’s episode of the Happy Black Women, Rosetta chats with a member of the HBW inner circle, Dr. Ruby Thomas. Dr. Ruby is a pediatrician on a mission to teach mothers how to transition to a plant-based diet and the health benefits it can have. Her goal is to help families live healthier lifestyles by transitioning to a vegan diet and she offers coaching and support to guide them through the process. Dr. Ruby was inspired to pursue this passion after seeing tremendous benefits after going vegan herself. She shares with Rosetta the health benefits that come with this lifestyle shift and how she’s managed to turn her passion into a thriving business.

The mindset shift of transitioning to a plant-based diet.

Dr. Ruby shares the process of coaching women and families through the transition process. The most important part? Changing your mindset and getting rid of the misconceptions about what it means to go vegan. Dr. Ruby discusses how she helps her clients overcome this mindset shift and begin the transition process with a gradual change in eating habits. It’s all about getting your mind right and understanding the “why” behind this change. For Dr. Ruby, the reward is in seeing families become healthier by making these changes.

The inspiration behind Dr. Ruby’s business and how she made it a business.

In Dr. Ruby’s work as a pediatrician, she sees many children suffering from nutrition-related health issues. After years of seeing patients with issues like this, Dr. Ruby realized she had to help. Once she started seeing huge results in her own health and wellness from transitioning to a plant-based diet, she knew her mission was to help other mothers do the same. Dr. Ruby wants to see other families experience the same benefits in order to live healthier lives. She shares some simple tips you can start with today to begin making gradual improvements to your lifestyle.

Simple strategies that can have a huge impact.

Dr. Ruby offers some advice to women who are ready to improve their eating habits. She says that many of us overlook the source of many daily calories: drinks. The easiest way to deal with this? Replace sugary drinks with water and add fruit for flavoring. It may sound simple, but according to Dr. Ruby, it can have a huge ripple effect on your health. Another simple way to add healthier eating habits into your daily routine: have a smoothie in the morning. Dr. Ruby shares some ingredients in her daily smoothie to give you an idea of where to start. The biggest takeaway? Eating healthy isn’t time-consuming; it’s all about planning.

How you can eat out and stick to your diet.

As Rosetta closes out her chat with Dr. Ruby, they discuss some tips that can help when you’re on the go. Always carry healthy snacks. Dr. Ruby shares how easy it can be to eat healthy on the go. She also shares a favorite healthy snack her children request: Lara Bars. Dr. Ruby leaves us with some final inspiration to point us in the right direction, including how to cope with your guilty pleasure and make it healthy. She also offers her #1 tip for women who are ready to pursue their passion and turn it into a business. Dr. Ruby Thomas offers tons of insight into the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how making the transition doesn’t have to be difficult.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:36] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Dr. Ruby Thomas.
• [1:21] Dr. Ruby’s mission and the work that she does.
• [2:27] How Dr. Ruby helps people with her health and wellness coaching.
• [3:46] What inspired you to turn this into a business?
• [5:39] Some tips and strategies that can help someone who wants to get started in a plant-based lifestyle.
• [10:08] Dr. Ruby shares some more simple tips that you can implement into your lifestyle.
• [11:54] Replacing unhealthy calories with healthy calories.
• [13:03] Dr. Ruby’s daily routine and how she sticks with her healthy lifestyle.
• [14:59] Some strategies that help her family stay healthy.
• [17:44] The importance of starting a healthy lifestyle early in your child’s life.
• [18:48] A favorite book that has inspired Dr. Ruby on her journey.
• [20:40] Dr. Ruby’s personal mantra.
• [21:55] What makes Dr. Ruby a Happy Black Woman?
• [22:45] Dr. Ruby’s guilty pleasure.
• [23:57] The #1 tip for women who are thinking about starting a business doing what they love.
• [26:56] How to connect with Dr. Ruby.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “Roots”

PERSONAL MANTRA: What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

Dr. Ruby Thomas’s Website: www.ThePlantBasedPediatrician.com – get your free gift from Dr. Ruby.

About Ruby Thomas

Dr. Ruby Thomas is a board certified pediatrician with specialized training in preventive and integrative medicine. She received her medical degree and completed her medical training at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. Throughout her career, Dr. Ruby has pursued training in nutrition, integrative medicine, and health coaching. She is passionate about empowering families to transform their lives and heal from chronic illness through plant based nutrition.  Her blog and website is www.theplantbasedpediatrician.com, and she provides health coaching, education, and consulting services for individuals, families, and communities. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and 2 sons. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and painting.

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Today’s episode of Happy Black Woman features Trea Branch. Trea is a valued member of the Happy Black Woman Tribe and a financial expert on a mission to help women find freedom from financial struggles. She founded Trea’s Two Cents to offer private coaching and fulfill her life’s purpose of helping others create a life of freedom. Trea is the quintessential overachiever, which is evident as she shares her story. When she decided to tackle her own financial goals, she went after it on all cylinders. And that’s how she found her purpose. Rosetta’s chat with Trea is full of tips and strategies you can employ to begin your own journey to financial freedom.

Paying off a 6-figure debt in just 3 years.

Sharing Trea’s story makes it clear that she truly is an overachiever. Her journey began, as it does for so many of us, with a mountain of debt. Trea realized it was time to tackle that debt and gain the freedom she desired. And so, in true overachiever style, she created a realistic plan that would allow her to pay off her 6-figure debt in just 3 years. It was this process that led to the creation of her coaching program, which serves women just like her today. After successfully tackling her debt, Trea went full steam towards her purpose: helping others. She shares specific action steps that make things that seem impossible sound, well, possible. They key? According to Trea, it all comes down to planning.

A step-by-step process to kicking debt.

As Trea shares the action steps that can get you out of debt, it all sounds realistic. She breaks it down into simple, yet emotional, steps anyone can tackle if they’re ready to get out of debt. Her main tips? Start with a realistic picture of your debt, and then take the emotion out of spending. Trea explains that we are a society that sees spending as a “need”, when it’s actually about buying the things that are important to us. When you remove the emotion from the equation, it makes it possible to set realistic expectations and create a plan that will effectively lead you to financial freedom.

Why it’s possible for ANYONE to get out of debt.

Trea delves into her belief that, with the right planning and accountability, anyone can tackle debt. Starting with a clear picture of what you owe and then looking at your spending habits will make it obvious where you can cut spending. It’s not always easy, Trea says, but the freedom you gain makes it all worth it. She shares some areas that were difficult for her to cut back on when she faced her own spending habits, and how she overcame these obstacles. Trea shares her “cash spending” paycheck plan and how it helps her track her spending down to the penny. Controlling your spending, according to Trea, is all about being honest with yourself about where your money goes and creating a plan to control it.

Making real change in people’s lives.

As a busy entrepreneur with a demanding 9-5 job, Trea manages to maintain focus on the things that make her a Happy Black Woman. She shares the importance of having support, which in her case comes from her husband Tyrone. Trea also how rewarding it is to be able to help people make real change in their lives and see the weight that comes with financial pressure being lifted from their shoulders. As Rosetta & Trea’s chat comes to an end, Trea shares one last tip for women who are at the start of their journey. If you’re ready to rid yourself of debt and create true freedom in your life, you don’t want to miss this episode of Happy Black Woman.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:32] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Trea Branch.
• [1:45] Trea’s mission and the work that she does.
• [4:25] The journey of paying $180k in debt in 3 years and why she shares that journey.
• [8:24] The process of how Trea helps her clients.
• [11:48] Some specific actions steps you can take if you’re ready to get started.
• [14:22] What do you say to clients who explain why they “can’t” follow the program?
• [17:50] A typical day in Trea’s life and how she stays focused on her financial goals.
• [21:08] A favorite book that inspired Trea on her journey.
• [23:54] Do you have a personal mantra?
• [25:32] What makes Trea a Happy Black Woman?
• [27:51] #1 tip for a woman who is at the start of building her business.
• [30:45] How you can connect with Trea.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “Battlefield of the Mind”

BOOK: “Every Day is a Friday”

Trea Branch’s website: www.TreasTwoCents.com

Get your FREE Pay Off Big Debt Checklist

About Trea Branch 

Trea S. Branch is a Money Transformation Coach and Speaker helping women break free of debt, so they can live a life of freedom, a life where they can afford their dreams.

Growing up in a small town in Michigan, she did everything she was “supposed” to do. She overachieved in high school, received her BA in Economics from the University of Michigan and MBA from the University of Notre Dame. Before the age of 30, she had two strong Fortune 500 companies on her resume and was earning over $100,000/year.

But with all of her success came very little knowledge of how to handle her money and a massive amount of student debt. Year after year, promotion after promotion, she still somehow needed more money. Little did she know, her student debt and lack of money management skills would ensure she always lived paycheck to paycheck, seeing little financial growth.

All of this changed when Trea and her ​husband set their first financial goal, their wedding. Trea and Tyrone were so focused on avoiding credit card debt that they stripped their spending, saved, and paid for their downtown Chicago wedding & Venice, Italy honeymoon with $0 credit card debt. They even had money left over to kick-start their savings!

Seeing this level of progress made her curious about what else she could accomplish when she was more purposeful with her money. So in 2014, she set her ultimate goal of paying off $180,000 of student debt in 3 years.
Trea has taken the strong, financial principles that are helping her reach debt-freedom by 2017, and applied them to a Private Coaching Program that helps her clients pay off their big debt, all while building the healthy money habits that will keep them out of debt.

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Today’s episode of Happy Black Woman is filled with tips and strategies to help you build your personal brand, connect with your purpose, and package your genius. Rosetta talks with personal branding coach Amanda Miller Littlejohn, who is on a mission to help clients get their message out into the world. She assists clients package their genius and get it out into the world. Amanda chats with Rosetta about the path that led her to her true purpose and how she empowers people to connect with their gifts. Her goal is to help her clients figure out how to share their gifts by demystifying the marketing process and offering tactical guidance. Throughout Amanda’s chat with Rosetta, she shares a wealth of information to help you find your way to your true path.

Connecting people with their true gifts through coaching and tactical guidance.

Amanda started out in the PR world as an award-winning public relations executive, but found herself drawn to helping the individual versus assisting businesses. Over time, it became clear that her true genius was in extracting what is special about individuals, and so her mission was born. Amanda explains how she sees herself as a mirror to her clients, helping them see their true genius. She also assists in identifying the ways in which they may have gone astray in the past and veered away from their purpose. After working with clients, Amanda is able to see them bring passion and energy into their work, revelling in the joy of living their purpose.

Specific steps to help you identify your genius.

According to Amanda, we all have genius. She walks Rosetta through the steps that can help you identify your genius and package it. Amanda asks tactical questions that make it easier to see your gifts and begin the process of walking in your purpose. What do you do after you identify your genius? Amanda explains the value of paying attention to your audience. What are they reading, listening to, or watching? Research podcasts, blogs, television shows, and other resources to better understand your audience’s needs and wants. This will provide value insight into connecting your genius with your audience.

Staying focused and bringing your purpose to life.

Amanda shares with Rosetta her tip for women who don’t feel ready to get started. Start where you are. This simple, yet powerful message says it all. Amanda tells us how she procrastinated and finally realized she just had to start where she was. She also discusses the value of investing in a coach if you’re ready to get the support you need to take things to the next level. Amanda walks us through a typical day in her busy life. She explains the value of knowing your work methodology and arranging your day to best manage productivity. She also shares some tech tools that help her stay focused and how having kids gave her a natural focus around her time. With hard work and focus, Amanda has designed her ideal life. What makes her a Happy Black Woman? Helping others, being with her children, and – of course – coffee.

If you keep it moving in your purpose, things will fall into place.

As Rosetta closes out her chat with Amanda, they discuss a favorite book that inspired Amanda on her journey along with a personal mantra. Her mantra – Keep it moving – is all about the importance of always moving forward no matter what. Amanda shares a final tip for women who are just at the beginning stages of building a business: if something isn’t working for you or making you happy, get rid of it. She shares why so many of us end up trapped in situations that no longer serve us because we feel like it’s the “right thing to do”. Amanda’s final piece of advice: if it no longer serves you, let it go.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:34] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Amanda Miller Littlejohn.
• [1:34] How Rosetta and Amanda first connected.
• [3:52] Amanda’s mission and the work that she does.
• [6:31] How Amanda assists her clients.
• [9:53] What inspired Amanda to expand her PR business into working with individuals.
• [13:33] Some specific action steps for someone getting started in this process.
• [18:36] Action tips once you understand your message and purpose.
• [23:12] Thinking about your goals from a strategic perspective.
• [24:20] What do you say to the woman who knows she has expertise to share, but doesn’t feel like she’s ready?
• [28:20] What Amanda’s typical day looks like and how she stays on track.
• [33:44] What makes you a Happy Black Woman?
• [34:57] A book that has inspired Amanda.
• [36:11] A personal mantra that has inspired Amanda on her journey.
• [38:36] The #1 tip for ladies who are just at the beginning stages of building their business.
• [41:04] How to connect with Amanda.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “The Firestarter Sessions”

Amanda Miller Littlejohn’s website: www.AmandaMillerLittlejohn.com

Get your FREE Personal Branding Toolkit

Amanda Miller Littlejohn

Amanda Miller Littlejohn is an idea oven, brand problem solver, and creative powerhouse working at the intersection of public relations, journalism, marketing and social media. A former print journalist and a writer first by training and passion, Amanda uses her unique storytelling lens and new media skills to help her clients uncover and subsequently share better brand stories. Through the Package Your Genius Academy, Amanda offers signature coaching programs, a regular podcast and ground-the breaking personal branding system The Branding Box. She is a motivating publicist and coach for entrepreneurs and thought leaders who are seeking brand clarity and fresh ideas on how to emerge as experts in their chosen fields. A highly sought after speaker, trainer, writer, and coach, Amanda has empowered hundreds of business owners, students and women on personal branding, public relations and social media. The National Black Public Relations Society’s named Amanda their 2012 Practitioner of the Year, SWIBA named her their 2014 Life/Business Coach of the Year and PRWeek named her one of their 2015 Innovative 50 – leaders in tech and communications for her work with The Branding Box.

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Today on the Happy Black Woman podcast Rosetta chats with a member of the Happy Black Woman tribe, Dr. Christi Monk. She is a Certified Life Coach and founder of the Confidence Suite and the Workplace Survival Institute. Dr. Christi is on a mission to help women tap into their core value systems so they become more effective, influential, and productive contributors in the workplace and in their community. Her goal? To help women become the world changers they were born to be. In this powerful chat with Rosetta, Dr. Christi gives us a glimpse into her own journey, the obstacles she overcame, and how she came to find her true purpose. She is passionate about helping women and offers valuable tips to help you get started in your own journey.

Teaching women to be authentic, unapologetically.

At the foundation of Dr. Christi’s mission is her own journey from losing confidence and trying to be what she thought others wanted her to be, to being her true self. She shares why women must find a way to be their true selves and why it’s important to success in the workplace. Dr. Christi is able to connect with her clients because of her own experiences of “losing herself” and then working hard to bring her true self to the surface. She shares the exhaustion that comes with trying to live up the expectations of others and the freedom that comes from being your authentic self. Dr. Christi goes on to shatter the false belief many women live with: that being your true self means you won’t be accepted. She tells us why being natural is the only way to go.

The 4 R’s of being your authentic self.

We get to the nitty-gritty of this inspiring talk when Dr. Christi shares some action steps women can take to begin the process of being their true selves. These empowering steps will help you begin your journey with confidence. Listen in to learn more about the 4 R’s, which are: Revive, Redirect, Recharge, and Release. The most important step according to Christi? Redirect. She explains the value of taking inventory of your life and eliminating people who are not adding value to your life. Learn why it’s important to let go of those who are bringing you down.

How to stay on track and focused.

It’s clear Dr. Christi has a full schedule. So, how does she stay focused and productive? Dr. Christi walks us through a typical day (which starts at 5am) and why she realized getting help was essential to her success and wellbeing. She shares the importance of constantly refining your craft and focusing on ways to better serve clients. Dr. Christi also tells us the most important tool she uses to keep herself organized. This glimpse into her daily life will motivate you to get organized and get moving towards your goals.

Knowing who you are and who you were created to be.

As Rosetta closes out her chat with Dr. Christi, they discuss a favorite book that has inspired Christi on her journey. She also shares a favorite quote she came up with: The true depiction of a woman is when she knows who she is and who she was created to be, and walks boldly in it. Dr. Christi also shares what makes her a Happy Black Woman along with some valuable tips for those of you who are at the beginning stages of your journey. She ends with one last bit of inspiration: Be confident, be bold, be you. This conversation with Dr. Christi Monk is sure to inspire you to be your authentic self and pursue your passion with everything you’ve got.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:33] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Christi Monk.
• [1:20] How Rosetta and Dr. Christi are connected.
• [2:03] Dr. Christi’s mission and the work that she does.
• [3:08] The services Dr. Christi offers to assist clients.
• [4:10] What inspired Christi to pursue her passion?
• [7:38] Why the belief that you can’t be your authentic self is false.
• [10:51] Some specific action steps ladies can take when they are ready to be their authentic selves.
• [18:51] The 4 R’s of being your authentic self.
• [20:41] Some strategies Christi uses to stay focused and productive.
• [23:49] Christi shares some tools and technology that helps her stay on track.
• [25:16] A favorite book that has inspired Christi on her journey.
• [26:36] Dr. Christi’s personal mantra.
• [27:54] What makes Dr. Christi a Happy Black Woman.
• [30:09] The #1 tip for women who are just getting started.
• [33:33] How you can connect with Dr. Christie.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “The Search for Significance”

PERSONAL MANTRA: The true depiction of a woman is when she knows who she is and who she was created to be, and walks boldly in it. ~ Dr. Christi Monk

Dr. Christi’s website: www.ChristiMonk.com

Take your free Influence IQ Quiz: www.YourInfluenceIQQuiz.com

About Dr. Christi Monk

Dr. Monk positively impacts and influences the lives of those she meets. Dr. Monk is passionate teaching women how to gain respect and keep it without compromising who they are. She is the founder of The Confidence Suite. The Confident Suite trains women how to tap into their core value system so they are more affective, confident and productive contributors in the workplace and their communities. By focusing on the core value system and regaining confidence, women will improve their communication style, interpersonal skills, and social skills all of which result in personal satisfaction. Dr. Christi calls this Rocking Your I.C.E. (Influence+Confidence=Esteem). Dr. Christi is a Doctor of Management. Her published work is entitled Workplace Bullying – In Search of a Clearer Definition. She is also certified in Workplace Bullying and Workplace Mediation. A teacher by nature, Dr. Monk believes in life-long learning and continuously seeks out opportunities to increase and share her knowledge in both the public, private and non-profit sectors.

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