1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: Calling all my sweetish to the forefront. I'm your host 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: christ and this is the Keep It Positive Swedish show. 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to keep it Positive, Sweete the place where we 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: he'll grow and learn together. Today's guest is a corporate leader, speaker, 5 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,759 Speaker 1: and now author whose story is rooted in grit, transformation, 6 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: and the power of owning every part of who you are. 7 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: I am so glad to be sitting with Tiffany Willis. 8 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: Tiffany Willis is a CPA Fortune one hundred executive and 9 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: motivational speaker whose journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From 10 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: becoming a mother at fourteen and experiencing homelessness to leading 11 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 1: at the highest levels of corporate America, including serving as 12 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: senior vice president at Starbucks, she has built a career 13 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:53,520 Speaker 1: and a life defined by resilience, grit, to discipline, and purpose. Now, 14 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: through her book, Own Your Narrative, she's inviting others to 15 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: reframe their stories, showing that your struggles are not some 16 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: thing you have to hide, but something that can shape 17 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: your strength. Kis solely please give a very warm welcome 18 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: to now author Tiffany Willis. How are you doing, Tiffany, 19 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:11,400 Speaker 1: I'm doing well. 20 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me welcome. 21 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: Yes, No, we're happy to have you today. Your story 22 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: is so dynamic. When I heard about it, I was like, no, 23 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: we have to have her on. 24 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you. I'm so excited to keep the positive. 25 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: Yes, we're gonna have a good time today. I remember 26 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: we first met. There was an event that I did 27 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: with Trey Young and you were There's a lot of 28 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: executives there from different brands, and you were there when 29 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: we got to meet. So when Wes was like she 30 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 1: wrote a book, I was like, oh, we have to 31 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: have her on. 32 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: Thank you for having me. 33 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: Yes. Absolutely. So before we get into everything and talk 34 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: about your book, I want to play a quick game 35 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,279 Speaker 1: of rapid fire. This is just to break the ice 36 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: and then we're going to get into it. Okay, perfect. 37 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: So the first in it comes to mind your Starbucks order? 38 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: Oh, my Starbucks order. It would be a ventive Vanela 39 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 2: bean frappuccino with caramel wall and heavy caramel drizzle on top, 40 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: because caramel is a vegetable. 41 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: Why I think I just learned that today. She said 42 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: caramel wall, So Kramela is. 43 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: Gonn put it in the cut when it goes around 44 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: the cuss, I love that. 45 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: Okay, that's that's that sounds good? Nice and sweet? 46 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 2: Nice and sweet? 47 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: Yes, okay. Do you like a red eye or daytime flight? 48 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 2: A red eye? 49 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: Me too? I love it, especially coming from La. 50 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, you're still productive all day? 51 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: Yes exactly. 52 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: Heels are sneakers, oh, sneakers, especially chucks? 53 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: Okays, yes, there you go. What's your I need a 54 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: moment ritual. 55 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 2: I need a moment ritual. Would have to be listening 56 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 2: to Beyonce. 57 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: Okay, you're my kind of girl. All right, we are here. 58 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: I love it. What's a small thing that brings you joy? 59 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 2: A small thing that brings me joy? Probably fresh air, 60 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 2: right because it's just quiet, it's open, you can just walk, 61 00:02:57,960 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 2: So I think the fresh air really brings me like 62 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: that joy that. 63 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:02,520 Speaker 1: I love it. Yeah, do you like Have you checked 64 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 1: out the trails here in Georgia? The walking trail a 65 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: little bit? 66 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 2: But right now you can't go out because it's all 67 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: the polling. 68 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 1: Baby. I literally just did some signus drops before we 69 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: started this interview, because every like five minutes, I'm like, 70 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: am I about to sneeze? Oh? 71 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like rainy lemon pepper out here right now? 72 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 1: That's on Instagram where somebody said this is what happened 73 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: to your cars to night and it was a guy 74 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:26,119 Speaker 1: with lemon pepper. Yes, yes, exactly, literally, that is what's happening. Well, 75 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: I'm super excited to have you here today. We were 76 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: talking about your new book, Own Your Narrative. I feel 77 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: like that has been a mantra of yours throughout your life. 78 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: Let me know why. Now you decided to write a 79 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: book about it, and that was the title because I 80 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: feel like that has kind of been something that's driven 81 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: your entire life. 82 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, so for me, Own your Narrative was very easy 83 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 2: to select as my book because I always do speaking 84 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 2: engagements and it's all about owning your narrative. And so 85 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 2: my whole mantra is I cannot celebrate my success without 86 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 2: acknowledging my scars, and that essence is the crutch of 87 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: owning your narrative. Whatever your journey is, whatever your past is, 88 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: you got to own it. And so that, in essence, 89 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: became the title of the book. 90 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: I love that. That's so good. In your book, you 91 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: say the window seal was my refrigerator. Yes, let's talk 92 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: about that. I want to go back to when you 93 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 1: think about that version of Tiffany. What did survival look 94 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: like on that particular day? 95 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 2: What did survival look like on that particular day? Survival 96 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 2: was really just putting one foot in front of the other. 97 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 2: But I would say even that moment of Tiffany and 98 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 2: putting one foot in front of the other is still 99 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,799 Speaker 2: the same Tiffany today. Come on, ye right, the challenges 100 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: could be different, but you're still just trying to get 101 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 2: through the day sometimes. And so the window seal as 102 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: refrigerator was because I didn't have a refrigerator. I couldn't 103 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 2: afford one. I was just happy not to be homeless anymore, 104 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 2: and so being able to put my son's milk on 105 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: a window seal just to keep it cold to me. 106 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 2: Other people probably thought it was poverty. For me, it 107 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 2: was actually progress, right, And so I would just say 108 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 2: that that moment of a Tiffany is still the same 109 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,080 Speaker 2: moment today. It's just those steps are different. They represent 110 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 2: different things. 111 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: People see you now as it's executive, this woman who 112 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: has made it, but your story when people read it, 113 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: I'm excited for people to tive into your book because 114 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: when they read it, like they're going to see themselves 115 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 1: in a lot of areas of your life. But I 116 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 1: want to take you back to young Tiffany. Yes, how 117 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: you navigated your life and how you got to this 118 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:31,680 Speaker 1: point that you are today, because your story is so phenomenal, 119 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: it really is. Yes, So let's go back to young Tiffany. 120 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: What was it like growing up? And like, where did 121 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: you see yourself as a young girl? Because I know, 122 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: for me, as a young person, I feel like I 123 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: already knew. I saw where I was going to be 124 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: in the future, and you know a lot of times 125 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: it changes, like twenty times before you actually grow up. 126 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 1: But where did young Tiffany see herself going? 127 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? So first, what did you want to be when 128 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 2: you were younger? 129 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: I want to be an actor and a singer. Yeah, 130 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: look at God, Look at God. I want to do it. 131 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: Yes you will. Yes. 132 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 2: So for me, when I was growing up, I would 133 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 2: say I was in the all American family. Right. It 134 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 2: was the three story home, the two kids, the dog, 135 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: the white picket fence, the three cars. What people would 136 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: say was an all American family. And so at that age, 137 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 2: I think I had this vision of what success looked 138 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 2: like because my father was an engineer, my mother was 139 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: in community service and politics, and so I thought, and 140 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 2: they thought I would grow up to be the mayor 141 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 2: or something right, something phenomenal, a doctor. It was just 142 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: kind of bestowed on me, like you're going to be successful. 143 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 2: You have no other options. And so that's how I 144 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: grew up with the firs and the you know, sun 145 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: dresses and you know, go into the hair salon with 146 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 2: mom on the weekend and having piano lessons and piano recitals. 147 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 2: But all that then changed. But my childhood, I would say, 148 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 2: was probably just about as good as it could get. 149 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, let's talk about that shitt. Yes, you were fourteen 150 00:06:56,480 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: years old. I'm assuming that you were raising the church 151 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: like the family, yeah, which is a huge part of 152 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: our childhood. And then you find out that you're pregnant. Yes, 153 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: what was that moment like? First of all, like going 154 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 1: to your parents and saying, hey, yeah, you're a kid. Yes, 155 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 1: you know, how do you even articulate yourself to say 156 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: this has happened? I was doing this when I shouldn't 157 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: have been doing this. 158 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 2: Well, I didn't even I didn't even get that opportunity. 159 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 2: Maybe it was a blessing and a curse, but I 160 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 2: actually went in. I was in track, I was doing cheerleading, 161 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 2: and I went in for a regular annual physical with 162 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 2: my mother and that's how I found out, Right, just 163 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 2: on the regular annual physical. You have to give yourn 164 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: you got to know do this, and the doctor told 165 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 2: her before they told me. Oh, and so that's how 166 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 2: I found out I was pregnant. 167 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: Wow. 168 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 2: Yes, And I remember leaving. The first thing my mother 169 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 2: said when we left, you're gonna have to tell your father. 170 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: And what was your relationship relationship like with your father? 171 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 2: Oh, it was great, I would say, if you know, 172 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 2: people gravitate to one versus the other. I was definitely 173 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 2: Daddy's girl. So it was definitely harder to then have 174 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 2: to tell my father. 175 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure, because you don't want to let him down. 176 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 2: You don't want to let him down. Yeah. 177 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: Take us back to that day when you're walking in 178 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:13,559 Speaker 1: the house and you're like, Dad, this is what's happened. 179 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. 180 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: So I hadn't even prep yourself. 181 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I didn't even have to walk in the 182 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 2: house and tell him. He was traveling at the time. 183 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 2: He was Air Force and he was also an engineer, 184 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: but he was traveling at the time and he had 185 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 2: called how was school today, And it was just the 186 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 2: regular day. And so I talk about in the book 187 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,319 Speaker 2: where I said it's fine, yeah, and because we were 188 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:37,839 Speaker 2: so close, he's like, something sounds off, yeah, like was 189 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 2: school really okay? And then I went ahead and answered 190 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 2: and said, well, yeah, but dad, I'm pregnant. And so 191 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: I talk about in the book how that moment was 192 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 2: almost like just a drop of the floor because he's like, wait, wait, 193 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: I did I hear you correctly? And then it would 194 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 2: go silent, and I talk about that in the book, 195 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 2: like that moment of silence that felt like eternity to 196 00:09:02,559 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 2: the point where I'm saying hello, hello, realizing he actually 197 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:07,559 Speaker 2: hung up. 198 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, she's probably in disbelief, like not my baby, right. 199 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 2: Because here I am, this child of someone that's a 200 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 2: mother always in the community, a father that is very 201 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: much analytical, and you know, they're both considered very successful, 202 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 2: so you're supposed to have successful children and to them, 203 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 2: of course, like as we grow up, that is not 204 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: what is allowed. Yeah, And so overnight I went from 205 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 2: this all American white picket fence type of household and 206 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 2: upbringing to now the floor dropping from under me. 207 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, my goodness. I couldn't imagine, like one. My dad 208 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: is like one of my best friends, so like me 209 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: having no, like I can't imagine like how you look 210 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 1: and revere your father and then hello, hello, yeah, and 211 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: he's hung up the phone. 212 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: Heartbreaking at that age, right, you're you're not used to 213 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 2: getting hung up on no, right, but you don't hang 214 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 2: up on people at that age. So it was new 215 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 2: to me. I think that was the very first time. Yes, 216 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 2: And then it took a while to be able to 217 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,440 Speaker 2: articulate like what happened, because back then you're thinking, oh, 218 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:16,599 Speaker 2: maybe the phone cut off, right, maybe something happened. You 219 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 2: don't realize No, no, you got hung. 220 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: Up on yeah, Oh my goodness, that my goodness. So 221 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: then that kind of what happened after that? Did they 222 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: just push you away? Or you're fourteen? 223 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 2: Yes? So my mother gave me two options, and so 224 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 2: option one, which was right, and being that you're growing 225 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 2: up in the church, you're not supposed to show that 226 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: you're even pregnant, so it was don't worry, you don't 227 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 2: have to have the baby. 228 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: Wow. 229 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 2: So that was option one, and I said, well, I 230 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 2: don't want to do that, and so then she went 231 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 2: into like, Okay, what's next. You can go away, you'll 232 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,959 Speaker 2: have the baby and then you'll come back, right, So 233 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 2: it's almost like you go live with an aunt and 234 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 2: then you come back. And I think that was part 235 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 2: normal back in the day where that's what people did 236 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 2: and they gave their kid up for adoption. And I said, 237 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 2: I didn't want to do that either. Yeah, but those 238 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 2: are my options. Do you want a or do you 239 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 2: want to be there is no c And so when 240 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 2: I didn't want either option, my mother being in community 241 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 2: service and being very tied into then helping foster children, 242 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 2: which was very interesting. Now I'm able to reflect as 243 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 2: I write and reflect that, I think her reaction wasn't 244 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: necessarily for lack of empathy for me. I think it 245 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 2: was because maybe she felt like, here, I am trying 246 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 2: to help everybody else's children and my own needed me 247 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 2: and I wasn't here. Yeah, and so I think she 248 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 2: just went into kind of like fix it mood? 249 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 1: What a mother? Now? Looking back, you are a mother? Now, 250 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: what would you do in that situation if you're was 251 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 1: fourteen years old? 252 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 2: And yeah, being that I lived the experience, of course, 253 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 2: you're like, how this happened? Which that question that you 254 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:08,599 Speaker 2: asked someone is like not the question because it's like 255 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 2: you don't want to know the answer, right right, You're like, yeah, 256 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 2: I know how you know what I got exactly. Yeah, 257 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 2: but going through the journey, I would definitely be one 258 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 2: hundred and ten percent supportive, right, I say everybody has 259 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 2: different circumstances, challenges, obstacles. I wouldn't dere go as far 260 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 2: as to call it a mistake. Yeah, but those challenges, 261 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 2: those obstacles are going to look different for everyone, and 262 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 2: there's gonna happen different times in people's lives. That just 263 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 2: happened to be my obstacle, Yeah for sure, So knowing 264 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 2: how I got through it, I would definitely be there 265 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,560 Speaker 2: to support my daughter or whoever else would be in 266 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 2: that situation. Yea, which is what I try and do outside. 267 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: Of work for sure. As an adult now, I know 268 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: a lot of us we deal with the childhood residue 269 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: that rises up that we feel like we may have suppressed. 270 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: Was there anything that you saw that maybe had showed 271 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: up from your childhood where there was a band or 272 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 1: the embarrassment that you may have caused your family, Did 273 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: anything kind of creep in as you became an adult 274 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 1: and you're like, where is this coming? From and it 275 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 1: stemmed back from that moment. 276 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 2: Yes, so I think there's a lot. I don't think 277 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:16,559 Speaker 2: you ever really lose your childhood. 278 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: No, that inner child is always there, the good. 279 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 2: Memories as well as what people would call childhood trauma. 280 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:25,120 Speaker 2: I think it sticks with you unless you address it 281 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 2: head on. And so for me, I do see elements 282 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 2: that will pop through, especially even today, and I have 283 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 2: to actually acknowledge it. There was one example that I 284 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:40,199 Speaker 2: remember when I finally got to Corporate America and there 285 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 2: was a pizza party. Yeah, and at the pizza party, 286 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:47,199 Speaker 2: everyone's getting pizza, they're getting salad, they're sitting out at 287 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 2: the longboard tables and they're having conversation. And I remember 288 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 2: someone standing over a pizza box and pointing to the 289 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:57,079 Speaker 2: pizza box saying like, who keeps doing this right? And 290 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 2: so a couple people that was over there, they started 291 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 2: like laughing. Couple people sitting down were laughing because they 292 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 2: knew what they were pointing at, and it didn't dawn 293 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 2: on me. I'm like, okay, I missed the joke. What 294 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 2: they were pointing at was someone was cutting the pizza, 295 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 2: leaving the pizza and only taking the crust. And in 296 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 2: that moment when I realized what they were talking about. 297 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 2: I realized it was me and my childhood drama and 298 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 2: trauma that came with me. Wow, Because when I was 299 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 2: so young and I had my son, if I could 300 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 2: afford a piece of pizza for a dollar twenty five, 301 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 2: I would give him the pizza and I wouldn't eat. 302 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 2: And as a toddler, they leave the crust behind. 303 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: Yep, I still do. 304 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: They leave the crust behind, And I would be lucky 305 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 2: if there's a little bit of ragoo sauce on it, 306 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 2: but otherwise it's just bread. Yeah, and that would be 307 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 2: my dinner. And so here I am, years later in 308 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 2: corporate America, still taking a knife cutting the pizza and 309 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 2: just taking the crust. And it's something that shows that 310 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 2: whatever you go through in childhood, if you don't address it, yes, 311 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 2: it follows you. 312 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: Yes, in that moment when you realize, wait, it's me 313 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: that they're laughing at. Did you realize this is something 314 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: I haven't dealt with? And have you done the inner work? 315 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: Have you gone to therapy to really kind of help 316 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: heal those broken parts? 317 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely right, I say therapy is like getting your hair 318 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 2: and done, getting your nails done. It's all a part 319 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 2: of self care for sure, right, because sometimes you need 320 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 2: and I think in our community we don't embrace it 321 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 2: enough because it's almost as if, well, there's nothing wrong 322 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 2: with you. Okay, yep, I'm a girl. I'm a pray 323 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 2: about it, right, and I'm gonna pray about it too. 324 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 2: But sometimes I need to answer now, and sometimes I 325 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 2: gotta trust God in God's time, but I need to 326 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 2: answer in the next fifty nine minutes. So let me 327 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 2: go ahead do this therapy session for sixty minutes and 328 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 2: see what she's saying. And so sometimes having that person 329 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 2: that's not biased but can listen to you and then 330 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 2: give you that unbiased, kind of honest feedback to kind 331 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 2: of turn the mirror and make you look at yourself, 332 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 2: it's helpful. And so, yes, we're working through therapy and 333 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 2: having that independent person has been a life saver. 334 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, No, I love that. When did you begin to 335 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: reshape your relationship with your parents and how is it now? 336 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, In terms of reshaping it, I would say it 337 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 2: was a journey. I don't think there was ever a 338 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 2: turning point, okay. And growing up there was this element 339 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 2: where I had first the mentality of Okay, I've come 340 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 2: through now alternative school. I've been through the homelessness, I've 341 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 2: been through the shelters, I've been through the domestic abuse. Like, 342 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 2: I've gone through all of this darkness by myself. Yeah, 343 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 2: and I've quote unquote made it to the other side. 344 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 2: And I remember talking about it like an analogy, almost 345 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 2: like an apple pie where you have this nice, warm 346 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 2: apple pie and now all of a sudden, your family 347 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 2: comes and they want to slice, and they're like, you 348 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,120 Speaker 2: can't eat that pie by yourself, girl, give me a piece. 349 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 2: And I remember feeling like, but you didn't help me 350 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 2: pick these apples. You didn't bring me a basket, even 351 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 2: when you saw all my arms were full of apples. 352 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 2: You didn't even bring me a cup of ice water 353 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 2: when you saw me sweating with these apples all while 354 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:09,120 Speaker 2: I got my kid on my back. 355 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. 356 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,280 Speaker 2: But now that I come in and I bake this 357 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 2: pie with all of the struggle that I had to 358 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:19,840 Speaker 2: go through to get these apples, now you want to slice. 359 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 2: But then as I matured, I realized eating that pie 360 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 2: by myself is not the same as eating it with 361 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 2: the people that I love. That's so true, and I 362 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 2: think that's where a lot of people will say forgiveness 363 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 2: is not for the other person, it's for you. Yes, 364 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 2: And so being able to realize, like I want to 365 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 2: share my pie with my family, I want them to 366 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 2: celebrate this and enjoy this has been so free where 367 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,199 Speaker 2: it's not a matter of how's that relationship? Is there 368 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 2: still tension? Is it still this? Is it still that? 369 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 2: For me? It was very liberating. 370 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: Love that. That's beautiful analogy. It's not as good as 371 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: eating with the people that you love. 372 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 2: It's not It's not a coffee being analogy. It's apple analogy. 373 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 2: But hey, we're gonna roll with it. 374 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 1: I love it. Yeah, exactly, I love that. Let's see, 375 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 1: I want to talk about the journey from going from 376 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,600 Speaker 1: struggle to success. When did you realize, Okay, I'm in 377 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,280 Speaker 1: a place now where I need to get my life 378 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,400 Speaker 1: together and I want to start striving for the things 379 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: that I want to do. Yes, yeah, when did you 380 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,440 Speaker 1: decide I'm going to college? This is even like going 381 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 1: into finance, Like, how did we get from where you 382 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: were from homelessness to the shelters to now deciding I'm 383 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: picking myself up by the bootstraps and I'm going to 384 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 1: go for it. 385 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, for me, I think I never lost sight of 386 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 2: wanting to be something big, Like my circumstance never trumped 387 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 2: the fact that I knew I could do more right. 388 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 2: And so that's what I think I want people to 389 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,640 Speaker 2: get out of this book, which is your circumstances don't 390 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 2: define you. Yeah, your challenges don't find you. You may 391 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 2: be on a detour, but you still own that journey. 392 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 2: And so for me, I always wanted to still get there. 393 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:09,679 Speaker 2: So once I was able to get on my feet, 394 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 2: I couldn't go to a regular school. I didn't have 395 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 2: anyone to watch my son, and so I had to 396 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 2: go to an alternative school where we'd get on the 397 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 2: yellow school bus his car seat and myself and we 398 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 2: would go to school together. The kids are in one room, 399 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:25,359 Speaker 2: there's a glass wall, and you're learning in the next room. 400 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 2: And so for me, it was just a matter of 401 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 2: I still want to get somewhere. I just might have 402 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 2: to change my journey, my path, my street, but I'm 403 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,800 Speaker 2: still determined, and it's just taking that one foot after 404 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 2: another and then right going through that journey and having 405 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:42,879 Speaker 2: different resources at colleges and people believing in you and 406 00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 2: you helping you and just kind of seeking out. I 407 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 2: always say you have not because you ask not. 408 00:19:48,119 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: That's real. 409 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 2: And so just telling people what you need and so 410 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 2: just always being willing to raise my hand, ask for 411 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 2: help and putting one foot in front of the other 412 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 2: has really been what undermining piece of success has really 413 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:03,720 Speaker 2: been grounded on. 414 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, in that perspective, I feel like your your ability 415 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:09,439 Speaker 1: to no matter what it looks like out of the window, 416 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:12,440 Speaker 1: you shift that perspective into something positive. Yes, I think 417 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: that's so important because a lot of times we get 418 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: stuck in the circumstance and that's where we stay. Yes, 419 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,479 Speaker 1: you know, but you had the wherewithal to say, no, 420 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,439 Speaker 1: I'm not staying here, I'm meant for greater and you 421 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 1: push through. That was that something that you saw growing up? 422 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:28,000 Speaker 1: Like what gave you that was? Or that was that 423 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 1: something that you were just innately born with? 424 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 2: Ooh, well, I think it was probably part being surrounded 425 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 2: by the parents I had, who were, according to everyone, 426 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:42,880 Speaker 2: very successful. Yeah, and so that's what I grew up with. 427 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 2: So I didn't understand why all of a sudden I 428 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 2: couldn't still be something yeah. Right, And I think even 429 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 2: today people right, there's a glass and you're either going 430 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 2: to see that glass half full or half empty, and 431 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 2: it's all in your perspective. Yeah, And I just never 432 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 2: thought I was a victim. I just knew I had 433 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 2: this circumstance, so I had to navigate. And I think 434 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,399 Speaker 2: that perspective is really what changed everything, because most people 435 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,360 Speaker 2: looking at me, they always say, how did you do it? 436 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: Girl? 437 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 2: Yeah? And I'm like, how could I not have? 438 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 1: Yeah? No, for sure. I mean I would think, even 439 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 1: at a young age, navigating that and then deciding, Okay, 440 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 1: I'm going to do this, but with your child Exactly. 441 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: I've got my child on my back while I'm doing 442 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: all this. What was that like? Even trying to juggle 443 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 1: the two, like going for what you really wanted, but 444 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: also having this little mouth to feed. 445 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, difficult, right. That's that's where those knees get 446 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,440 Speaker 2: all kind of scrapes and bruises, because you're spending just 447 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,360 Speaker 2: as much time on your knees as you are trying 448 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 2: to put one step in front of the other. I 449 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 2: remember having to go to school and take my son 450 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 2: with me because there's an evening class and you need 451 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 2: that evening class to graduate. Well, day here's closed at 452 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 2: six o'clock and so I'm there with everybody else who's 453 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:52,440 Speaker 2: on their parents dime and this, that and the other, 454 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 2: and I'm sitting there with a child. But for me, 455 00:21:56,280 --> 00:22:01,439 Speaker 2: it was my determination. My drive to be better was 456 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 2: so much bigger than being uncomfortable or embarrassed that I 457 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 2: didn't have a choice, so all right, let's go. Yeah. 458 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 2: So yeah, looking back, sometimes I say like, oh, how 459 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 2: did I do that? But I think when you're in 460 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 2: it right, you just make it work. 461 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure. And even I feel like in those 462 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: moments you lean on your faith even more. I feel 463 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,199 Speaker 1: like you go back to what you know, you know, 464 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: and at what point, like you said, I spent more 465 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 1: as much time on my knees as I did trying 466 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 1: to take put one foot in front of the other, 467 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 1: how did you lean on your faith in those moments? 468 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,199 Speaker 2: Sometimes that's the only person I had to talk to. 469 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: And what were those conversations like? Because I know somebody 470 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:44,880 Speaker 1: is going through this, it's going to hear this, yes, 471 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 1: and sometimes they don't have the words or even know 472 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: how to talk. 473 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 2: The thing that I would always say when things felt 474 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,680 Speaker 2: heavy is God, I know You're not going to put 475 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 2: me through more than I can handle. Yes, I know 476 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 2: you're not gonna put me through more than I can handle, 477 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 2: and that would get me through the night. Yeah, it 478 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 2: would get me through the night. 479 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:04,439 Speaker 1: Wow. 480 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 2: And so just knowing that there is someone rooting for 481 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:13,119 Speaker 2: me would keep me going. Yeah, would keep me going. 482 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 1: I love that. I love that. There was a moment 483 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,440 Speaker 1: when you stepped into a completely different version of yourself 484 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: and you ran for the two thousand and six Miss 485 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 1: Black Georgia USA. What made you even decide I'm going 486 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 1: to go for this, because that's like a huge thing, 487 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 1: you know, like to live the life that you lived 488 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,239 Speaker 1: previously and decide, hey, I'm going to go for this, 489 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: and I mean, I see you why, like you're gorgeous, 490 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:39,639 Speaker 1: But yeah, what made you decide that like that? You 491 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: want to do that? Because the pageant? I was a 492 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 1: pageant girl and it is no joke. I love that. 493 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 2: So for me, when things were perfect, if you will, 494 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:51,800 Speaker 2: I was in pageants as a young young girl. 495 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: That's a part of that lifestyle. 496 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a part of lifestyle. That's that's where the 497 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 2: piano lessons came from. And so I grew up around 498 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 2: that and so you fast forward. I have my son, 499 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 2: I'm now older. 500 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and my goal. 501 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 2: Was really to give back. And so at the time 502 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 2: before I rained, I had quote unquote adopted a group 503 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 2: of girls from a group home that was going through 504 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 2: the court system for sexual exploitation. And so in essence, 505 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 2: it was a campaign here that Shirley Franklin had when 506 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 2: she was our mayor, and it was around kind of 507 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 2: human trafficking, sex trafficking. And so these girls, as they 508 00:24:24,280 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 2: get picked up, if they're repeat offenders, they go to 509 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,400 Speaker 2: this group home as opposed to going into like juvenile 510 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 2: detection or something. And so I would spend my sundays 511 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 2: with them, wow, mentoring, no makeup, no skin showing, just hairing, 512 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,639 Speaker 2: a pony tone in sweats, yeah, but just trying to 513 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 2: mentor them and tell them there's a different way of 514 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 2: life and that beauty doesn't have to be through a 515 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:49,879 Speaker 2: certain channel. And then when I saw the Miss Georgia opportunity, 516 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 2: I wanted to go and volunteer. That volunteering actually ended 517 00:24:55,800 --> 00:24:59,239 Speaker 2: up with me entering. Wow, So my initial thought was 518 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 2: not to enter. It was really to go volunteer and 519 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 2: try and help with this platform. And so once I entered, 520 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 2: luckily I was successful enough and I won and then 521 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 2: my platform was inspiring and empowering at risk youth. And 522 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 2: I would always say because I am one, Yes. And 523 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 2: then my goal was really to help people understand that 524 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 2: the people that are considered at risk youth look like 525 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 2: me exactly. And so if you can look at me, 526 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 2: or you can idle me, or you can see me 527 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 2: and applaud my success or applaud my journey, then why 528 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 2: can't we help them so they can be applauded as well. 529 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 1: I love that. I love that. What was that experience 530 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 1: like for you? 531 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 2: It's like a second job. 532 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:42,240 Speaker 1: Well, at least yours was missed, so it was. 533 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:45,520 Speaker 2: Miss Black Georgia. Yeah, so it's like a second job. 534 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 2: I'm working in corporate America. And in the evenings, I 535 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,199 Speaker 2: remember there was like an album release party for like 536 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 2: Big Boy, and they're like, Okay, we want you there 537 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 2: to do X y Z or someone's opening a dealership. 538 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 2: We want you to cut the ribbon and be everywhere. 539 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 2: It was everywhere, Yeah, everywhere, on top of being a 540 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 2: single mother, on top of working full time. But for me, 541 00:26:06,720 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 2: my wife was so much bigger than I'm tired. Yes, 542 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 2: it was how do I get out there? How do 543 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 2: I get my profile out there, so then my platform 544 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:14,200 Speaker 2: is out there. 545 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, and it grew. Is it something you continue 546 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:21,360 Speaker 1: to do today? Yes, that's amazing. Yes, I love that. 547 00:26:21,359 --> 00:26:24,159 Speaker 1: That is beautiful and I think now even with the 548 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,200 Speaker 1: times that was in two thousand and six, yes, even 549 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:31,120 Speaker 1: it's much worse. So that you were, you were ahead 550 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,000 Speaker 1: of the curve even helping young women know's positions. So 551 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:38,440 Speaker 1: that is incredible. You earned your NBA from Emery. Yes, 552 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 1: you went on to complete executive education at the Wharton School, 553 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 1: and you have worked for companies like Coca Cola, Hines, Viacom, CBS, 554 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:50,160 Speaker 1: and now you are the senior vice president at Starbucks. 555 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 1: Talk about first of all, as the kids do. Congratulations 556 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 1: that is how you turned lemons into lemonade, Like you 557 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: did that. But I want to know going back, how 558 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 1: did you even get on that path to like this 559 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:10,359 Speaker 1: is what I'm going to do and then this is 560 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: what I'm going for to get to the singing and 561 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:15,440 Speaker 1: vice president of Starbucks, this huge company. 562 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:17,400 Speaker 2: So my thought in going through school, I was always 563 00:27:17,440 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 2: good with numbers. Okay, so that's kind of the finance 564 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 2: accounting background. So I'm a CPA by nature. But when 565 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 2: people would see like the color blue on a crown, 566 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 2: I would see four. When you see red, I would 567 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 2: see three because I'm looking at the number of letters. Oh, 568 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:33,639 Speaker 2: when you see yellow, I would see six. 569 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 1: Gotcha? 570 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 2: And so by nature, I ended up going into something 571 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 2: I was variable very comfortable with, which was accounting and finance. Okay, 572 00:27:41,640 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 2: but my goal in going into accounting and finance, I 573 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,439 Speaker 2: wanted to be in the role that gives some money 574 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,920 Speaker 2: back to the community. And so in my mind I 575 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 2: knew that was corporate responsibility, corporate engagement right with companies. 576 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:58,120 Speaker 2: That was my focus. But then as I went through 577 00:27:58,119 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 2: my career journey, I realized it's the CFO that actually 578 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 2: dictates what percent corporate responsibility is going to get. Yes, 579 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:08,479 Speaker 2: So then I said, well, how do I get closer 580 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 2: to CFO. Then as I started moving closer to CFO, 581 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 2: then I realized, wait a minute, it's the CEO that 582 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:19,879 Speaker 2: sets the strategy, that says, if we're even going to 583 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:22,440 Speaker 2: give into what areas. Is it going to be financial literacy, 584 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 2: is it going to be for food hunger? What are 585 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 2: we going to give to you? And so that's when 586 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 2: I set my mind on CEO. And so my goal 587 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 2: has been to be CEO since and so in my journey, 588 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:36,159 Speaker 2: it's a matter of how do I get to the 589 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 2: CEO seat? How do I find myself sitting next to 590 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 2: a CEO so I can learn what they do, so 591 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 2: I can shadow them. And that placed me in the 592 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,160 Speaker 2: role of investor relation. So in investor relations, I'm sitting 593 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 2: next to CEOs, I'm speaking to Wall Street on their behalf, 594 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,479 Speaker 2: I'm traveling with them to Wall Street. I'm managing one 595 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 2: hundred and thirty billion dollars in stock market on Wall Street, 596 00:28:57,320 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 2: one hundred and thirty billion with the B and then 597 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 2: I am supervising for trillion dollars in assets under management 598 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 2: on Wall Street. All because I want to get into 599 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 2: a seat, yes, where I can make decisions on how 600 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 2: we're going to give back to the community. Wow, because 601 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 2: I want those young Tiffanys to understand if I can 602 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 2: do it, yes, they can do it too. 603 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 1: Well. You are the living proof. 604 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 2: Seriously, I'm not there yet, though I'm there. 605 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: You really close. You're getting there, and I'm sure that 606 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 1: these are moments where you're developing relationships, you're still learning 607 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,960 Speaker 1: and cultivating. So when you do get that seat, you'll 608 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:37,680 Speaker 1: know exactly what to do and not a moment sooner 609 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: than it's supposed to happen. Yep. I truly believe that. 610 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:43,480 Speaker 1: And God has you right where you're supposed to be. 611 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:45,959 Speaker 1: I love that, and I do believe that because your 612 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 1: heart is in the right place, it's going to happen 613 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: for sure. No, seriously, Yes, you talk about investments, So 614 00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 1: tell us about this role because I'm really big on 615 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,840 Speaker 1: financial literacy. That's one of the pillars of my foundation 616 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: is making that our community yes understands financial literacy. I 617 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:06,000 Speaker 1: need to get plugged into that. Definitely. Yes, we have 618 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 1: to get you like, yes, yes. 619 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 2: Yes, So for me, I explain it in terms of 620 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 2: Wall Street. Right, everyone that's working, if they have a 621 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 2: four oh one K or anything like that, it's being 622 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 2: managed by these big firms yep, the Fidelity, the Black Roth, 623 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 2: the State Street, the Vanguards, and so my job is 624 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 2: to talk to the individuals that are holding these basket 625 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 2: of stock in these portfolios. So you have your four 626 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 2: oh one K, it's with X company. There's going to 627 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 2: be a small cap basket with all the companies that 628 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 2: are considered small cap. There's going to be a basket 629 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:40,040 Speaker 2: for international stocks, for companies that are international. There's going 630 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 2: to be a basket for very high growth type of companies, right, 631 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 2: and so Starbucks is sitting in one of those baskets. 632 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:49,200 Speaker 2: My job is to talk to that person that's managing 633 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 2: that basket and make sure they put as much Starbucks 634 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 2: as possible in that basket to the point where they 635 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 2: have to push some other stock out the way, because 636 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 2: only so much can fit in that basket. The more 637 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 2: of our stock that goes in, the higher our stock 638 00:31:02,760 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 2: price goes. And so my job is to make sure 639 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:09,320 Speaker 2: they understand our strategy, our performance, our innovation, so they're 640 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:12,239 Speaker 2: excited to put more of that Starbucks stock into that 641 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 2: basket into that portfolio. 642 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 1: Okay, I love that. So I need to get some 643 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:16,960 Speaker 1: Starbucks stock. 644 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:20,200 Speaker 2: Well, I can't say because I'd be insider trading. 645 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, we do not So I said that. She 646 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:29,920 Speaker 1: didn't say it forgot it. 647 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:32,680 Speaker 2: See financial literacy. 648 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,479 Speaker 1: Yes, we just learned something, we did. We just learned something. 649 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:40,160 Speaker 1: So that is amazing. I want to know. There's a 650 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 1: line in your book that says you are enough, not 651 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 1: when you fix everything, but right now as you are. Well, 652 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:46,920 Speaker 1: that's something that you always believe in or you had 653 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: to grow into that because right now you're sitting in 654 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:51,239 Speaker 1: seats where I don't know if you always believe that 655 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: you are enough for that seat, but now you're there, 656 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 1: is it something you had too to really? Kind of? 657 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 2: I ain't there yet. You there, honey stock, I am 658 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,720 Speaker 2: not there yet until I get to that seat. Yes, yes, 659 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,640 Speaker 2: I am not loosen I'm not loosening this foot up 660 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 2: off the gas. I feel like there's times where I 661 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 2: feel like I'm enough even though I'm not there yet. 662 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely. 663 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 2: And there's other times where I feel like I'm not. 664 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,120 Speaker 1: Let's talk about those times, Like I'm. 665 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:23,080 Speaker 2: Sitting in rooms where I have the founder of Starbucks, 666 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:30,640 Speaker 2: multi billionaire. When he speaks, everyone listens. I am the 667 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:34,960 Speaker 2: only one that looks like me. In that type of setting, 668 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 2: you don't feel like you belong, you don't feel like 669 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 2: you're enough, and so you almost wear this mask, you 670 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:46,200 Speaker 2: almost wear this armor. But my philosophy has been I'm 671 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:48,080 Speaker 2: gonna still be in that moment. I'm still going to 672 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 2: be there, I'm still going to take up space even 673 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 2: if i feel like I'm not enough. But I still 674 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 2: feel those I still feel those moments when I'm in 675 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 2: rooms and I'm the only one that looks like me. 676 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 2: It's there, right, poster syndrome. But I want people to 677 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 2: understand it doesn't go away. 678 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: Wow. 679 00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:07,560 Speaker 2: So you have to own where you're at in your journey. 680 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 2: You have to embrace your journey because it's never gonna 681 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:12,479 Speaker 2: be if I get here or if I just keep moving, 682 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 2: then I'll be comfortable. Yeah, then I would have made it. 683 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 2: It's a journey that really never ends, and so you 684 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:20,320 Speaker 2: have to embrace where you are. 685 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 1: Where you are, that's so good. I feel like you said, 686 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:27,240 Speaker 1: it never stops. No matter what level you go to, 687 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 1: you're going to feel a little bit of that. Yes, 688 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:30,960 Speaker 1: has there come a moment where you feel like, okay, 689 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 1: but I do belong here. Even if I'm feeling a 690 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:35,760 Speaker 1: little uneasy, this is where I belong. Have you gotten 691 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:37,000 Speaker 1: to a place where you feel mad? 692 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 2: I mean I'm comfortable. I'm very comfortable sitting in the room. 693 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 2: But right you still get the butterflies, especially in my role, 694 00:33:43,760 --> 00:33:46,640 Speaker 2: and people are asking, well, Tiffany, what's the street saying? 695 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 2: And so you're you know, you're in essence on a 696 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:51,600 Speaker 2: stage in that room. Yes, and whatever you say, they're 697 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:54,480 Speaker 2: listening and they're taking action against it. And so when 698 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 2: you sit in rooms with those big names, it is overwhelming. Yeah. 699 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:01,360 Speaker 2: I will never allow myself to sit in a room 700 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 2: though and shrink good. But it doesn't mean that I 701 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 2: feel full. It doesn't mean that I feel one hundred 702 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 2: percent ready. But I will never allow myself to show 703 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:14,800 Speaker 2: or shrink. 704 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:20,320 Speaker 1: Yeahha, I love that you are in a position of leadership. Yes, 705 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:22,880 Speaker 1: what does that require from you internally? Like when you 706 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:24,920 Speaker 1: get up every day knowing that you're going to the 707 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:26,880 Speaker 1: office and you're going to have to lead your team, 708 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 1: what does that feel like? In What weight do you 709 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:30,480 Speaker 1: have to carry with that? Yeah? 710 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:33,879 Speaker 2: I think growing up in corporate America, I looked around 711 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:35,879 Speaker 2: to see how other people were leaders and I tried 712 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:38,839 Speaker 2: to mimic it, and it was very much I'm tough. 713 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 2: It was the tarzan I'm the boss, do as I say. 714 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:45,240 Speaker 2: I need this, Nope, and I need it in ten minutes. 715 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:47,719 Speaker 2: And it was this kind of mantra where I saw 716 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:51,840 Speaker 2: people exerting their leadership and their talent and their title 717 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:56,000 Speaker 2: as a way to manage people. And I realized that's 718 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:57,640 Speaker 2: not how you bring the best out in people, because 719 00:34:57,680 --> 00:34:59,320 Speaker 2: I realized they weren't bringing the best out in me, 720 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:02,000 Speaker 2: And so when I wake up and I think about leadership, 721 00:35:02,040 --> 00:35:05,360 Speaker 2: I think about how do I authentically connect with my team? 722 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:05,800 Speaker 1: Yeah? 723 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know who my team spouse is. I know 724 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:11,160 Speaker 2: which one of my teams is going through IVF. I 725 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:14,560 Speaker 2: know which one of my teams is going through early 726 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:18,680 Speaker 2: screening because they think they might have to get chemotherapy early. Like, 727 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:21,960 Speaker 2: I know these things, and it's deeper than what's the deliverable? 728 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:24,879 Speaker 2: What are we trying to get accomplished? Because then they 729 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:28,000 Speaker 2: go one hundred and ten percent harder for me because 730 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,560 Speaker 2: I'm showing up connecting with them on a personal level, 731 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:33,239 Speaker 2: not on an employee level. I think that's a lot 732 00:35:33,320 --> 00:35:35,799 Speaker 2: of times when people miss in leadership. Yeah, they think 733 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:39,640 Speaker 2: it's title now will dictate and determine how someone should 734 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:41,400 Speaker 2: listen to them, And it's really the connection. 735 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:44,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is so true, and that's a good point 736 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:48,080 Speaker 1: for all leaders out there. That is so good. You 737 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: also say in your book perfection isolates, but authenticity connects, 738 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,200 Speaker 1: which is basically what you just said. So you live 739 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:57,480 Speaker 1: by that even through your leadership skills on your at work. 740 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,720 Speaker 1: What made you realize that authenticity wasn't something that was optional, 741 00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:03,520 Speaker 1: but it was something that would you need it as 742 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:04,000 Speaker 1: a leader. 743 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:07,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think as I just started managing more and 744 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:11,319 Speaker 2: more individuals in the corporate space and seeing how we 745 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:14,440 Speaker 2: connect versus when I would do speaking engagements and I 746 00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:17,319 Speaker 2: would be authentic and I would tell my story, and 747 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:20,120 Speaker 2: seeing how I would connect to those individuals. And it 748 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 2: was just a matter of realizing that people are coming 749 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:26,200 Speaker 2: to work dealing with things, and when they come out 750 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:28,600 Speaker 2: the car, you try and leave it at the door, 751 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,040 Speaker 2: but you can't leave it at the door. You're wearing it. 752 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:33,520 Speaker 2: And so how do I connect with them so they 753 00:36:33,520 --> 00:36:36,440 Speaker 2: feel comfortable where they're not coming in with that weight. 754 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:40,400 Speaker 2: And I remember having a speaking engagement and I was 755 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:42,200 Speaker 2: on stage and it was like bright lights and the 756 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 2: big auditorium full of individuals. Everyone's in like nice polished suits. 757 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:49,640 Speaker 2: And I get down from stage and they take the 758 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:52,200 Speaker 2: lapel off me, and I'm talking to the people backstage right, 759 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:55,719 Speaker 2: the cameras, the crews, and I'm saying goodbye. So I leave. 760 00:36:56,480 --> 00:36:59,200 Speaker 2: I pushed the black curtain open and there was a 761 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 2: young lady and she's just sitting there sobbing, crying, and 762 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:07,359 Speaker 2: she doesn't look like me, And I remember looking at 763 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 2: her almost like has she been waiting for me all 764 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:12,200 Speaker 2: this time, because I was taking my good old time 765 00:37:12,239 --> 00:37:16,279 Speaker 2: in the back. And I went up to her and 766 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:20,319 Speaker 2: she said thank you. And I still remember it like 767 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 2: it's yesterday, even though it was years ago. But she 768 00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:24,759 Speaker 2: says thank you, and I went to hug her and 769 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 2: embrace her, and I'm thinking, like, you know, she just 770 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:31,600 Speaker 2: really enjoyed the speech. And she goes on to say, like, no, 771 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:37,920 Speaker 2: you don't understand. I am an attic of seven years wow. 772 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:42,279 Speaker 2: And this is a corporate America setting. And I look 773 00:37:42,320 --> 00:37:44,400 Speaker 2: around at all my colleagues, and I look at everybody 774 00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:46,800 Speaker 2: who graced that stage, and I thought, everyone is perfect, 775 00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:51,760 Speaker 2: and I don't belong here. And when I feel pressure 776 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:53,319 Speaker 2: and I feel like I don't belong, I tend to 777 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:56,759 Speaker 2: revert back to my old habits of how you deal 778 00:37:56,800 --> 00:38:00,360 Speaker 2: with stress. But for once, I finally feel like I 779 00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:05,080 Speaker 2: belonged because you showed me that you can still be 780 00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:09,640 Speaker 2: valuable if you're not perfect. Yes, she said, so thank 781 00:38:09,680 --> 00:38:12,719 Speaker 2: you for pulling that weight off my shoulders. 782 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:15,160 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. 783 00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:18,240 Speaker 2: And so that's when I learned like people are dealing 784 00:38:18,280 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 2: with things. Yes they are, and they might seem polished 785 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:26,480 Speaker 2: and smiling and happy, but just that authenticity can make 786 00:38:26,520 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 2: such a big difference versus perfection. Which if I would 787 00:38:29,719 --> 00:38:32,000 Speaker 2: have went up there and not told my story, I 788 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 2: would have left the stage and this young lady would 789 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:37,160 Speaker 2: have went home still feeling the weight of being at 790 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:41,160 Speaker 2: a conference where everyone else looked perfect, everybody suits for polish, 791 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:42,959 Speaker 2: and yet her feeling like she wasn't enough. 792 00:38:44,239 --> 00:38:47,759 Speaker 1: Yeah. And I feel like when people do that, you're 793 00:38:47,760 --> 00:38:50,279 Speaker 1: helping more than your not when you come as your 794 00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 1: true self, share your truth, because everybody's going through something 795 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:57,800 Speaker 1: like we talked about, but also people are battling things. Yes, 796 00:38:57,840 --> 00:39:00,880 Speaker 1: and to know that you just being if it helped one, yes, 797 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:03,439 Speaker 1: you've done your job. You know, how did you feel 798 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:05,720 Speaker 1: when you left that that conference that day? 799 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:07,680 Speaker 2: I felt heavy and light? 800 00:39:07,920 --> 00:39:08,280 Speaker 1: Yeah? 801 00:39:08,360 --> 00:39:10,920 Speaker 2: Right, I felt heavy because I heard her story. Yeah, 802 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:12,840 Speaker 2: but I felt light because I also felt like I 803 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:15,040 Speaker 2: helped someone right without knowing. 804 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:15,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. 805 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:17,960 Speaker 2: And that's the best way to help, because you're not 806 00:39:18,000 --> 00:39:21,000 Speaker 2: looking for something in return, You're just doing it out 807 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:23,000 Speaker 2: of the goodness. And so it gives me kind of 808 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:27,160 Speaker 2: reinforcement and confirmation that there is value in being authentic. 809 00:39:27,600 --> 00:39:29,440 Speaker 2: As much as people will say, why do you tell 810 00:39:29,480 --> 00:39:31,920 Speaker 2: your story? You've made it to a certain level, like 811 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:33,720 Speaker 2: most leaders don't tell their story. 812 00:39:33,960 --> 00:39:38,600 Speaker 1: Yes, well that's most leaders exactly. Yeah. I feel like 813 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:40,919 Speaker 1: that's a big part of the podcast is making sure 814 00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:45,240 Speaker 1: that just be share stories that are hit, that resonate, 815 00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:47,960 Speaker 1: that are true, and that really that people can take 816 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:50,960 Speaker 1: away and say, hey, I see myself and Tiffy's because 817 00:39:51,160 --> 00:39:52,719 Speaker 1: I'm telling you right now, people are gonna watch it 818 00:39:52,840 --> 00:39:56,520 Speaker 1: and be like that's me. Yes, and they're gonna also 819 00:39:56,600 --> 00:39:59,600 Speaker 1: leave inspired knowing that they can do better because you've 820 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:01,359 Speaker 1: done better. So thank you for sharing your truth. 821 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:02,160 Speaker 2: Absolutely. 822 00:40:02,239 --> 00:40:05,160 Speaker 1: Yes, you became a mother at a young age, but 823 00:40:05,200 --> 00:40:08,759 Speaker 1: then you also had children later on. What was the 824 00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:12,359 Speaker 1: difference in fourteen year old Tiffany as a mom and 825 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 1: then girl Tiffany as a mom and how did those 826 00:40:14,640 --> 00:40:15,799 Speaker 1: experiences shape you? 827 00:40:15,960 --> 00:40:17,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're definitely different experiences. 828 00:40:17,640 --> 00:40:19,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I see each child my mom was like, 829 00:40:19,680 --> 00:40:20,520 Speaker 1: every child's different. 830 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:25,719 Speaker 2: I would say it reinforces what people have been telling me, 831 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:28,840 Speaker 2: which was I don't know how you did it. Yeah, 832 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:31,680 Speaker 2: because now having children, I'm like, who you got what 833 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:33,759 Speaker 2: you got basketball? And you got you got this, and 834 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:35,600 Speaker 2: you got that and what y'all got to eat too? 835 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:36,319 Speaker 1: Right? 836 00:40:36,360 --> 00:40:40,359 Speaker 2: And I still got a call to do and so 837 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:42,879 Speaker 2: in my mind, I'm like, how did I do this? 838 00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:43,360 Speaker 1: Yes? 839 00:40:44,120 --> 00:40:45,520 Speaker 2: So now I see when people are like, I don't 840 00:40:45,560 --> 00:40:46,680 Speaker 2: know how you did it, and I'm like, you just 841 00:40:46,719 --> 00:40:49,360 Speaker 2: have to do it. Once I became a mother again, 842 00:40:49,640 --> 00:40:53,000 Speaker 2: I realized it. But it's definitely different. My first child, 843 00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:55,359 Speaker 2: I was growing up myself. That's always trying to grow 844 00:40:55,360 --> 00:40:57,840 Speaker 2: as a mother. I was learning how to be a 845 00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:00,200 Speaker 2: teenager and a young adult at the same time I 846 00:41:00,239 --> 00:41:03,480 Speaker 2: was learning how to be a mother. And so with anything, 847 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:05,880 Speaker 2: with any job, right, you take your experience with you. 848 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:08,480 Speaker 2: And so I've had the privilege of taking that experience 849 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:11,040 Speaker 2: with me. I love it, but I would say it 850 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:15,440 Speaker 2: definitely made me a better person going through it. But yeah, 851 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:18,319 Speaker 2: I I am the single moms now because I'm like, girl, 852 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:20,359 Speaker 2: I don't know how you do it. Yes, I don't 853 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:21,040 Speaker 2: know how I did it. 854 00:41:21,080 --> 00:41:22,640 Speaker 1: But how are you balancing it now that you have 855 00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:25,680 Speaker 1: a career and motherhood? That's a different, a whole other 856 00:41:25,719 --> 00:41:26,520 Speaker 1: beast in itself. 857 00:41:26,680 --> 00:41:29,640 Speaker 2: Yes, it's different, it is. But now my children are older. 858 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:32,680 Speaker 2: So my second child is eighteen, Okay, so he's about 859 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:35,680 Speaker 2: to go to college, and so he's been driving for 860 00:41:35,719 --> 00:41:37,480 Speaker 2: a couple of years, and so then he can help 861 00:41:37,520 --> 00:41:40,359 Speaker 2: the younger one, which my daughter's fourteen, and so they're 862 00:41:40,360 --> 00:41:44,080 Speaker 2: a little older. So now it's not as complex, but 863 00:41:44,120 --> 00:41:47,759 Speaker 2: it is. Right, she's fourteen, So I'm like, what you doing? 864 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:51,440 Speaker 2: Why you gotta go to the park and meet Sophie? 865 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:55,600 Speaker 2: Who else there was? So Sophie, maybe I'll just walk 866 00:41:55,600 --> 00:41:58,480 Speaker 2: the park while you were sewing to me Sophie exactly right, 867 00:41:58,760 --> 00:42:00,480 Speaker 2: So it changes that dynam too. 868 00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:06,800 Speaker 1: Yes, she's like, Mom, exactly, I'm like, I knew to this. Okay, listen, 869 00:42:07,040 --> 00:42:08,919 Speaker 1: yes I was born tonight, but not last night. 870 00:42:09,000 --> 00:42:09,480 Speaker 2: Exactly. 871 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:13,080 Speaker 1: That is funny. You have climbed the latter in your 872 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:15,680 Speaker 1: phenomenal mother. At what point did you realize that this 873 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:18,239 Speaker 1: story needed to be shared and did you have any 874 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:21,319 Speaker 1: apprehensions knowing that you have children that have access to 875 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:24,240 Speaker 1: books or the internet, or have you shared your story 876 00:42:24,239 --> 00:42:24,879 Speaker 1: with them as well? 877 00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:28,040 Speaker 2: Yes, so I've shared my story with them. And so 878 00:42:28,239 --> 00:42:32,560 Speaker 2: the one piece is I shared my story twenty years 879 00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:34,920 Speaker 2: ago when I rained because it was my platform. 880 00:42:35,040 --> 00:42:35,279 Speaker 1: Yes. 881 00:42:35,880 --> 00:42:39,200 Speaker 2: The difference is there wasn't social media, and so whatever 882 00:42:39,280 --> 00:42:42,680 Speaker 2: I shared in the community, whenever I would have speaking engagements, 883 00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:44,960 Speaker 2: it stayed there. It didn't follow me into corporate America. 884 00:42:45,719 --> 00:42:48,520 Speaker 2: Now it does. But I will tell you that has 885 00:42:48,640 --> 00:42:52,600 Speaker 2: unlocked so much more for me. That's amazing professionally. Yeah, 886 00:42:52,719 --> 00:42:57,440 Speaker 2: even today as people try to recruit me, they will say, 887 00:42:58,320 --> 00:43:00,640 Speaker 2: we have so many people that have resumes an experience 888 00:43:00,680 --> 00:43:02,000 Speaker 2: like you do, and I don't even know if you're 889 00:43:02,040 --> 00:43:04,520 Speaker 2: in the market, but we don't have leaders like you. 890 00:43:05,560 --> 00:43:05,960 Speaker 1: Come on. 891 00:43:06,400 --> 00:43:10,799 Speaker 2: So that has become my competitive mode. Yeah, that has 892 00:43:10,840 --> 00:43:13,279 Speaker 2: become my superpower. And so I tell people you have 893 00:43:13,320 --> 00:43:16,040 Speaker 2: to embrace your scars because they can unlock your superpower. 894 00:43:16,239 --> 00:43:18,000 Speaker 2: Sometimes you just don't know what they are unless you 895 00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:18,560 Speaker 2: unlock it. 896 00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:23,160 Speaker 1: Yes, that's good, and so for me, I have embraced it. 897 00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:29,279 Speaker 2: Yeah, she gave me a So for me, I've embraced it. 898 00:43:29,360 --> 00:43:31,480 Speaker 2: And so write my children know, and I even take 899 00:43:31,800 --> 00:43:34,520 Speaker 2: then when I go speaking. I spoke at the State 900 00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:36,759 Speaker 2: Farm Arena for the Atlanta Hawks a couple of weeks ago. 901 00:43:37,080 --> 00:43:39,000 Speaker 2: I took my daughter and some of her friends so 902 00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:42,560 Speaker 2: they could see. It was interesting. Afterwards, she said, Mom, 903 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:44,359 Speaker 2: did you know such and such didn't know you had 904 00:43:44,400 --> 00:43:46,480 Speaker 2: aunt fourteen? And I was like, you didn't tell her 905 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:49,080 Speaker 2: before I went on that stage. You supposed to be 906 00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:55,080 Speaker 2: brief in the group. So there is that element. But 907 00:43:55,160 --> 00:43:58,200 Speaker 2: now I'm very open because I don't want them to 908 00:43:58,320 --> 00:44:01,440 Speaker 2: also be naive to what's out in this world. And 909 00:44:01,480 --> 00:44:05,120 Speaker 2: I think sometimes as communities we try and hide some 910 00:44:05,200 --> 00:44:08,560 Speaker 2: of our obstacles and challenges, thinking I don't want someone 911 00:44:08,560 --> 00:44:10,480 Speaker 2: to frown on me, or I don't want someone to 912 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:15,040 Speaker 2: think it's okay. But you're not saving them exactly. You 913 00:44:15,040 --> 00:44:17,520 Speaker 2: could be helping them by sharing your knowledge, for sure, 914 00:44:17,640 --> 00:44:19,759 Speaker 2: And so so often we're quick to share, like, let 915 00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:22,879 Speaker 2: me tell you this cornbread recipe, girl, right, oh, let 916 00:44:22,880 --> 00:44:24,800 Speaker 2: me tell you how grandma did this. But why can't 917 00:44:24,840 --> 00:44:27,520 Speaker 2: I learn about Grandma's challenges? So I don't make the 918 00:44:27,560 --> 00:44:31,840 Speaker 2: same yes decisions. Yeah yeah, And so I'm very open 919 00:44:31,880 --> 00:44:35,080 Speaker 2: with them even with the book. I've let them see 920 00:44:35,080 --> 00:44:37,680 Speaker 2: different things. Right, Hey, I'm thinking about this cover, this cover, 921 00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:39,759 Speaker 2: how do you like it? And so I posted the 922 00:44:40,160 --> 00:44:43,319 Speaker 2: cover on Instagram and I saw that my eighteen year 923 00:44:43,320 --> 00:44:46,399 Speaker 2: old reposted it and he said this is a woman 924 00:44:46,440 --> 00:44:50,040 Speaker 2: that does everything. And so that just melted my heart 925 00:44:50,120 --> 00:44:51,960 Speaker 2: because I'm like, oh, he's embracing us. 926 00:44:52,120 --> 00:44:56,120 Speaker 1: Yes, I love that. In this process writing in a book, 927 00:44:56,320 --> 00:44:58,560 Speaker 1: I've talked to a lot of authors and they say 928 00:44:58,600 --> 00:45:03,319 Speaker 1: that it's somewhat therapist. Yes, how was this process for you? 929 00:45:03,480 --> 00:45:06,040 Speaker 1: And was there an emotional moment that you had as 930 00:45:06,080 --> 00:45:09,840 Speaker 1: you're writing, Because you're honestly reliving these moments as you're writing, 931 00:45:09,880 --> 00:45:11,000 Speaker 1: it tell us about that. 932 00:45:11,160 --> 00:45:14,080 Speaker 2: Yes, so writing is definitely a therapeutic. I think I 933 00:45:14,120 --> 00:45:16,160 Speaker 2: had a little bit of a different writing journey than 934 00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:20,680 Speaker 2: most people because I do the speaking engagements. I'm always 935 00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:23,000 Speaker 2: tailoring my speech to the audience, so I'm pulling a 936 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:25,480 Speaker 2: different part of my story. Yeah, so in essence, I'm 937 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:28,800 Speaker 2: outlining a speech which is a chapter of my story. 938 00:45:29,320 --> 00:45:32,040 Speaker 2: And so I had all these different kind of threads 939 00:45:32,080 --> 00:45:34,200 Speaker 2: to pull together. And then it was just a matter 940 00:45:34,200 --> 00:45:35,680 Speaker 2: of Okay, how do I organize it? How do I 941 00:45:35,760 --> 00:45:38,120 Speaker 2: lean in? But I'll tell you when I first did 942 00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:42,120 Speaker 2: my book, it was rejected from publishers over and over again, 943 00:45:43,160 --> 00:45:45,600 Speaker 2: and they said, you have a great story, but you're 944 00:45:45,640 --> 00:45:49,000 Speaker 2: writing it like you're writing for Wall Street. It's a 945 00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:51,839 Speaker 2: press release, and no fault of your own, that's what 946 00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:54,479 Speaker 2: you're trained to do. You're very good at it. You're doing 947 00:45:54,480 --> 00:45:57,759 Speaker 2: it for Fortune one company. But it can't be a 948 00:45:57,760 --> 00:45:59,600 Speaker 2: press release. You have to put emotion to. 949 00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:02,799 Speaker 1: It and here we go and so here we go. 950 00:46:02,920 --> 00:46:06,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, And so that's when the unlock came, and that's 951 00:46:06,640 --> 00:46:10,840 Speaker 2: when the heaviness of the therapeutic piece came, where sometimes 952 00:46:10,880 --> 00:46:12,799 Speaker 2: I would sit and write and I'm like, I got 953 00:46:12,800 --> 00:46:16,279 Speaker 2: a headache and I don't get headaches. And I realized 954 00:46:16,320 --> 00:46:18,640 Speaker 2: it was the weight of the book. It was the 955 00:46:18,640 --> 00:46:22,040 Speaker 2: weight of the experiences. And even when I would resubmit, 956 00:46:22,080 --> 00:46:25,439 Speaker 2: I would still get it rejected. So I really had 957 00:46:25,440 --> 00:46:29,960 Speaker 2: to dig deep and open. And what the publisher said was, Tiffany, 958 00:46:30,160 --> 00:46:33,880 Speaker 2: your story is going to help so many people. Don't 959 00:46:33,880 --> 00:46:36,120 Speaker 2: hold back. You're going to write this book one time, yea. 960 00:46:36,719 --> 00:46:40,319 Speaker 2: So if you're going to write it, write it. And 961 00:46:40,360 --> 00:46:43,279 Speaker 2: so that has really helped me open up what my 962 00:46:43,360 --> 00:46:46,000 Speaker 2: experience has been, because I think people will go through 963 00:46:46,160 --> 00:46:47,920 Speaker 2: and there's going to be so many things that they 964 00:46:47,920 --> 00:46:50,440 Speaker 2: say that to me, And at the end, it's like, 965 00:46:50,760 --> 00:46:52,560 Speaker 2: I'm almos going to want to count who got to twelve, 966 00:46:52,600 --> 00:46:54,719 Speaker 2: who got to fifteen, who got to twenty? Right where 967 00:46:54,760 --> 00:46:57,319 Speaker 2: you see those little contests on social media to check 968 00:46:57,320 --> 00:47:00,399 Speaker 2: if you've been to Texas, the Pennsylvania, right, that's what's 969 00:47:00,400 --> 00:47:02,640 Speaker 2: going to be how many times did you say that's me. Yes, 970 00:47:02,760 --> 00:47:04,440 Speaker 2: but I realized it's a better product. 971 00:47:04,600 --> 00:47:05,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. 972 00:47:05,200 --> 00:47:08,560 Speaker 2: And this book, me sharing my journey is going to 973 00:47:08,600 --> 00:47:11,920 Speaker 2: be a blueprint for someone going through their challenges and 974 00:47:12,000 --> 00:47:12,800 Speaker 2: struggles today. 975 00:47:12,880 --> 00:47:16,320 Speaker 1: M hmm for sure. Speaking of that someone who's listening 976 00:47:16,400 --> 00:47:18,839 Speaker 1: or someone who may read your book, Yes, if they 977 00:47:18,840 --> 00:47:21,520 Speaker 1: feel like they are still in the middle of their struggle, 978 00:47:21,640 --> 00:47:23,560 Speaker 1: what advice would you give them today. 979 00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:25,920 Speaker 2: If you're in the middle of your struggle, I would. 980 00:47:26,600 --> 00:47:29,239 Speaker 2: Of course, you have to own your narrative. Come on, right, 981 00:47:29,320 --> 00:47:31,120 Speaker 2: because if you don't own your narrative, someone else is 982 00:47:31,160 --> 00:47:31,920 Speaker 2: going to own it for you. 983 00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:32,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. 984 00:47:32,640 --> 00:47:34,880 Speaker 2: And in addition to owning your narrative, you have to 985 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:38,120 Speaker 2: understand that it is then a blueprint for someone else. 986 00:47:38,520 --> 00:47:40,640 Speaker 2: Someone else is on a chapter a journey which you 987 00:47:40,680 --> 00:47:43,640 Speaker 2: think yours is tough, theirs may be tougher. And so 988 00:47:43,760 --> 00:47:45,960 Speaker 2: you owning it, you being vocal and you being authentic 989 00:47:46,000 --> 00:47:48,040 Speaker 2: to what you're going through, is going to help someone 990 00:47:48,120 --> 00:47:50,680 Speaker 2: else and pull them out of their struggle. So own 991 00:47:50,760 --> 00:47:52,600 Speaker 2: your narrative and own it authentically. 992 00:47:53,400 --> 00:47:57,040 Speaker 1: That's beautiful to me. Thank you so good. So this 993 00:47:57,200 --> 00:48:00,439 Speaker 1: season on, keep it positive, sweetie. We are leaning more 994 00:48:00,560 --> 00:48:04,399 Speaker 1: into the theme unapologetic. Yes, so I want to know, 995 00:48:04,520 --> 00:48:09,480 Speaker 1: how is Tiffany unapologetically owning her narrative on today? 996 00:48:10,040 --> 00:48:14,560 Speaker 2: How is Tiffany unapologetically owning her narrative? Okay, so I 997 00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:16,600 Speaker 2: didn't know this question was gonna come, but there was 998 00:48:16,640 --> 00:48:17,600 Speaker 2: something I wanted to say. 999 00:48:17,680 --> 00:48:20,320 Speaker 1: So this is per alignment. 1000 00:48:20,920 --> 00:48:26,040 Speaker 2: So when I did my first commencement speech, I introduced 1001 00:48:26,080 --> 00:48:30,280 Speaker 2: myself after someone came up and they said my bio 1002 00:48:30,360 --> 00:48:33,440 Speaker 2: and everything. And I even came to the stage and 1003 00:48:33,480 --> 00:48:37,000 Speaker 2: I said, you know, Dean such and such did a 1004 00:48:37,040 --> 00:48:41,480 Speaker 2: great job introducing me. But as a famous poet named 1005 00:48:41,560 --> 00:48:46,560 Speaker 2: Jay Z once said, allow me to reintroduce myself. My 1006 00:48:46,640 --> 00:48:50,120 Speaker 2: name is Tiffany Willis and I'm a ninth grade dropout. Wow, 1007 00:48:50,600 --> 00:48:53,440 Speaker 2: And that has really been me owning my narrative. And 1008 00:48:53,480 --> 00:48:56,360 Speaker 2: in that speech I talked about how I wanted to 1009 00:48:56,400 --> 00:48:58,480 Speaker 2: one day write a book and I wanted it to 1010 00:48:58,480 --> 00:49:01,319 Speaker 2: be on the Oprah Book Club. I talked about how 1011 00:49:01,360 --> 00:49:04,120 Speaker 2: one day I wanted to be the female version of 1012 00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:08,040 Speaker 2: the Pursuit of Happiness and have a movie based off 1013 00:49:08,080 --> 00:49:12,560 Speaker 2: my life. And I talked about becoming a CEO. And 1014 00:49:12,600 --> 00:49:15,480 Speaker 2: this was years ago. And so to everyone, I want 1015 00:49:15,480 --> 00:49:18,879 Speaker 2: to say when you embrace your narrative and you live unapologetically. 1016 00:49:20,080 --> 00:49:22,920 Speaker 2: Opra ain't pick our book yet, but we at least 1017 00:49:22,960 --> 00:49:25,520 Speaker 2: have a book for her to consider. Yes, and we 1018 00:49:25,520 --> 00:49:28,080 Speaker 2: don't have a movie based off of our life yet yet. 1019 00:49:28,760 --> 00:49:32,319 Speaker 2: But I'm just saying, Tyler Perry Crystal could play me 1020 00:49:32,360 --> 00:49:33,360 Speaker 2: as the adult Tiffany. 1021 00:49:33,440 --> 00:49:37,480 Speaker 1: So yes, yeah, we. 1022 00:49:37,520 --> 00:49:38,080 Speaker 2: Just gonna put it out. 1023 00:49:38,560 --> 00:49:39,440 Speaker 1: We're gonna figure it out. 1024 00:49:40,040 --> 00:49:45,719 Speaker 2: So living unapologetically is seeing what you want that can 1025 00:49:45,760 --> 00:49:49,399 Speaker 2: be so far fetched that people almost look at you 1026 00:49:49,440 --> 00:49:53,080 Speaker 2: and think your dreams are crazy. And I always say, 1027 00:49:53,120 --> 00:49:55,280 Speaker 2: if I say something and you don't think it's crazy, 1028 00:49:55,840 --> 00:49:57,080 Speaker 2: I'm not dreaming big enough. 1029 00:49:58,400 --> 00:50:00,000 Speaker 1: That's it. That is so good. 1030 00:50:00,160 --> 00:50:02,319 Speaker 2: And so that's what living unapologetically is. 1031 00:50:02,920 --> 00:50:05,839 Speaker 1: I love that. That might be my favorite answer yet. 1032 00:50:05,920 --> 00:50:09,239 Speaker 1: Oh that's so good. In closing, we are going to 1033 00:50:09,280 --> 00:50:12,440 Speaker 1: do what we call positive outcomes. That's where our listeners 1034 00:50:12,760 --> 00:50:14,560 Speaker 1: right into us and ask us a question and we 1035 00:50:14,600 --> 00:50:17,480 Speaker 1: give them advice. Okay, you're ready, I'm ready. All right. 1036 00:50:17,560 --> 00:50:20,719 Speaker 1: So this week we have Haley Brown from Dallas, Texas. 1037 00:50:21,120 --> 00:50:25,600 Speaker 1: She says, Hey, Haley, she says, I graduate soon and 1038 00:50:25,640 --> 00:50:27,759 Speaker 1: I'll be the first of my family. I've learned a 1039 00:50:27,760 --> 00:50:30,960 Speaker 1: few interviews and look forward to the next chapter. Even 1040 00:50:31,000 --> 00:50:34,320 Speaker 1: with all the goals met, I sometimes feel it isn't enough. 1041 00:50:34,760 --> 00:50:36,840 Speaker 1: How do I stop feeling like? How do you stop 1042 00:50:36,840 --> 00:50:39,760 Speaker 1: feeling like you have something to prove? Yeah? 1043 00:50:41,200 --> 00:50:44,600 Speaker 2: So I'll just say, like Haley, throughout my whole journey, 1044 00:50:44,840 --> 00:50:46,759 Speaker 2: there's still moments where I feel like I'm not enough. 1045 00:50:47,320 --> 00:50:49,319 Speaker 2: I don't feel like you ever arrive and you feel 1046 00:50:49,320 --> 00:50:53,319 Speaker 2: like you're enough. Yeah, But the trick is perspective, which 1047 00:50:53,360 --> 00:50:55,359 Speaker 2: is you still put one foot in front of the other. 1048 00:50:55,800 --> 00:50:59,600 Speaker 2: You still make progress, because you'll never arrive if you 1049 00:50:59,600 --> 00:51:02,279 Speaker 2: don't make progress. So I think for Haley, it's just 1050 00:51:02,320 --> 00:51:06,160 Speaker 2: about just keep pushing forward. And Haley, depending on what 1051 00:51:06,200 --> 00:51:09,399 Speaker 2: your major is, look me up. Maybe I can get 1052 00:51:09,400 --> 00:51:10,960 Speaker 2: you an internship or a job. Hailey. 1053 00:51:11,120 --> 00:51:16,120 Speaker 1: Wow, that's amazing, Haley. I would tell you, I'm not 1054 00:51:16,200 --> 00:51:18,799 Speaker 1: sure if there's ever a point where you don't feel 1055 00:51:18,840 --> 00:51:20,799 Speaker 1: like you have something to prove. I feel like you're 1056 00:51:20,840 --> 00:51:23,640 Speaker 1: constantly evolving and you have that chip on your shoulder, 1057 00:51:23,640 --> 00:51:25,360 Speaker 1: which I feel like I keep it on my shoulder, 1058 00:51:25,440 --> 00:51:27,480 Speaker 1: or like every level I'll get to like I've got 1059 00:51:27,480 --> 00:51:30,040 Speaker 1: to prove if I'm not proven it to myself or 1060 00:51:30,080 --> 00:51:32,080 Speaker 1: to someone else, I'm still proven it to myself. Yes, 1061 00:51:32,280 --> 00:51:35,560 Speaker 1: So I feel like at some point if I'm getting 1062 00:51:35,600 --> 00:51:38,920 Speaker 1: to a place of complacency or I'm leveling out, then 1063 00:51:38,960 --> 00:51:40,799 Speaker 1: I'm losing that edge. So I always like to feel 1064 00:51:40,800 --> 00:51:43,799 Speaker 1: like I'm continually evolving, and I always want to prove 1065 00:51:43,840 --> 00:51:45,920 Speaker 1: something to myself that I can be better and do better. 1066 00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:48,400 Speaker 1: So I don't think feeling like you have something to 1067 00:51:48,480 --> 00:51:51,719 Speaker 1: prove is a bad place, depending on your perspective. Yes, 1068 00:51:51,840 --> 00:51:54,279 Speaker 1: we talk about the perspective. If it's like I need 1069 00:51:54,320 --> 00:51:55,920 Speaker 1: to make everybody like me, I need to prove to 1070 00:51:55,960 --> 00:51:58,760 Speaker 1: them that I'm worthy, that's a different thing. But proven 1071 00:51:58,760 --> 00:52:01,120 Speaker 1: to yourself that you can do with proven to yourself 1072 00:52:01,320 --> 00:52:02,960 Speaker 1: that you can be better, because we can all be 1073 00:52:02,960 --> 00:52:05,319 Speaker 1: better in different areas. I don't think there's anything wrong 1074 00:52:05,360 --> 00:52:05,640 Speaker 1: with that. 1075 00:52:06,480 --> 00:52:09,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's in essence. When everyone goes to give a speech, 1076 00:52:09,440 --> 00:52:11,759 Speaker 2: they all have butterflies, yes, right, And if you don't 1077 00:52:11,760 --> 00:52:14,800 Speaker 2: have butterflies, then somewhere somehow you probably did not prepare 1078 00:52:14,880 --> 00:52:16,000 Speaker 2: or you're not taking it seriously. 1079 00:52:16,160 --> 00:52:17,719 Speaker 1: Yes, absolutely, because you. 1080 00:52:17,640 --> 00:52:20,760 Speaker 2: Never really feel like you have arrived. You're still trying. 1081 00:52:20,719 --> 00:52:24,520 Speaker 1: To do your best right exactly. Love that Tiffany I've 1082 00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:27,839 Speaker 1: totally enjoyed our time. This has been amazing. Yes, thank you. 1083 00:52:28,560 --> 00:52:30,560 Speaker 1: Tell us where we can get your book all the 1084 00:52:30,600 --> 00:52:33,319 Speaker 1: information we want to support you, thank you so much. 1085 00:52:33,320 --> 00:52:36,040 Speaker 1: It's book club, but we do have Crystal's book Club 1086 00:52:36,480 --> 00:52:40,040 Speaker 1: unofficially and there we all read together, so we got jesus. 1087 00:52:40,600 --> 00:52:43,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, So you can find the book on Amazon. It's 1088 00:52:43,160 --> 00:52:46,279 Speaker 2: own your narrative. You can also follow me on Instagram, 1089 00:52:46,480 --> 00:52:50,319 Speaker 2: which is at Tiffany Willis at Underscore Tiffany Willis. I'm 1090 00:52:50,360 --> 00:52:53,160 Speaker 2: still getting used to my Instagram, so at Underscore Tiffany 1091 00:52:53,160 --> 00:52:55,000 Speaker 2: Willis as well as you can find all kinds of 1092 00:52:55,000 --> 00:52:58,120 Speaker 2: information about me at Tiffany hyphen Willis dot com. And 1093 00:52:58,160 --> 00:53:01,040 Speaker 2: I would love to be supportive to your community. The 1094 00:53:01,080 --> 00:53:03,759 Speaker 2: sweetie swarm, you know, like fiancee has to be hot. 1095 00:53:03,840 --> 00:53:05,960 Speaker 2: This is way the sweety swarm. So I would love 1096 00:53:06,000 --> 00:53:07,680 Speaker 2: to be able to pour into the sweety. 1097 00:53:07,400 --> 00:53:09,920 Speaker 1: Swarm as much as I can no appreciate it. We're 1098 00:53:09,960 --> 00:53:12,719 Speaker 1: definitely gonna swarm around you and get your book and 1099 00:53:12,760 --> 00:53:15,200 Speaker 1: make it a number one best selling. We're excited to 1100 00:53:15,280 --> 00:53:17,560 Speaker 1: support you and champion you and everything that you have 1101 00:53:17,640 --> 00:53:20,200 Speaker 1: going on, So make sure you guys follow her, stay 1102 00:53:20,280 --> 00:53:22,600 Speaker 1: up to date on all the things Tiffany has going on, 1103 00:53:22,920 --> 00:53:24,440 Speaker 1: and we'll be sure to support you. And thank you 1104 00:53:24,480 --> 00:53:26,440 Speaker 1: so much for stopping by. Thank you for having me 1105 00:53:26,520 --> 00:53:29,200 Speaker 1: of course, all right, guys, we'll see you next week. 1106 00:53:34,080 --> 00:53:36,400 Speaker 1: While you know, what stays with me from this conversation 1107 00:53:36,800 --> 00:53:40,239 Speaker 1: is the reminder that our stories don't become powerful when 1108 00:53:40,280 --> 00:53:45,120 Speaker 1: they're perfect. They become powerful when we choose to own them. Tiffany, 1109 00:53:45,160 --> 00:53:46,920 Speaker 1: I want to thank you so much for your honesty, 1110 00:53:47,040 --> 00:53:50,439 Speaker 1: your strength and showing us their resilience isn't about having 1111 00:53:50,480 --> 00:53:54,239 Speaker 1: it all figured out. It's about continuing to rise even 1112 00:53:54,239 --> 00:53:58,200 Speaker 1: when life tries to define you. Because sometimes growth looks 1113 00:53:58,239 --> 00:54:01,360 Speaker 1: like we're writing the narrative were giving and choosing to 1114 00:54:01,400 --> 00:54:04,560 Speaker 1: walk in it with confidence and clarity and grace. Thank 1115 00:54:04,600 --> 00:54:07,080 Speaker 1: you guys so much for tuning in to another episode 1116 00:54:07,160 --> 00:54:09,680 Speaker 1: of The Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Don't forget to 1117 00:54:09,760 --> 00:54:13,680 Speaker 1: download the season eleven Kids Reflection Guide at Chris Ordehesel 1118 00:54:13,760 --> 00:54:16,600 Speaker 1: dot com. Be sure to subscribe and share this episode 1119 00:54:16,640 --> 00:54:18,919 Speaker 1: with someone who needs it. And if you ever need 1120 00:54:18,920 --> 00:54:21,759 Speaker 1: some advice, positivity, or just want to share what you're 1121 00:54:21,800 --> 00:54:24,799 Speaker 1: going through, email us at Keep It Positive Outcomes at 1122 00:54:24,800 --> 00:54:29,000 Speaker 1: gmail dot com. As always, stay blessed, say encouraged and 1123 00:54:29,120 --> 00:54:32,160 Speaker 1: keep it positive. Sweetie. I love you guys until next time.