Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like? Did you have any particular experiences/stories that shaped your adult life?

I grew up in Vancouver, WA. My childhood was awesome when I reflect back on it, but it wasn’t easy at the time. I was always a starter of unique ventures. My first job was helping out around the church and people saw and they allowed me the autonomy and freedom to do almost whatever I want just as long as I did what they wanted me to do. From that experience, I learned if you have an entrepreneurial mind the money will come to you and will open many other doors along the way. It wasn’t just about the money because a lot of people saw having money as a teenager, they wanted to know how I was always having money. I just liked working and doing things other people couldn’t.

What is something you wish you would’ve realized earlier in your life?

I wish I would have realized that there’s nothing wrong with learning how to do things in a way that makes sense to you. It’s also okay to say, “I don’t know.” So many times I compared myself to others, and that’s the worst possible thing to do because we’re all different.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?

I hear in some areas if not all areas to fake it to you make it, which I understand because it gets you to do it rather than procrastinate or not do it at all. However, it doesn’t allow you to become a master in your craft. The other bad recommendation I hear in marketing is for individuals to take one route or one path to success when success and people’s paths are different. Everyone’s journey is beautiful.

Tell me about one of the darker periods you’ve experienced in life. How you came out of it and what you learned from it?

One of the darkest periods in my life was when I achieved a personal goal and my current partner wasn’t celebrating it. I realized we didn’t have a future and that was ok because I did so much and it was never good enough. It was no longer me being a workaholic, it was me understanding we didn’t have the same goals. And ultimately, this led to me realizing how I settled rather than set a goal, aim for it, and achieve it.

What is one thing that you do that you feel has been the biggest contributor to your success so far?

My biggest contributor to my success has been knowing I cannot rest if the work doesn’t get done, because I know I’m the only one to do it. At the end of the day, no one’s going to work harder for me than I.

What is your morning routine?

I’ve always been an early riser, but lately, I’ve been getting up around 3:30 to 4:30 in the morning. I even get up at this time on the weekends and my routine is focused on ensuring that my personal hygiene is taken care of before I move into the business. It’s a rule in the house, we don’t walk around in pajamas. Approximately 45 minutes later, I close my kids’ doors and start my business. Typically, I do the quick mundane things before I focus on some of the hardest things I need to do.

What habit or behavior that you have pursued for a few years has most improved your life?

The best behavior I’ve found to work extremely well for me is to detox and declutter everything in my life. As I tell my clients, your personal hurdles will become your business obstacles. When you start the process, you go through a whirlwind of emotions and take inventory of what really matters the most. It’s been a great process for me to let go of the past, and embrace the present, so I can enjoy my future.

What are your strategies for being productive and using your time most efficiently?

My best strategy is to hold myself accountable through my to-do list application. I hate not finishing my day without doing something uncomfortable and completing all the tasks for the day. The goal is to finish everything by lunch and start the next day’s tasks in the afternoon.

What book(s) have influenced your life the most? Why?

Recently, Will Smith’s book. I read it before the whole Chris Rock situation. I enjoyed it because he talked about how his success can’t undo his trauma. All of his achievements don’t change the past, nor will they promise an awesome future. It’s all about intentionality. Even with his book of success and accolades, he’s not immune from making bad decisions. Hence, the Chris Rock.

Do you have any quotes you live by or think of often?

I like a couple and this is where I heard it from:

• Walk by faith, not by sight (Bible)
• If you can’t fail, what would you do (Jim Rohn)
• Go where you’re celebrated, not where you’re tolerated (Eric Thomas)