By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter
Fear is normal for anyone starting a business or career, but it’s how you use that fear that makes all the difference. Whether you use it to fuel your dreams or allow it to stop you is totally up to you. But consider, just for a moment, using it as fuel. BMWK’s very own Managing Editor Tara Pringle Jefferson did just that and talks about it in her new e-book, Make It Happen: A Young Mommy Guide to Creating the Career You Crave.
If you are a “young mommy” (which Tara defines as anyone who had their first kid before 25, or more broadly, in their 20s) or even an older mommy looking to create a career and a future you dream about, Tara speaks directly to you. At first glance, solely based on a portion of the title “A Young Mommy Guide”, my thought was anything “young mommy” wasn’t for me. Boy was I wrong. Although I am not a young mommy, I walked away with ideas, tips, and resources that will be instrumental in helping take me to the next level.
Make It Happen is a guide for every working, career-minded mom. Tara provides the real deal on what it takes to be a successful businesswoman and mom. She used her real-life examples of the struggles she endured to focus on building her freelance career and her fear of failure. I loved her raw approach in admitting that working from home (in your own career) isn’t always a piece of cake but well worth it. Make It Happen validates the working mom young and old. Tara provides a safe place to move regret and guilt aside and focus on what’s next. She reminds us that we are not alone, even as we are still trying to figure out what to do with our lives. Tara uses examples from other working moms on how they made it happen.
The book is packed full of real-life wisdom and resources. Tara was so giving in sharing resources she had used like the family budget planner, etsy.com and even providing a link to healthy snacks to keep you energized at work. My aha moment (as Oprah would say) came while reading the 5 questions to ask yourself to find your passion. Tara recommended asking:
- What makes you smile?
- What’s your favorite part of your current job?
- If you weren’t worried about paying bills, what would you be doing?
- Who has your dream job and what do they do?
- If you look back on your life in 15 years, what do you want to say you spent your time doing?
The follow-up she recommends that moms do after answering these questions gives new insight on thinking outside the box as you create your career. I’ve read numerous books on starting a career, but Tara gives practical advice that is easy for any mom to follow. If you are truly ready to move past that fear, overcome some of those doubts, uncover your true passion, reading Make It Happen is a great place to start. Kudos to Tara!
To order Make It Happen, check it out on Amazon.com.
Tiya Cunningham-Sumter is a Certified Life & Relationship Coach, Founder of Life Editing. Tiya was featured in Ebony Magazine in the October 2008 and November 2010 issues. Tiya recently created and launched (Tuesdays with Tiya) Life Editing Radio show on blogtalkradio.com. She resides in Chicago with her husband and two children.