August 8, 2023 • 39 mins
Buckle up for a riveting dialogue with the dynamic Tracy, an extraordinary businesswoman swaying the tides of change in both her community and the broader landscape.
A proud Air Force veteran and the past president and board member of the League of Women Voters of Georgia, Tracy unveils her incredible journey from the military to the corporate world, and how her diverse experiences have played an instrumental role in her career trajectory and her fervent advocacy for voting rights.
Her story is not just a testament to resilience and determination but an inspiration for women in business and those with a desire to effect change.
Tracy divulges invaluable insights on personal growth, change, and the importance of self-awareness, goal-setting, and risk-taking in her success narrative.
Tune in for an episode soaked in inspiration, motivation, and a lot of wisdom from remarkable women who have made a difference. Trust us – you wouldn't want to miss this one!
#military #veteran #business #mrspie
Come join us at our virtual events monthly. Visit our website to learn more.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
fearfulstlichecom.
All right, we made it y'all.
(00:45):
There is summer's going onbehind the scenes.
I'm just glad we made it so.
Hello Tracy, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I am well.
I am well.
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I am good.
So let me kick this off allfancy like, because I've been
waiting for this interview forso long and I'm just excited.
So Tracy is a remarkablebusiness woman.
She's an Air Force veteran,she's past president and now
board member of the League ofWomen Voters of Georgia.
She has a crazy, incrediblebackground Just really want
(01:23):
those people that you just wantto dig in, to know how she's
doing what she's doing and youknow, I think, I think, tracy,
your story is going to reallyhelp to inspire a lot of women,
whether they're business ownersor they're just looking to, you
know, figure out how to kind ofmove into the next steps of
their career.
So, before we get even further,I just want to.
I love to give people theirflowers and I try to let people
(01:45):
know, like when I bring, I'mbringing cream of the crop here,
okay.
So, tracy, I am so honored thatyou know that you're joining us
and, for all of y'all who arewatching, we're on multiple
channels, so Facebook andTwitter and LinkedIn and YouTube
when else did I miss?
And definitely the folks thatare on Paradex TV live.
(02:06):
There are 6.4 million strong.
That's an amazing communitythere.
So everybody, wherever you are,make sure that you like and
love this video so that we canget more eyeballs and people to
get to meet Tracy.
And also we'll launch the audiopodcast on wherever folks get
their podcasts at the end ofthis week.
(02:27):
So wherever y'all get yourpodcasts, you'll find out more.
But with that, I'm just gratefulthat you're here and I actually
I was thinking about how we met, because we met on a group on
Facebook, a group on Facebook,right, and so this is where a
lot of, a lot of people miss,you know, they miss the
(02:48):
opportunities to.
You know the oh hello, hello,dump and Ground podcast.
So this is another businesspodcast.
That's already.
So now you got folks in thestands, hello, but honestly,
it's a great way for people toparticipate and just collaborate
and meet new people.
So I say that, to say it,because a lot of people are
(03:09):
missing those chances to, youknow, just to kind of step out
of your own circle.
So can you tell us a little bitabout you know, a little bit
about who you are and what youdo, and then we go get into your
business.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
So I think that I came out of the womb the womb
Shelley like this.
You know the answer.
I woke up like this I was inmiddle school and high school
very involved in civicengagement and that has carried
(03:45):
through my entire life, and Ilove sports.
So I've always just foundcomfort, and, you know,
motivation in being awell-rounded person.
So I used to in high school goto Kiwanis Club meetings with my
(04:08):
assistant principal.
Wow, so I really have thatfever for community service,
that love, that passion forcommunity service.
So I am, and some things havechanged since we first talked,
since we first connected.
(04:29):
So I now work back at theairport for the city of Atlanta
Department of Aviation as asenior facilities project
manager and asset manager,senior asset manager.
So that is a passion.
That is a passion of mine.
I've worked at the airport.
(04:50):
This will be now going into myseventh year.
I live in Atlanta, that is,hartsville, jackson, atlanta
International Airport, where Iwork In my civic life.
I am now a board member for theLeague of Women Voters of the
United States.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Wow, that's.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I served at the local .
I served at the local level onthe board for Atlanta, fulton
County.
The League of Women Voters ofAtlanta, fulton County and the
national board came and said,hey, we want to have the 2010
national convention here inAtlanta.
(05:34):
Will you host it?
And my board voted and said,yeah, well, we want to host it,
but who's going to be the localarrangements chair?
Wow, well, guess who?
Everybody.
They looked at me and I wasjust crazy enough to do it, and
so I was the local arrangementschair for the national
(05:57):
convention in 2010.
I joined the league in 2002.
So I've been a member for over20 years now.
And so, in that capacity, Iworked with the state board
because Atlanta couldn't host800 members by themselves.
(06:18):
Well, we could have, but wewanted to bring other leagues,
these other local leagues aroundthe state, in on this endeavor
to host the 600 leagues acrossthe nation.
And so, after nationalconvention, I reported out to
(06:40):
the state board.
Everything went well.
Thanks for all the help.
All right, see you later.
Bye.
And I said, no wait, we wantyou to serve on the state board.
So I'm serving on the stateboard, and it didn't take long
before I realized I couldn't doboth and work and be married and
(07:00):
and so I just focused on thestate board.
From 2011 to last June, Iserved on the state state board
and in and they had, and sonationally I served as a sure
(07:22):
fellow, a national coach to thestate of Minnesota they're
leaving they had 40 local, 40local leagues and I co coached
the state of New York, the stateof Florida.
So just the fundamentals ofhaving and running and managing
(07:43):
a league of women voters.
And so the league is focused onregistering and educating
voters on the process, theelectoral process, and making
sure that people understandtheir civic, civic rights and
responsibilities, and fightingfor our voting rights on all
levels, in state legislatures aswell as at the US Capitol.
(08:07):
So that's the league of womenvoters.
It's it's 103 years old, 103year old organization where
black women were not originallywelcomed into the organization.
I was actually the firstAfrican, african American woman
elected to president for thestate of.
(08:29):
Georgia, sadly in 2017.
But I kept getting nominated tofrom 2017.
I kept getting nominated 2018to serve on the national board
and I thought, oh my gosh, no, Idon't want that.
(08:51):
But something shifted.
You know, god always has totell me.
I get asked to do something andI'm like, oh, no, I'm good in
the background.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
God, yes, other plans , I learn.
I have learned now he has otherplans.
Yeah, sometimes it is great tobe in the background, but he's
given me a voice to speak andI've told him I will.
When he says speak, I willspeak.
When he says go, I will go.
So I have to get my composureand tell myself you can do it,
(09:27):
even if I don't think I could doit, and jump out and do it.
So that's.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
that's really incredible, because I was
thinking about, like, the impactthat you're making.
So there's a couple of thingshere.
First off, the leadershipskills, because a lot of times
people use the term leader andthey use it as a job type of my
key.
I say this over and over againit's a skill, it's not a title,
okay, but the the fact is thatthere are certain qualities and
(09:58):
and skills that you have and youknow from transitioning from
what you were doing before intowhat you're doing now and I love
how you're rolling off like theLeague of Women Voters, like
this is this is a huge deal.
Y'all, this is a huge deal.
So I want to talk about whatare some of the, what are some
of the, the things that, or thelessons learned as you kind of
(10:20):
had to shift into into thisparticular role for maybe what
you were doing before and justthinking about.
I'm thinking about all thewomen who are too scared to make
a decision or too scared to dosomething new, or they don't
think they have the, you knowthe, the right leadership skills
.
Wait, I have to drop this inthe chat here.
Thank you for right there.
(10:41):
I am the Oprah I'm so proud forRayDecTV.
Hello y'all, but what is that?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
what does?
Speaker 1 (10:47):
that look like for you.
You know the fact that you hadto transition and that you know
the level of skills andconfidence you know for you to
be able to do the position thatyou're in right now National,
national right.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
That you, thank you.
That is an excellent questionand that has been a journey, and
that's something else I'll tellyou about later that I'm
working on.
You're gonna think I don'tsleep, but I actually love sleep
.
So, I did it, but I do, but Ihave had to.
So.
(11:23):
When I was a little girl, mymom and dad bought me a t-shirt
red and the letters were sparkly.
Letters that said anything aboy can do, a girl can do better
.
Now I'm not comparing genders,but that just kind of set the
(11:44):
foundation for just me havingconfidence to do whatever I
wanted to do and to not feellimited as a girl.
Right, I'm 51.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I'm 51 years old so you know I used to play baseball
.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I was only.
I was one of only two girls onthe baseball team and I played
softball, play fastball.
So I quickly learned you knowhow to be tough physically, but
you also have to be toughmentally.
And I just kept as I wastelling you off camera before we
started kept getting pushedinto.
(12:30):
I would want to be back here,just fine, just happy, making
things happen, running things inin the background, and kept
getting pushed to the forefrontto speak, to lead, to organize,
to manage.
And I said why?
God?
Why you know we do win, god, wewin.
(12:53):
Why I want, I'm happy back here, we need people back here,
that's happy back here.
But, um, you said that's, that'snot, that's not what I put in
you.
So I set out to balance, be, Ireally wanted to focus on being
in balance.
Be, okay, be happy with beingin the background when that is
(13:15):
the appropriate thing, that Ineed to be, the lane that I need
to be in, but being happy andconfident.
And you know, go, go, go when Ineed to, when I need to be up
front.
So now I've learned to run toget the invitation or nomination
(13:36):
or whatever it may be.
Um, take a moment and breathe,think on it.
I'll get back to you.
I'll let you know if it doesn'timmediately ring in my spirit
like you did.
Yeah, your invitationimmediately rang it.
Just, oh my gosh, theconnection was amazing with with
you, but, um, um, so I just runit through the tester.
(14:02):
Is this something you want meto do, lord?
If so, I'm ready, let's do it.
Um, I have.
I used to sing in the choir andthen I became a.
I love music so much I became aum in in my church choir a
conductor right, a leader rightyes.
(14:23):
I'm like director and I don't.
I did play the flute from theseventh grade.
My dad bought me a flute and soI did have a fundamental love
of and understanding of musicand notes and you know,
(14:44):
composition of music.
But I was not trained to be adirector, a musical director, um
.
But I felt the calling and Ifollowed it and I encouraged
somebody who was actuallymusically trained to not be
afraid to stand, to step up whenthat, when needed, when that
(15:08):
opportunity presented itself.
So I've just learned theselessons and just being pushed in
the spotlight along the way.
I love that I think that's thechurch at home in my civic life
yeah, a professional lifeeverywhere.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I love that.
I think that's one of thethings that I think, one that
when we first connected thatthere's, there's just some folks
that just have I don't know, Iguess it's we have a natural.
I don't like to use the wordcharm, because it's not charm,
we just have, we're justconfident.
But it takes, it takes a whilefor you to To you know, to get
(15:47):
to that point.
You know you had to learn somelessons along the way, and so
I'm always curious when I talkto women who are very success.
You're very successful in whatyou do and you're also very
successful in who you aremeaning.
You own it, you know, you'renot afraid and even though you
know again, opportunities mightshow up where you have to Move
(16:10):
forward because that's where youbelong, that's what you're
supposed to do.
You're not running away fromthose challenges.
And what?
What kind of advice would yougive to women?
Because now I want to talk alittle bit about what you're
doing now and some of the otherthings you're doing, because
this is one that was I tellpeople all the time.
You know, this is where you gotto be careful.
(16:30):
There are some folks who arejust Blessed to be able to spin
multiple plates very well, andthere's some people who are
blessed to spin one plate verywell.
We are multi plate spinners,okay.
So for those of y'all who aresingle plate spinners, just just
listen to what we're sharing.
We're not encouraging, don't?
Don't be like us, okay, don'tdo what we're doing, but just be
(16:53):
encouraged.
For those of you guys who arespinning multiple plates, this
leaning a little bit closer, sotalk a little bit about you know
what else you're working on.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Excellent and and that was a great analogy to see
the place, and in multipleplaces.
But One, one thing I, one thingI will say is Be very clear.
Get very clear if you're not,on who you are, what you know,
(17:26):
what you like, um, and what yourboundaries are in life in
general.
Yes, we need that answer, but,uh, once you are, leave room
Still for growth, foradvancement, um, for change.
(17:47):
We just love change, don't we?
Oh yeah, change yourperspective.
Perspective is everything, um,just be open to opportunities.
Uh, god may have for you.
Sometimes we're so closed off.
I only do this, um, and that'sall, and I don't, you know, and,
(18:08):
and you can really miss someawesome opportunities in life,
um, being closed off.
So don't be afraid to leap,take that leap.
Every morning I almost everymorning, I listen to
motivational videos on youtubeTo get me going set my intention
for the day, you know, keep myspirit up and I'm thinking about
(18:33):
what I want to accomplish forthe day, for the week, for the
month, for the year.
I set my goals.
I revisit my goals.
I don't have a set time torevisit my goals, but I do
revisit my goals because I wantto see where I'm at.
I want to recalculate if I'mnot advancing as quickly as I
like, but I do have some goalsthat have spanned that I thought
(18:56):
I would accomplish in that year.
That have spanned across two,three, four years.
Like I just accomplished amajor goal that I have carried
on my goal sheet since 2019.
So that's four years.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Oh, I need to know what it is.
I need to know.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
I have been carrying Lose 50 pounds since 2019.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
And I weight myself this morning.
I am down 47 pounds.
Shelley, what 47 pounds.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
That is huge, but congratulations.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Oh my gosh, that's awesome.
Thank you, that is so awesome.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
So you know.
So go for it.
I want to make sure I answeredyour question.
I know you asked me what wouldI tell a woman who is that
multiple plate?
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Yeah, whatever you would Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Thank you, but also you asked me about what I'm
doing now.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Okay, then I told you I would share with you later.
I'm working on a book, reallyWorking on a book, okay, and I
am pursuing.
I'm pursuing a certification incoaching because I have learned
(20:33):
so much and, like I said, Ialways want to be in the
background doing stuff and Ialways get pushed to the
foreground.
So I have been.
I have had the privilege ofexperiencing so many things
across so many different,different genres Non-profit, you
know, professionalentrepreneurial started my own
(20:55):
business because in myprofessional life I worked on a
small business developmentprogram.
I had to help facilitate, justfacilitate.
I didn't have to teach theclasses, just facilitate the
classes.
But, of course, in the processof doing that, I learned about,
you know, getting incorporated,whether it's, you know, it's
(21:18):
better to get the LLC, dependingon what your business is and
how to do business with agovernment entity contract
management, marketing, writingyour business plan, all of that.
And so I wanted to, I wanted toshare that.
I wanted to share that.
So I started my littleconsulting business and I
quickly learned that I am notthe serialpreneur, I am not the
(21:43):
entrepreneur, I, I love Iactually love the 95.
I'm good with the nine to five.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
And you got to know that.
That's why I said be clear,yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Be clear about what you like and what you don't like
, and but you got to take, yougot to take chances to really
know that too.
Yeah, so I'm proud of myself in2013.
I started business managementconcepts because I wanted to
share that and I actually helped.
I helped a lady establish hernonprofit.
I helped a lady take herbusiness.
(22:17):
She she had a dance dance likeZumba.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Fiscal expression through dance moves, physical,
Okay.
And her?
I sat down with her.
We mapped out her goals for herbusiness.
She wanted to acquire a gym, afacility.
She wanted to get certified asa nutritionist.
So we mapped out a whole planfor her.
And do you know, God bringsthings full circle.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Oh yeah, there's a lot of veterans on this call
right now in this chat, so Ijust want to make sure she gets
her flowers there too, y'allOkay, she's a veteran, so shout
out to the veterans in the chatand the one on this call.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Awesome Air Force.
Air Force is the best you know.
I just got picked up with theAir Force all day long, but
anyways, I actually got to seeher dream, that dream, that
roadmap we created, come tofruition.
I rode past I live off of thestreet, on the same street as
(23:26):
the facility that she purchased.
Or that she started leasing forthe business.
Yes, yes, so, but I don't havethe, I don't.
I like to have my nine to fiveand I like to do, I like to
share my gift.
You know, in my side hustle,I'll say it like that I love
(23:49):
that.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
So that's another.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
That's another thing right.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, and now you're growing that out.
So again, you know, for thoseof you all who are watching,
we're talking about leadershipskills.
Wait, so there's, there's,there's a mix of the services.
So now you're all going to havea fight, I think that would get
us started, buddy.
We already claim Air Forcebecause you know, for an Air
Force family as well.
(24:13):
So sorry y'all, it is what itis, but we talk about, like you
know, being able to.
You know, I think it's reallyjust understanding your purpose.
You know what you're great atbuilding your confidence and
then trying to figure out.
You know.
Then, how do I, how does mygift show up?
(24:33):
Here we go, marines here we go.
Marines, right, so you know howyou, how you show up with your
gift.
So how does that, how does thatplay out for you?
Because, again, a lot of times,people see folks like you who
are very successful, right, andthey see the tail end of the
story, but they don't understandthe journey that it took to get
(24:55):
here.
It's not.
It's not this, it is not thatsimple, but what kind of advice
or counsel would you give forfolks who are just on that
journey?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
That is such a great question, shelley.
So as I grew and learned right,I said, ok, I got, I have.
I have certain gifts, I havepassions, but what's my purpose?
So very spiritual Anything.
You hear me say I'm going tothe Lord with it.
(25:28):
Oh yeah, I almost see anythingin my life, I'm going to the
Lord.
So what did you create me for?
I spent some time.
What did you create me for,lord?
And I want to.
I said I want to be very clear.
I want to be very clear and Iwant to operate in that.
I understand I can have a nineto five, I can share my gifts,
(25:54):
but am I operating in my purpose?
I got, I got all kinds ofpassions I ride a motorcycle, I
like to crochet Okay, I have allkinds of passions, but but what
did you create me for?
And I feel that God created meto encourage and educate people.
So this venture, my newestventure under construction, is
(26:21):
kind of the culmination in thecoming together of all of that I
I launched.
So I've been perfecting myprofessional skills, right
Business, and I set a goal 20 to20 years ago.
I said, okay, I'm working belowwhere I should be.
(26:42):
I want to be, I want to advancein the corporate ladder and I
and I want my six figure salary.
And I spent six months justgrinding, grinding, grinding,
looking, looking, looking forthat opportunity.
That is how I left the airportbefore I left the airport.
(27:03):
That is how I left the airportbefore through with another
company.
I got an and I prayed forcertain things and those things
manifested.
That opportunity came, yep, butit wasn't the six figure salary
(27:24):
, but I prayed it will be afortune, a fortune 500 company,
and that I would get anopportunity from a fortune 500
company.
It would be a hybrid jobposition because I was tired of
driving all over Atlanta and allof that.
All of that and it was anawesome project and it ended
(27:46):
earlier than it was supposed toand I was unemployed, shelley,
for seven months.
Wow, awful, but it was great.
Actually, it was a blessing.
It was a blessing because thatis how I was able to lose focus
in and lose that weight and restand heal.
(28:08):
I had a problem with my knee.
It was, it was a blessing.
It was a blessing.
It was hard financially, but itwas a blessing.
But guess what?
My new job.
My boss loves me, I love myboss, my background is
appreciated and it's a sixfigure job.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Oh my God, that is awesome, that is awesome.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
I got a couple of bumps and bruises.
But yeah, god is, he is sofaithful, he is so faithful.
But all of this, I want toshare all of this with people
who need encouragement, peoplewho need direction, people who
are looking for you know thenext thing, or how to hone in on
the purpose, or how to take theskills that they do have and
(28:58):
put them to use.
Or maybe you want to start abusiness and you don't know
where to start.
I want to share that, so that'swhat I'm looking at doing now.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
So when can folks get access to you through your
business?
When are we, when are welooking?
When are we having the party?
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Okay.
So see, now you're going to putme on your timeline.
I actually feel January in myspirit.
Okay, so I need to, I need toget busy mapping out my own road
map.
I have just been working on thebook I did, I put that time off
(29:44):
, I had, I put it to good use.
I even grew a garden, shelleyoh, my God, I'm talking about
tomatoes, cucumbers, corn,watermelon I'm serious corn on
the cob.
I had two corn stalks.
So, anyways, I tell you you,you have power beyond what you
(30:11):
think, you can push, beyond whatyou think you can do.
You can learn.
Don't let anybody put you in abox.
You can do whatever it is youwant to do.
Study what it is that you wantto do.
Always be working on improvingyourself.
(30:33):
Read I love to read.
I have an audibles accountbecause the commute in Atlanta
is real, the commute, thecommuting.
So I've tried to make good useof my time, whatever I am doing.
Yes, sir, I try to make thebest use of my time and whatever
I'm doing.
So I listen to self-help book,self-help help books, health
(31:00):
based books.
I'm listening to a book nowcalled the Body Keeps the Score.
That I learned from a book clubthat I'm in talking about the
actual what manifests in yourbody after trauma, because we
all experience trauma at onepoint or another, some more
(31:20):
severe than others, and it isamazing what happens in your
body after trauma and during andafter long after trauma.
So I've learned you need toheal, you need to heal and that
takes time, it takes effort, itmay take professional help and
(31:42):
that is okay.
Exactly exactly After I lost mymom and I felt so much better,
so much better.
So it's okay to fail, it isokay to lose.
You gotta win some.
You gotta lose some, it's okay,it is okay.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Oh my God, I love this so much, tracy, I'm
actually so when's the bookcoming?
Now, again, I'm all in thebusiness.
We need the book, we need thebusiness and we need you to come
back when you have both thebook and the business, because I
think this is gonna help a lotof people.
There's so many people who arein this boat where they're just
(32:29):
trying to figure out what's next, or what's my purpose, or what
should I do, or just looking forjust encouragement right Cause
we're all on a different path isjust one of me and one of you
and we're taking.
So anything that we can do toencourage people to, it's okay
to fail, all of those thingsthat you covered, I think would
(32:51):
be so helpful for folks to getthat.
So we're down to the wire andbefore you go, I definitely
wanna call out Sergeant MarioBeale.
Sergeant.
Major because he's a hugesupporter of me.
He's also in our Paradec family, but he's a huge supporter of
you, tracy, and I just wannamake sure we're giving him his
(33:13):
flowers too.
So thank you, sergeant Major,for supporting Tracy here
tonight, and obviously everybodyon Paradec.
Thank you, sergeant Major,thank you Dump and Ground and
everybody on all the channels.
Y'all don't forget to like thevideo or love it on your way out
.
Please don't make me beg.
Please do it, but what do youwant?
(33:33):
My last question would be whatdo you wanna be remembered for?
Speaker 2 (33:41):
That's to see that, listening to videos, listening
to motivational speeches andreading the books, I remember
one thing that resonated, a lotresonated with me.
But one thing that resonatedwith me was something that Les
Brown said, and I don't know ifhe got it from someone else, but
yeah.
(34:05):
He said you don't wanna get tothe end of your life and let all
your wonderful gifts that Godhas blessed you with die with
you.
What is it that is in you thatyou are supposed to be sharing
with others, that you're notsharing for whatever reason?
(34:26):
Don't let that happen.
He said it would be a shame ifyou let that happen.
So that is something thatpushes me to make sure that I
give all that I have to give allthat.
(34:47):
I've learned all already.
We had the prayers about thepurpose, right.
Why did you create me?
What did you create me to do?
And I do I made so.
One of the other, one of thevideos I listened to, said
what's your personal missionstatement?
(35:08):
What is your personal missionstatement?
So mine is to be the woman ofGod that he designed me to be.
That is, to fulfill my purpose,right, that he gave me, that he
created me for.
And so if I feel, if I believethat my purpose is to encourage
(35:30):
and educate others, then how amI doing that?
So I'm a project manager andasset manager professionally
Great, great, and I can do it.
I can do some of that on thejob.
I'm a national leader for theLeague of Women Voters of the
United States.
So I do that, you know, in somecapacity here and there
(35:53):
actually train new leaders inthe organization and seasoned
leaders as well.
So that's great, but is thatenough?
Is that all that he has for me?
So that's that's.
That's where.
That's kind of what's stewingfor me now and I would I thank
(36:14):
you for this opportunity,shelley, and I thank you for the
invitation to come back after Ilaunched the book and the
business.
Oh, and I'm sorry I forgot aboutmy venture with my husband.
Yes, my husband, yeah, myhusband started a locked type
(36:36):
professional, locked typeprofessions.
So security business, fullservice security Keshia.
He is the certified weaponsinstructor.
He comes from 19 years of lawenforcement and he's also
certified in executiveprotection and security services
(36:56):
, as well as security trainingand private investigation.
And, of course, I'm thebusiness mind, so I'm CEO, he's
the COO.
We actually got a contract totrain 30, now this was this was
several years ago 30 policesecurity I believe there was
(37:24):
some fire and some military menfrom Afghanistan.
Wow, they trained them onsecurity and different,
different things they trainedthem on here in the United
States.
So it was a huge contract andit was a lot of.
It was a lot of work but a lotof fun, very rewarding.
(37:45):
They were so humble and sograteful to come here and get
this, get that training Wow.
So yeah, a lot of.
I know I've been all over theplace and I've traveled the
world in the military station inEngland, hawaii and Virginia
(38:06):
and I did intelligence.
So a lot of experiences and I'mjust gonna share that she's
like I've been everywhere done,everything, everywhere done
everything just about.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
I love that so much, but I'm so grateful, like I said
, to just to have you come onand share, and I guess I, you
know, I'm sure your, your storyis actually gonna help encourage
you.
Just never know.
I'm always curious about whathappens when we leave, because
most people watch our replays orlisten to our download,
download or something right.
(38:37):
But I'm always keenly awarethat there is a life that's been
touched when my guests come onand share their stories, because
that's just how God works,that's just the way it is.
So, so, for whoever it isthat's catching the replay
whether you're watching thevideo or you, you're listening,
so you're on the Amazon streets,audible streets or wherever,
(38:59):
wherever you get your podcast, Ihope this really reaches you
and blesses you.
We're gonna hang out in theback room for a little bit while
we tell these folks good nightand thank you so much for doing
this.
I was like I can't wait for herto get here.
Now.
I'm like, oh, I can't wait forher to come back.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Thank you, shelley.
Thank you, I hang out in theback room.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
Good night everybody.
fearfulstlichecom.
All right, we made it y'all.
(00:45):
There is summer's going onbehind the scenes.
I'm just glad we made it so.
Hello Tracy, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I am well.
I am well.
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I am good.
So let me kick this off allfancy like, because I've been
waiting for this interview forso long and I'm just excited.
So Tracy is a remarkablebusiness woman.
She's an Air Force veteran,she's past president and now
board member of the League ofWomen Voters of Georgia.
She has a crazy, incrediblebackground Just really want
(01:23):
those people that you just wantto dig in, to know how she's
doing what she's doing and youknow, I think, I think, tracy,
your story is going to reallyhelp to inspire a lot of women,
whether they're business ownersor they're just looking to, you
know, figure out how to kind ofmove into the next steps of
their career.
So, before we get even further,I just want to.
I love to give people theirflowers and I try to let people
(01:45):
know, like when I bring, I'mbringing cream of the crop here,
okay.
So, tracy, I am so honored thatyou know that you're joining us
and, for all of y'all who arewatching, we're on multiple
channels, so Facebook andTwitter and LinkedIn and YouTube
when else did I miss?
And definitely the folks thatare on Paradex TV live.
(02:06):
There are 6.4 million strong.
That's an amazing communitythere.
So everybody, wherever you are,make sure that you like and
love this video so that we canget more eyeballs and people to
get to meet Tracy.
And also we'll launch the audiopodcast on wherever folks get
their podcasts at the end ofthis week.
(02:27):
So wherever y'all get yourpodcasts, you'll find out more.
But with that, I'm just gratefulthat you're here and I actually
I was thinking about how we met, because we met on a group on
Facebook, a group on Facebook,right, and so this is where a
lot of, a lot of people miss,you know, they miss the
(02:48):
opportunities to.
You know the oh hello, hello,dump and Ground podcast.
So this is another businesspodcast.
That's already.
So now you got folks in thestands, hello, but honestly,
it's a great way for people toparticipate and just collaborate
and meet new people.
So I say that, to say it,because a lot of people are
(03:09):
missing those chances to, youknow, just to kind of step out
of your own circle.
So can you tell us a little bitabout you know, a little bit
about who you are and what youdo, and then we go get into your
business.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
So I think that I came out of the womb the womb
Shelley like this.
You know the answer.
I woke up like this I was inmiddle school and high school
very involved in civicengagement and that has carried
(03:45):
through my entire life, and Ilove sports.
So I've always just foundcomfort, and, you know,
motivation in being awell-rounded person.
So I used to in high school goto Kiwanis Club meetings with my
(04:08):
assistant principal.
Wow, so I really have thatfever for community service,
that love, that passion forcommunity service.
So I am, and some things havechanged since we first talked,
since we first connected.
(04:29):
So I now work back at theairport for the city of Atlanta
Department of Aviation as asenior facilities project
manager and asset manager,senior asset manager.
So that is a passion.
That is a passion of mine.
I've worked at the airport.
(04:50):
This will be now going into myseventh year.
I live in Atlanta, that is,hartsville, jackson, atlanta
International Airport, where Iwork In my civic life.
I am now a board member for theLeague of Women Voters of the
United States.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Wow, that's.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I served at the local .
I served at the local level onthe board for Atlanta, fulton
County.
The League of Women Voters ofAtlanta, fulton County and the
national board came and said,hey, we want to have the 2010
national convention here inAtlanta.
(05:34):
Will you host it?
And my board voted and said,yeah, well, we want to host it,
but who's going to be the localarrangements chair?
Wow, well, guess who?
Everybody.
They looked at me and I wasjust crazy enough to do it, and
so I was the local arrangementschair for the national
(05:57):
convention in 2010.
I joined the league in 2002.
So I've been a member for over20 years now.
And so, in that capacity, Iworked with the state board
because Atlanta couldn't host800 members by themselves.
(06:18):
Well, we could have, but wewanted to bring other leagues,
these other local leagues aroundthe state, in on this endeavor
to host the 600 leagues acrossthe nation.
And so, after nationalconvention, I reported out to
(06:40):
the state board.
Everything went well.
Thanks for all the help.
All right, see you later.
Bye.
And I said, no wait, we wantyou to serve on the state board.
So I'm serving on the stateboard, and it didn't take long
before I realized I couldn't doboth and work and be married and
(07:00):
and so I just focused on thestate board.
From 2011 to last June, Iserved on the state state board
and in and they had, and sonationally I served as a sure
(07:22):
fellow, a national coach to thestate of Minnesota they're
leaving they had 40 local, 40local leagues and I co coached
the state of New York, the stateof Florida.
So just the fundamentals ofhaving and running and managing
(07:43):
a league of women voters.
And so the league is focused onregistering and educating
voters on the process, theelectoral process, and making
sure that people understandtheir civic, civic rights and
responsibilities, and fightingfor our voting rights on all
levels, in state legislatures aswell as at the US Capitol.
(08:07):
So that's the league of womenvoters.
It's it's 103 years old, 103year old organization where
black women were not originallywelcomed into the organization.
I was actually the firstAfrican, african American woman
elected to president for thestate of.
(08:29):
Georgia, sadly in 2017.
But I kept getting nominated tofrom 2017.
I kept getting nominated 2018to serve on the national board
and I thought, oh my gosh, no, Idon't want that.
(08:51):
But something shifted.
You know, god always has totell me.
I get asked to do something andI'm like, oh, no, I'm good in
the background.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
God, yes, other plans , I learn.
I have learned now he has otherplans.
Yeah, sometimes it is great tobe in the background, but he's
given me a voice to speak andI've told him I will.
When he says speak, I willspeak.
When he says go, I will go.
So I have to get my composureand tell myself you can do it,
(09:27):
even if I don't think I could doit, and jump out and do it.
So that's.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
that's really incredible, because I was
thinking about, like, the impactthat you're making.
So there's a couple of thingshere.
First off, the leadershipskills, because a lot of times
people use the term leader andthey use it as a job type of my
key.
I say this over and over againit's a skill, it's not a title,
okay, but the the fact is thatthere are certain qualities and
(09:58):
and skills that you have and youknow from transitioning from
what you were doing before intowhat you're doing now and I love
how you're rolling off like theLeague of Women Voters, like
this is this is a huge deal.
Y'all, this is a huge deal.
So I want to talk about whatare some of the, what are some
of the, the things that, or thelessons learned as you kind of
(10:20):
had to shift into into thisparticular role for maybe what
you were doing before and justthinking about.
I'm thinking about all thewomen who are too scared to make
a decision or too scared to dosomething new, or they don't
think they have the, you knowthe, the right leadership skills
.
Wait, I have to drop this inthe chat here.
Thank you for right there.
(10:41):
I am the Oprah I'm so proud forRayDecTV.
Hello y'all, but what is that?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
what does?
Speaker 1 (10:47):
that look like for you.
You know the fact that you hadto transition and that you know
the level of skills andconfidence you know for you to
be able to do the position thatyou're in right now National,
national right.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
That you, thank you.
That is an excellent questionand that has been a journey, and
that's something else I'll tellyou about later that I'm
working on.
You're gonna think I don'tsleep, but I actually love sleep
.
So, I did it, but I do, but Ihave had to.
So.
(11:23):
When I was a little girl, mymom and dad bought me a t-shirt
red and the letters were sparkly.
Letters that said anything aboy can do, a girl can do better
.
Now I'm not comparing genders,but that just kind of set the
(11:44):
foundation for just me havingconfidence to do whatever I
wanted to do and to not feellimited as a girl.
Right, I'm 51.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I'm 51 years old so you know I used to play baseball
.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I was only.
I was one of only two girls onthe baseball team and I played
softball, play fastball.
So I quickly learned you knowhow to be tough physically, but
you also have to be toughmentally.
And I just kept as I wastelling you off camera before we
started kept getting pushedinto.
(12:30):
I would want to be back here,just fine, just happy, making
things happen, running things inin the background, and kept
getting pushed to the forefrontto speak, to lead, to organize,
to manage.
And I said why?
God?
Why you know we do win, god, wewin.
(12:53):
Why I want, I'm happy back here, we need people back here,
that's happy back here.
But, um, you said that's, that'snot, that's not what I put in
you.
So I set out to balance, be, Ireally wanted to focus on being
in balance.
Be, okay, be happy with beingin the background when that is
(13:15):
the appropriate thing, that Ineed to be, the lane that I need
to be in, but being happy andconfident.
And you know, go, go, go when Ineed to, when I need to be up
front.
So now I've learned to run toget the invitation or nomination
(13:36):
or whatever it may be.
Um, take a moment and breathe,think on it.
I'll get back to you.
I'll let you know if it doesn'timmediately ring in my spirit
like you did.
Yeah, your invitationimmediately rang it.
Just, oh my gosh, theconnection was amazing with with
you, but, um, um, so I just runit through the tester.
(14:02):
Is this something you want meto do, lord?
If so, I'm ready, let's do it.
Um, I have.
I used to sing in the choir andthen I became a.
I love music so much I became aum in in my church choir a
conductor right, a leader rightyes.
(14:23):
I'm like director and I don't.
I did play the flute from theseventh grade.
My dad bought me a flute and soI did have a fundamental love
of and understanding of musicand notes and you know,
(14:44):
composition of music.
But I was not trained to be adirector, a musical director, um
.
But I felt the calling and Ifollowed it and I encouraged
somebody who was actuallymusically trained to not be
afraid to stand, to step up whenthat, when needed, when that
(15:08):
opportunity presented itself.
So I've just learned theselessons and just being pushed in
the spotlight along the way.
I love that I think that's thechurch at home in my civic life
yeah, a professional lifeeverywhere.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I love that.
I think that's one of thethings that I think, one that
when we first connected thatthere's, there's just some folks
that just have I don't know, Iguess it's we have a natural.
I don't like to use the wordcharm, because it's not charm,
we just have, we're justconfident.
But it takes, it takes a whilefor you to To you know, to get
(15:47):
to that point.
You know you had to learn somelessons along the way, and so
I'm always curious when I talkto women who are very success.
You're very successful in whatyou do and you're also very
successful in who you aremeaning.
You own it, you know, you'renot afraid and even though you
know again, opportunities mightshow up where you have to Move
(16:10):
forward because that's where youbelong, that's what you're
supposed to do.
You're not running away fromthose challenges.
And what?
What kind of advice would yougive to women?
Because now I want to talk alittle bit about what you're
doing now and some of the otherthings you're doing, because
this is one that was I tellpeople all the time.
You know, this is where you gotto be careful.
(16:30):
There are some folks who arejust Blessed to be able to spin
multiple plates very well, andthere's some people who are
blessed to spin one plate verywell.
We are multi plate spinners,okay.
So for those of y'all who aresingle plate spinners, just just
listen to what we're sharing.
We're not encouraging, don't?
Don't be like us, okay, don'tdo what we're doing, but just be
(16:53):
encouraged.
For those of you guys who arespinning multiple plates, this
leaning a little bit closer, sotalk a little bit about you know
what else you're working on.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Excellent and and that was a great analogy to see
the place, and in multipleplaces.
But One, one thing I, one thingI will say is Be very clear.
Get very clear if you're not,on who you are, what you know,
(17:26):
what you like, um, and what yourboundaries are in life in
general.
Yes, we need that answer, but,uh, once you are, leave room
Still for growth, foradvancement, um, for change.
(17:47):
We just love change, don't we?
Oh yeah, change yourperspective.
Perspective is everything, um,just be open to opportunities.
Uh, god may have for you.
Sometimes we're so closed off.
I only do this, um, and that'sall, and I don't, you know, and,
(18:08):
and you can really miss someawesome opportunities in life,
um, being closed off.
So don't be afraid to leap,take that leap.
Every morning I almost everymorning, I listen to
motivational videos on youtubeTo get me going set my intention
for the day, you know, keep myspirit up and I'm thinking about
(18:33):
what I want to accomplish forthe day, for the week, for the
month, for the year.
I set my goals.
I revisit my goals.
I don't have a set time torevisit my goals, but I do
revisit my goals because I wantto see where I'm at.
I want to recalculate if I'mnot advancing as quickly as I
like, but I do have some goalsthat have spanned that I thought
(18:56):
I would accomplish in that year.
That have spanned across two,three, four years.
Like I just accomplished amajor goal that I have carried
on my goal sheet since 2019.
So that's four years.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
Oh, I need to know what it is.
I need to know.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
I have been carrying Lose 50 pounds since 2019.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
And I weight myself this morning.
I am down 47 pounds.
Shelley, what 47 pounds.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
That is huge, but congratulations.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Oh my gosh, that's awesome.
Thank you, that is so awesome.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
So you know.
So go for it.
I want to make sure I answeredyour question.
I know you asked me what wouldI tell a woman who is that
multiple plate?
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Yeah, whatever you would Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Thank you, but also you asked me about what I'm
doing now.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Okay, then I told you I would share with you later.
I'm working on a book, reallyWorking on a book, okay, and I
am pursuing.
I'm pursuing a certification incoaching because I have learned
(20:33):
so much and, like I said, Ialways want to be in the
background doing stuff and Ialways get pushed to the
foreground.
So I have been.
I have had the privilege ofexperiencing so many things
across so many different,different genres Non-profit, you
know, professionalentrepreneurial started my own
(20:55):
business because in myprofessional life I worked on a
small business developmentprogram.
I had to help facilitate, justfacilitate.
I didn't have to teach theclasses, just facilitate the
classes.
But, of course, in the processof doing that, I learned about,
you know, getting incorporated,whether it's, you know, it's
(21:18):
better to get the LLC, dependingon what your business is and
how to do business with agovernment entity contract
management, marketing, writingyour business plan, all of that.
And so I wanted to, I wanted toshare that.
I wanted to share that.
So I started my littleconsulting business and I
quickly learned that I am notthe serialpreneur, I am not the
(21:43):
entrepreneur, I, I love Iactually love the 95.
I'm good with the nine to five.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
And you got to know that.
That's why I said be clear,yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Be clear about what you like and what you don't like
, and but you got to take, yougot to take chances to really
know that too.
Yeah, so I'm proud of myself in2013.
I started business managementconcepts because I wanted to
share that and I actually helped.
I helped a lady establish hernonprofit.
I helped a lady take herbusiness.
(22:17):
She she had a dance dance likeZumba.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Fiscal expression through dance moves, physical,
Okay.
And her?
I sat down with her.
We mapped out her goals for herbusiness.
She wanted to acquire a gym, afacility.
She wanted to get certified asa nutritionist.
So we mapped out a whole planfor her.
And do you know, God bringsthings full circle.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Oh yeah, there's a lot of veterans on this call
right now in this chat, so Ijust want to make sure she gets
her flowers there too, y'allOkay, she's a veteran, so shout
out to the veterans in the chatand the one on this call.
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Awesome Air Force.
Air Force is the best you know.
I just got picked up with theAir Force all day long, but
anyways, I actually got to seeher dream, that dream, that
roadmap we created, come tofruition.
I rode past I live off of thestreet, on the same street as
(23:26):
the facility that she purchased.
Or that she started leasing forthe business.
Yes, yes, so, but I don't havethe, I don't.
I like to have my nine to fiveand I like to do, I like to
share my gift.
You know, in my side hustle,I'll say it like that I love
(23:49):
that.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
So that's another.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
That's another thing right.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, and now you're growing that out.
So again, you know, for thoseof you all who are watching,
we're talking about leadershipskills.
Wait, so there's, there's,there's a mix of the services.
So now you're all going to havea fight, I think that would get
us started, buddy.
We already claim Air Forcebecause you know, for an Air
Force family as well.
(24:13):
So sorry y'all, it is what itis, but we talk about, like you
know, being able to.
You know, I think it's reallyjust understanding your purpose.
You know what you're great atbuilding your confidence and
then trying to figure out.
You know.
Then, how do I, how does mygift show up?
(24:33):
Here we go, marines here we go.
Marines, right, so you know howyou, how you show up with your
gift.
So how does that, how does thatplay out for you?
Because, again, a lot of times,people see folks like you who
are very successful, right, andthey see the tail end of the
story, but they don't understandthe journey that it took to get
(24:55):
here.
It's not.
It's not this, it is not thatsimple, but what kind of advice
or counsel would you give forfolks who are just on that
journey?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
That is such a great question, shelley.
So as I grew and learned right,I said, ok, I got, I have.
I have certain gifts, I havepassions, but what's my purpose?
So very spiritual Anything.
You hear me say I'm going tothe Lord with it.
(25:28):
Oh yeah, I almost see anythingin my life, I'm going to the
Lord.
So what did you create me for?
I spent some time.
What did you create me for,lord?
And I want to.
I said I want to be very clear.
I want to be very clear and Iwant to operate in that.
I understand I can have a nineto five, I can share my gifts,
(25:54):
but am I operating in my purpose?
I got, I got all kinds ofpassions I ride a motorcycle, I
like to crochet Okay, I have allkinds of passions, but but what
did you create me for?
And I feel that God created meto encourage and educate people.
So this venture, my newestventure under construction, is
(26:21):
kind of the culmination in thecoming together of all of that I
I launched.
So I've been perfecting myprofessional skills, right
Business, and I set a goal 20 to20 years ago.
I said, okay, I'm working belowwhere I should be.
(26:42):
I want to be, I want to advancein the corporate ladder and I
and I want my six figure salary.
And I spent six months justgrinding, grinding, grinding,
looking, looking, looking forthat opportunity.
That is how I left the airportbefore I left the airport.
(27:03):
That is how I left the airportbefore through with another
company.
I got an and I prayed forcertain things and those things
manifested.
That opportunity came, yep, butit wasn't the six figure salary
(27:24):
, but I prayed it will be afortune, a fortune 500 company,
and that I would get anopportunity from a fortune 500
company.
It would be a hybrid jobposition because I was tired of
driving all over Atlanta and allof that.
All of that and it was anawesome project and it ended
(27:46):
earlier than it was supposed toand I was unemployed, shelley,
for seven months.
Wow, awful, but it was great.
Actually, it was a blessing.
It was a blessing because thatis how I was able to lose focus
in and lose that weight and restand heal.
(28:08):
I had a problem with my knee.
It was, it was a blessing.
It was a blessing.
It was hard financially, but itwas a blessing.
But guess what?
My new job.
My boss loves me, I love myboss, my background is
appreciated and it's a sixfigure job.
Speaker 1 (28:30):
Oh my God, that is awesome, that is awesome.
Speaker 2 (28:34):
I got a couple of bumps and bruises.
But yeah, god is, he is sofaithful, he is so faithful.
But all of this, I want toshare all of this with people
who need encouragement, peoplewho need direction, people who
are looking for you know thenext thing, or how to hone in on
the purpose, or how to take theskills that they do have and
(28:58):
put them to use.
Or maybe you want to start abusiness and you don't know
where to start.
I want to share that, so that'swhat I'm looking at doing now.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
So when can folks get access to you through your
business?
When are we, when are welooking?
When are we having the party?
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Okay.
So see, now you're going to putme on your timeline.
I actually feel January in myspirit.
Okay, so I need to, I need toget busy mapping out my own road
map.
I have just been working on thebook I did, I put that time off
(29:44):
, I had, I put it to good use.
I even grew a garden, shelleyoh, my God, I'm talking about
tomatoes, cucumbers, corn,watermelon I'm serious corn on
the cob.
I had two corn stalks.
So, anyways, I tell you you,you have power beyond what you
(30:11):
think, you can push, beyond whatyou think you can do.
You can learn.
Don't let anybody put you in abox.
You can do whatever it is youwant to do.
Study what it is that you wantto do.
Always be working on improvingyourself.
(30:33):
Read I love to read.
I have an audibles accountbecause the commute in Atlanta
is real, the commute, thecommuting.
So I've tried to make good useof my time, whatever I am doing.
Yes, sir, I try to make thebest use of my time and whatever
I'm doing.
So I listen to self-help book,self-help help books, health
(31:00):
based books.
I'm listening to a book nowcalled the Body Keeps the Score.
That I learned from a book clubthat I'm in talking about the
actual what manifests in yourbody after trauma, because we
all experience trauma at onepoint or another, some more
(31:20):
severe than others, and it isamazing what happens in your
body after trauma and during andafter long after trauma.
So I've learned you need toheal, you need to heal and that
takes time, it takes effort, itmay take professional help and
(31:42):
that is okay.
Exactly exactly After I lost mymom and I felt so much better,
so much better.
So it's okay to fail, it isokay to lose.
You gotta win some.
You gotta lose some, it's okay,it is okay.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Oh my God, I love this so much, tracy, I'm
actually so when's the bookcoming?
Now, again, I'm all in thebusiness.
We need the book, we need thebusiness and we need you to come
back when you have both thebook and the business, because I
think this is gonna help a lotof people.
There's so many people who arein this boat where they're just
(32:29):
trying to figure out what's next, or what's my purpose, or what
should I do, or just looking forjust encouragement right Cause
we're all on a different path isjust one of me and one of you
and we're taking.
So anything that we can do toencourage people to, it's okay
to fail, all of those thingsthat you covered, I think would
(32:51):
be so helpful for folks to getthat.
So we're down to the wire andbefore you go, I definitely
wanna call out Sergeant MarioBeale.
Sergeant.
Major because he's a hugesupporter of me.
He's also in our Paradec family, but he's a huge supporter of
you, tracy, and I just wannamake sure we're giving him his
(33:13):
flowers too.
So thank you, sergeant Major,for supporting Tracy here
tonight, and obviously everybodyon Paradec.
Thank you, sergeant Major,thank you Dump and Ground and
everybody on all the channels.
Y'all don't forget to like thevideo or love it on your way out
.
Please don't make me beg.
Please do it, but what do youwant?
(33:33):
My last question would be whatdo you wanna be remembered for?
Speaker 2 (33:41):
That's to see that, listening to videos, listening
to motivational speeches andreading the books, I remember
one thing that resonated, a lotresonated with me.
But one thing that resonatedwith me was something that Les
Brown said, and I don't know ifhe got it from someone else, but
yeah.
(34:05):
He said you don't wanna get tothe end of your life and let all
your wonderful gifts that Godhas blessed you with die with
you.
What is it that is in you thatyou are supposed to be sharing
with others, that you're notsharing for whatever reason?
(34:26):
Don't let that happen.
He said it would be a shame ifyou let that happen.
So that is something thatpushes me to make sure that I
give all that I have to give allthat.
(34:47):
I've learned all already.
We had the prayers about thepurpose, right.
Why did you create me?
What did you create me to do?
And I do I made so.
One of the other, one of thevideos I listened to, said
what's your personal missionstatement?
(35:08):
What is your personal missionstatement?
So mine is to be the woman ofGod that he designed me to be.
That is, to fulfill my purpose,right, that he gave me, that he
created me for.
And so if I feel, if I believethat my purpose is to encourage
(35:30):
and educate others, then how amI doing that?
So I'm a project manager andasset manager professionally
Great, great, and I can do it.
I can do some of that on thejob.
I'm a national leader for theLeague of Women Voters of the
United States.
So I do that, you know, in somecapacity here and there
(35:53):
actually train new leaders inthe organization and seasoned
leaders as well.
So that's great, but is thatenough?
Is that all that he has for me?
So that's that's.
That's where.
That's kind of what's stewingfor me now and I would I thank
(36:14):
you for this opportunity,shelley, and I thank you for the
invitation to come back after Ilaunched the book and the
business.
Oh, and I'm sorry I forgot aboutmy venture with my husband.
Yes, my husband, yeah, myhusband started a locked type
(36:36):
professional, locked typeprofessions.
So security business, fullservice security Keshia.
He is the certified weaponsinstructor.
He comes from 19 years of lawenforcement and he's also
certified in executiveprotection and security services
(36:56):
, as well as security trainingand private investigation.
And, of course, I'm thebusiness mind, so I'm CEO, he's
the COO.
We actually got a contract totrain 30, now this was this was
several years ago 30 policesecurity I believe there was
(37:24):
some fire and some military menfrom Afghanistan.
Wow, they trained them onsecurity and different,
different things they trainedthem on here in the United
States.
So it was a huge contract andit was a lot of.
It was a lot of work but a lotof fun, very rewarding.
(37:45):
They were so humble and sograteful to come here and get
this, get that training Wow.
So yeah, a lot of.
I know I've been all over theplace and I've traveled the
world in the military station inEngland, hawaii and Virginia
(38:06):
and I did intelligence.
So a lot of experiences and I'mjust gonna share that she's
like I've been everywhere done,everything, everywhere done
everything just about.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
I love that so much, but I'm so grateful, like I said
, to just to have you come onand share, and I guess I, you
know, I'm sure your, your storyis actually gonna help encourage
you.
Just never know.
I'm always curious about whathappens when we leave, because
most people watch our replays orlisten to our download,
download or something right.
(38:37):
But I'm always keenly awarethat there is a life that's been
touched when my guests come onand share their stories, because
that's just how God works,that's just the way it is.
So, so, for whoever it isthat's catching the replay
whether you're watching thevideo or you, you're listening,
so you're on the Amazon streets,audible streets or wherever,
(38:59):
wherever you get your podcast, Ihope this really reaches you
and blesses you.
We're gonna hang out in theback room for a little bit while
we tell these folks good nightand thank you so much for doing
this.
I was like I can't wait for herto get here.
Now.
I'm like, oh, I can't wait forher to come back.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Thank you, shelley.
Thank you, I hang out in theback room.
Speaker 1 (39:21):
Good night everybody.
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