Written by: Dr. Lisa T. Lewis, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The 2022 National Women's History theme is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope," recognizing the many ways women of all cultures have provided healing and hope. The United Nations estimates more than 100 million single mothers globally (UN Women, 2020). These women personify providing healing and hope to their families and all as industry leaders. This article is a celebration to them and an encouragement to continue to lead the way for generations to come.
For fear of burying the lead, sweatless success doesn't mean you don't won't have to work hard, just not harder. You know the cliché, 'work smart, not hard? How about revising the narrative and saying, 'let's work hard at being smarter?'
Success is smarter, easier and faster with a mentor.
Maybe you want the satisfaction of pursuing your dream alone. Or perhaps you're embarrassed to reach out to a potential mentor or don't even know where to begin looking.
Whether you want to master the piano, create a popular blog, build a billion-dollar business, or ask for a promotion, a mentor can smooth and expedite the process.
Consider these reasons why a mentor could be critical to your success:
Mentors know people that matter. Mentors know people that can be helpful on your journey.
Mentors know what matters. A mentor has done what you want to do or is at least an expert on what it takes to be successful. Consider that many of the world's greatest coaches weren't necessarily successful themselves as players. However, they know how to make others successful.
Mentors help you to avoid mistakes. Mistakes slow down progress.
A mentor is an ally. A mentor is always on your side. If you need a cheerleader, your mentor is there for you. A shoulder on which to cry? Your mentor is available. Even your friends and family can come to resent your success, but your mentor is always happy when you're successful.
A mentor will push you. We often fail to push ourselves when we manage ourselves. A mentor will empower you to develop at a faster rate than you're likely to do yourself.
A mentor saves time. All of these advantages serve to save time. A mentor will help you to develop fully in less time. A mentor can shave years off the time it takes to be successful.
Finding the right mentor for you is critical to your success, and I've done some of the work for you! Let me introduce you to ten amazingly successful single moms that are not only industry leaders but also mentors:
Michelle Person: An educator who believes in the transformative power of education and representation. She decided to create empowering, diverse, and inclusive educational resources for parents and educators to help guide children on their learning journeys. Her work takes her into dozens of schools meeting and coaching hundreds of teachers and parents. Her mentorship moment, "Every journey begins with a single step. Set your goal, and start taking deliberate baby steps to get there. It will happen. You can do it!" www.justlikemebooks.com
Lori Perkins: Started her own publishing company and daily online romance magazine as a single mother. While running a successful publishing house, she raised a successful son, a journalist, and a hotel and restaurant reviewer. Lori is a member of the Association of American Publishers (AAP). She is the Me Too anthology publisher, Amazon number 1 Feminist Theory title. lori@riverdaleavebooks.com
Staci Wells: Online boutique owner and bartender at one of the trendiest restaurants in New York City. She divorced a narcissistic when her son was five. On the brink of financial ruin, she started bartending and took every opportunity to learn about the wine, beer, and spirits world. Her mentorship moment," Find a mentor. Read and learn something new every day and take care of yourself. Always imagine your best self and set intentions to manifest what you desire." www.zenbootique.com
Shontee Bryant: Is the Assistant Athletic Director, District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA). She re-started her career after her divorce, going from making $80,000 a year to humbly accepting $26,000 a year to gain a fresh start. Now, Shontee oversees sports that allow her to motivate girls, women in sports, and most importantly, her daughter. Her mentorship moment, "Be intentional, be deliberate in using your time with your children, and yourself to be purposeful in quieting the distractions around you. Make the connection with yourself to be calm after the storm you wish to see. IG @theintentionalspacellc E-mail 1Shontee@gmail.com
Mary Sullivan: Co-Founder of Sweet But Fearless, is a career transformation specialist. Pitch Contents: As a single mother all her career, she leveraged her desire not to be a negative statistic to fuel her ambition and success. She entered the financial services career, single, pregnant, and hungry to learn a new industry ( I had studied political science and Spanish) to ensure I could support her son economically. Her mentor moment, "Reach out to your community, let others help you, surround you with support and advice. You do not need to do everything by yourself." www.sweetbutfearless.com or Email at sweetbutfearless@gmail.com
meta: Owner of WellSpring of Life International to make a more significant impact in the lives of those looking to rise from adversity and bring change to themselves and their communities. She knows the pain and difficulties of fighting for your worth. She's spent more than two decades fighting her own battle while coming alongside others in their struggles - in the United States and around the world. Here mentor moment, "We don't hurt alone, we shouldn't heal alone." www.wellspringoflifeintl.com
Charlyn Asher: President and CEO of Colt Paper and Antoine Fulfillment in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is the only black female CEO in the corrugated industry in North America. . As a single mother, Charyln moved to Canada with no money and only a high school education. Through hard work, determination, and a hunger to create a better life for herself and her daughter. Her mentor moment, "Being a single mother might come with certain limitations, remember the human mind is limitless. Let the desire to provide for your child(ren) be your motivation to achieve your goals and keep dreaming." http://www.charlynasher.com/
Jennifer Pillari: President CEO of Oriental Herb Company, a highly successful 27-year-old company that makes herbal supplements with national placement in the online and brick & mortar retail market and worldwide distribution. My best advice is to build a community of friends and family that you can rely. Also, commit to doing something for yourself that benefits you as regularly as possible- whether it's working out or some health practice or even just going to get your eyebrows waxed. I call it my "time out." www.ocho.com or Email Jennifer@ocho.com
Mary Vamvoukakis: When I started my single-mother journey, I was a sales assistant living in a studio apartment in Harlem, NY. Eleven years later, I've purchased a three-family home, opened my own business, and created a life for my daughter completely different from how I grew up in a "traditional" family environment. My words of encouragement to single moms are, 'where you are now doesn't dictate your future. It's still possible to have the relationship, the career, and the family life you've always imagined. Email mary@lapitturastudio.com
Monica Davis: Founder and Editor-In-Chief, MyStraightner.com. A professional men's and women's hairstylist and a success coach. Her MyStraightener blog, where she shares everything she knows about hair, has been featured in NBC News, Healthline, Huffpost, and other authoritative nationwide websites. The blog generates $2,000 to $3,000 a month. Being a woman in business is tough, but it's been like that for thousands of years, and now we're powerful. Accept your strength and tell yourself that you can achieve anything you want every day until you believe. www.mystraightner.com
Marie Michelle: Founder BEactive. As a recently-divorced, 20-something with two young kids, I thought I had it all - marriage, house, cars, kids, etc. But my relationship was toxic (on both sides), and we weren't happy. I finally leaped and went out on my own, both in business and in life. I hit the ground running on finding new clients - coaching, marketing consulting, speaking, new business ventures, whatever I could get my hands on. Every day I remind myself and other single mothers to keep pushing forward. www.businessbeactive.com and Email marie@businessbeactive.com IG @marierachelle_
These strategies can help you find a mentor that's right for you:
1. Be clear on what you want and what you're looking for. What is your goal? Is it to be a pianist? What type of pianist? Do you want to teach, record, tour the world? What are you trying to accomplish?
What do you want your mentor to do for you? What type of personality do you mesh with well? Whom do you respect in that field?
2. Ask around. Finally, you can make productive use of social media. You'd be surprised who your social circle knows. You never know whose cousin's wife's brother is a neurosurgeon or runs a zoo. You have potential access to far more people than you realize.
3. Do research. Set a goal to find the ideal mentor and start looking for them. They are out there somewhere.
4. Make contact. Many people would love to have someone to mentor, but it has to be the right person. Contact potential mentors and show them that you're worth their time and effort.
What would having a mentor do for you in your quest to advance your skills and life? Imagine having an expert to guide, teach, and provide constructive criticism. A mentor can save years of wasted time and effort. All you have to do is define your objectives and begin searching for a mentor that can help you meet those objectives.
Dr. Lisa T. Lewis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Lisa T. Lewis, The Belief System (B.S.) Boss®, through her Belief System training, teaches career-oriented single mothers how to provide abundantly and effortlessly for their families so that they can achieve their personal and professional goals without stress or guilt. A certified John Maxwell Team Coach, Teacher, Speaker, and Trainer, Dr. Lisa is also the best-selling author of Making B.S. Boss Moves: The Four R’s to Achieve Success, and The B.S. Boss Blueprint: A Guide to Perpetually Succeed. She also hosts, The Blueprint, a streaming TV program that helps you design your life’s vision and goals one episode at a time! She incorporates her 30+ Years of Leadership & Management in the Public Sector (Budget and Finance), Certificate in Public Leadership (The Brookings Institute), Certificate in Personal Development & Executive Coaching (The Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute), and Ordained Elder/Clergy (Greater Saint John Cathedral) experience to the table in service to clients.
