Elisia Magazine Issue Seven // June 2015

Page 1

WORKING MY WAY: Cheryl shares the virtues of a lifetime in the workforce

June 2015

about that

#HUSTLELIFE If what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, our ladies must be in #BeastMode

Entreprenuer Schmontreprenuer Arian has some surprising reflections on the life and times of being self-employed

Burn Baby, Burn

Shining your light is never easy. Ivy tells us the reason why she does it anyway

fuel&fire

Think you know how energy works? Jacki Pick gives us the 411 in an Elisia Magazine exclusive


¥X) {:

Produced by: The Zoe Communications Agency ZoeSaysHello.com Editor-In-Chief Feleceia B. Benton Senior Editor Arian Augustus Graphic Designer Feleceia Benton ElisiaMagazine.com

f


FROM THE EDITOR

e%)× åüŅųå ƼŅƚ čŅ ŸƋåŞŞĜĹč ŅƚƋ üŅų ŸŞųĜĹčØ ÏĬå±Ĺ ƼŅƚų ÏĬŅŸåƋ Ņü ƋĘåŸå ü±ŸĘĜŅĹ ü±ƚƻ ޱŸţ

ARIAN AUGUSTUS | SENIOR EDITOR

Entreprenuer Schmontreprenuer

#MakeItWork

All of When I think about hustling, Have you ever feltI think predestined forthat said, this issue is dedicated to about the women of Elisia Magasomething great but didn’t knowthe moments of your journey that you walk alone. It’s about those zine. They areexactly mothers. Business what that greatness was? core, gut moments when you have owners. Go-getters. Speakers. to decide between who you love Mentors. Advocates. Truth seekers. and what you love. It’s about the Dreamers. Real women. Always days when you’re running on fumes working toward their goals. Always and for it feels like everything you try improving. Have you ever felt predestined It’s about the will to keep something great but didn’tfails. know going. As we mentioned in our last issue, exactly what that greatness was? If you’re at a plateau in your when you’re working toward a goal, career or your personal life, push through. We’re here for you, and we you have to surround yourself with people that are either headed in the hope that the words on these pages same direction with you or that love will help you get (back) to greatness. you so much that all they want is to see you succeed. That’s what the Elisia Team is all about. A community of hard workers and incredibly supportive cheerleaders.

Burn Baby, Burn

fuel&Āųå

a conversation with Jacki Pick 5 Fashion Things On the Go

elisiamagazine.com

3


ELISIAMAGAZINE.COM

June 2015

6 // Shante McCoy

WHEN THE TEACHER BECOMES THE STUDENT

8 // Kelly Cousins

THE REASON I PUSH THROUGH

10 // Ivy McQuain BURN BABY, BURN

11 // Feleceia Benton

#ZOESPEAKS: DILIGENT, PERSISTENT CONSISTENCY

14 // Arian Augustus

FUEL AND FIRE: A CONVERSATION WITH JACKI PICK

18 // Mandy Rausch

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER

22 // Arian Augustus

ENTREPRENEUR SCHMONTREPRENEUR

24 // Yolonda Tuck

THE TASTE AT HOME: NAAN PIZZA

26 // Cheryl Rischer

THE GIFT OF BEING A WORKING TEEN

28 // Dr. Krsiten Guillory

14

ямБercely intelligent, powerhouse woman -meet Jacki Pick

16 // Nikki Hurd

5 MUST-HAVES TO SPRUCE UP YOUR ON-THE-GO WARDROBE 3 elisiamagazine.com

MY BIGGEST PRODUCTIVITY MISTAKES

FEATURES

#BRAGBARS -- MEET DAPHNE ASKEW | PG. 30 ELISIA HONOROS -- BARBARA CALLOWAY | PG 32


CONTRIBUTORS

arian augustus

nikki hurd

jamie snow

rachel proctor

cheryl skinner rischer

kristen guillory

mekeisha steele

mari sanchez maldonado

mandy rausch

tracy williams

cherish robinson

ivy mcquain

jessica vaughn

feleceia benton

shante mccoy

yolonda tuck

elisiamagazine.com

4


EDUCATION WHEN THE

Teacher BECOMES THE

STUDENT Shante McCoy

I STILL REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A NEW TEACHER... I walked in my classroom and envisioned how it would be decorated, how my students would act, how I would look standing at the board. I was so excited. Everything had to be perfect, and I was willing to do any and everything to be a success.

I’m an Aries and we tend to be overzealous perfectionists who jump into new situations with both feet. Well,

5 elisiamagazine.com

that’s exactly what I did in my first year of teaching. I worked 60 -75 hours a week. I cleaned. I copied. I graded. I set up, hung up, took down and usually ended my day with a police escort around 11 pm (because the building closed at 10 pm). My poor child spent more time sleeping on his little cot in the corner of my classroom than his own bed at home. I justified all the craziness by telling myself that I was single, my kid was with me, and I was staying on top of my game. But after two years, working myself 70 hours a week really took its toll.


Even though I was a rising star on my campus, my students were excelling and my parents loved me, I was burnt out! All my relationships – with my family, my friends, even with myself – were starting to suffer. I had just as many books and papers on my bed I had on my desk at school. My son got tired of being my teacher’s assistant and began to grow up and take on extra-curricular activities just so he could be free at last. I knew there had to be a change as I prepared to enter year three. One summer morning during my devotion I heard a voice say, “You were hired to teach.” I was kind of baffled because I already knew that. Why was the Lord telling me something I already knew? Still, those five words changed my teaching life. I was hired to TEACH. I decided that from that point on I was going to do exactly that. I accepted the fact that I did not have to be in charge of EVERYTHING. I could delegate duties to my team members, to other teachers and even to those little humans I was responsible for for nine months. What a revelation. The next year was definitely my best year ever. I was only on one committee, I allowed my teammates to help with lesson planning, classroom activities and field trips. I had one day a week that I stayed late to grade papers and work on lesson plans. With each new six week session, I planned and scheduled classwork, homework and assessments grades. I used hands-on activities, construction paper and manipulatives 80% of the time so I wouldn’t have to make copies. But, the biggest change happened in my classroom. I created a system in which my students did everything but grade and teach. My average class size was 22 students, so I made a chart with 22 classroom tasks that included things like personal assistant, office runner, trash monitor, pencil clerk, team leader and anything else I could think of to get each student involved. I even changed how I implemented my classroom schedule so that once a week students were given an opportunity to teach as a way to review material. That year I stopped needing a police escort when I left the building at the end of the day.

they were a part of their educational process. I continued this process into my 4th year and the “higher ups” began to take notice. I continually had visitors observing my classroom structure, and I was even voted Teacher of the Year. It was awesome to be recognized for my hard work. Since then I’ve had numerous conversations with teachers who were overwhelmed, burnt out and ready to quit the profession about what they could do to work smarter not harder. I believe that what I shared with them will be helpful for teachers and non-teachers for like. Spend the first few minutes of the day with yourself by reading, meditating, praying or doing whatever you need to do to center yourself. Claim the type of day you are going to have. You can have a good day or bad day. IT’S YOUR CHOICE! Relinquish your power. You do not have to do everything. Seek help. Delegate. It does not have to been done “your way” as long as it gets done. (This was the hardest one for me.) Make a daily to do list of small, realistic goals. Work diligently to finish your to do list, but don’t beat yourself up if everything doesn’t get crossed off. It will be there tomorrow. Teachers: Create a 6 week lesson plan and decide upfront what you will grade for class work, homework and assessments. Just put checks on the rest of the assignments. Non-teachers: Look over your calendar and decide when you will do which activities. Go ahead and schedule them at the beginning of the month. Hearing “You were hired to teach” truly changed my perspective on how I handled my classroom. Sometimes when you feel like you are sinking you have to stop, get quiet and listen for direction. And remember the 3 C’s of life: Choices, Chances, Changes. You must make a choice to take a chance if your life will ever change. em

I was enjoying teaching again and my kids loved that

End Procrastination FOREVER! Here are some anti-procrastination strategies: Recognize you are a procrastinator.

Get organized (Just take a day out, ask for help if needed, and get ‘er done)

Let go of perfection. Surprisingly, perfectionists are often procrastinators.

Get an accountability buddy to help stay the course.

Give yourself little reward for finishing projects.

elisiamagazine.com

6


COMMUNITY

the Reason

I PUSH Through

K E L LY 8 elisiamagazine.com

C O U S I N S


Since I received my Master’s degree, I have made and sold jewelry, cleaned houses, worked multiple jobs for minimum wage, tutored, and babysat all at crazy hours for little money. Basically, I haven’t used any of my degrees, but I’m still here. I keep on keepin’ on. I’m not going to lie. Some days I get really frustrated and down. I feel like “it’s not fair.” But then I remember two things: First, I’m not the first person to struggle, I won’t be the last and I am certainly not the worst. When I lived in Nairobi, Kenya, I had a lot of friends who lived in small shacks made of sticks, mud and corrugated metal. There was no running water, no locks on the doors, no electricity. Many of them never finished secondary school (high school) because they needed to clean houses or wash cars to make money for their families to be able to eat at least one meal that day.

and trying to get away from this lifestyle, they were hit with the harsh realities of living in a shelter and searching for a minimum wage job with no “real” experience and possibly a record. My grandparents left Europe to escape poverty and World War II only to find themselves working in factories and as nannies for little to no money in North America. My parents were the first in their families to go to college. They worked hard for scholarships and worked multiple jobs, mainly in factories, in order to stay in school in hope for a better future for themselves and for us, their children. And that’s the second thing I remember. There is always HOPE. My friends in Nairobi were empowered by micro-financing from private donors which enabled them to start small businesses making and selling jewelry, raising chicken and selling eggs, and frying fish and

NO MATTER WHERE IT COMES FROM,

HOPE KEEPS US GOING.

When I lived in Guanajuato, Mexico, I would travel to communidades (rural towns) to find families in need of scholarships to pay for uniforms, books and transportation in order for their children to go to school. Many of these children slept on dirt floors with the chicken. If the children did not have money for these school necessities, their parents would often send them by themselves into the city to sell candy in hopes that they would make enough to not only eat that day, but maybe buy a pair of socks for school.

selling it at lunch time in the local market. They went from eating once a day and living in a shack in the slums to eating 3 times a day and living in an apartment.

When I lived in St. Paul, Minnesota here in the U.S., I advocated for youth who had been sexually exploited through prostitution. Some of them had been kidnapped or were being held in a locked room forced to have sex with men for money. However, most of them had found themselves in a situation where in order to have a roof over their heads and/or food in their belly, they had to make money and this was the only available way. Many of them completely disassociated in order to perform their “job duties.” Others found the only way they could deal with their life was through drugs and alcohol. Even after seeking help

In St. Paul, I watched many young ladies go from selling their bodies and having PTSD and depression to going through therapy, getting a legal job, moving to their own apartment and no longer being under the control of their pimp or johns. Life wasn’t perfect, but they began to see a future they had rarely even thought was possible.

In Guanajuato, many of the families eventually received scholarships to purchase the necessary supplies for school. Many parents expressed their gratitude and knew that there was hope for their children to have a better life.

And my grandparents’ and parents’ legacy of hard work has led me to great places in my life and hope for a better tomorrow for me and my growing family. No matter where it comes from, hope keeps us going.

em

elisiamagazine.com

9


COMMUNITY Tears are inevitable when you set out to live your dreams as an entrepreneur or leader. But you are not like everyone else, and, honestly, you never will be.

BURN B A B Y, B U R N Ivy McQuain

Guess what? We’ve all cried enough tears to fill up the Nile River maybe a million times over. Tears are inevitable when you set out to live your dreams as an entrepreneur or leader. You will have those days where giving up is the only and best option because some days you just want to be like everyone else. But you are not like everyone else, and, honestly, you never will be. You see, you were cut from a different cloth. That cloth may be in writing, media, being a mom, designing, selling … it doesn’t matter. That cloth belongs to you and other people like you who work to forge their own paths on this road called entrepreneurship. So, what gets you going when you just want to give up? What makes you say one more day? What makes you realize that you are actually built for the life you live and more? I’d like to think it’s your ambition and an eternal flame that burns inside of you that can never be quenched or put out. At least for me it does. My personal flame has many layers and dimensions. The outer layer of my flame burns for those who watch me secretly and may never tell me, “Good job” or “I admire you.” I have never needed an audience to shine brightly, but I know that I am always being watched, even behind the monitor of social media. So, the desire for the visible part of my flame to leave a positive impression is one of the things that fuels me and keeps the fire going. The middle layer of my flame represents the people closest to me. I may not mention this often publicly, but I am a mother and have been since I was 16 years old. Knowing that my two sons are watching me makes me realize I can’t

10. e l i s i a m a g a z i n e . c o m

stop even if I wanted to. And trust me I have wanted to throw in the towel and say, “To heck with all of this.” But I can’t do it. I can’t give in because then the legacy I would be leaving my sons is that it’s okay to quit and that life is designed to win and not you. I can’t do that. I’ve always been a fighter, and I pride myself on being a calculated and strategic. Very rarely do I enter into a situation without knowing all the ways I can exit (if I need to), and that is what I teach my sons. In the way that I approach my work, I teach them not let life block you into corners, categories or stereotypes that can leave permanent marks on you both personally and professionally. The inner core of my flame is my personal commitment to be better every day of my life. I have signs in my home that remind me to love, to laugh, to forgive, to say no, to be patient, to stop looking for things that distract me from my greatness, and to listen to the things that are around me. I have a wonderful habit of sabotaging my own happiness. I believe most women like myself who are self-starters, leaders and entrepreneurs born with boxing gloves on do, too. We tend to discount the reality of a good moment and feel that, for some reason, we don’t deserve to be as happy as others who work less than us. So, the inner core of my flame reminds me that everything and everyone around me may need me more than I can give, but if I can at least smile, I’ve done alright. That doggone flame reminds me that I was not called to do what I do. I was created for it. It’s in my DNA and even when I want to decode myself I can’t. My ambition, my drive, and the belief that I am who I am will get me out of bed even when I am clinging to the sheets. That’s why I am able to set the world on fire even when I don’t realize it. em


BUSINESS + BRANDING

zoe speaks

branding advice from a 21st century kid with a spare 21st chromosome

This is the dance team from Zoe’s school, Grafted Branches. Zoe thinks she’s a part of Grafted Branches, not because she’s an awesome dancer, but because she goes to every single performance and every single rehearsal. Her ultra supportive mommy has also downloaded all of the songs that the dance team has learned onto her phone so that she can listen to them and practice [in her own special way] so that she can be familiar with all of the tunes. She practices the choreography at home, and, without asking and without instruction, works herself into every single routine, determined to be a part of this dance team. They finally got her a shirt. In her mind, she’s made it. Diligent, persistent consistency — Zoe is the very definition. Now, for the purpose of the next couple of paragraphs, it’s probably important that I give you my own definitions of these words, or you’re gonna think I’m the nutso head who use the same word 3 times. There is purpose in my cray — hold tight:

Being a successful business owner requires more thought-power that most people are willing to invest. I’m not talking about intelligence — I’m talking about a mindset, a willingness to think, be and remain outside of your comfort zone, and to process all of the intricacies that are required for you to experience the kind of success you deeply desire.

Diligent: I will do it, regardless of my feelings or time constraints Persistent: I’m after something and desiring a result Consistency: I’m going to do it at the same time every day, week, month, etc.

If you’re not willing to fight for it and work for it, if you’re not willing to make yourself known, if you’re not willing to give up some things, if you’re not willing to be bold enough to embrace who you are and not care what other people think of you, then YOU DON’T WANT IT.

OK - now to make this relate: Zoe Benton decides to learn the dances, even if she is doing them incorrectly [DILIGENT] because she she wants to be a part of the team [PERSISTENT] and goes to every rehearsal that she’s allowed [CONSISTENCY].

The mindset of desire does’t allow you to ‘give up.’ So, if you want it, let’s put some thought-power behind it. Now.

Zoe’s momma forces herself to write a blog, even when the topic doesn’t come easily [DILIGENT] because she wants people to listen to her and believe her as an expert [PERSISTENT] and does this every 2-weeks [CONSISTENCY].

YOU BETTA ASK YO’SELF

Name 3 things you want to see affected in the next 90 days [goals can range from business to relationships, to finances] Take a cue from Zoe and her momma and put an ACTION plan in place.

What are you going to do, what do you want to see happen This, my friends, is the mindset of desire. When you want and how often are you going to do it? something, I mean REALLY want something, when you are desiring a result, you must put intentional actions into place Stick to it. It’ll take a few months to start feeling the results, to see that result come to pass. but I promise, with some diligent, persistent consistency, it will happen. em

e l i s i a m a g a z i n e . c o m 11


HEALTH + WELLNESS

BUDDY

FITNESS

how one small change in your workout routine can make all of the difference BY JAMIE SNOW

12 elisiamagazine.com


HEALTH + WELLNESS If you already are a gym goer, even if you’re inconsistent, think about the people you see at the gym at the times you are most likely to go. Start by asking one of these people to be your fitness buddy as they likely have a similar schedule to yours. Another thing to consider is working out with someone who is at a similar level of fitness to yours. Working out with someone more advanced than you may be discouraging, and training with someone behind you might hold you back. Make sure you also try to choose a positive person. After all, you are the people you spend time with.

Would you be interested in an exercise method that doubles your chances for fitness success, makes exercise more fun, creates space in your schedule for workouts, and helps you break out of fitness ruts? Say hello to Buddy Fitness... Working out with a friend or loved one doesn’t cost any more money than you are already investing in your health, and it has the added benefit of increasing your emotional well-being. Wayne Andersen, cofounder and medical director of Take Shape for Life, says, “In my 10 years of experience evaluating what creates long-term health and fitness success, the single most important factor is having a support system. The Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University found that couples who worked out separately had a 43% dropout rate over the course of a year. Those who went to the gym together, even if they did separate exercises, had only a 6.3% dropout rate! Anyone who has read my previous articles will remember that my favorite prescription for every woman is heavy weight training and high intensity cardio intervals. But ultimately, the best exercise is one you will stick with and actually enjoy. What exercise do you already like? What exercise are you willing to try? Find a buddy who will do it with you!

If your finances permit it, work out with a personal trainer. The accountability a personal trainer provides yields great results and adds the additional dimension of keeping you safe. You may also consider joining one of the myriad fitness classes that are out there. Rowing, cycling, yoga, barre, boot camps, zumba, hip hop. Find your passion! Group fitness classes have built-in buddies! If you think you are too out of shape for a class and you’re embarrassed to even set foot in a gym or fitness studio, I have a solution for you too. Walk! Walking is a fantastic way to commune with nature, get your vitamin D, and have the opportunity for fellowship with a friend or loved one in a more relaxed manner. For an added challenge, find some stairs to climb during your walk. As your fitness level improves, you can stop and do a few elevated pushups on a park bench, carry hand weights, or and add some squats and lunges in your walk. Solomon wrote over 3000 years ago in Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up.” (ESV) The apostle Paul concurred in Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” We were made for community in every way. So, make community part of your quest for optimum health!

elisiamagazine.com 13


elisia cover story Jacki Pick is a fiercely intelligent, powerhouse of a woman that Elisia Magazine had the pleasure of meeting at a recent conference in the Dallas area. She is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), a 501(c)(3) dedicated to empowering individuals by supplying private sector solutions in energy, healthcare and tax reform policy. Pick also hosts “The Jacki Daily Show,” on Glenn Beck’s TheBlaze Radio Network and on stations across Texas, featuring top leaders and experts in the energy industry. She’s a woman with a vision and a message, and she took time out of her jam packed schedule to give us a crash course on her area of expertise.

fuel&fire a conversation with Jacki Pick ARIAN AUGUSTUS


POLITICS So Jacki, how is energy production helpful to the national economy? Energy is the backbone of any modern economy. It is to our economy what oxygen is to our bodies. The more energy the United State produces, the greater our chances of avoiding war. If we, by contrast, restrict energy production, this doesn’t mean that we will use less energy. Instead, we would just go back to buying more from other countries, creating a transfer of wealth and increasing global tensions. Maintaining our peace, our prosperity and our standard of living, requires maximizing U.S. energy production. I don’t think most people appreciate what energy production adds to every moment of our lives. Almost every product we buy is either manufactured with or comprised of fossil fuels: your favorite mascara, handbag, or high heeled shoes. Our electricity, every means of transportation, pharmaceuticals, delivery of healthcare, agricultural production, and frankly just about anything you can name relies on the use of energy, mostly fossil fuels. Most everything is petroleum derived. It’s ubiquitous. [So], my work is to create the conversation to demonstrate the relevance of energy to our everyday life.

Can you break down the fracking debate for those of us that are less informed? Energy producers in the U.S. have been fracking commercially for decades; Greater than 2.1 million wells have been fracked since [as early as] the 1940s. Hydraulic fracturing has made the U.S. the #1 natural gas producer on earth, and because of fracking we could become the #1 oil producer, too. Fracking and related technological advances have done more to elevate the United States on the world stage than most anything else. Barring some unforeseen tragedy, I believe that when we look back 50 years from now, we will see that it was energy production through fracking and American ingenuity that kept the U.S. a superpower into the 21st century.

And, as far as the claims about earthquakes, water contamination … ?

I want to replace fear with facts. Claims of breast cancer have been debunked over and over again. Even the Obama Administration has said there’s never been proof that fracking contaminates groundwater. These claims have been investigated by state and federal agencies, and [the truth is that] fracking allows us to use less natural gas. [These underground stores] of natural gas take place of coal which greatly reduces carbon emissions. All because of fracking. That’s the story that no one is telling. You’ll hear those facts on my radio show, but you’re not getting that kind of information in other places because it’s not as sexy or fear mongering.

You are a respected leader within an industry that appears to be male dominated. How did you get to that point? I decided that’s what I wanted to do and I showed up. And I think that’s how you have achievement or success in any area. You decide what you’re going to do and you show up. Also, there are more women than you think in the energy industry. Over half of new hires in the white collar sector are women. That’s a very, very recent phenomenon, probably because the production of energy is technical. But it’s progress. Now, at conferences there’s no question. You’re going to see a huge predominance of men. But on my show I try to counter that. Katie Mehnert of Pink Petro is an upcoming guest. I’ve also had on Margaret Graham. She’s a lady wildcatter. [A wildcatter is a person who drills for oil in an area that’s not known to be an oil field. Wildcatting is considered to be a very risky endeavor, one that few women undertake.] I’ve also had Shannon Goessling on the show. Shannon’s a litigator who has taken on the EPA. I may have had a lot of men on the show recently, but I do make it a point to show some girl power. And the older I get the more I enjoy having other ladies on the show! [Laughter] Continued on Page 29

elisiamagazine.com 15


STYLE GUIDE

5must haves I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY WORKING WOMAN, STAY AT HOME MOM, AND ENTREPRENEUR CHICK I KNOW STAYS ON THE GO. WE HAVE TO TAKE TIMMY TO KARATE, CHINA HAS TO GO TO BALLET, BOBBY HAS SOCCER, YOUR HAIR APPOINTMENT IS THE SAME DAY AS THE CHURCH BRUNCH AND THEN THERE’S DAD AND HIS NEEDS ….

15 elisiamagazine.com

TO SPRUCE UP YOUR

ON THE GO

WARDROBE NIKKI HURD


Either way you slice it, a sistah has a lot to do. For the average working lady her appearance is important, but looking like a million bucks on the daily just ain’t happening. Nikki to the rescue! I want to provide you guys some tips and pointers that will help you look fabulous while you’re on the go. And guess what? It literally takes a millisecond to grab one of these items from the closet to spruce up your look. Blinged Out Bracelets A little sparkle can make even the drabbest outfit look divine. Don’t be stingy with the bangles either! Pile them on. Layer them and jingle all the way to drop Lil TooToo off at the daycare! Clutch Listen, when I have my clutch in hand, I feel like a BOSS. Even if I am just running to the local Wal-Mart, the fruit aisle can be my runway. There SHALL BE a PERFORMANCE! Black Heels Whether it’s a wedge, stiletto, pump or sling black, a sexy black pair of shoes can literally change your entire look. And you can wear black heels with everything! Heels alone put a little extra twitch in your get-along. Twist and be great, ya hear? A Great Pair of Jeans The tighter, the better! I favor distressed jeans because with a simple change of top, they can go from football game attire to a date night with the mister. Large Shades Jackie O. ‘Nuff said. Harmless right? And because I love you, I am going to tell you where you can purchase these great items! Now, with everything in fashion, there is a low end and high end, but, I’m going to meet you in the middle. Take these tips and I promise you’ll feel better about your appearance as you take over the world. Hustle Hard and Happy Shopping! em

Shop }

Where to

#style “Hey Nikki, I bought this cool skirt and I haven’t been able to wear it because I can’t find anything to pair it with. What do you suggest?” -- Kiwi from Irving, Texas Hello, Kiwi! What an amazing skirt! While there are several ways to rock this skirt, I’m going to give you my first thought. Try wearing this skirt with a denim top, buttoned all the way up, a cute necklace under the collar, wooden bangles mixed with gold ones, wedges, a cross body bag and a cute little fedora straw hat. Sounds complicated, but it’s a piece of cake. Be great! Do you have the perfect pair of shoes or an amazing skirt but can’t figure out how to rock it? Email me at info@elisiamagazine.com and I’ll show you how to “STYLE THAT.” Smooches.

Blinged Out Bracelets >> Macy’s Clutch >> Steinmart

Black Heels >> Dillard’s Jeans >> H&M Large Shades: Zara elisiamagazine.com 15


MOMMYHOOD Sometimes we work ourselves ragged trying to have it all. But what do we do if we can't?

MY CUP

Over

RUNNETH

MANDY RAUSCH

18 elisiamagazine.com


My plate is almost always full. Let me describe a typical day in my life for you:

I wake up (usually later than I’d like) to the sound of my two-year-old babbling in his crib and say a quick prayer that he stays happy in there long enough for me to take a really quick shower. I get us both out the door with all of our stuff, drop him off at daycare and try to sneak out before he notices I’m leaving and we both end up crying. I finish my makeup at red lights and get to my desk, ready to start the day. But before I can address all of the unread emails, the phone rings. The day has begun and I’ve had just a sip or two of that caffeinated life-blood we call “coffee.” By the time lunch rolls around, I’ve got more unread emails than I began the day with and, in between meetings, I’ve made a to-do list of the important things I need to do before I leave for the day. While I eat lunch, I answer a few personal emails and try to take care of some issues that I need to address before that night’s rehearsal for the show I’m directing or for my next work or freelance deadline. The afternoon flies by too quickly and, before I know it, it’s 5pm and time to go pick up my son, fix and eat dinner, then do a quick rock-paper-scissors with my husband over who bathes the kid and who cleans up the kitchen (assuming our schedules have aligned so that we’re both home at the same time). Then suddenly it’s bedtime, and I savor every inhale and exhale of the sweet little boy cuddled against me as I rock him and sing to him. Sometimes though, work issues and rehearsal plans inevitably run through my mind, discordant with the soothing rhythms of the lullabies I’m singing. After I’ve gently put him down and stroked his blonde hair a few times, I’m off again to a rehearsal or to the laptop or iPad to work on an article or schedule some social media posts and try to get a head start on the next day. Are you exhausted just reading all of that? I am. I love my jobs. The one I’m paid to do and the ones I’m not paid for in tangible ways. But it’s very, very easy to overfill my plate with responsibilities, events and commitments. Because of who I am as a person, a mother and a woman who hates to disappoint anyone, I do this all too often. Only recently have I discovered my personal secret to staying on top of it all. Sometimes somebody has to hear the word “No.”

harder than it sounds. The obvious, knee-jerk response to that is usually to assume that it’s always the non-family commitments that get told “No.” But, honestly, sometimes it’s the husband or even the child who has to hear it. Saying no, even to my family, is one of the hardest things I’ve had to learn how to do. As women, I think we try to be everything to everyone, all the time. Logically that’s absolutely impossible, but our hearts do their very best to convince us that we can do it. The result of our attempts is usually a feeling of disappointment, exhaustion or worrying that we are only giving half of our best to every place in our life that needs our special set of skills. The truth is that everything has a place on That Great Big List of Priorities. Sometimes we need to accept the help from our Village to watch the kids so that we can go to that networking event after the normal workday ends. Sometimes we have to let a babysitter take over so that we can reconnect with our spouse on a date night. Your boss and coworkers will survive if you need to leave early one day and spend quality time with your family. Your friends will be just fine if you need to cancel plans for an evening out because your arms and soul are aching to rock your baby to sleep after a busy week of late nights. It’s not always easy to see which area needs to take the priority and the top-billed spot in your day, but one thing I’ve learned in the past two years is that my heart always tells me. If I’m stressed out every day at work and feeling like I’ll never catch up on assignments, it’s time to ask my loved ones for help so that I can stay late one day and gain some ground. Grandma probably wants some extra time with her grandson anyway! If I’m planning rehearsals and already feeling melancholy about the four weeks of nights away from home, then I know it’s worth starting rehearsals at 8pm instead of 7pm and staying up a little later so that I miss as few bedtime snuggle sessions as possible. Just like you know when you don’t need to make that extra trip to the buffet to get another helping of mashed potatoes, you know in your gut when it’s time to stop adding things to the plate of your life. Because if there’s one thing that’s been made very clear to me as my life keeps barreling forward, it’s this: at any given moment, I feel most capable, strong, and fulfilled when I give priority to the areas in my life that need it most. I’m taking what I need and leaving the rest on the buffet because it won’t energize me or fuel me the way I need it to. When I stop over-filling my plate, I’m able to enjoy and feel successful in more areas of my life. em

That sounds like a simple thing, I know, but it’s much

elisiamagazine.com 19


ELISIA THINGS

INTERN FACTOIDS MEET OUR NEW INTERN, KRISTINA TUBERA. WE’LL BE NICE -- PROMISES.

NAME + HOMETOWN: Kristina Tubera- Keller,TX HOW’D YOU LAND THIS INTERNSHIP? We met at a Lecrae Concert. Our paths magically crossed and I was offered an opportunity of a lifetime! WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO LEARN? I wanted to learn more about marketing and how to apply it in a real world setting. I have done mock competitions where I have to create a marketing plan for a certain company and those cases aways interested me. Working with Zoe Comm, however, allowed me the opportunity to apply my skills learned from those case competitions onto real world experiences. LIFE PHILO? I don't really have a philosophy of my own. I just try to follow the Bible as much as I can while being easy going and open minded. In the words of the Mother Teresa " Spread love where ever you go, let no one come to you without leaving happier.” RANDOM THING: In my free time I cheer for UT Competitive Cheer, play classical piano, and compete in scholarship pageants. My favorite color is pink and I am a very, very, very, girly girl.

20 elisiamagazine.com

GUILTY PLEASURE: The Kardashians. Their lifestyle is so rich and glamorous and basically the opposite of my life, so I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be under a microscope like that and have your father turn into a woman. Would I break under the pressure? Would I get a butt lift to fill in the shoes of Kim's big booty? Who knows. I also am in love with Victoria's secret. I work there and I never get tired of looking at all the clothes or the hundreds of panties I have to fold every night. :-) My pay check basically goes back to the company in one way or another because I invest so much into bras haha. Cherish Robinson FAV HUMAN: I love Pope Francis. He is so humble in comparison to a lot of leaders these days. He even turned down custom made italian leather Prada shoes because he wanted to live a more humble life, even though he is basically the leader of the largest and richest religion in the world. I don't know what its like to be a religious leader, but all I know is that I would never turn down Prada shoes... em

ARIAN AUGUSTUS


elisiamagazine.com 22


INTO THE ETHER

Entreprenuer

Schmontr eprenuer A Guide to Greatness from a Longtime Sloth

ARIAN AUGUSTUS


Alright, ladies. I didn’t want to do this, but I have a confession to make. I’m a little bit of a couch potato. Actually, no. That’s wrong. I’m a lot of a couch potato. Seriously. I could give Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head a run for their money. I learned this unfortunate truth about myself because in the past year, I have spent more time around the self-employed and the super driven than at any other point in my life. Now, for some reason I thought I could keep up with these people. I thought I could be one of them. I thought I could win all the jobs and make all the money just like they do. Let me tell you, that has NOT happened. I have said the word “broke” more times in the last 12 months than Kanye West did while he was complaining about 18 years of child support. The entrepreneur’s life is very different from the corporate or small business hustle. Working for yourself is not an endeavor you can just wander into and conquer in a few short months. Personally, I was so sure I would "make it” when I started. [sigh] Curse my naivete. While I am currently undecided on whether or not this lifestyle is for me - and I’m shamefully leaning towards working for “The Man” again - I have taken in some valuable lessons from my hard-working friends that I think are worth sharing. 1. If you like, need or crave structure even a little bit, the entrepreneurial life may not be for you. The good thing about working for yourself? Lots of freedom. The bad thing about working for yourself? Lots of freedom. It’s so easy to skip the shower and stay in your pajama pants all day. (I did this morning.) Or, there’s the alternative. You get breakfast and run errands and clean your apartment and listen to podcasts for inspiration and the next thing you know Jimmy Fallon is staring you in the face like, “What did you get done today?” 2. There are no “personal days.” You work for yourself now. Every day is a personal day. Time off is a distant and faint memory, and there is no clocking out. This is entrepreneur world, honey. When you stop, the money stops. I mean, you like nice things, don’t you? Paying rent? Eating? Netflix? Yeah. You should probably get back to work.

If you are not going to some kind of cocktail and conversation after hours in an art museum every night of the week, just throw your dreams away right now. 3. People with regular jobs will not understand. Similarly, your nine to five family and friends won’t comprehend why you can’t take breaks or why holidays are just work days with better food. I was working on this very magazine once when a friend asked me in frustration, “Can’t somebody else do that?” I went into shock. Can a three-legged stool stand on two legs? Can a car run without gas? No. No one else can do this. Leave me alone with my computer. 4. Ego is required. All entrepreneurs are a little bit egotistical. Well. So says an entrepreneur friend of mine. But if you think about it, the theory has merit. You can’t be one person competing with other businesses, many of them larger and more established than you, without thinking you are some kind of wonderful. Even if your self-employed game face means pretending that you are Beyonce and the entire world is your Beyhive, so be it. (#QueenME) You have to have enough ego to believe in your value so other people will believe in it too. 5. Know your why. It’s not enough to know why you don’t want to work for someone else. You also have to know why you do want to work for yourself. It can be serious. (I do it to leave a legacy of true independence for my children.) Or it can be shallow. (I want cats to actually take over the internet. Everyone loves internet cats.) Either way, you have to find that thing that pulls you forward every day or you’ll find yourself on a hamster wheel. Running hard. Going nowhere. 6. Network like your life depends on it … because it does. Why isn’t your website ready? How do you not know your pitch? Who have you Facebooked or tweeted today? And what

are you doing without 100 business cards on hand at all times? ARE YOU CRAZY?!! You could be out buying a taco at a food truck in a park during an outdoor music festival that you almost didn’t go to (but your best friend dragged you) and meet someone who knows someone else who desperately needs that random thing you do better than the last person they hired and they will pay you to fix it. WHY AREN’T YOU PREPARED?!?!?! Related: If you are not going to some kind of cocktail and conversation after hours in an art museum every night of the week, just throw your dreams away right now. 7. When you work for other people, you never have to fully face yourself. You really don’t know what you can do until you have to do it. (You also don’t know the limits of what you can’t do until you have truly failed. I’m talking Nascar level crash and burn here.) There is a huge difference between doing what’s expected of you and leaving work at work, and waking up every day to create something all your own. Being an entrepreneur comes with more early mornings, more sleepless nights, and a helluva lot more tears than any job in the regular workforce. The rollercoaster, Jekyll and Hyde highs and lows are all too real. I gotta say, I coasted by on mediocrity in retail and corporate America. When I made the switch to try working for myself, I learned very quickly that scraping by just doesn’t fly. If you’re new to entrepreneurship or you’ve been thinking about taking that leap of faith, be prepared to work like you’ve never worked before. Yes, sitting in front of a laptop in your pjs and calling it “work” is fun. But if you want to make sure you don’t end up running back to your old job, you better get off that couch, Idaho.

em

elisiamagazine.com 23


TASTE At Home

Naan Pizza YOLONDA TUCK

Let me tell you, my life has been hectic to the tenth degree. Juggling church commitments, family, running a business and trying to maintain some kind of personal life is a balancing act. Oh, and I work a part time job as well. This is my real life! People often ask me how do I do all that I do, and my answer is, “But God!” God has made me to be able to do it all with ease. I have always been this way, always thinking of a ways to make money and provide a good life for myself and my family. In fact hard work is practically in my DNA. My father was always trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents, and I grew up to do just the same. I tell people all the time it is hard out here in the world and no one is going to just give you anything. You have to work to earn something to leave behind for your children and loved ones, and that is what Chef and I are doing for our boys. To help me keep track of everything I do, I recently started making a daily “To Do” list, working and marking through each completed task. I also created a vision board so I can physically see my goals and note when I have achieved them. Both of these a tools have really been a big help to me.

“LOVE” STORIES AND THE PLIGHT OF TODAY’S CHRISTIAN SINGLE WOMAN

MOUSE CLICKS

Still, even though I’ve gotten more organized, I have very little time these days to prepare healthy, full course meals like I have done in the past. Plus, now that Chef and I are trying to be more health conscious, dinner can really be a challenge. So, that’s when I make homemade naan pizza. Yes, honey, PIZZA! All my boys, Chef included, love it when I make homemade pizzas. I normally would use pizza crust and roll it out and dress the top with all our favorites. But, I have found that naan bread makes the best, and I mean THE BEST pizzas. This recipe is what I prefer to put on my pizzas, but feel free to top it anyway you like. Have a tasty and wonderful summer!

INGREDIENTS

* 1 package of naan bread (or more as needed for your family. There are 2 flatbreads per pack) * 1 tablespoon basil pesto * 1 package of Italian turkey sausage * 6 vine ripened baby tomatoes, sliced * 1 small can of black olives, sliced * 1 package of turkey pepperoni, diced * 1 package of mushrooms, diced * 1 teaspoon dried oregano * fresh ground black pepper to taste * 1 16 oz. package of cheese mozzarella * 2 avocados peeled and diced

24 elisiamagazine.com

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 200C/400F. 2. Place the naan on a baking tray.Cherish Robinson 3. Spread pesto all over each naan flatbread. 4. Scatter the tomatoes, olives and all other toppings on the flatbreads, then cover with cheese. 5. Sprinkle with oregano and black pepper. 6. Top with the diced avocados. 7. Place in the oven and bake for 7-9 minutes until the cheese is bubbling. 8. Enjoy!

ARIAN AUGUSTUS


food inspired cheftuck.com

elisiamagazine.com 25


MOCHA MOB

CHERYL RISCHER

THE GIFT

OF BEING A

Working TEEN

26 elisiamagazine.com


As a successful working adult, my philosophy is simple. “Those who do can, and those who don’t cannot.” Where most people see limits, I see possibility; I have a personal drive and commitment to make things possible. Because of that drive, I am easily frustrated with people who are quick to say why something won’t work without giving thought to why it will work. I know from my years of experience that what I am willing to do impacts what I can do. As a mother of two, I don’t have the luxury of not making “it” happen. Whatever “it” is at that particular time, I have two individuals that need me to make “it materialize. No excuses. Now that I am self-employed, I find that my days continue to be filled with hard work, but this time it is for me. If things become financially difficult, I remind myself of the flexibility I am now afforded since I work for myself. I work harder than I’ve ever worked, and I have clarity about who I am and who I am not. I will never work for anyone else as hard as I work for myself. If something I’m invited to do does not align with my goals or my purpose, I do not allow it to occupy my time. Each morning that I get out of bed, I make two decisions. I decide what I can do and what I will do. I am grateful to my parents for allowing me to work at a young age and for emphasizing the value of diverse employment. My work experiences in my teen years taught me to be intentional about walking away from every job, positive or negative, with a lesson. Each of those lessons have paved the way for me to have an exciting, fulfilling career that I love today.

THE BEGINNING I started my first job when I was 15. My mother had a friend who told her that Texas Stadium (former home of the Dallas Cowboys) was hiring Texette’s and I immediately jumped on it. You had to be 16 to work in the stands and 18 to work the private suites. Although I was not quite 16, I couldn’t wait to get into those white knee-high patent leather boots, a double knit polyester skirt with matching vest, a blue polyester shirt and a yellow kerchief around our necks. Two weeks after being hired, Michael Jackson magically ascended from below the stage to perform in front of a sold out crowd. I was a glorified usher and not only did I feel like I had wings seeing Michael Jackson live, I was getting paid to be there. My take home pay was twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents. You read that correctly, $27.50. That job has become the foundation of how I’ve defined myself as an employee. Had I known, I would have taken plenty of selfies and saved my first check. LESSON ONE: SHOW UP AND SMILE To this day, my job as a Texette still holds the record for the one position I’ve worked at the longest. I worked there from my freshman year in high school to my junior year in college, and I never missed a Thanksgiving Day game. I remember how committed my mother was to making sure that I was at work, every time, on time. She never spoke of the low wages. Instead, she emphasized the importance of working in an environment where I could meet lots of people, work hard, but still enjoy the work. Being a Texette taught me to be internally motivated and to find value in every job I’ve ever worked since then. LESSON TWO: THE SECOND JOB IS WHERE THE FUN HAPPENS Once I began working, it was pretty common for me to have two to three jobs. My “main” job paid my bills and was supplemented by employment of interest at secondary jobs. Many of my friends thought that not only did I have the coolest jobs, but that they were also easy for me to get. Actually, what was easy for me was simply being self-aware enough to apply to places I knew I would like to be employed. (I usually applied to jobs where I could take full advantage of the employee discount like Dillard’s or Claire’s, or places that had other benefits like getting to attend every Dallas Cowboys home game as a Texette, or not having to share a room as a Resident Assistant.) I was willing to find the positive in any place of employment, and that made it easy for me to land jobs that others may have found out of reach. LESSON THREE: SKILLS FOR DAYS Because I started working at such a young age, I realized early on that the more I knew, the more marketable I was. While in college, I would come home for breaks and work for a temp agency. The work I was assigned to do most often was clerical or administrative. One day, I remember getting a call from the agency asking me if I had any experience answering multiple lines in a high-paced environment. Apparently, no one on the call list could operate a switchboard and the client was willing to pay twice the amount to a candidate that could do so. My response was, of course! They didn’t ask me how much experience I had and I didn’t bother to tell them that while I had learned a little bit about being a receptionist from a previous assignment, I didn’t know everything. I guess you could say that was the beginning of my hustle. Once they increased my rate for that assignment, all the other assignments I received were at that higher rate. From then on, everywhere I worked I made sure I learned something new outside of the regular job description. em

elisiamagazine.com 27


EMPOWERING MOMENT

productivity MISTAKES KRISTEN “DR. G” GUILORY, PHD

MY BIGGEST

28 elisiamagazine.com


As an entrepreneur, professor, coach, speaker, and writer, many assume that I am always working. And that was the case in years past. I thought that being busy all of the time equated to success, but it does not. Years ago I was being interviewed for a job and one of the questions was, “You may not get off until 6 p.m. How will that be for you?” to which I responded, “Oh, that’s great! I love working and I will probably work when I get home.” At my next job, my hours were noon to 8 p.m. Yes, you read that correctly! Noon! Generally I would get home around 9 p.m., but I would continue to work until maybe midnight or 1 a.m., sometimes later. Then I would wake up around 9 a.m. and work from 9 – 11 a.m. So in reality, I was working 12 to 13 hour days. I didn’t rest and had no social life because, yes, I worked some weekends. You may be saying “So, what’s the problem with working like that, especially if you love what you do?” The problem was that I was trying to be everything to everyone which means that I unintentionally removed God from the throne and I put myself on it. In this phase of my life, I also struggled to ask for help. Why? Because I am the helper and I can’t ask for help. I can do it! (What an EGO!) Looking back on that time now, I find it truly saddening that I never asked God to lead me. Instead I asked God to fit into my plans, if I asked Him at all. Having learned from these experiences, my definition of success has changed. Now, I am not only interested in good opportunities, but I also want my work to be purposeful. I don’t necessarily love everything I do, but I do love walking in my purpose. When I am able to alter my perspective and put God first, I see what I do as serving as opposed to working.

HOW TO OVERCOME PRODUCTIVITY PROBLEMS

1. Take a Break (Exodus 20:8-11) When we move non-stop, there is a chance that we may end up working on fumes. Even if you only take a break for 30 minutes, you need it. Also, when we don’t break, we are saying, “God I don’t trust you enough.” Think about it. How many of us really take a Sabbath? For me personally, Sunday is the day I go to church, but often I am asked to speak or teach on Sunday, so instead, I use Mondays as a day to breathe and rest. 2. Ask For Help! (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Matthew 12:3) I am a mentor and I have mentors, but I didn’t utilize them enough early on in my career. There were so many people who would have been so willing to help me. All I had to do was ask, but I allowed ego and pride to get in the way. 3. Seek God First (Matthew 6:33) The key to productive work is aligning it with your purpose. My purpose is to be a catalyst for Healing, Hope, and Purpose. In a way, I’ve always known this, but didn’t clearly realize it until I stilled myself and heard the Lord instead of trying to tell the Lord. Even though I know where my productivity problems lie, I am still working on these things every day. If you are overworked and overwhelmed, don’t worry! We’re on this journey together! Check out kristenguillory.com for additional blogs to support your journey. em

[Continued from page 15] How does your work at your radio show connect to your work with the NCPA? The NCPA provides free market solutions through alternatives to government solutions. We believe in empowering individuals through the private marketplace. Our energy sector in this country is privately owned. We’re so unique because energy production in most other countries is government owned. That’s why the United States is the top energy producer. We’re number one in gas production, and we’re going to be number one in oil. So, it’s all about freedom. At the NCPA, we value individual liberty and personal empowerment. We want to make sure individuals are free to prosper. What else should readers know about you? I moved to Texas from Washington D.C. after seven years on Capitol Hill. I was lawyer to the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution. Whoa. Pardon our ignorance, but that sounds really fancy and the Constitution is really old. Can you explain your role a little more? How is that relevant to modern day? The Subcommittee on the Constitution would decide the consitutionality of bills. Is it constitutional to do wire tapping? What about search and seizure? These are the kinds of policy issues I would oversee. Wow! That’s an incredible accomplishment. Given that part of your history, how would you say the average citizen can get involved in influencing our laws? I think it’s important that we all speak our minds. If there’s a problem, it’s often that Americans are just too in doubt. Question our policy makers all the time. Always keep an eye on what they’re doing. Something can slip by without us even knowing about it. So, pay attention. Say what’s on your mind. Don’t worry about being politically correct. And, obviously, go vote when the time comes. I just want to encourage people to participate. If you’re a stay-at-home mother and you think your voice doesn’t matter, it does. You have children, so what you think about what happens to children is important. If you’re a retired grandmother, you can still go onto social media [and make your voice heard]. Write an op ed column. Comment on other people’s columns. Uniformly held expectations [that go unchallenged] tend to be self-fulfilling. So, we all need to speak up more. That’s what I would encourage. Thanks again to Jacki Pick for sharing her time and her passion for energy and personal empowerment with us. The Jacki Daily Show airs Saturdays at 7 p.m Eastern Standard Time on www.klif.com, Sundays at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on THE BLAZE Radio Network and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on LOTO Radio. em

elisiamagazine.com 29


, the ncy, as y n a mp ns Age uers o n c e r t aren unicatio oman-p a start p r u O omm e-balls w ’re gonn ow. C e Zo maz elts. We ... like n a e som r their b t them u unde ing abo g brag

30 elisiamagazine.com


SheLikesWhatSheLikes.com

Meet Daphne Askew Queen of ZOE VICTORIA // a fashion + lifestyle brand for WOMEN

WHAT DO YOU DO + WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL? I love accessorizing - from jewerly to handbags to scarves - and I wear what I love every single day. That's how this business started; I would be out in the marketplace and people would ask me about an item that i was wearing. It happened so frequently that a light bulb went off in my head. You can do this because you are already doing it unconsciously. As my slogan says, “She LIKES what she likes and ... she wears it!”

GO-TO BAD DAY ACCESSORY: A bold piece of jewelry and a hat.

HAPPY SONG: “It's the GOD in Me” by Mary Mary. I dance and prance on this song, knowing that because of the God in me, all things are possible.

HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A BUSINESS OWNER: Staying organized and staying on course

LIFE SHIFT: I grew up without either of my parents so my Aunt Mattie raised me. I wanted to make her proud. I finished high school went on to college and had a great support system of aunt(s), uncles, teachers that believed in me and didn't all allow any circumstance to hinder me from moving forward. God gave me talent and perseverance and I'm using it to His GLORY to let others know, especially younger children, that if I can make it through, they can, too. Keep moving forward when it doesn't seem as though you are making progress. You can reach your goals if you just don’t stop.

LIFE MANTRA: Live LIFE everyday to the MAX (Live Laugh Love)

elisiamagazine.com 31


hon WHAT DO YOU DO? I'm a minister, mentor, entrepreneur and recording artist.

Guilty [or not so much] Pleasure: Paciugo Italian Ice Cream & Kettle Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper chips (I eat them sometimes for breakfast...shhhh don't tell) Happy Song: Big Victory by Myron Williams

What inspires you to push through? My faith in God, my children and seeing lives changed through God's power. I've also seen a glimpse of what God has called me to do, so quitting is never an option.

32 elisiamagazine.com

Life Shift - Is there anything significant that happened in your life that pushed you to do things differently? Yes, I would have to say it's when I witnessed my father's passing. He was a Pastor for over 50 years and passed away while ministering to people during a Sunday morning service. He had been warned by doctors concerning the frailty of his heart, but was submitted to God even unto death. Seeing that level of sacrifice shifted my perspective on what it means to

F

CUS Cherish Robinson

present VAUGHN yourJESSICA body as a living sacrifice unto God, it also showed me what it means to really love people.


nor her Elisia Magazine is taking the time to honor the women in our lives who are doing and accomplishing great. And we think you should, too.

CHOOSE A WOMAN

Meet Barbara Calloway -- minister, mentor, entrepreneur and all-around extraordinary woman who is inspiring the world around her.

PROPHETESS BARBARA CALLOWAY

Is there a mantra by which you live? Protect your peace at all costs! Having peace of mind is so important. I try never to allow anything or anyone to disrupt my peace. My home is peaceful, my surroundings are peaceful and I even select peaceful friends. Say one thing to the next generation: Do something with your life that matters to yourself and to others.

SUPPORT OUR SISTER: [upcoming events + website + social media]

Upcoming events:

3 Weeks of Teaching on Prayer - July 9, 16 & 30

Follow

www.BarbaraCallowayMinistries.org FB: @barbaracalloway Instagram: @barbaracalloway Twitter: @prophetessbcm

elisiamagazine.com 33


INVITED

-C H IE F ED ITO R -I N N AT TO EN B A FE LE C EI EST W TH U SO TH E B EST EO N H C N LU N ED U CATI O

# B LAC K D FW

M ATT E R S

MANDY RAUSCH COMPETS IN LOCAL MARATHON

ON AIR WITH IVY MCQUAIN ON THAAFTERPARTY.COM

ON SET WITH STYLIST NIKKI HURD

CHERYL RISCHER ON DFW

INTERN KRISTINA IRADIO.COM TUBERA OUT AND ABOUT DALLAS TOWN

Elisia ladies making moves around town. Thanks for the lyrical assist, Stevie. SENIOR EDITOR ARIAN AUGUSTUS VISITS FOOD EDITOR YOLONDA TUCK AT HER BOOTH AT TASTE OF DALLAS

FATHER’S DAY WITH TRACY WILLIAMS AND HER DAD

Cherish Robinson

DR. GUILLORY @ MY BROTHERS KEEPER SUMMIT

34 elisiamagazine.com

FELECEIA BENTON PERFORMING AT LEADERSHIP SOUTHWEST GRADUATION

O N A IR W IT H C H E R Y L R IS C H E DFWi RAD R W IT H IO


DO THESE.

elisiamagazine.com 35



Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.