Rhonda B

I attribute my success to embracing my quietness as my superpower rather than a weakness. My 8th grade teacher told me that my quietness was my superpower, not my weakness, because when you're quiet, you have the opportunity to listen. That advice encouraged me to become an avid reader, which took me on journeys I didn't even know existed, and from there I became a fluent writer. I learned to write little stories and notes to people, and they would tell me how good it made them feel. I've always been committed to doing well at whatever I was doing, going the extra mile, not because of formal credentials but because I wanted to honor the trust people placed in me. I learned my job, then learned other people's jobs, and ended up being elevated because of that commitment. Throughout my career, whether in real estate, teaching, or photojournalism, I've followed my inner voice and stayed true to my purpose of helping others understand their own strengths and gifts.

The best career advice was to not go back on your older life and do all the woulda, coulda, shoulda. Follow your vision of your passion. Bet on yourself and go for it, even if you don't believe in yourself.

Listen to that little small voice that talks to you. Follow your passion, be adaptable, be a learner through the process. There's a little voice that talks to you that everybody tries to encourage you to not listen to, but that's who you should be listening to.

The most important values to me are helping people understand that everyone has a purpose and a gift that they were sent here with - sometimes it's obvious and sometimes it's untapped, but it's there. I believe in leaving people with the message that they have something they're supposed to be doing on this earth that's supposed to fulfill them and be for the betterment of society and God's children. I value the story that's left untold, which is actually the most beneficial story. I'm passionate about motivating young people to understand their strengths, and helping people see that their 'cans are not a cannot' - we all have different capacities for getting things done, but we can all accomplish what we set out to accomplish and end up at the same destination. I believe in going the extra mile and being committed to doing well at what I'm doing, honoring the trust that people place in me. I value generational connections and making sure that wisdom and reflections from older generations are passed down to help guide younger people.