Zuri Wilson Seymore

First of all, I attribute my success to God because that's the reason why we're all here. Then I attribute my success to my parents, because many of my niceties and openness come from my mom. My father would always say I got all of my talents from him, and it's true, because I used to sing a little and play instruments (the guitar and keyboard). My passion for the arts in general derives from what I saw my father do when I was a kid; he used to coach semi-pro basketball, play the horn, and provide sound for live entertainment productions. He used to sing with family and friends, so he was into a lot of the arts himself, and that inspired me to study theater in undergrad. Throughout the final years with my father, he encouraged me to further my education. There's a gap between my bachelor's degree in performing arts and my master's degree in creative writing with an emphasis on poetry. When my dad elevated back in 2013, I was like, you know, he's right, and I kept seeing commercials for Southern New Hampshire University. I reached out, applied, submitted my poetry portfolio and letters of recommendation, and within a few months, I enrolled in their January 2014 program and did writing courses that truly enriched my life.

The best career advice I have ever received is to pursue what makes you happy.

I would say what my late father used to say, "even the sky is limitless." We have to believe in ourselves. Rise with a positive attitude, saying, today is going to be a great day, wonderful things are going to happen for me, and not just have the positive mindset, but have the will to execute. Entrepreneurs need commitment and discipline. Cultivate a strong contact list, a website with presence, and create a mailing list. When I send out promotional texts, I try to be personable. It takes a long time because I like to address people by name. When we are personable with others, we are making connections. My goal is to recreate community and collaborate with visions to heal others.

The biggest challenge, specifically in yoga, is usually getting others to break past mental and physical barriers that prevent them from trying or being consistent.

There are personal values that transfer to my work values, such as: 1. Integrity and Honesty. In my personal life, it's important to be truthful to strengthen relationships with family and friends. In my work life, I strive to be transparent and ethical to create a safe place. 2. Respect and Empathy. In my personal life, I value others' voices. In my work life, I treat others with respect. 3. Balance and Health. In my personal life, I create boundaries to ensure I have time for hobbies and relationships. In my work life, I am focused. 4. Growth and Lifelong Learning: In my personal life, I embrace the unknown and walk in confidence and faith, with flexibility to changes in life. In my work life, I am open to challenges and new skills. 5. Accountability and Responsibility: In my personal life, I am responsible for my actions. In my work life, I am dependable.