We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rochanda Mckinney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Rochanda with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I’m certain I get it from my mother who is no longer with us, I believe she was in survival mode a single mother of six children, one of them fully handicapped therefore she was a Homemaker. But when I think back she was a entrepreneur but in her terms she was just making ends meet. My mother would take daily walks and pick up cans to take to recycle to earn money, I can remember as a child watching her pay someone to take these gigantic bags filled with yucky cans to the recycling center. Another thing she did she had an unofficial resale shop she would go to garage sales purchase items and add a little more then what she paid in resale those items, she was a master cook and baker Everyone would order food I know I count 27 desserts one holiday that she would make a profit from. The other skill and passion she had was she would baby sit for many persons in the community. So yeah she also operated a unofficial child care home. And she had several homes as well.
It was observing her get the job done with little or no complaints.
In respect of my Mother the Late Wilma Davidson, who was a person of accountability.
She drilled “Do not ruin your name, people must be able to trust you”, and you have to learn how to stand on your own.
I was a teen mother at the age of 15.
Not allowing this to become a crutch for me I still had expectations to meet.
After working day to day jobs God had spoken and said “Write your vision down.
I started a registered childcare business, literally with $20.00 and utilized milk crates in zip ties to create a shelf for toys. Starting at 420 square feet in.my living room in myself as the only employee to now operating a 7500 sq ft commercial building and operating a 2nd location as well.
I also operate a transportation company which caters to parents whom need services. And I’m huge on loving on your family and friends so I opened a event venue that clients could have weddings, birthday, church etc
When God spoke to me in 2021 again.
Never would I have thought I would now operate a successful center at the very location I received food stamps , medicaid and welfare assistance. I now have a team of 23 full time employees and 5 part time employees in 5 assistants. It’s crazy when I think back working 2/3 jobs trying to make ends meet receiving a paycheck for no more than $1200 per month to now paying a salary of $40,000-$45,000 per month to employees. WOW 2know I have beat the odds as some would call it, but I say I “Broken The Generational Curse”.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
So feel as GOD is changing my season , I’ve operated in the childcare industry 3 decades in I know that I have experienced a lot of things in my life that some would have thrown in towel in given up.
My story just doesn’t end with I made it,
I know that it’s my mission to Scream IT YELL IT to the next 15 year old teen parent, to the next labor worker HEY life can be different GOD will give us a boldness that we can do whatever – we have the skills we just have to do the hard work, do the research in have a plan
With that being said I want to become a motivational speaker , a author and start a new business by the name of Trailblazer Consulting Llc this will cater global to assist person in the childcare industry on owning and operating a child care agency, to mentor them as well . In begin a podcast channel.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1) To have a plan written down 2) do the research in whatever industry they are desiring
3) determination
My only advice is to stay focus stick to the plan , do it scared, jump
Most importantly trust in your higher power mine would be GOD
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My mother was built on accountability She not only walked in it herself but she instilled into her kids
It’s where I received my integrity and character
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: Trailblazerllc
- Facebook: @TrailBlazerConsutingLlc
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