Meet Allaina Maria

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Allaina Maria. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Allaina below.

Allaina, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
Burnout is all too common for those who give their all to whatever they are doing. I am that person who relentlessly pursues my goals and passions. I have a high drive to succeed. At some points that pursuit was more to my detriment than my benefit. I often was too hard on myself while neglecting to apply grace. Slowly the hustle and bustle started to take its toll. I noticed fatigue, frustration and burnout creeping in. With my goals before me, I had to stop and reconsider why I began the journey of becoming an author, speaker and entrepreneur. I took a retrospective look within and had an uncomfortable conversation with myself. I had to recenter. I made a decision to not just have a goal, but to enjoy the journey of becoming. To allow the ebbs and flows of this journey to help strengthen my foundation and allow life to unfold as I worked. I started to listen more to my body. The days that I felt tired, I allowed myself to rest. I penciled myself into my own life. Yes, my relentless pursuit is ever before me, however I am mastering balance. I go from small pleasures such as a cup of coffee from my favorite coffee chain. Or perhaps leaving my home office and working on the beach some days. To larger gestures of taking an actual vacation. Getting away for a few days to recharge. Those gestures yielded a huge impact. Yes, the work is still there, but inserting things that I love provided a balm to the burnout. As a result, my clarity is keener, my gratitude is even greater, and my mission is clearer.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have always had a love for the arts. I grew up singing in the church and subsequently began to write songs which I copyrighted, “Allaina’s Songs”. The untimely death of my uncle Daryl J. Ford, in December of 2022 changed my entire person. I had been down the road of excruciating grief when I lost my six-month-old son in 2008. For a season I was lost and thought that I couldn’t be found. That same grief met me at the loss of my uncle, but this time I had two daughters looking at their mommy. They needed me to be ok. I had to find an outlet and manage my grief. January of 2023, I sat in my living room and the idea of a book came to mind. Always ready for a challenge, I picked up my laptop and started writing. As a result, my debut urban fiction novel, “Mariah” was self-published in June of 2023. My uncle’s death may have broken my heart, but it fixed my vision. I now dub myself a “360 Author” as I write across multiple genres: Urban Fiction, Poetry, Self-help, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance, Self Help, Journals and Children’s Book. I am so excited to release each of my books which are soon to come. Through writing I have found my voice. I proudly am a Motivational Speaker sharing my core message of “becoming.” My mission is to motivate people to start from NOW and become. This mission is personal to me as I too am becoming. Finally, I am in the process as an entrepreneur for my clothing brand, candle company and skin care line. All are in the works. I am so excited to share my heart with the world through my books, motivational words and my products.

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. Marketing- Don’t be afraid to represent yourself. How would people know unless you market yourself/products? Speak up and say so. Let the world know you are here.

2. Representation- You are what you post. Social media is one of the best ways to market. Remember you are a brand, so mind your manners. What people see is what they believe. Also, be mindful of your entourage/travel companions if traveling to events. They too represent your name and brand. Always remain professional and courteous.

3. Integrity- Provide products promised, show up when booked, and maintain a posture of humility.

My advice would be to find a mentor in your area of interest and ask questions. Join community groups or social media groups and glean. Put your time in and research. Find out about your target audience. Don’t jump in blind. Develop a game plan, a strategy and BECOME.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
“Homecoming” by Dr. Thema Bryant is a powerful body of work. This book is a therapy session on the pages. In the process of becoming, doubt often tries to insert itself where it doesn’t belong. Homecoming is loaded with insightful and healthy words that help fortify and build up the reader. “To decide I need a homecoming means I have recognized that there are some ways in which I have been living disconnected or unaware of myself, my needs. my wounds. my knowledge or even my dreams,” Dr. Thema Bryant. Such powerful statements pierce your very soul. I have read this book multiple times. It provides health to my navel, the very core of me. Often as I drive, the audio version of this book plays as I sit and inhale all of the wisdom and exhale the internal things that no longer serve me. “Coming home to yourself is giving yourself the things you have been waiting for,” Dr. Thema Bryant.

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Image Credits
Scott Thomas Photography & Chatman Studio

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