Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Whitney Tinsley . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Whitney , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from within. Being a failure or quitting has never been an option for me. When I was young I realized that I will not know how to do everything but anything that I wanted or put my mind to, I worked hard to obtain it. Negative thoughts tried to overtake me at times, but I have always been a person to push through everything and keep going no matter what. I had to learn to tell myself that things will be ok even when in reality it was far from ok. The best lessons that I could have learned was that life is a marathon and not a sprint, and to stop measuring others life and success to my life. I had to learn the hard way that I can’t live for others and they can’t live for me. I had to slow down and really focus on my future, what worked for me, and move forward from there. Now I have the opportunity to be the example for others and show them that you are not a product of your environment and how to move past all of the noise and negativity.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Currently I am the author of Life Support: Success Against All Odds. I have done a couple of speaking engagements and look forward to speaking a lot more in the future. I am also a teacher at Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, Michigan. I love being able to show up to work everyday and not only teach the students but to build the relationships and be a great example for them. I want them to see that they too can be successful although reality and their environment may make them feel otherwise. Sometimes I feel blessed to have the opportunity to show up for them and be there for them. It’s hard to put into words the passion I have but I am sure that my actions speaks for me.
I plan to start working on my second book this year and also getting back to my podcast. I had to take a break from Sports Talk with Whitney B to focus on my family and career. I am excited to get back in the swing of things with that and also to continue sharing my story.
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?
Three most important qualities, skills, or tidbits of knowledge that I have been blessed with are blocking out access noise, keeping things close in my network of support, and learning that life is what you make it. Blocking out access noise and having a network of support kind of goes hand-in-hand. I have learned to stop talking so much about my goals and dreams to everyone and keep that in-house to that very small network. People are not always happy for you or praying for you in ways that you think they are. I have gotten my feelings hurt so many times thinking that people were rooting for me like I was for them. I learned that when I need a recharge of positivity that I can’t get from myself, my small network of support will be there. Also with that, you have to be willing to listen to the negative criticism as well and take it. Your support team is here to support you and if they tell you something, it is up to you to take it in and apply it to where it needs to be applied. Most people want yes men around them and that is not good for growth and development. I learn best when I am able to speak with my team and see their perspective vs just seeing things through my own lens. I also feel that you have to learn how to balance your time, even though that is the hardest. I have a full-time job, a family, and a hustle. It’s almost impossible to be a friend but I find or make time for the things that are important. Having a planner is a life saver for me. I am able to write things down and prioritize things. I even plan my rest sometimes because I know that I need it. Sometimes we get so caught up in our careers/hustles that we forget about ourselves and taking a break to recharge. It is important to learn how to keep time on your side and not behind you.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
I know this is going to sound weird, but the most impactful thing my parents did for me was to leave and remain true to who they were. Both of my parents were on drugs and in the streets when I was growing up. I was in foster care up until my granny came to fight for me and get me out. As a child we struggled, I didn’t always have what others had and it used to eat me up inside. I feel that because of my circumstances I was bullied and things were bad. When I look back on those times, I was never forced to grow up, but I was forced to learn that I never wanted these things for myself as an adult or even with my own children. Having parents who were addicted to drugs helped me to never even want to touch them. Having parents who were absent taught me to be ok with being alone. When they did come around and get their lives together, both of them were very hard workers and it showed me that I am able to overcome whatever life throws at me. My parents were not perfect parents but I was able to look at their situations and know what not to do. My prayer in life is that I am a great example for my child because I know how it feels to grow up and pick and chose what examples you want to take from your parents and how to move forward in life with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mywhitneyb.com
- Instagram: @mywhitneyb
- Facebook: @mywhitneyb
- Twitter: @mywhitneyb
- Youtube: Whitney B
- Other: My book Life Support: Success Against All Odds can be purchased on my website and also on Amazon. I sign all of the books that I ship personally.
