Meet Andrea C Scott

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

Andrea C, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I remember from an early age being the kid that wanted to entertain or be around all of my parents friends. I always found older people way more interesting than the kids my age. I also had a deep awareness of being close to God and knowing that l was special to him. I would get dressed for Sunday School and walk 10 Bronx blocks to church by myself, even as my parents and brother slept in. I found my love of music and created a stage for myself wherever l was and became larger than life. My confidence grew because l want afraid to speak in from of people, mess up or be an individual. I ended up pursuing a career in entertainment and sales which were both perfect for who l was and who l was becoming.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I was born on the beautiful Caribbean island of Jamaica and migrated to the Bronx, New York at the age of 3. I found my love of music and singer at an early age and knew that’s what l wanted to do. I joined the Glee Club in Junior High and went in to attend the prestigious High School of Music & Art in NYC. It was the premier school for dinners, dancers, musicians, artists and actors in the country. I went to college at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa where l majored in Jazz Vocal Commercial Performance. In my junior year, l auditioned for a stage play and was cast in a leading roll and left college to pursue my dream of singing on stage. I was blessed to have Ms. Dionne Warwick attend one of my shows and l was actually cast as her and was singing all of her songs. What an experience! When the show ended, l decided that the music business was not for me at that time and not back home to NY to figure out what l wanted to do with my life. Although l didn’t know what l wanted to do, l did know how l wanted to live. I wanted FREEDOM! Time freedom, Income freedom and Location freedom! But where could l find a job that would give me my 3 freedoms?

Well, there’s when Direct Sales and Network Marketing found me! I was introduced to Mary Kay Cosmetics as a business opportunity by my mother who started a “side hustle” to earn some extra money. She thought l would be great but l wasn’t interested. I only signed up to help my mom reach a personal goal. I realized that l loved the products because they worked. So l did a few sales here and there but nothing to write home about and then l quit.

3 years at the age of 27, l felt as if l was supposed to give MK another try, so l called my mom, signed back up, went to work and eventually broke a record with the company that l still hold today. I became the youngest black woman to achieve the top rank/position in the history of the company! I built my Mary Kay business for 26 1/2 years and retired on January 13, 2020. And YES, l’ve earned and driven multiple Pink Cadillacs.

Today, l am married to the live of my life, Nate Scott, author of the book, Life Is Rich: How To Create Lasting Wealth. I Coach Divorced Women over 40 who are in Ministry and/or Business, and my husband and l are Wellness Advocates teaching people how they can have Wellness on a budget, bridging the Health & Wealth Gap in our community.

The thing the excites me about what l do now is knowing how many lives are being positively impacted because l taught, modeled and exposed them to the importance of taking proactive steps to better health. Growing Older & Bolder while Living Longer & Stronger!

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?

The 3 most important skills that I’ve developed in my life and career are: Speaking, Storytelling and Connecting with People.

Learning how to speak articulately and speak the language of other people, whether literally or figuratively is a skill that makes you relatable disarming, as long as you remain authentically you.

The art of storytelling can be a powerful tool to paint pictures in the minds of the hearer that can empower, encourage and engage someone, causing them to take action because they now see themselves or the version of themselves that they want to become within the story or the characters.

Finally, as an Empath, when l connect with people, it means that l listen with my heart to seek places and spaces where we are more alike than we are different. Making a stranger a “friend” is something l strive for. Whether it’s connecting with a smile, eye contact and a quick wink to a shy child, a nod of my head with a thumbs up, giving a hug, a handshake or a passing compliment or by using humor. l believe that if those small gestures can make a person’s day brighter, then it was well worth my time.

These are learned skills, intentional skills and skills that will serve you well especially in business. I would to develop these skills, just start by saying hello to 10 people a day and giving them a sincere compliment. It’s all about the energy that you give away. It well come back to you multiplied.

Read books on the art of storytelling or go to YouTube University and search the subject. One of the best storytellers to ever live is a man from Nazareth, called Jesus. He used parables and stories to teach lessons and to draw analogies between heavenly things and earthly things.

Public Speaking skills can be learned by taking a course, getting a coach or attending Seminars and Workshops. Recording yourself works great as well. You get to see your body language, intonation, use of your hands and space and you can Track how you’re progressing.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

This is a great question and I’m sure different people will have a different answer. For me, l am clear where l am strong, the areas that l can improve in and the areas where l am weak and almost to the point of pitiful and why even bother?. 😂

Seriously though, l am able to find the humor in the area that l suck at and not cause it to be thing that holds me back. I believe in working In my strengths, improving my averages and hitting or collaborating with someone who can perform at a high level where l am weak in.

I don’t think it’s wise to spend time or waste my time trying to perfect a part of me that just isn’t my strong suit, and honestly, l have no interest in doing so. Most people choose careers or paths that come naturally to them. Call them gifts or talents or special interests, but when you choose a job that you hate, it’s usually because it’s not your innate skill set, nor does it fit who you are, so you’re not proficient in it. People quit jobs or opportunities so often because things feel hard. I just figure out how to make what l do fun, and how l can use my strengths to accomplish the goal.

Math has never been my strong suit, but I’m a beast on a calculator! My husband can do math in his head while I’m still using my fingers and toes! 😂 l used to feel badly about not being able to be a math whiz, but what I’m good at has served me well in my career. I am a master wordsmith! I can paint a picture, weave a story and slay dragons with my use of words. So l don’t sweat the small stuff.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lifeisrichglobal.com/andreacscott
• Instagram: TheAndreaCScott
• Facebook: Andrea C Scott

Image Credits

Photo by: Images by Alina
Alina Perry- Smith
Imagesbyalina@gmail.com