Meet Stephanie Tatum

We recently connected with Stephanie Tatum and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie , so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?

I have never been a reckless risk-taker. As I mature, my risks have become more calculated and strategic. One of my most significant risks came in 2022. While my peers were eager to find positions within established community organizations as we completed our graduate program, I contemplated a different path—leaving my role in the financial industry to become an entrepreneur. After careful thought and strategic planning with my husband, we decided it was the right time, and I founded Still I Rise Counseling Services. At that time, I had no clients waiting for me, few industry connections, and no certainty about my future income. Who does that? A risk-taker like me (ha-ha).

I had a vision, faith, unwavering support from close family and friends, and a plan that anticipated potential setbacks. Speaking of setbacks, another challenge I had to overcome was shifting my mindset away from perfectionism. I realized that setbacks were not indicators of failure and that a perfectionist mindset could lead to low self-esteem and unstable mental health. Adjusting this mindset was essential to increasing my risk-taking abilities.

While I encourage risk-taking, it is just as crucial for individuals to consider both the potential rewards and consequences carefully. I would like to leave you with a quote I recently read that resonated with me: ‘The real risk is doing nothing at all.”

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Still I Rise Counseling strives to create a safe environment for those confronting issues related to relationships, depression, trauma, racial trauma, grief, substance use disorders, and many more. We specialize in crafting a culturally congruent space to discuss societal experiences, internalized oppression, intergenerational trauma, and ancestral wounds (to name a few). We understand that individual and collective healing is necessary to educate, empower, and advocate for social justice and equity.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that have impacted my journey most are preparation, anticipating uncertainty, and surrounding myself with like-minded risk-takers. My suggestions for those entering their journey of entrepreneurship are:

1) Prepare yourself. Preparation is crucial because it equips you for the inevitable ‘why’—knowing your purpose and goals allows you to stay focused and confidently navigate challenges.

2) Anticipate uncertainty. Being comfortable with uncertainty means being adaptable and open to change, which has helped me be flexible, grow, and find solutions in unpredictable situations. Anticipating uncertainty is essential, especially as an entrepreneur, as the unexpected is a constant factor.

3) Surround yourself with and seek wisdom from like-minded risk-takers. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, especially those taking calculated risks, can provide invaluable insight. I am surrounded by individuals whose experiences and wisdom have been instrumental in helping me navigate my journey with a sense of courage and purpose.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I love this question! Although everyone feels overwhelmed from time to time due to everyday stressors, it remains one of the misunderstood and ignored feelings. When I feel overwhelmed, my first step is acknowledging and honoring my feelings. I may reach out to my husband, a trusted friend, or a family member for support, and I rely on my faith and prayer to calm me. Feeling overwhelmed can lead to irrational thoughts and overreacting to minor stressors, so I may choose to separate myself from others to recalibrate my perspective.

Seven strategies I recommend managing overwhelm are:
1) Honor your feelings and allow yourself to take a break when needed.
2) Engage in mindfulness practices, such as breathing, grounding, or even dancing exercises.
3) Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps and delegate if possible.
4) Interrupt patterns of negative thinking by recognizing them early.
5) Lean on your traditional spiritual and cultural practices that promote well-being.
6) Reach out to your support network and be willing to accept their help.
7) Remember that you are a successor of your ancestors’ strength and resilience. Always remind yourself of who YOU are.

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Image Credits

Zsa’nee Gaines

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