Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to TaJuanna M. Taylor, PMP® . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
TaJuanna M., thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Blind phrases like, “blend in”, have been said to me throughout my life. So far, it hasn’t ceased to make me laugh – audibly – every time. Being born and raised in America, my race, gender, age, and faith are indicators, not limitations for my humanness. I see others in the room, not as competitors, but as co-contributors to some wildly great development.
When it comes to being the only one in the room who looks like me, being effective or dare I say successful comes from a sense of knowing 1) my presence naturally spurs intrigue, curiosity, and captivates attention, it doesn’t have to be forced or commanded, 2) my voice is as significant as any other person in the room regardless of status or title, 3) my lived experience is valuable and provides a perspective most people in the room haven’t encountered let alone considered, and 4) my posture and demeanor set the tone for how people perceive they are welcome to interact with me. When I’m in the room I work the room advantageously; observing, listening, taking notes, asking questions, offering suggestions, and connecting others to one another before I leave.
We all start and are journeying somewhere, and even with numerous disappointments, inevitable obstacles, and life altering mistakes, it’s important to celebrate yourself every step of the way. Through all the ups and downs to date, I believe I’m still living a life and exercising options that my ancestors could only dream about grasping and having in their days.
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?
“Stop doing all the things that must be done and that don’t have to be done by you!” That’s the practical advice (and relief) serial entrepreneurs and overworked independent business owners receive as a client of my company. At Bootstrap Dreams, LLC, we offer Operations Consulting/Management, Executive Coaching, and Virtual Assistant Referral services.
The rebirth of a business owner’s entrepreneurial and personal life enthusiasm is one of the most special and meaningful outcomes of our work together. Other exciting results include helping owners infuse cost effective and sustainable aspects of business strategy like getting more visible, teaming, delegation, and automation; which frees up more of their time and makes them more able and available to scale.
So often, business owners/operators get burned out and out of touch with who and what they love because they are doing way too much simultaneously (by themselves), aren’t making enough progress, lack access to capital, and don’t feel as though they have the level of support they imagined. I know these challenges intimately and lead others to overcome them the best because I’ve experienced these harsh realities first hand.
As your Business Operations Consultant, it is my absolute intention to get you and your business on a purposeful track and increase your value and visibility through collaboration while amplifying your overall reach, profit, and impact.
With over 17 years of project management, process, systems, and human-centered business experiences, I wholeheartedly believe that better dreams and better teams are the blueprint to better businesses. This mantra applies to technology driven businesses too, because ultimately, people are the developers/end users/decision makers/adapters of those apps, products, solutions, and tools.
In the past 2 years, this expertise has led to the greatest expansion my company, Bootstrap Dreams, has encountered. We have been repeatedly recommended for our Fractional Operations Officer and Virtual Assistant recruiting and referral services. We’ve served over 73 businesses recruiting remote executive assistants and other remote business operations positions. Additionally, we have also been awarded 4 small business grants to grow our efforts and even help sponsor Virtual Assistants for startup founders and independent, small business owners; the most vulnerable population of entrepreneurs. Looking for a great cause to support or to improve your business? Come on and connect with us!
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?
You may have heard the phrase, “I don’t look like what I’ve been through”…Looking back is not the most comfortable, but a necessary step from time to time. I’m ok with admitting that. In reflecting for this interview three very vivid abilities, that were most impactful on my journey, came to mind:
1) Address the obvious or major issue/situation that no one wants to discuss.
Shame has a much lower affect (on you) when you acknowledge the problem rather than avoid it. Be responsible to and for what belongs to you. In life, you will do things or have things done to you that you never imagined would be a part of your story. By grace, those moments will not take your life away. Instead, it is with great hope that you will live all the more compassionately and intentionally because those moments occurred. No matter how BIG problems may seem WHEN they are happening…the actual occurrence is temporary, it will end even though the effect of what happened may be something you learn to live with. Choose to forgive yourself and others, live/even love from a distance when you must, and use whatever it is for good.
2) Get good with words, not to be manipulative, but to effectively communicate.
Capture and reflect one’s thoughts so descriptively that it prompts others to know they are seen, heard, and felt. Using words to build up and not tear down is a continuous practice. Learn to listen and be expressive. Words can encourage, equip, and empower people to get unstuck, become decisive, and take action. The line for good and evil is very fine; especially in business. Need more customers? Sales does not have to be gimmicky or shady. Your customers are everywhere, but not everyone will be or needs to be your customer. An opportunity is not an opportunity if it costs you your peace of mind to follow through with it.
3) By any moral means necessary, choose impact over image.
Operate with integrity and authenticity because what you have to offer helps people, for real. Do not rush to react to trends or words that urge you or others to make decisions out of fear or desperation. Those devices are the gateways to quick answers, but long-term time and financial troubles typically closely follow them. View the word “NO” as an acronym for the next opportunity rather than a miss, loss, or rejection. Learning when to decline often makes you available for the YES opportunities that are truly meant for you to thrive and accept. Do not hire a business coach when what you may seriously need to do, first, is deal with trauma with the help of a mental health professional. Remember, a plan is a roadmap with more than one way to get to your destination. Pause, take a deep breath, and affirm yourself that you have options.
May I offer a bonus piece of advice?
4) Follow-up.
Follow-up whether you pick up the phone, send an email, a card, or text. A little acknowledgement goes a long way. It’s not too early or too late to make the connection, let people know that you’re interested, and show you care.
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?
Teaming, delegation, and automation. These are sustainable business (and life) aspects that increase availability and capability to achieve more while, personally, working a lot less. When we go all in on our strengths we can focus our effort on what we’ve proven we’re great at accomplishing. However, it is not good to go all in on our strengths if we have not also deployed talent in areas that are highly likely to go unattended.
When business owners come to me for help they are commonly discouraged, lost, overwhelmed, and stressed out because they have way too much on their to do lists day to day. While they know they need the support, and have the money to do so, they are often afraid to take the step to outsource, procure, and/or hire.
By affirming their competence and lightening their load through viable options, we’ve seen education professionals convert to paid speakers, launch private tutoring programs, podcasts, and create monetizable digital products. We’ve seen hair stylists launch hair care products, develop courses, become salon suite designers, and move out from behind the styling chair. We’ve seen electrical contractors grow their employee count, offer retirement benefits, establish handbooks/guidelines, launch websites, and expand their work from small projects to multi-million dollar, multi-year government contracts. We’ve seen churches repurpose old ministry teachings and recordings into ebooks, on-demand bible studies series, and enhance their on-site community event policies, reservations, and management. We’ve seen licensed counselors and certified home care providers launch private practices. And, those examples of our company’s impact are just a few.
I can personally attest to the benefit of teaming, delegation, and automation from when I was hit in a head on automobile collision. Although I was severely injured, personal and professional responsibilities continued to be met. My family’s daily needs were addressed and my business kept going because of processes, systems, and the mind-blowing support of community consisting of amazing family, friends, and clients.
Had I not been willing to outsource and receive help in the intimate areas of my life, prior to this unforeseen event, my family and business would not have been ok. We wouldn’t have made it. You’re reading life resilience in this article, not because I’m so great, but because of the unseen preparations and, above all, the God given blessings I’ve been gifted.
Whether personally or professionally, it is important to know our limitations, be willing to be vulnerable to communicate them, and have the courage to seek and receive help to fill the gaps whenever they’re evident. There are so many things that must be done, but don’t have to be done by us directly. Invest effort, be it time and/or money, into teaming, delegation, and automation to create and actually experience life-work harmony. I don’t believe anyone is self-made. Collaboration is key to success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bootstrapdreams.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therevolutionarycoo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bootstrapdreams/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bootstrap-dreams
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bootstrapdreams
- Other: https://linktr.ee/bootstrapdreams
Image Credits
Photographer Erica J. Simmons
