We were lucky to catch up with Tinesha Croom recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tinesha, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity stems from my childhood and this personality trait has been embedded in me for as long as I can remember. Acts of generosity don’t always require financial or physical contributions. Offering emotional support to a friend going through a tough period can be equally impactful. I vividly remember a time when a close friend was dealing with a personal crisis. I made myself available to listen, offered a shoulder to cry on, and provided comforting words. My friend later expressed how much this support meant to them, underscoring the importance of emotional generosity. Random acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day in unexpected ways. One day, while waiting in a long drive-thru line, I decided to pay for the coffee of the person behind me. Their reaction—a surprised and grateful smile—highlighted the simple joy of giving without expecting anything in return. Such acts remind us of the kindness that exists in the world. Being actively involved in community initiatives has allowed me to make a broader impact. Organizing a Mental Health walk brought my community together. These acts of generosity foster a sense of unity and pride within myself.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have to say I wear many hats! I’m currently a Associate Director and Psychology Professor at a college in my hometown. As a Associate Director I manage teams within an organization. I provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to my team members, helping them achieve their goals and ensuring the efficient operation of their unit. I assist with strategic planning and decision-making, working closely with other leadership members to develop and execute strategies to achieve the organization’s goals and objectives. I work on specific projects or initiatives, ensuring they are completed on time, within and meet quality standards among other tasks. As a Psychology Professor I design and deliver courses in psychology in higher education. This includes developing curriculum, creating lesson plans, delivering lectures, leading discussions, and assessing student performance. I teach a variety of psychology courses, such as introductory psychology and growth and development.
I am the owner and operator of Destined For Success LLC. My company provides a variety of services such as tutoring and career development services. In the near future I will be transitioning my company to provide an array of Counseling Services. I am currently completing the necessary requirements to obtain licensure. I am super excited about this new journey!
What’s most exciting about my life’s work is that I find passion and purpose in all the tasks that I do. Everyday is a new day to learn something new to add to the collections. I’m very excited about my current career track and look forward to all the wonder experiences I will obtain along the way.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that I found most impactful during my journey is the ability to listen to understand, be teachable, and remain humble. I enter into most situations with the mindset that I am not the smartest person in the room. There is some form of perspective I can take anyway from this situation and explore my gains and losses. I found that this has made me the most successfully. I stepped out of my comfort zone and took a leap. There’s no way to out run risks! Take a chance you might just be successfully!
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed I have learned over the years to take several steps to calm down and balance my emotions. The first bit of advice I can offer is to pause and acknowledge your feelings. This is often one of the most difficult steps to take when you are flooded with emotions. I take this moment to become self-aware of what’s causing these feelings of uncertainty. Second, I focus on my breathing my taking deep breaths to calm my body emotional responses. I recommend to others to inhale deeply and slowly release the air from their body. These a steps that I repeat several times. Third, I briefly step away from the overwhelming tasks. Taking a short break from the event that is causing you a great deal of stress shifts your mental processes. A change of scenery or a brief walk can provide perspective.
Once I have had time to calm down and gain perspective I write down all the tasks or responsibilities that are overwhelming me. I then prioritize them based on importance and deadlines. I break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. I also recommend connecting with friends, family, colleagues, etc. who you are comfortable talking with.
Most importantly, I practice self-compassion and mindfulness techniques in order to stay grounded and reduce my level of stress. This is arduous for sure but, these strategies have helped me overcome some challenging events in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.destinedsuccess.org
- Instagram: destinedsuccessllc
- Facebook: destinedsuccessllc
