We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kenita Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kenita below.
Hi Kenita , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I believe that resilience runs in our bloodline. My grandmother was a mother of 10 children, and she still managed to become an Licensed Nurse Practitioner (LPN) and raise children that attended college or learned a trade. Today, I could not imagine raising 9 children in a three bedroom home with one bathroom, but she did. Likewise, my mother, was a single mother at the age of 20 and later married and had two more children, all one year apart, but she also became an LPN and raised three children who are determined, successful in their own right, and help support four bonus children. Their strength is remarkable and I honor them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Starting My Nonprofit is a consulting business for the new nonprofit leader, organization under $300,000 in operating revenue, or new development leader. It’s for those that have always wanted to start a nonprofit, but never took the first steps to do so, but it’s also for those who maybe jumped out there by faith, but are stuck on what to do next.
When I founded my organization, Helping Other People be Empowered (H.O.P.E, INC.), I had no nonprofit experience. I came from a corporate healthcare background. I didn’t have a lot of money to start it, no donors when I originally started, and no grant support. What I did have was a natural ability and skill in leadership, execution, and strategic thinking. I also had an MBA and I was able to take my education and use it to grow my nonprofit and raise over $1.5 million from nothing.
However, the road was not always easy. I had to sacrifice a lot to get it to where it is today. I went three years without a salary, working as a CEO full-time. I was faced with the challenges of having to prove that my program could be successful because no organization in the country offers the wholistic services that H.O.P.E, INC. does altogether and ongoing monthly for single parents in college. I had to learn to be my best cheerleader and advocate for H.O.P.E, Inc. when the community was unaware of our work, and take the time to be bold enough to find out what works for us when it didn’t line up with the best practices taught.
I spent a lot of time and money on things unnecessary in the beginning, and there was a lot I didn’t understand. Yet, I always had my relationship with God and the intelligence He gave me for business that allowed me to overcome and grow the organization quickly. 13 years later, we’re making a huge impact and I bring that knowledge into my consulting.
When people work with Starting My Nonprofit, they are working with someone that’s been in their shoes and can say they did it! That is what makes me and the brand stand out.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities and skills I believe were most impactful in my journey are the gift of exhortation, skills of leadership and execution, and strategic thinking. Initially, I did not realize these were gifts and skills I contained, but now I can see them clearly.
When I was a sophomore in high school my math teacher told me that I was very comfortable in front of the class and felt I would become a teacher. That natural ability to share a story, point of view, or concept in front of a group of people has served me tremendously well on my journey.
It would be much later before I would recognize my leadership and execution skills. As the oldest sibling, I was naturally given responsibility to lead. I often took initiative when it came to learning, finding a job, and helping others. When faced with problems at work, even at a young age, I found ways to create solutions. I also rarely made a suggestion without figuring out a way to achieve it, which leads me to the natural ability I had to think strategically.
My strategic gift developed in my adult years, especially in college and grad school. However, I did not realize that I was a strategic thinker until I became a founding CEO. I had a mentor that acknowledged that skill in me. Coming from her, it meant a lot. All of those skills prepared me for what I do today.
I would tell folks early in their journey to pay attention to the things they do naturally and develop those gifts, and don’t be afraid to put people around you that can do the rest.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
My biggest challenge today is a challenge that most entrepreneurs have, time. Time is our greatest asset, all of us are given a measure of it, but most of us do not seem to have enough of it.
Growth and expansion is always a great thing, but it’s a time consuming thing, and with five sons, a husband, a nonprofit, and a ministry, balancing my time is my greatest obstacle.
To resolve this issue, I am working to prioritize my efforts and learning the word, NO. I make a conscious effort to evaluate my capacity and am learning the skill of delegation. Although, I can’t say I am a pro at that yet. However, it is developing.
I have set “work days” and “family days” and I try not to allow the two to merge. I’m getting better at creating cut off times, and I don’t answer work calls after hours nor do I check work emails late, unless I am working later than planned in an emergent case. I even turn on my “do not disturb” at times.
Lastly, I don’t let other people’s emergencies become my emergencies, and I set proper expectations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.startingmynonprofit.com/
- Instagram: @startingmynonprofit
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startingmynonprofit
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/82563423/admin/
Image Credits
Precious T Photography (@precioustphotog)
