( ENSPIRE She Did That ) Hodges Teams Up With Les Brown On New Book Release
ENSPIRE Contributor: Gabrielle Maya
Anti-bullying is a conversation that Tera Carissa Hodges is an expert on and author of this topic. She recently wrote a children’s book called “I Am: A Little One’s Guide to Affirmations.” What’s great about her accomplishment is that she gave copies for free to different organizations. Hodges is an internationally known faith-based women’s empowerment speaker, entrepreneur, and coach. She has spoken on stages throughout the US, Canada, the Caribbean, South Africa, and Europe. She has coached women in over thirty counties since 2011.
In addition to being an author, Hodges published another book. Collaborating with well-known author Les Brown on June 29th the book “Your Story Sells” was officially released. This book empowers individuals to tap into their experiences and build purpose-based businesses, ministries, and practices. Hodges has been featured in magazines in women’s empowerment, such as “Essence Magazine” and “Black Enterprise.” Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz sponsored her for a women’s conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, which attracted women from seventeen countries. Lastly, she’s been named a Global Icon by Iconic Womanhood, an international organization dedicated to highlighting successful women throughout Africa and the Diaspora, as highlighted by “Success Magazine,” “Walker’s Legacy,” and more.
Tera Carissa Hodges shares her entrepreneurial journey through women’s empowerment coaching, offering insight into workshops and advice she provides on her travels. Explore her advocacy of anti-bullying, how it shaped her career, and the changes that need to be made in DEI in the workplace. Along with creating “I Am: A Little One’s Guide to Affirmations,” Hodges expresses her passions through her career and upcoming projects.
Tell us how you became an entrepreneur and women’s empowerment coach and what kinds of workshops and advice you offer as a speaker when you travel around the world.
I began my women’s empowerment journey soon after starting in ministry. I quickly saw that women did not need just a sermon. In addition, women need practical steps to live by. The typical church service does not allow for that, as most ministries do not allow for Q&A. But coaching does. Journals, greeting card lines, books, etc.. were birthed. They are all supplements to the foundational faith messages I teach, primarily focusing on using life’s obstacles as fuel and making what you’ve been through work for you. There are actionable steps in the Bible that I teach from.
Explain how you got into the advocacy for anti-bullying and how it has shaped your career thus far.
I noticed the more successful I became, the more jealousy I encountered. People have lied to me and tried to take credit for my success. People tried to impersonate me, steal from me, duplicate my work, compete with me, and more. I know I am not alone. Others have done the same thing to them. I talk about this on www.successbullying.us and in my book with Les Brown, Your Story Sells. After trademarking “success bullying” and creating a website of resources for individuals also experiencing such behavior, I became a certified Workplace Bullying Institute affiliate. Besides my work with ministries, I work with corporations, businesses, and not-for-profits to help them identify and eradicate workplace bullying. We can’t wonder why children and teens bully when adults are guilty of bullying, too.
What changes need to be made to assist in DEI in the workplace and empower women currently starting in the workforce?
More laws regarding bullying in the workplace need to be passed. To date, the Workplace Bullying Institute has worked to get laws passed in several states. However, more laws in more states need to be passed. Sadly, history shows us that an oppressor rarely decides to act right on their own. Laws have to be passed to set a clear standard of what they must live up to and, if not, what consequences they will face.
How did the creation of “I Am: A Little One’s Guide to Affirmations” begin, and how did that impact your collaboration with Les Brown on the book “Your Story Sells”?
I decided to write an affirmation book for kids after becoming a mommy. I’ve known for a while I would write a children’s book. However, the decision to teach children how to affirm themselves came after giving birth. Affirmations are so powerful and help children love themselves. I can’t think of anything more important than teaching children self-love, second only to their love for God.
My decision to collaborate with the incomparable Les Brown was inspired by being included on the cover of a magazine several years back. Unbeknownst to me, a publisher interviewed us both, and we both ended up as the top features. From there, though I remember seeing him on TV while growing up, I began to follow his brand more closely, saw the opportunity to collaborate, and said, “Count me in.”
Are there any new events coming up that you’d like to share?
My following media projects include a mommy website dedicated to millennial moms, which is scheduled to launch in August, and another book collaboration with Percy “Master P” Miller, due in September. I am excited!
Hodges’s other accomplishments include being a President’s Club Member of Christian Women in Media and a Life Member of the Florida A&M University Alumni Association. In addition, her philanthropy financially supports the following causes: Free The Slaves, World Vision, Help The Persecuted, and Women For Women International. She also sponsored a building for school children in Nigeria through a UN-supported charity.
Follow Tera Carissa Hodges on Instagram to view her upcoming projects. For more details on her coaching and entrepreneur expertise, visit https://lrglobalmediagroup.com/. Join her Facebook page by visiting www.facebook.com/speakteracarissa, which has over 190,000 supporters.
Related Articles: Makaila Nichols on Mission to End Bullying, Sydney Brett On Anti-Bullying Non-Profit “Stronger Than You Think”
