We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Bessie Stewart-Banks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Bessie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

When I think about my legacy, I would like it to be one that was representative of my faith and the purpose that I born to fulfill. That I lived a life that was full of dreams that I not only dreamed but pursued and accomplished. A life that I was not afraid to take risks. A life that inspired others to pursue their goals and live life to the fullest. A life that my sons would be proud to say that they had a mother who showed them what it meant to think outside the box and to did things different from the status quo. I want them to remember that they had a mother who lived a disciplined life that was full of love, joy, and peace.

Additionally, I want my family and those in my community to remember me as a person who was forgiving, trustworthy, dependable and a giver. That not only was I an author, entrepreneur but someone who challenged others to evolve into the best version of themselves. Nevertheless, I want to leave behind a plethora of generational wealth that includes wisdom, knowledge, finances and a work ethic the next five generations of youth in my bloodline can replicate that will help propel them to the next level in life.

I am also the owner and chief editor of Conscious of the Heart Publishing, LLC. As a minority and woman-led company, we provide our clients with publishing and ghostwriting services. Our motto is, “Let Us Breathe Life into Your Words.” Since the company’s inception in 2017, our book catalog has grown. As of to date, we have published six books and have two being released in March 2023.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello my name is Dr. Bessie Stewart-Banks. I am the owner of founder and Executive Director of Easton Banks Learning & Life Center, Inc., a 501 c3 non-profit organization. The mission of the organization is to provide quality early childhood education and youth development services to BIPOC communities within the corridor of Stone Mountain and surrounding areas. Our programs services include: Project G.R.A.P.E., The Sister Linkage Mentoring Program, Achievers STEAM Afterschool Program, and Thumbs Up STEAM Youth Summer Camp.

Additionally, I am the owner and chief editor of Conscious of the Heart Publishing, LLC. As a small, minority and woman-owned establishment we provide our clients with publishing and ghostwriting services. Our motto as a publishing company is, “Let Us Breathe Life Into Your Words.” Since the company’s inception in 2017, our book catalog has grown. As of to date, we have published six books and have two being released in March 2023.

Beyond being a business owner, I am also an author and Certified Master Life Coach . I have written four books: In Finding Him I Found Me, Fear the Other F Word, Girlfriend I Forgive You and Sophie’s Garden. As Master Life Coach at Life Achiever’s Coaching and Consulting, LLC, it is our goal to provide our clients with accountability and strategy planning services. We strive at encouraging and challenging each woman and man we work with on how to cancel out self-doubt, how to develop a plan of action to pursue their goals and methods on to push past the negativity of others as they their dreams.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

As far as I can remember I have always wanted to start my own business, but as life happened I had to push that dream aside and work a fulltime job. However, after years of working for others, gaining more knowledge through higher education and feeling less fulfilled in life, I decided it was time to step out in faith and live on purpose. I knew I had the skills, knowledge, wisdom and experiences needed to educate and help others pursue their goals and dreams in life. I knew I had what it takes to invoke change in the lives of others. Hence, after careful thought and prayer, Easton Banks Learning & Life Center was established in 2006. While moving forward with the implementation of a non-profit organization of this magnitude, I soon discovered that I had other hidden gifts and talents that would be transformed into other business ventures. Years later, I created a publishing company, became an author, and step into the arena of being a life coach. I believe the sky is the limit and although 2023 has just begun I’m exploring another creative side of me that will bring about more inspiration and change into the lives of people.

It is quite telling that once you step out in faith to pursue one goal, you are steered toward other open doors of opportunity that exceed your expectations in life.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the greatest lessons of life that I have had to unlearn is the mindset that working for others is better than being your own boss. Far too long it has been embedded within the mind frame of the generation before me that you pursue higher education, get a job in your field of study and work until retirement. There was a false sense of security that your income and medical benefits are set in stone, and all was well. However, I’m more from the new school of thought. If I have the knowledge and skillset to make someone else wealthy, why can’t I take that same energy and ingenuity to become wealthy myself.  Nevertheless, I knew that for me to become an effective business owner I had change my way of thinking, block out the naysayers, remain focused on my goals and surround myself with people who had the same train of thought as me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cothpublishing.com or www.ebllcinc.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/cothpublishing or instagram.com/ebllcinc.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bessie-stewart-banks-ed-d-mpa-565a125a/

Image Credits
Image credits to @realimagesbymccoy