We were lucky to catch up with Kierra Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kierra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think that in order to be successful, you have to first start by identifying what success looks like to YOU! For me success looks like peace-inner and outer. Success looks like creating a space that allows you to do the things that brings you joy. Most importantly, success is about making deposits into others. Everything that I have done successfully has been rooted in those three things- peace, joy, and service. Once you identify your meaning of success, you then have to identify your gifts and talents that align. This doesn’t include the ones you’ve forced, would LIKE to have, or are attempting because someone has told you you’re good at it! I’m talking about the natural, God given talents that you were born with! For me, it was: art, fashion (particularly bridal styling), education, and writing. I was certain of my gifts and with that came opportunity. You see, when you operate in your gifts, doors naturally open for you. And if I by chance did not prefer the door that opened, or perhaps outgrew it, I created my own. In 2012 I started my journey as an educator. In 2017 I started Styled By Taylor K (shoutout to Voyage Houston for covering that story as well!). In 2019 I dusted off my brushes and canvases and started back painting, something I hadn’t done since my teens. And my most recent accomplishment, which I am very proud of- in 2021 I published my first book, “Sticky Situations: The Gift of Goodbye”. If you did not notice, all of those accomplishments stemmed from one of the gifts I listed. It’s not rocket science or a secret formula! I truly believe that success is within everyone’s reach if you sincerely want it. Take what you have, consult your higher power, and get to work! Remember, “Nothing comes to a sleeper but a dream”.

Kierra, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Kierra Taylor and I am the author of “Sticky Situations: The Gift of Goodbye”. I was born and raised in Cleveland Mississippi, a small city in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. As a child, I always had a love for reading and writing. By the time I reached 2nd grade, I was creating short story books out of notebook paper, illustrating the characters and settings from my vivid imagination, and using my teachers’ staplers to bind the pages together. To me, it was nothing special. I was just entertaining myself as most kids do. But the reception from my peers and others reassured me that my mind was far more creative than I was giving it credit for. This continued as I grew older. The day of acceptance came when I was eighteen years of age still choosing to lock away in my room with a good book, over partying with my friends. Let’s just say I realized I was definitely an anomaly, and made my dad (while encouraging me to get out and have fun like a “normal” teen) a stress free parent! In 2008, I graduated high school (East Side High), and continued my education at Mississippi State University. I went back and forth between majoring in Journalism, English, or Education due to my obvious love for reading/writing and education in general. I eventually decided on Elementary Education which was short lived. I later switched my major to Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling. In 2012, I received my Bachelor of Science and journeyed into the real world. In 2014 I relocated to Houston, Texas where I continued my career as an educator. While being an educator is extremely fulfilling, I knew I wanted to do more. Writing a book had always been on my bucket list. I was not only a talented writer, I had a story to tell. I just had to decide which one to share. Finally, in June of 2021 after much thought, prayer, and spiritual prompting, I started writing my first book, “Sticky Situations: The Gift of Goodbye”. Through my book, I hope to help others find spiritual freedom and healing in the area of relationships through offering transparency about my own journey.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the freedom. Being able to express yourself in a way that liberates you and others is truly a blessing.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My move to Houston has by far been the biggest pivot I have had to make in my life. It was very challenging and uncomfortable when I moved here in 2014, because it was not planned. It was post-undergrad (we all know how that goes!), and things just were not aligning for me back home in Mississippi. After trying to make things work for almost a year and having little success, I finally relocated to Houston with the help of my older sister and brother-in-law. At first, I definitely wanted to give up. I hated the city life and missed my personal circle greatly. Nothing felt familiar, and for a person like me who values routine and structure, this was a problem! Gratefully, I persevered (with the help of my family, friends, and H-Town tribe) and have truly been able to make a home for myself here in Houston. I could not be happier with the success I have been able to obtain and the personal growth I have witnessed simply from sticking it out!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stickysituationsgg.com
• Instagram: blu_b3auty
• Facebook: Kierra Taylor

Image Credits
Photographer: Jermario Gordon