We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lashunika Hicks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lashunika below.

Lashunika, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

In 2019, I started my job with the school system. I was working in the special education department and during this time I discovered how much I enjoyed helping students overcome their academic struggles. I had started my tutoring business shortly after and during the time of the pandemic. I started using my services to help support parents at home. What was once a side hustle turned into a business. I wanted to help students receive more one-on-one attention. During fall of 2022 I decided to go back to school to further my education. Letting go of my business was not an option and neither was quitting my job. Of course this meant having to juggle all three. As the “Fall 2022” semester I began experiencing burnout from juggling all three. I knew something had to be done and I needed to figure out another route. I weighed my options as the semester came to an end and I knew that it was between work and my business or work and school. I was afraid and scared that if I failed my classes that it would hurt me and my business. I was placed on academic suspension and felt like everything was over. I remembered that my works were not measured based on receiving my college degree but because parents trusted me with teaching their children. Over time my business began to grow more. I moved into my own office to better support my services. I remember writing in my goals that by December 2022, I would make working for someone else full time optional. As time went by I forgot all about what I had put into writing. One day, it was closer to the Thanksgiving Holidays, I was presented with an opportunity that would help me make that goal come true. I was offered a position to go into the school district as a private tutor starting in January 2023. I began doing my research and watching for signs and answers because this was another major step. I finally got the confirmation to take on the job and now not only has my business grown more but I am now faced with new opportunities.

Lashunika , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing Strong Minds is a tutoring program where we help students go from learning how to read to reading to learn. My passion for wanting to kids of tomorrow future grow academically has brought me to where I am today. Students have been faced with brand new learning struggles since our dear friend Covid hit the scenes. Students lost so much in just those two years and now they are having to play “catch up”. Students missed face to face interaction with teachers due to lack of at home resources such as no computers, parents were turned to put on teacher caps as well, and so much more. Growing Strong Minds was created to help students bridge learning gaps between home and school which would also help students with day to day living. I have created children workbooks and binders that are not only offered to the students that I service but at the finger tips to those who I do not see. All it takes is a few clicks thru Amazon. Growing Strong Minds is not just a local business but we also provide virtual sessions allowing us to connect with others state to state.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

One of the most influential resources that helped changed my thinking was listening to “The Blessed + Bossed Up” Podcast. It’s a faith based podcast for thriving women starting or working through their business. What drew me closer to the podcast is that I was already on my faith journey wanting to know how to be more intentional with my time with God. “The Blessed + Bossed Up” host Tatum Tamia spoke heavily on making God the CEO of your business and when you start looking to him to make decisions within your business how it becomes easy. Hearing these episodes helped me to no longer stress and start seeking Him in every step I make in my business. The podcast also helped me to change certain daily habits. I learned more productivity tips that would help me stay focus and not feel overwhelmed when completing day to day task. Along with listening to the “Blessed + Bossed Up” podcast I joined “The Society”. Which is a community group for faith based business women to connect, network, and share relatable stories and situations! The Society along with the Blessed + Bossed up podcast both have changed how I choose to show up for my business and has helped me to see by keeping God first anything is possible.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social Media started out very tricky. I dreaded having to brainstorm content and thinking of ways on how to in draw my audience. I invested in a business coach whom one day covered the importance of marketing and how it was important to market through social media. She gave tips and strategies from how to brainstorm content ideas, how to schedule content days, and steps on how I could find my audience. Starting out I felt like it was pointless and there was no reason to market through social media. One thing I did learn was going with the flow was better than overly planning out how I wanted certain videos and post to flow. I also learned that it is very important to be yourself. It’s easy to want to copy or mock others who seem to have the social media thing down packed. But the best way to draw your audience in is to be yourself. My advice to any one trying to build their social media presence is to remain consistent but don’t overly push yourself. There has been days where I did not want to post and I posted content anyway and the audience could tell that I really was not in the mood or head space to post. Best way to gain your audience is to just show up as yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.growingstrongminds.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingstrongminds_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growingstrongmindsTS

Image Credits
Keena Wallace Kimberly Duffy