We recently connected with MARIA ANDERSON-MOTON and have shared our conversation below.

Hi MARIA, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The pandemic brought the best out of me! Originally, I worked multiple jobs, and was extremely unhappy. Being away from my husband and kids caused me to miss so much time. This is time that I am unable to get back. And to think it was from companies that gained while I lost. In the past I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but was afraid of failure. In 2020, I decided to take that risk and never looked back. Some family and friends questioned my actions, and made several attempts to point out the negative aspects. However, I did not allow that negativity to stop me! If there was a time machine, I would’ve definitely taken the risk much sooner. This opportunity has been one that I would have never thought someone like me would take…but I was born to be an entrepreneur and I’m providing services with joy and passion.

MARIA, 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?

My name is Maria Anderson-Moton and I was born and raised in North Memphis, TN. My birth mother died 4 months before my 4th birthday, so I was raised by relatives. In the 9th grade, I moved to East Memphis and my new life began. By the time 12th grade came around, I was working multiple jobs and had a few side-hustles under my sleeve. Working multiple jobs became normal, especially after having three children.

Initially, my dream was to become a hair stylist and a counselor – two of my passions. As time went on, I fell out of love with hair, and thought about becoming a Realtor and working for myself. In 2020, my late husband, Dontavius Moton, talked me into becoming a Bedroom Kandi consultant. This was the start of Maria the Super Entrepreneur! April of 2020, I joined Kandi Burruss’ company that she co-founded and became an independent consultant for Bedroom Kandi. Having 20 years in customer service allowed me to build rapport with my customers and not just sell them adult products. Bedroom Kandi is a lifestyle brand – meaning we have something from everyone. Body care products, adult intimacy products, candles, personal elixirs, cosmetics, etc. Even though we are in the 21st Century, so many people are still out of touch with their bodies, and I host home parties to assist them with that. I enjoy teaching and empowering others – it’s a true pleasure!

In the black and brown community going to see a counselor or therapist can be awkward and costly. Family members and friends asking me for advice was extremely common. After obtaining a life/ family coach position, I felt a rush with seeing my clients become successful from the coaching sessions that we had. During the pandemic, I decided to start affordable life coaching sessions and later implemented sex and intimacy coaching.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Unfortunately, I’ve had many trials and tribulations in my life. Have you ever heard of a person that was invincible? Well, that isn’t me but I very close. Recently, I have faced one of the hardest ordeals that a woman can experience. Grief almost told me to quit and stop all of my businesses. Depression made several attempts to poison my mind and tell me my life was over! This is still an ongoing process but having the ability to bounce back is my specialty. I did take some time off to take care of my husband’s funeral, burial, expenses and our kids. However, I used a lot of my time to focus on my businesses.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the lessons I had to unlearn was that “no meant no!” As a young child no was one of the words taught to be negative. When I asked my grandma a question the answer would be no on the regular. It made me feel like asking was a waste of time and energy. So, when I started working hearing my customers and guests tell me “No” was like a dead end and I would freeze up. As an entrepreneur, when I heard my first no people told me it would be hard. Rewind to present day – I see NO has no…at this time or no not right now but ask me again or no ask me another way. This has caused me to ask questions differently, to develop referral programs, to manifest the right people for the right time. Just because one person may say no doesn’t mean the next person will speak the same language.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kandikoated.com/11984 www.mariayourrealtor.com
• Instagram: Mariasellsbk MariaYourRealtor InspireByMariaRoChelle
• Facebook: MARIASELLSBK MARIAYOURREALTOR INSPIREBYMARIAROCHELLE MARIADAHUSTLER
• Other: TIKTOK MARIASELLSBK MARIATHEENTREPRENEUR INSPIREBYMARIAROCHELLE

Image Credits
Jacorri Washington – CloudedVisuals