We recently connected with Mya Douglas and have shared our conversation below.

Mya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I wish I had started my business straight out of college. I believe fear stood in the way because as creative as I am, I didn’t always have the confidence I have today. I remember when I was at Temple University, people were talking about how big YouTube was then and I often think, what if I had started my channel then? What if I had started to build my influence as a writer back in 2006 rather than waiting until now? My professors would even tell me how good I was whenever I did a journalism project requiring me to interview people. I had the on-camera personality, I just didn’t have the faith. I believe starting sooner would have allowed me to have a platform that pays me. I would also have a more significant impact in the publishing industry. I would already probably be a millionaire by now.

Mya, 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?

I was born and raised in North Philadelphia. Today, I am an Amazon best-selling author, speaker and literary consultant. I’ve written and co-written several Christian/contemporary romance novels, including, Storms of Love, Love to the B Power, Love to the Baby Power, Fumbled Your Heart and A Star-Studded Love. My devotional for college girls, The God Girl’s Guide to College Life, was #1 in new releases on Amazon during the week of its release. Girls Anthem is a full-service literary consulting firm that equips women with the tools they need to write their stories and build successful writing careers. I am also the creator and co-host of “The Writing Bar Podcast”, with Nailah Harvey, a new writing podcast coming September 2022 that features tips and tools for writers who are looking for ways to monetize their writing and build a following without compromising their faith.

I offer one-on-one book coaching, editing, cover design and manuscript critiques. I also offer business coaching for women who use my book coaching services, but know they want to take it a step further and launch a business around their expertise.

I push my clients past procrastination and help them tap into their bravery so they can create a new rhythm for their legacy. In order to do that, every person must complete an application (https://forms.gle/5Pfws8NTgXk3Kbbs7). After I review the application, I then set up a consultation to discuss how I can assist the client in achieving their goals. The application is a key step because I only take on 3-4 clients a month, so I have to be selective in who I work with.

I believe what sets my coaching apart from others is one, I’m a Christian coach, which allows me to pray for my clients and help them achieve their God-given vision. I don’t pull solutions out of thin air, I sit with God to make sure I’m giving my clients what they need and not what I think they should have. Two, I have competitive pricing, but you get more than what you pay for. My clients have consistently said that I over deliver all the time.

I am most proud of being able to help someone push past fear and make progress with their goals. Too many people worry about how many books they can sale, or how they can make a bestsellers list, but without completing the book, those things don’t matter. When a client has been able to get it done, it’s a win for me.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe my faith and my consistency has helped me build my reputation in the publishing industry. I don’t work with everyone and I’ve even turned down celebrity collaborations that don’t feel right to me.

People who work with me know that they are going to always get three things: 1) God – I talk faith a lot; 2) Straight shooter, no chaser conversation; 3) Authentic connection.

I pride myself on these things and I literally would rather have dry months with no clients, then to be consistently growing, but have no integrity.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for me has been my email list and word-of-mouth. Honestly, only one of my clients in the last several years has come from social media. I literally have been bootstrapping since I started. I also have great clients who refer others to me.

I send out my newsletter weekly and provide free writing tips. I also believe my podcast has helped my email list to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://girlsanthem.biz
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/writermya
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/writermya
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWJgZ7ld-btHG7j_Ja-tH3A

Image Credits
Ardell McDuffie