We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sterling McKinley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sterling, appreciate you joining us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

My parents instilled two crucial values in me: faith and perseverance.

Faith was central to our lives. Raised by an ordained minister, I witnessed its power firsthand. When my father faced serious health issues, his unwavering faith kept him positive and hopeful. He showed me that faith helps navigate life’s storms, offering a foundation for overcoming challenges.

Perseverance was also a key lesson. I vividly recall wanting to quit my first job at McDonald’s. Upon learning about it, my mother and father emphasized the importance of commitment. He insisted I go back, apologize, and reclaim my job. It was a tough lesson but invaluable. It taught me that discomfort and drudgery are inevitable, but quitting shouldn’t be the answer. We must learn to persevere, keeping our goals in mind, even when the road gets rough. These two values remain fundamental to how I approach life’s challenges.

Sterling, 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?

A Digital Skills Coach with a Heart

I’m a digital skills coach driven by a deep desire to empower individuals and businesses. Unlike others, my approach is fueled by genuine care for my clients. I go beyond teaching; I equip them to leverage digital marketing to achieve growth and personal fulfillment.

A Self-Made Path in the Digital Age

The internet’s potential to transform lives ignited my passion after the dot-com crash. College didn’t offer a path, so I carved my own: devouring library books, YouTube tutorials, and anything marketing-related. My “aha moment” came during winter break, where I built my first website (thanks to a “Dummies” guide!). Though imperfect, it launched my journey.

From Churches to Classrooms: A Journey of Growth

My first client, a local church, paid $300 for a digital makeover. This project ignited a fire within me. It provided invaluable insights into the struggles of small businesses. Over the years, my website and expertise blossomed alongside my clients’ success.

Conquering Fear to Empower Others

An unexpected opportunity to speak at Howard University arose when a friend couldn’t attend. Fear gripped me, but the chance to conquer public speaking was too good to miss. On stage, a natural flow took over, leaving me exhilarated.

The Joy of “Aha Moments”

Today, my greatest pride lies in being a DMV Grow with Google Digital Coach. I offer free training and coaching on connecting with customers, online sales, and business productivity. Witnessing the information transform businesses, elevate lives, and empower individuals to make a difference fills me with immense joy. The most magical moments are the “aha moments” – when comprehension dawns, fueling my passion even further.

Empowerment: My Deepest Passion

There’s no greater satisfaction than seeing a small business owner leverage my digital skills training to improve their lives and benefit their communities. Empowering others to achieve their goals is my deepest passion, and it’s what truly sets me apart.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

After graduating from college, my first job was radio sales for iHeartRadio. I worked as a sales executive for a small AM radio station in Baltimore, Maryland. The job was quite challenging because it was commission-based, meaning I had to sell a certain number of ad spaces to get paid every two weeks. This created a lot of anxiety for me, as every day and every client mattered.

However, there were positives to the job, too. I got to talk to hundreds of small business owners, hearing about their problems, chances, and frustrations. With an entrepreneurial mindset, I saw this as a case study. I collected all the data and decided to start a web design business. However, starting the business required some initial seed capital.

For the next 6 months, I lived frugally and saved every additional dollar to fund my business. By the end of this period, I had saved over $3,500 to help start my business. Against the advice of friends and family, I mustered up the courage to quit my job. I used the money I saved to buy a computer and other supplies from eBay and created a website to showcase my services. I even printed business cards and flyers.

Looking back, it was cazy, but I’m glad I took the risk. It set me on a path that led to many of the successes I enjoy today.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When I was younger, I used to be quite shy. However, I soon realized that stepping out of my comfort zone could make a significant difference. It all began in middle school when I observed how humor helped a friend to connect with others. Inspired by this, I decided to work on my own sense of humor by watching TV shows and sitcoms to improve my comedic timing, and to bring more fun into my conversations.

As I progressed into my professional life in digital marketing, I knew I had to stand out, so I took on public speaking, even though it felt daunting at first. I remember my pastor preaching a sermon about speaking up. I’ll never forget his quote, “He who does not toot his own horn will not be tooted,” which I interpreted as meaning that if you don’t put your talents on display, no one will ever see all that you have to offer.

After persevering through over 200 speaking engagements in just four years, I learned to become comfortable on stage. This opened up amazing opportunities, allowing me to share my expertise across the world. Now, I’m a Google Digital Coach, leading workshops for small business owners. This entire journey has taught me the power of self-belief and dedication. It’s incredible to think that I went from being a reserved kid to a confident communicator who can inspire others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sterlingmckinley.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesterlingmckinley/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterlingmckinley/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SterlingMcKinley
• Other: Grow with Google Digital Coaches Program: https://events.withgoogle.com/digital-coach-dmv/
  In The BLK Podcast: https://intheblkpodcast.com/