By Taroue Brooks
TELL US ABOUT GoNAKid.com
GoNAKid.com is a unique platform that encourages users to share life experiences and promote self-growth, healing and happiness.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR?
My thought pattern was not to become an entrepreneur. However, I intentionally planned to work on projects that I was passionate about. Once I tapped into my inner-self, I became selfish and decided I would only work on my passions for life. I set goals and executed.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING COMPONENT BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR?
The most challenging variable I must say is TIME. There is never enough time to all that I want to do while promoting, writing and creating. However, TIME is a variable I can never get back so I practice on spending it wisely.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST IMPACTFUL SUBMISSION AND WHY?
Most recently, “Feeling Some Type of Way”, resonated with me as a single mom but the loss of her son broke my heart. However, knowing that there are strong women persevering through life’s experiences such as losing a child and continue to wake up each day showing up is admirable. The author of this story is a “SUPER HERO”.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?
My energy is so organic, when I wake up in the morning I am automatically motivated. When I hear stories of women like the author of “Feeling Some Type of Way” motivates me. My young adult children motivate me. My Board of Directors motivates me.
WHY IS IT THAT THE MINORITY COMMUNITY VIEW MENTAL HEATH SO NEGATIVELY?
Mental Health in the Black Community is definitely taboo. It is embarrassing to even think about needing or going to seek help if we are experiencing life problems. Although, Blacks come from generations of proud people and our history never afforded us the opportunity to seek help. Our ancestors prayed and depended on each other to pull themselves up. We were each other’s support system. Reaching outside of the village was unacceptable and we believe if we got through some of the worse times, such as slavery and civil rights we will get through any other life’s challenges which led to us dealing with life issues in private.
HOW HAS THIS PROJECT HELPED YOU WITH YOUR OWN HEALING?
GoNAKid.com initially started out about me. Healing thyself or should I say searching for means to HEAL. I am a communicator. I personally NEED to communicate through my life’s experiences. I needed a platform to heal. I remembered being young and thinking that I was the only person going through pain and hurt. It took Divorce, many painful experiences, many years of therapy and my Board of Directors to understand that I am not the only one. My survival tools consist of all of the above. GoNAKid.com is a survival tool for me as well as others. The fact that others use it and find it mentally/emotionally therapeutic is AWESOME!
HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE WITH YOUR PERSONAL REALITY OF BEING A SINGLE MOM?
I balance my professional life and personal reality of being a single mom very delicately. Now, that my children are young adults, I am coaching them with their lives and no longer controlling their lives. Coaching definitely allows for a bit more time for me to invest in myself. I believe I put in the hard work up front when they were younger and now I am proud to say that they are responsible educated young people and I can focus a bit more on my professional life.
WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
I believe there is success within different categories of life. I feel completely successful raising my children. They are healthy, educated and full of LOVE and PASSION. Professionally, I work really hard at executing my goals. I LOVE on differently levels, so I LOVE everybody (for the most part). I LOVE to spread LOVE. I am happy attempting to LIVE my BEST LIFE and for that I am successful. Finally, if only one person shared their story on GoNAKid.com, I would have felt SUCCESSFUL! But, thanks to many co-authors for sharing and helping to heal, we are all SUCCESSFUL!
HOW CAN SOMEONE SUBMIT TO YOUR COMPANY FOR CONSIDERATION TO SHARE THEIR TRUTH?
Submissions can be sent to GoNAKid2017@gmail.com
WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK HAVE YOU RECEIVED SINCE YOU HAVE CREATED THIS OUTLET?
The feedback has been tremendous! It has all been very surreal knowing that something I created changes lives. Just hearing people talk about GoNAKid, share the platform or even introduce me to others regarding the platform, I think to myself…they can’t be talking about me. GoNAKid is a passion project, which means it comes natural for me to talk to people, share and exchange stories, feelings and methods to recover. I have received nothing but positive and supportive feedback from strangers, friends and family.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS MOVEMENT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
I am planning on releasing tons of stories to help and heal everyone that connects with GoNAKid.com, a book containing real life stories and all that the higher power use me to complete; I am open and available…
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Email: Gonakid2017@gmail.com