Exclusive interview with Randryia Houston (8/4)

Had the pleasure to speak with a phenomenal woman who did not give up, but shared her story and journey that would be a testimony to inspire and help other women. We use our testimony about our journey to help others, give inspiration, and to help empower women along this journey called life. She has a best-selling novel called I Almost Gave Up and she is a part of a great collaboration called Shift.

Tell us about your novel, “I Almost Gave Up”.

Wow, I Almost Gave Up was originally a series of journals that I kept over a series 2-3 years on what I was going through about some rough times in difficult relationships. I basically turned my journal entries into a book. I would meet women all the time when I was out speaking at colleges, universities, and even in my work place who wanted to know how I got to the level of success that I did.

When I tell my story they were shocked and they would say, I never would have thought you’d been through those things. I felt like there was a perception of perfection and people really didn’t understand the struggle that it took to get there. I wrote the book and talked about some things that really impacted my life that contributed to me being the type of professional that I am.

What inspired you to writer “I Almost Gave Up?”

It’s definitely a very personal journey. I talk about an abortion that I had and an emotionally abusive relationship. I talk about heartbreak and going through that. I also talk about going through a spiritual journey and spiritual awakening while going through all of the struggles at the same time.

You are apart of a dynamic collaboration of women called “Shift”, tell us about your contribution to the novel and how did you come to be apart of the project?

I somehow stumbled across Nikki Woods I believe it was so you wanna be an Author campaign. I was actually one of the clients in one of her mini-mastermind programs to writing. Then she started so you wanna be an author. I almost missed the opportunity and I saw it on someone else’s’ social media page. When I saw the opportunity to be in a collaborative book with other women in all facets of business to share our stories.

I was like, I have to be a part of this collaboration and there was no hesitation for me. I instantly signed up. I think this was the best decision that I made in 2015 because it put me on a different trajectory as far as my brand, exposure, and building relationships with women around the country. My chapter in the book is called, From Poverty to Philanthropy- my journey to massive non-profit success. I am the first chapter in the professional shift section of the book.

What message do you want your readers to take away from your novel I Almost Gave Up and the collaboration novel “Shift”?

I think with both of the books I just want women to be empowered. No matter what their circumstances were leading up to this point in their lives. I want women to know they don’t have to ask for permission to succeed. They don’t have wait on other people to affirm what they are doing. If they have a dream to go after that dream to go after that dream and chase after it with everything they have. In my chapter in Shift, I talked about how a study abroad trip to Ghana, West Africa lead into me finding my identity and purpose in life and starting a non-profit organization taking school supplies back to Ghana.

I am a girl from Acorn, from North Houston that is a small low income community. No one expected that to happen from a child from that neighborhood. I saw a need and I knew I wanted to make an impact there and so I did it. When did it I didn’t ask permission and the people who wanted to be apart got on board. The people who were not believers, I had to prove them wrong and that is exactly what I did. I want women to go after whatever it is that they want to do.

 

What advice would you like to share with women and men?

I think the most valuable lesson that I had in business is the more I share my story, the more the people who are supposed to work with me, to support me, and who I need to connect with, and gravitate to me. It was not by hiding those things that people say I should be ashamed of that I have become a best-selling author. It was being open and transparent with my story and allowing people to come on the same journey and identify with that.

I think that is the key to building relationships in business, building a tribe for your book, or whatever project your doing is to really be open and transparent from the things you have been healed from not the things you have not been healed from. The things you are willing to talk about and expound with strangers. It will make people cling to your message and your brand.

How can our readers learn more about you?

My website is www.unleashyourmovement.com and you can find a copy of my book  I Almost Gave Up under books and my social media links are:

Facebook.com/Dryia

IG: Randryia Houston

Twitter: @Randryiahouston

LinkedIn:  Randryia Houston

It was truly a pleasure to speak with Randryia Houston about both novels I Almost Gave Up and her contribution story in Shift a power hitting collaboration of twenty women sharing their story of success, strength, courage, and more.  Visit her website to learn more about her and follow her on social media.

Photo Credits:  Courtesy of Randryia Houston