Motivational speaker and author Kara Ferrier immigrated to the United States in her late teens. Having completed most of her secondary education in Haiti at an all-girl Catholic school, she finished school at a high school in New York before embarking to Adelphi University. Her book 28,000 Days…Make Yours Count Book is out. In the tome, she serves up a great deal of motivational advice. And here’s a bit more of that in Part II of the interview with author Kara Ferrier!
Kreyolicious: What advice would you give to a new college grad?
Kara V. Ferrier: Graduating college is an awesome achievement and you should be extremely proud of yourself. However, don’t think this is the end of your education. I am not talking about grad school or getting a doctorate. I’m talking about self education. As Jim Rohn said so well: “A college education will make you a living. Self-education will make you a fortune”. Use your college degree as tool in your arsenal, as you move forward in your life. Do not let the words written on your diploma put a cap on the possibilities available to you. You can truly, be, do and have anything you want as long as you can allow your imagination to see it and as long as you are willing to work and persist until you have it, whatever “it” happens to be. I graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and Business Administration. Since then, I have been an Executive Administrative Assistant to the CEO of an Investment Bank, I’ve been a Mary Kay Consultant then a Mary Kay Director, I have been a lawyer, a recruiter and entrepreneur and now an author and motivational speaker. You are full of gifts and talents beyond your college degree. Always be on the lookout for what else you are good at. Lastly, hold on to that winning feeling you just felt as you walked across that stage to pick up your diploma. When the going gets rough in the pursuit of your dreams, you will want to hold on to and leverage that feeling to remind yourself that you have triumphantly overcome obstacles before and you can do it again, straight to the finish line.
Kreyolicious: What’s next for you?
Kara V. Ferrier: I am definitely going to continue to develop myself as a motivational speaker and coach, while growing my Personal Injury law practice, being a mom to my awesome kids, Luc and Lia and being a wife to my wonderful husband, Rich. I intend to translate the book into kreyol and start my workshops in Haiti as intended at the outset. I am also getting ready to release a phone application I’ve been working on that will add great value to this work I have been called to do.
Kreyolicious: You visit Haiti often?
Karen Ferrier: I visit pretty often now. There was a period of time about 8 years preceding the earthquake that I wanted nothing to do with Haiti. However, I’m over myself today and I’m just focused on being a positive contribution to my country.
Kreyolicious: Have you given any thought to perhaps teaching at a local law school there?
Kara V. Ferrier: Nope! My true passion and gift is empowerment. I love practicing law and I’ve gotten pretty good at it now 8 years into practice. However, inspiring, motivating and supporting people in the process of creating their best life really get my juices flowing. I discovered this gift when I was a Mary Kay Director some years ago. People would come up to me after the trainings to tell me how much I had just inspired them. In my mind, I was only training them but somehow, the inspiration part happened, unintentionally but naturally. So over time, I realized It was an undiscovered gift I had that I didn’t even know about before and of course, to who much is given, much is required. I don’t want to die with any of my talents left in me.
Kreyolicious: Life’s events has a way of preparing us for the future. What factors have led you to become the woman of strength and courage that you are today?
Kara Ferrier: No doubt the tragedies of my father’s death and my grandmother’s demise shortly thereafter when our house caught on fire in New York are at the top of the list of the factors that have led me to become the woman of strength and courage I am today. When I was in the midst of the smack down I was being handed by life, I did not think about how those experiences were going to serve me in the future. But now I know that the hurts, struggles and hard work were all part of the preparation for the work God has now called me to do.
CLICK HERE if you missed Part I of the interview with author Kara Ferrier.
CLICK HERE to learn more about author Kara Ferrier and to purchase her book.
