People who read this blog may think I’m against reality TV In fact, I’m not. I used to be obsessed with it. But I’ve come to the realization that portraying women behaving badly was not something I wanted in my subconscious anymore. Do I still watch reality TV? Yes. I love Mary Mary and a few others.
The reason I love Mary Mary’s show is not just for the positive aspect but for the business savvy they show navigating the entertainment industry standing firm to their personal beliefs. Many people put theirs to the side or bend them in order to move ahead. We’ve all done that at one point, so no judgement. But watching Erica and Tina overcome the battle to not lose themselves or their beliefs while working helps me to understand and see for myself that I too can take that stand. I don’t have to accept anything that’s not aligned with my beliefs. I don’t have to turn my back on my family either. I can learn to prioritize what’s important to me and carve a career that will not harm but enhance my entire life. {Keep reading.}
People see Tina and Erica in different lights. Well I see them as having two different approaches to business. How to make your career work for you is the theme I tend to see each week on the show. Tina makes sure her family is first as does Erica but they approach it differently.
Tina wants to be the mom who is there for everything in her kids life. She’s more like my sister. Yes, we started this journey together but since have gone our separate ways. Do I still love my sister? Absolutely. I learned that my sister has different reasons, 3 to be exact (her sons) for how she approaches business. I can’t hold that against her. Tina is like my sister. They will not put anything before their children. And for that I have come to respect that. They both want successful careers but not at the expense of missing quality time with their children. Tina’s approach to business is second to her children. Career decisions are made based on the needs of her children.
On the other hand, Erica is driven to succeed like I am. She’s always on the go and looking for new ways to expand the Mary Mary brand and herself. Can you blame her? No. Mary Mary is a brand I want to see continue to grow myself. Erica loves her children and finds ways to spend quality time with them. But, she knows that having a successful career is important as well. Erica thinks about the short and long term effects of the choices they make today.
I am like Erica. I work daily to build a strong brand presence for Women Are Gamechangers. And I spend time with the ones I love. I can do both just like Erica. Having a career does not diminish my family life.
What I learned most importantly from watching the show is that I can’t hold my sister to the same obligations for myself when she has 3 other people to think about. I had to learn how to approach business in a way that’s best for me. And respect how she approaches business that is best for her family. The same can be said of Erica and Tina.
People may speculate all they want on the break that Mary Mary is taking. If you read the above post, you will understand that there are two very distinct approaches to how Mary Mary handles business. Neither is right nor wrong. Tina is mommy first then career focused and Erica is mompreneur focused. She blends the two.
They just are what they are. Everyone has to make the choice that is best for them at the end of the day. No matter what others may say or think.
How do you approach business in regards to the way you live your life?
