Tierra Destiny Reid is the Founder and President of TDR Brands International. Since launching TDR Brands International, Tierra has hosted countless intimate events from coast to coast, serving communities and cultivating even deeper respect and love for the women of the world. 

Here is what Tierra had to say when we asked her about the road to resilience:

GenHERation®: What is resilience and why is it an important skill for people to develop throughout their lives? 

Tierra Destiny Reid: Resilience is a conscious choice to move forward. When the chips are down and you’re uncertain, it’s the ability to keep on going and believing in yourself even when no one else does. A good way to embrace resilience is to be a tennis ball, not a raw egg in life. Always be able (and willing) to bounce back. The ones who get back up after a fall are the ones who best harness their superpowers.   

GenHERation®: What are three steps people can take to start building their resilience? 

Reid: First, take an intentional pause where you get true with yourself. Make yourself a priority during this time—self-love isn’t selfish. Second, you created this pause to honor yourself, so be courageous and go within yourself to ask those tough personal questions: What is holding me back? What do I enjoy in my life? What does life look like if I push myself forward? Honor who you are, recognize your past, and accept it for what it was. Oftentimes people get stuck in the shadows, but remember where there is a shadow there is always light. Third, write out all of your emotions—there are no good or bad emotions (and you won’t be sharing this content with anyone). Be brutally honest and free. Then write down the new vision for your life. Own this vision, honor it, and surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable. Your life really can change with one decision, even if you don’t see its manifestation right now.  

GenHERation®: How does resilience relate to being an effective leader? 

Reid: Leaders have to know when to lead by standing in the front, on the side, and in back. As a leader, you have to expect the unexpected and understand it’s okay to not know everything. Resiliency allows you to pause, which gives you time to think and reflect, and move forward. Maybe your division is losing money or you’re struggling to bring on a new client. Rather than give up, a resilient leader will push forward. However, being a resilient leader doesn’t mean you take on everything yourself. You don’t have to be on 365 days of the year. There is great strength in sometimes stepping aside and letting another person take on a job. You never want to go forward at the sake of your sanity.

GenHERation®: What is your most important takeaway when it comes to resilience?

Reid: Stop being guilty of putting too much pressure on yourself. If you choose to go in a different direction, you’re not quitting. However, to ensure you’re making the best decisions for yourself, make time to pause and be in a peaceful place. You owe that to yourself.  

Tierra Destiny Reid is the Founder and President of TDR Brands International. Since launching TDR Brands International, Tierra has hosted countless intimate events from coast to coast, serving communities and cultivating even deeper respect and love for the women of the world. Tierra hosts live events, manages a consulting firm, and heads Legacy Publishing Coordinators, a boutique publishing company that supports emerging authors through one-on-one interviews and transcriptions, helping them overcome writer’s block and tell their stories. Tierra’s own published work, including The Power of Peace in a Pause, has allowed her to share what she has learned with other aspiring entrepreneurs. In addition to leading TDR Brands International, Tierra was featured on Good Morning America’s Work Spot, is an Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) Ambassador, and is the Founder of When Women Heal, an organization that offers free weekly online training on emotional intelligence and effective communication techniques to help women heal and thrive. When Women Heal hosts an annual retreat in South Africa to further support the internal healing journey of female leaders and trailblazers, and a Global Leadership Activism Summit to further inspire her mission of creating an international gateway of support and connection. Tierra has been featured in Oprah Magazine, SUCCESS Magazine, and Best Self Magazine. She is an agent of change who believes each of us has the ability to tap into our own power and share our trials to serve humanity. In her free time, Tierra loves to hike and eat sushi. Most importantly, she is a grateful mother of two.