By Dendy Media
Today we’d like to introduce you to Teekwa Scarborough.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
PowerPro Virtual Assistant Agency was birthed from seeds my parents planted in me at a tender age. As the eldest, I was a natural born leader. I cheerfully presided over my three younger siblings in my capacity as caretaker and their unofficial “boss.” Very quickly however, I discovered that the boss role was not only one I was good at, but thoroughly enjoyed. As we grew older, my brother and I began planning events together and I realized that inspiring people to follow a vision and encouraging others to achieve a collective goal gave me a genuine thrill. My parents preached the benefits of hard work, getting an education and earning a good income. I carried those lessons with me as an event planner and eventually, as an Executive Assistant for over twenty years. This period of learning and on-the-job experience provided nourishment for the little seeds of entrepreneurship that I thought lay dormant from my youth. On my own, I was determined, savvy. I had a knack for learning on the fly. But corporate America taught me resilience, tenacity. I developed gumption, fleshed out my network and grew my resources. Today, PowerPro Virtual Assistant Agency partners with independent contractors to meet the administrative needs of other business owners. Moreover, as a Virtual Assistant Coach, I get to use all the tools and skills gained from mentoring others in my supervisory role as an Executive Assistant to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
More marketing experience. An increased social media presence. If I wanted to make an objective assessment of some obstacles I’ve had to overcome, those would rank pretty high. But they wouldn’t paint a full picture. You see, I am an entrepreneur but I also know the full cost of being a young, single, teenage mother working a “9-to-5” while attending school full time and raising a toddler. I am intimately familiar with the dry taste of humble pie after stubbornly trying and failing to do everything on my own. I know what it feels like for your heart to long for a supportive partner with whom you can be equally yoked. The burning, breathless agony of losing a child? The fist-clenched fear of betting on yourself, of second-guessing yourself, of putting tears, sweat and cash behind dreams that were perfectly safe in your mind? I know the full weight of that, too. There’s a saying that goes something like, “When you are lonely or in darkness, I wish I could show you the astonishing light of your own being.” When I finally got out of my own way and let God develop all that was brewing within me in the darkroom, I gained strength. Vision. I had a renewed sense of purpose. The trials I endured haven’t just molded me – they’ve shaped my ability to speak from a position of forgiveness and love. I couldn’t ask for a better legacy to pay forward for my family and my clients.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
I am a Virtual Assistant Coach specializing in mentorship for my clients. I love what I do and consider myself blessed to be able to help others for a living. I’ve found beautiful nuances within my role; straddling the divide between positive encouragement while eliminating constraints that negatively impact lives or finances. As a general rule therefore, I try to operate from a place of empathy. When I was still relatively new to coaching, I reached out to another coach to ask if I could make a presentation in her Facebook group. Her response? “I don’t know you.” It took a lot of courage for me to ask for help, so as a fellow Christian and female entrepreneur, this was a bitter pill to swallow. After that, I vowed to offer an open palm rather than a fist whenever I could. “I’d like to get to know you, let’s schedule a call!” sounds and feels much better! I put my clients in front of my audience without fear of wrongdoing because I’m in the business of impacting and changing lives. My goal is to get you where you need to be without quitting. Life is hard! Bad things will inevitably happen. When they do, sometimes all we need is a helping hand from point A to B. As long as you’re willing to do the work, I can help you navigate roadblocks pertaining to health, personal mindset or business with tested strategies and an arsenal of experience.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
In order to find success, you first need to know your purpose. Journaling about your dreams can help clarify what you really want. Dig beyond “making a living” or “earning money” as motivators until you unearth what you’re truly passionate about. Then commit to putting the full-throated weight of your resources, your dollars and a relentless work ethic behind that desire. If training is needed, invest in yourself! You are your single biggest asset and what you put in, you will inevitably get out. For example, say you found yourself offering a high-end package worth $5,000 but are struggling to get clients to invest in it. Ask yourself: would you invest in something you needed that cost $5,000? If your answer is no, then how can you expect others to invest in your package? Your expectations are not in alignment with reality. We subconsciously put out into the world what we hope to attract, so invest in yourself. Remember: honey catches more flies than vinegar! Humanity was created to be of service to each other, and I count it all joy to positively impact as many lives as God allows. As a single mother, a grandmother, and Black female entrepreneur, it is important for me to be the best version of myself so that my family can learn from what I do, and subsequently do it better. My children are my legacy and pouring into them will pay dividends for generations to come.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
Viola Davis made the analogy of life being a race that resonated with me. “Nobody knows that when you come to the race, you don’t come with the same set of tools as everyone else. Even when you come to the race with a deficit, you still have to run the same race.” When I think of success, I don’t just think of my accomplishments. I think about the journey itself – the victories won and the battle scars. I buried one of my twin sons before he turned one, and raised his beautiful sibling while I was but a child myself. I’m far from perfect, but I love my children with a ferocity outmatched only by God. They are my reason for the work I do, and the tenacity with which I pursue it. I think of the first singles’ ministry conference I hosted. Only 30 people registered. My mother encouraged me to confidently speak to the 30 as if they were 1,000. I gained 1 client from that conference and ensured she was well cared for. That 1 client became 2…became 10…became 20…! I’ve not yet done everything I want to do, but success means taking stock of how far you’ve come. I’m grateful for the trials and tribulations, and the journals I’ve kept to reflect on my growth. I am farther along today than I was yesterday. And as long as the needle continues to point north, whatever progress I make tomorrow is a triumph.
What’s next for you?
I am excited about the possibility of transitioning away from my “9-to-5” and into coaching clients full time. In addition to coaching virtual assistants, I am now diversifying my portfolio by coaching clients one-on-one about their online business and helping them explore ways to make an income doing what they love. This has opened a new door for me to expand my coaching business as a DBA (Doing Business As) under my PowerPro Assistants business. This new venture gives me the opportunity to be of service to women in different industries from all over the world who are keen to start an online business or create their own digital courses. Additionally, my business partner, Mary Fitzgerald, co-coaches with me under another business called Dynamic Business Building. This is a wonderful new season of growth for my brand and I am truly grateful.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more.
I’d love to connect! You can find me on: Facebook @powerproassist Instagram @coachteekwa Twitter @coachteekwa Email: teekwa@teekwa.com You can also find me at www.teekwa.com and www.powerproassistants.com for coaching and virtual assistant services. Feel free to reach out and schedule an appointment with me and let’s see how we can move forward!