The BOSS Network Blog

Caprice O'Bryant is a certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition specialist through the National Academy Of Sports Medicine. She is the owner of Excuse Free Fitness, Inc., a personal training business with custom meal plan services. Caprice is a warrior and advocate of Epilepsy. She has hosted fundraisers to raise awareness in which 100% of the proceeds went to the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago.  She works to remove every excuse from people's lives as to why they cant do something. She says that with Excuse Free Fitness, you can do all things! Caprice is truly a walking miracle! "I believe I can still win with the hand I was dealt. Because in order to be used by God, you must literally be used!" The BOSS Network: What are some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? CO : When I first started as a trainer I was operating in an environment that frequently caused lots of stress, I would often get sick and have...

Former White House reporter, prominent political and cultural commentator, Sophia A. Nelson, says all women live by a Code, whether they realize  it or not. Nelson’s second book, The Woman Code, debuted in October 2014 as an instant national bestseller and was featured in national magazines and  major media outlets including NPR, Family Circle, Essence magazine, Ebony magazine, Publishers Weekly, TBN,  Black Enterprise, The Huffington Post, The Daily Caller, American Business Journals and Business Insider. She says,  “It is time for us as women to start looking for what we need inside of us, instead of always looking to be validated  by what or who is outside of us. When a woman isn't living by the Code, her life is out of balance.”  Sophia Nelson is a woman on the move, with an emerging  global platform that is making strides to help women rede fine themselves  and unlock their lives by tapping into the power within. ...

Lakara Foster , M.Ed. is the President of She Speaks Inc., an Atlanta-based firm that provides workshops and coaching focused on women's empowerment. She was nominated Author of the Year for her book *The Grown Woman's Guide to Greatness*. She has been featured on several television shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show and VH1's Atlanta Exes. The BOSS Network : What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? Lakara Foster : The biggest obstacle I had to overcome at the beginning of my business was mastering time management, becoming more fiscally responsible, and learning to trust my instinct. BN : What inspired you to break into your particular industry? LK: In 2012 I was laid off from my job as a school counselor due to budget cuts in the city's school system. It was during this time that I discovered my calling as a spiritual life coach, author, and speaker whose mission in life is to empower women into...

Kelly Fair is founder of Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program serving over 1000  girls 7-17 yrs. old to be effective communicators, and career & community conscious leaders! This work has been supported by a network of 400+ volunteers from the Chicago land community and area businesses such as Bloomingdale's, Microsoft, Thought Works, and Nordstrom's. The BOSS Network: What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career?   Kelly Fair : In the beginning of my business I had to deal with building my confidence in my ability to produce superior service, and the high quality of the product that I had created.  I doubted if I was good enough, if I had the appropriate leadership skills, or could actually make a living at running a mentoring program.  It took the courage to keep building clients and partnerships and trying new work with different age groups of girls in new neighborhoods to see and trust th...

Tisa L. Silver is an educator, philanthropist, and the award-winning author of  The Time Value Of Life  , with a passion for inspiring others to become lifelong learners and community servants. Tisa is the current Associate Director of Financial Education and Wellness at University of Maryland, Baltimore. The BOSS Network: What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? Tisa Silver: I can think of two obstacles: fear and being ahead of the curve. Fear was more of a factor in the real of my work as an author. We live in a world of "Breaking news." There is pressure to be quick and on the pulse of whatever is happening right now, but for me, the thirst to be first is less important than my personal commitment to producing quality content. I value accuracy too much to rush. I use my name on all of my content, and sacrificing quality can diminish your credibility. As for being ahead of the curve, you will not f...

Deida Massey Prior to her 14 years as an A-list Hollywood make-up artist, Deida Massey worked as a paralegal for the Public Guardian's Office of Chicago's Cook County advocating for abused and neglected children. During her time there, she saw a tremendous need to help teenagers with issues of self-worth and esteem-specifically teen girls. Moonlighting as a makeup artist at night and on the weekends; it didn't take her long to trade in her cushy nine-to-five job for a more rewarding career in makeup artistry.  With her passion in one hand and purpose in her heart, Deida took a leap of faith in 2002 and headed to Los Angeles, CA.   Living in LA, Deida quickly ascended to become one of the most sought after makeup artists in town working on numerous commercials, TV productions, editorials, personal appearances and fashion shows including the prestigious Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC.   She was also one of nine artists selected to work as a celebrity makeup artis...

Chimere Gather has over 15 years of experience working in banking, finance, legal and various accounting roles.   She has an extensive background in credit management, financial consulting and more recently, taxation.   She assist many small businesses and individuals by providing them tools to help better balance their checkbooks as well as their dealings with governmental agencies, the banking industry and their credit ratings. Chimere is the president of Gather Enterprises; she is also currently employed by a well respected Accounting firm in the northern suburbs of Chicago.   When Chimere is not working, she spends a lot of time with her children.   A few of her favorite hobbies are interior decorating, traveling and hiking.   The Boss Network: What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career?   Chimere Gather : One of the biggest obstacles I faced in starting my career did not know what ...