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Akilah S. Richards Writer • Entrepreneur • www.execumama.com 
Akilah Richards is the founder of Execumama Enterprises, LLC, a women-focused entity that provides copywriting/editing services, and networking opportunities by way of books, workshops, and forums. The main site www.execumama.com and the blog www.execumama.blogspot.com serve as mediums through which fellow Execumamas can showcase their particular brands and serve as inspiration for other women as mothers and business women.
I don't believe in the concept of life balance, per se, and I achieve happiness by staying true to the things that feed my soul; writing, motherhood, and playing my part in helping women remember their God-granted power. My belief is that the embrace of the certain imbalance that is working motherhood, is the key to my sanity. My husband, Kris, and I both work from home, and some days, I'm 80 percent focused on work, and 20 percent focused on my home/children/husband. On those days, Kris is forced to pick up my proverbial slack. On other days, the roles are switched, and I help keep the girls out of his way, leaving the concept of a work day a distant memory for me. I've learned to be okay with that. Earlier on in my (entrepreneurial) career, I would try to create daily balance, and that left me frustrated and fatigued. Now, I ride the wave of the "Execumama" lifestyle, by sprinkling bits of me-time wherever I can. A short trip to Florida here, a "No computer" day there. a day filled with playgrounds and libraries with the girls from time to time, it all depends on what projects are on my plate.
For one thing, we tend not to come from families with means, so we have to build our "empires" from the ground up, without much support, which oftentimes means eating "cheap", and inevitably battling weight and health issues that are 100% preventable. Not that women of all races don't have weight issues, but in my experience, —and statistically speaking—my sisters of color tend to accept weight issues as something we all go through. When I go walking at my local trail, the majority of the people walking don't look like me. But if I hit up Applebees in my neighborhood, I find that I see more of my people, which wouldn't be problematic if we weren't so much more at risk that other races for preventable illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension. Also, we tend to sacrifice our health for our careers. "Well, my doctor said I'm at risk for this disease and that one, but I made partner at my firm this year!" When did it become impossible to be healthy and career-oriented? That's something I'm very conscious of, and it's something I'm determined to help women address.
There is nothing like a good long walk; tried and true! It's a great way to thank your body and reconnect with your quieted mind, so that's a staple in my world. As far as products go, I'm fortunate enough to be friends with an incredible personal chef and hair care product creator. Shelley Chapman over at Naturi Beauty Concepts is my home girl, and I use Naturi Quench to give my locs the equivalent of a tall glass of vitamin-enhanced water from time to time. Also, she is a master in the kitchen, and I selflessly make myself available to sample her organic cooking creations whenever I can!
The Execumama credo is "Define, Design, and Live your fullest version of WOMAN, and I work diligently to live by that. For me, that entails prioritizing my personal and professional goals, just as I value the goals I set for my children and my relationship with my husband and family. My tips are simple: get regular exercise, try to eat relatively healthy, keep extra weight off, and make time to hang out with your family. That's important because it helps you to stay in tune with your body, and to better assess when you are experiencing stress. Stress is a sneaky thing, and I've certainly been guilty of OWES (Operating While Extremely Stressed), and not being able to recognize it until my body does something wacky like breaking out in hives, or refusing to shut down at night for sleep. |
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