Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharise Caldwell.
Hi Sharise, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was excited to attend Chowan University in Murfreesboro, NC, for a few reasons. I wanted a change from the current wreckless way I was living. I hated my hometown and everything about it. I was willing to run away anywhere. Being grown and independent was the answer to my problems. I wouldn’t need anyone else’s permission to do anything or help care for me. I ran into one major problem. I realized I had no idea about being an adult, nor did I ever experience the real world before. I had to “figure it out” all alone, at 19 years old as a soon-to-be teen mom.
Before I left college, I went to church with the father of my child. He re-dedicated his life back to the Lord, and I gave my life to him for the first time. I followed the instructions of the Lord when He said, “Go back home and make it right.” That’s when the message I share today began to develop. I began to see the missing pieces from my childhood that impacted my choices as a teen, which still followed me into my young adulthood as a newlywed wife starting her own family. I noticed I was looking for answers and love (in the wrong places) most of my life. I wasn’t sure about who I was as a person. I didn’t know if I had a purpose, gifts, or talents. I felt lost and alone. I was confused about what I should be doing in life. I had trouble finding information about being a woman, Housewife, a good mom, and knowing my true purpose in life. I wanted help and desired mentorship. After constantly fumbling through marriage, being a Christian woman, and a first-generation homeschool mom, I started a home-based business as an independent Book Consultant with Usborne Books and More. This was a blessing and a huge opportunity to make money while still fulfilling my duties as a homeschooling mom/housewife. This beautiful situation quickly evaporated, and I was back to square one; no income, purpose, or direction. I was grieved in my spirit and started seeking God for answers about who I was and what I should do.
One day I was sitting at my computer and decided not to give up hope completely. I still needed resources for our homeschool, so I illustrated and wrote my book. One turned into two books that turned into about ten within two months of “accidentally” recognizing my gifts. I gained confidence but was still unclear about what was going on with me. Even though I produced multiple books, I was still looking for an explanation and validation from someone else. Until then, I only knew that I should go to college, get a good job working for the government, don’t have children, and don’t pursue my dream as a dancer because it’s unrealistic. Haha! My life now is the opposite of what I was warned not to do.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was not a smooth road at all. It took me a while to figure out how to fulfill each responsibility as a woman. I was told housewives were only for rich, spoiled Caucasian women. If you were black and at home, you were lazy, no good, broke, and useless. I was told being a mom was not a job, and I should get a real job to care for my child. I was told only to work hard, and one day, I could get a higher position in management or something with great benefits and retirement funds. I was told that training up a child was going to church on Sunday and putting my children in school Monday through Friday. I tried to do what I was advised to do as best I could, but life took me in another direction. I was a wife, mom, homeschooler, caretaker of our home, and a Christian woman who actively lived out her faith, so pleasing God was important to me. I didn’t have physical help in my home while I was trying to juggle all of these tasks, plus I had a burden to help my family financially. I was blessed to attend a women’s Bible study where my eyes were opened to women assisting other women to learn and grow in Christ so they could be successful at home and in business. These women had a different mindset and lifestyle I wasn’t accustomed to growing up. They didn’t choose their career over their families. They managed both at the same time.
The biggest obstacle was needing more knowledge and a lack of support. If I wasn’t exposed to a new way of thinking, I would have made the same mistakes others in my life made. I would have repeated the same cycle that led to all of the confusion and chaos I experienced. Going against the grain was scary and difficult because I was told negative remarks about being a black housewife. I went to public school and have never really heard of homeschooling before except for maybe one time if there was a troubled teen or someone became famous, like our hometown bro, Chris Brown. Becoming famous was rare in our tiny town. Let’s be clear we had great talent but were far away from the city.
These obstacles became the brand’s heartbeat because I refused to let any other stay-at-home mom struggle as I had. I don’t want to see another woman live her life full of regret and mom guilt because she chose to work when her family needed her the most. You can achieve balance, peace, and harmony by doing it in God’s way!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My Beautiful Book Boss has three basic functions; The brand, the movement, and the Podcast. We create products and resources for stay-at-home moms, homeschool moms, and housewives. If you are new to domestic home fairs or want to transition from working outside to being home more, this company can serve you! The brand is our store, where we have products and resources for homeschool moms and their families. The movement is our call to action for any woman who wants to take the heart and mission of this brand and apply them in her own life to influence her household first and then extend a helping hand to another sis or circle of sisters. The Podcast is about educating, equipping, and encouraging our audience to take action in their everyday lives. We share lessons, give step-by-step instructions, and interview guests to get their backstory of who they were and how they have become successful Mompreneurs. They also graciously walk us through their transformational secrets.
The four Foundational Principles can sum up our main beliefs in our name:
- My- Find your my (your reason) to go on your transformational journey with Christ. Influence and impact another sister to make the same journey as you.
- Beautiful- True beauty is inner beauty that comes from having Godly character in your heart, motives, and beliefs. When the inside of you is beautiful, then it will manifest itself as an outward “glow” for everyone to see.
- Book- Be committed to seeking knowledge, wisdom, and understanding from a biblical perspective because, with these three, you can reach new levels of success in your personal and professional life.
- Boss- Being a boss is not being bossy. We boss up in two ways, in our home and business. We want you to use your feminine beauty to influence your home. You have the power as a woman to build up the people around you (your children and husband). To impact them and your community further, we encourage our housewives to open up their businesses or at least have a stream of income.
Yes! We help you with all the great things mentioned above! We have our resources, books, informative videos, and podcast. We focus on creating YouTube content and resources for our customers/clients. We have a waiting list and will re-open, or placement calls into our other programs. We will offer classes, courses, and a weekly 12-week group coaching program to help housewives become homemakers, stay-at-home moms become Mompreneurs, and homeschool moms create and publish their resources/curriculum. (Joint the waiting list!)
What were you like growing up?
I was a sweet, quiet, and curious little girl. I loved making up stories, acting, and dressing up in pretend play clothing. I had heels, a dress too big, and necklaces hanging to my belly. I had an innocent, childlike faith meaning I usually believed anything I heard someone say. I would do as I was told, tell the truth, and try my best to avoid trouble. I loved being read to as well as reading books. I was very creative and artistic. I loved music, making up songs, dancing, performing, drawing, writing, cheering, stepping, photography, spoken word, poetry, modeling, theatre, drama, fashion, makeup, hair, hairstyling, etc. Anything artistic was a love of mine! It made it extremely difficult for me to choose a degree or narrow my interest because I have always enjoyed most of these artistic outlets and felt some way if I had to choose one over the other. I had an “I can do them all” attitude and was sincerely on a path to use my talents for one primary purpose.
Pricing:
- $FREE (podcast, social media content, sample kit, challenges, action guide)
- $5-24 (our books range in price)
- $FREE Resource instructional videos
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/shariseantionette
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shariseantionette
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mybeautifulbookboss
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ShariseAntionette
- Other: https://anchor.fm/mybeautifulbookboss
