Dare to Dream: Building Your Future with Regina Martin

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Alright. Welcome back to the Daily Mastermind, George Wright III here with your daily dose of inspiration, motivation, and education. And I'm excited to be able to feature today a guest, Regina Martin. We're gonna get into a lot of cool stuff, but she's an educator, speaker, author, coach.

I'm really excited to have you here, Regina. Thanks for joining us.

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Thank you for having me, George. I'm glad to be here.

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This is gonna be good. And I wanna—before we get going, I just want to give a little bit of a background because you've got a pretty diverse, proven background in education and some of the things you're working on. You've got a decade in higher education, and you inspire audiences basically to dare to dream.

So as an educator, Regina's been able to take her expertise from the classroom to stages to her book. She's co-author of a collaborative book called The Fire Girl Code of Conduct. But she also has a book that we're gonna talk a little bit about today called You Belong Here: Transitioning to Success, High School to College Edition.

Regina Martin's Background and Journey

And so as we get started, Regina, I want you to just lay the foundation. Give us a little bit of the background of what brought you to this area that you've decided to really pivot into and been successful with. Give us your background, your backstory a little bit.
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So, my backstory is that I decided going into education was the second chapter of my life. I started out as a government employee. I worked there for many years, and then my daughter got involved in a college program and it really piqued my interest because of the fact that it put me in a different space with different audiences. And as a result of that, what ended up happening is I ended up going back to school and got my master's in education and...

The rest is history. I just stayed in the education space. I substitute taught, I put myself in a position where I was working with students and around students. I really enjoyed that space and I really found that it was something I was passionate about.

Finding Passion and Purpose in Education

One thing that I will say about how I got into this space is that I was determined for the next chapter of my professional life to be something I was passionate about. Some of us go to work every day, punch a clock, cash a check. But for me, it was all about identifying what that “it” factor was for me and how I could be impactful and make a difference. And that is how I became an educator.

Yeah. I'm curious because I was gonna ask you—sometimes people unintentionally come across what their passion and their focus and purpose seem to be. But it seemed like you were looking for that, and you learned. And I know that's what you help people to do as well, but you really were looking for that.

So there was a moment where you chose education—going from working for the government to education as the area to focus on—but then you also... correct me if I’m wrong, but your primary focus is young women in high school to college students all the way up through professional channels.

So what kind of made you decide to do that? Is it because it was the way you bridged the education passion you had with helping people leverage and bridge into life and into careers?
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Yes. And they're all connected. You are absolutely right.

Guiding Students and Professionals

When I’m in the high school space, they’re getting ready to begin the next journey of their life—whether it be college, employment, or military. So they have to be able to know if that’s the perfect fit for them. I talk to my students all the time in the classroom, and the first question that I ask them when they come to me for their first day of class is: “Why are you here?”

And the general response that I get from these students is, “Miss, you’re on my schedule, so that’s why I’m here.” But that’s not the answer that I’m looking for.

And I bring it back to them and I say, “Listen. Did you have a conversation with Mom and Dad, and it was decided—or it was discussed—that this was the next chapter for you? Or was it a case where you were determined to come to school and you didn’t have anybody decide for you? Or are you still trying to figure it out?”

So once I present it to them that way, it helps them to understand, “Oh, so that’s what she meant.” So, am I here because I want to be here, or am I here because I have to be here? Or did I make a conscious choice to be here?

And when it comes to connecting the next chapter with the college student—when they graduate from college—they're going into the world thinking that they’ve got a degree in accounting, and they’re gonna work for the accounting firm that is gonna pay them six figures, and everything is gonna be as bright as rain.

I went to business school long ago and far away, and my goal was to work as an executive secretary and have a corner office. I did have a corner job—but it was working at a corner bank. So, I did not work in the corner office, but I worked as a teller.

That was my bridge from being in a structured higher education situation to aspiring to be something, but it didn’t work out that way. So, as college students, we may aspire to go in one direction, but then your direction may change and you may have to pivot.

Working with young professionals and women who are seasoned professionals—you’ve gone, and you’ve got the education, you got the job, you’ve worked up the ladder—and then what happens is, “Okay, I’ve done everything. I’ve checked all the boxes. Everything is great.”

But then there’s something else that you wanna do, but you are so busy rolling out your 9-to-5 and doing what you have to do there that you’re not really focused on what that next thing is.

When I told you before about being in education being the second chapter of my life, I’m speaking from experience because our lives are in chapters. It’s either:

• You are still trying to figure it out.
  
  
• I know what I’m doing.
  
  
• Or... this is the next chapter, and I’m going to make it on my own terms, in my own way, in my own time.
  
  

I love it. I love it. Because what’s interesting about how you explain those three different types of markets—where there's high school kids, there’s children transitioning to college, and then there’s young and older professionals... it seems—and I know you're really good at this because you ask the right questions—most of the people in life just don’t have direction, and they don’t ask themselves these questions, so they don’t have clarity.

And I think you’re really super good at helping people to find clarity about why they’re even doing things.

The Importance of Dreaming and Vision

But it leads me to a question I was gonna ask you because you’ve talked many times about the fact that you feel one of the biggest problems people have is that they forget to dream—which in my mind is always clarity on your future, whether you are a high school student, a college student, or a professional.

Are you getting clarity? And so there’s this level of clarity, but then there’s this level of dream-building and vision. Talk to me a little bit about that. 'Cause you say a lot that’s the problem that most people have. What do you mean by that?
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We have allowed ourselves to be dictated by what society says that we should and can do, instead of ripping the band-aid off and realizing, no, I’m not just an executive secretary, I’m not just an educator—but I have much more in me to offer and give and share and pour into.

I think for me, it’s important for people to understand that your 9-to-5 is not your final destination, and it’s not the period at the end of your sentence.

When you continue the journey of determining what your dream life is gonna look like, instead of there being a period there, you could put a comma to indicate continuation.

Turn the page.‍

So you’re mentioning a couple things that I think, for some people, are very difficult. One is a little bit of a leap of faith to say, “I do believe that I can be more.” And then another one is, “I don’t know how I’m gonna do that anyway.” So I don’t know where we want to start to unpack that. But you told me a story before we got going, which was a really empowering story.

Because I think you’re right. I think a lot of people are stuck in a 9-to-5. Maybe they’re not even thinking that they’re worth more or that there’s more available. And there are other people that are in it—but man, they just... they’re not happy. They want to move forward. But either way, it takes some pretty empowering steps.

Overcoming Fear and Taking Action

Sometimes you can’t do that on your own, but it takes empowering steps to step into the unknown.

So what do people do? How do you typically help individuals to start to identify what they do if they’re not happy where they’re at?
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They have to realize that the people that they’re working for—they’re building their legacy each and every day.

You have no skin in the game. It used to be that when a person retired from a job, they would get a gold watch and a cake and stuff like that. Now, you don’t even get an attagirl or attaboy. They just have the box waiting on your desk and a “Have a great life,” or whatever.

And the thing is, you have to take control of your destiny. And if you allow other people to define what that is, then you are going to continue to be on this vicious cycle.

And like you mentioned, people are just not happy where they’re at. You have the power to change that.

But see, you said something very crucial—people are scared to step out. We are in a comfort zone. As long as the bills are paid and as long as everything is going according to plan, everything is right as rain.

But as soon as trouble shakes it up, a lot of people don’t know what to do with that. A good friend of mine gave me some great advice. She said, “Sometimes you just have to do it scared.”

Yes—and sometimes it means that you just have to throw caution to the wind and just see what happens. I tell people that you have to stay focused and you have to be intentional about what it is that you want to do.

Because the thing is, when you become an entrepreneur, you have to go through the steps to legitimize your business. Because if you don’t, it’s just going to be a very expensive hobby.

And the question that you then need to ask yourself is: “When are you ready to turn your W-2 into a W-9?”

No, you’re right. And that—man, if there’s one lesson I’ve learned—after I’ve got eight kids and five grandkids, now I’m at the point where it’s... you know that you have to make yourself uncomfortable in order to get your life moving forward.

And that your greatest life, your greatness always lies outside your comfort zone. And so I think people do have to be willing to do that. I think it does help individuals...

The DREAM Method Explained

...when there are ways and strategies and plans to do it. One of the things I liked about what you had is you’ve got this DREAM method. And we talked about, one of the reasons we wanted to have you on the show is because one of your big objectives is you help people to build confidence, clarity, and live their best life.

So this DREAM method—and I would love for you to maybe just speak to that for a minute—the DREAM method and what it is and why it helps people to explore and create and implement goals that will help them to create their dream life. What process do you take people through with that DREAM method?
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For the DREAM method, what has to be at the forefront of everything is that you have to identify what “that” is. You have to understand, “Okay, what is it that you want to do? What is it that you’ve always aspired to do and you’re good at doing?”

You could be someone who has a gift to encourage people. Okay, so let’s say you want to be a speaker, where you provide encouragement to those who no longer know how to encourage themselves. That’s a gift that you can monetize.

Incorporating the DREAM method in that means you have to be able to identify what that “it” thing is. And then you take every factor of the DREAM method and you incorporate it into what that roadmap looks like.

A lot of people get stuck when things get too tough. If things are not happening and materializing the way they want them to, people don’t want to really work hard at what they really want—because everybody is in this microwavable society where they want things to instantaneously happen.

Unfortunately, incorporating the DREAM method helps people to zone in and identify:

• Where do I see myself in the D in DREAM?
  
  
• The R?
  
  
• The E?
  
  
• The A?
  
  
• The M?
  
  

Taking them through those steps—incorporating it as it relates to them and what they’re trying to pursue and what they’re trying to go through—is going to help them to really embrace and appreciate what the end result is going to be.

And I tell clients this too: You’re the architect of your dreams.

I’m not talking about a dream where you go to sleep and then you know, you have this dream and you wake up. There has to be a call to action—and there has to be action behind what it is that you want.

Because it’s not going to be given to you. You have to put in the work, and you have to surround yourself with people that are going to help you get there.

I always speak to people about the power of networking and collaboration—being able to connect with people that can help you to get to the next point. And you don’t have to reimagine or try to replicate what somebody else is doing.

If I have a chance to sit with someone—like I’m sitting with you today—and we’re having this conversation today, you have something that is going to help me to propel where I need to go as far as my product, my dream, my vision.

I don’t know what you know. But you and I having the conversation is helping me to enhance my thought process and my focus—to build on my platform so that I can take my platform to the next level.

Collaboration Over Perfection

We make the mistake of feeling like we have to know everything—and that was something that I personally got stuck in. I felt like, “Okay, I have to know this. I have to know this. I have to know this.”

No, I don’t.

It’s all about leveraging and being around people that are already doing the things that you want to do.

If somebody calls you up and says, “I really want to write my first book. I don’t know how to go about that.”
I’ve got a person for you.

They don’t necessarily have to go through me to write the book, but I can put them on the roadmap to help them get connected to the person who can help them write their first book.

And I think that entrepreneurs, in general, we sometimes feel like if we don’t know everything, then we’ve got that imposter syndrome going on.

Yeah. But you don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to know everything. And relationships are the new currency.
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And that is something that I was told by a mentor of mine a long time ago, and I have held onto that.

It’s true. Once you connect with people and they have something that can help you propel to the next level—that’s priceless. You can’t put a price tag on that.

There are so many powerful things you said there, and I think you’re right. People have heard the age-old saying, “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step,” and sometimes the first step is the toughest.

But getting clarity on your dream, establishing a plan, collaborating with others—those are all things...

You know, they’re sometimes tough to do on your own. Obviously, it helps to have a coach or a mentor or someone to help you. But they’re all steps that are not really, in the end, rocket science. They’re not a magic pill. They’re simply steps that you have to take out of your comfort zone.

And I really love that you wrap it around this idea of your dream. Because at the end of the day, sometimes people have used that whole phrase “dream” and “dream building” too much. But I don’t think they have.

You could obviously say “clarity on your vision” of what you want in your life and lifestyle and things. But I think if you dare to dream, that’s something that actually gives you a vision that can pull you into your direction. And sometimes, the more you have that vision and that dream in front of you, it allows—'cause most people are held back from the past or overwhelmed with the present.

But when you have a compelling, clear vision of your future, it can pull you in that direction. Do you find that clarity is something that helps people when you are working with them?
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Absolutely. And the one thing that I know about people—and I know about myself—is that the conversations that are stirring up in your head about your capabilities... that’s all they are: conversations.

Those conversations only come to fruition if you put action behind them. If you say that you don’t have the ability to do X, you allow that subconscious part of you to say, “I really can’t do this.”

When I was doing a speaking engagement last year in Detroit, I did a rehearsal, and the person that coached me saw a different version of me once I hit that stage.

And the reason why is because I had to get out of my head. And I think that is the biggest problem for people. You can’t get clarity if you’ve got all this junk in your head telling you what you can and cannot do.

And you have to be able to say, “You know what, it’s going to take me a little time to get here. But if I have a clear and precise way of what I want to do...”

This is something that I tell people all the time too: You have to trust the process.

You can’t—that’s a cliché term, but it’s really true. Just because Susie here on the corner is killing it in her industry... you’re not Susie. You are you.

And you have to pace yourself according to what your vision is and what you want to achieve. Because when you do things too quickly, you fizzle out. You burn out. You’re not as relevant as you once were—because you rushed it. You went through things too quickly.

Yeah.

And that’s why I’ve made it a point to tell people: Take your time about your vision and what it is that you want. Don’t rush it just because somebody else is doing it faster than you.

Yeah.

That’s none of your business. Don’t worry about what they’re doing over there.

Yeah. Patience is a hard thing for entrepreneurs, for sure. But...

Writing You Belong Here

One more thing I wanted to ask you about—because we don’t have a lot of time left—but this was something that I really saw you were doing, and I wanted to make sure we had at least a minute on it.

You’ve got this passion for high school and college students. You’ve got a book—You Belong Here: Transitioning to Success, High School to College Edition. Tell me just real quick about why you chose to write a book about high school to college transition and maybe a couple of points about your book. Because I really wanted to point that out.

I think it’s a great thing. We’re building, discovering, and teaching the future leaders of tomorrow, and I wanted to make sure we mention that. What made you choose to write that book? And give me a quick highlight of it.
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So the book You Belong Here: Transitioning to College – High School to College Edition was based off the fact that that’s my population—that’s who I work with.

I work with students who have matriculated into my university. They take college courses while they’re in high school, and then they graduate from high school and they come to us and continue their college journey.

But what happens is—a lot of students come into the college space and they’re not prepared.

And because I’m a first-year professor—which means I teach first-year classes—I see it more often than not. I see students coming into the college space, and they’re not ready.

They think they’re ready. They’ve done all the things they needed to do in high school. They were on the honor roll. They were a part of the Honor Society.

But college and high school—those are totally two different areas.

And I think what happens is once that shock wears off, and they realize:

• Mom is not going to call and wake you up for your first class.
  
  
• You’re responsible for doing that.
  
  
• No, you’re not going to get extra credit—because extra credit in some cases doesn’t exist in college, depending on the course you’re taking.
  
  

Last but not least, you have to learn about the importance of accountability and how to move in this new environment.

And the reason that I wrote this book is because it’s just a self-help strategy situation.

I write about things like time management. I talk about the terms that they need to become familiar with. I penned a letter “From the Desk of Professor Regina Martin,” and I also penned a letter from the parents.

Because what students don’t understand is—the transition doesn’t just start with them.

When they drop you off at school and you’re in your dorm room, and they have to learn how to navigate the roommate experience too, right?

The story... the story is a tale on that. But long story short—with parents, that’s the longest car ride home ever.

When you drop your kid off to college for their first year, you’re like, “Oh my goodness...” You’re gonna go in the room, and there’s not going to be a body in there watching Netflix.

Yeah, there’s going to be a person that’s actually on campus.

So You Belong Here is a book that’s actually going to be part of a series.

I’m going to be talking about different facets of the college experience. I’m going to be talking about adult learners—because I do work with online adult learners coming back to school.

I’m also going to be doing a series on student-athletes. But I’m also going to be talking about students who have learning disabilities—because, yeah, they belong there just like everyone else.

It’s just that they may have a deficit that somebody else doesn’t have—but that doesn’t mean they don’t belong in the college space.

I’ll tell you what I love about you starting with that book is—obviously, in the circles that I’m in and the people that I’m working with, I come across a lot of professional high-end coaches and professional CEO mentors and things like this.

And obviously, most people get to a point in their life where they’re trying to figure out how to define their dream and their journey. And it’s rare that I find—and that’s why I was really drawn to have you on the show—someone who starts where we should have started.

And that’s why—You Belong Here—helping you to define your journey early on makes such an impact on the rest of your life. And so I really would encourage anyone listening to check it out.

Conclusion and Contact Information

Regina, we’re out of time, but I wanted to ask—what’s the best way for people to connect with you? I want them to connect with you and check out what you’re doing. I would assume your website, but where’s the best place for them to reach out?
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I would definitely say they can connect with me on my website: IAmReginaMartin.com.

That info—there’s information on there about a lot of the things that we discussed today.

You can also reach out to me on my Facebook page: @ReginaDMartin.106.

And it has information about the journey that I’ve been on as an entrepreneur, different highlights of different features and things that I’ve been doing.

Also, people can reach out to me. Like I said, I would say my email—but I’m not going to say that because...
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‍Yeah, I was gonna say—you’ll definitely get blown up.

So if you’re listening to this, check the show notes. I’ll put her website and her links to her social media handles and some other ways—because I would highly recommend you check this out.

I think there’s a powerful message, a lot of passion around not only daring to dream—but just the fact of realizing... and it’s like I say on this podcast all the time... listen: It’s never too late to start living the life you are meant to live. But you’ve gotta take action.

And Regina, I appreciate you being here on the show today. It’s been a pleasure to have you here.
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Thank you so much for having me, and I enjoyed sharing my story. I hope that I inspired others as well.

I’m sure you have. I’m sure you have.

Listen everybody—we appreciate you listening and tuning in today. Make sure you share this show. And if you have any feedback, go ahead and hit us up on The Daily Mastermind over at Valiant CEO Magazine. And we’ll look forward to talking with you again more tomorrow. Have an amazing day.

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About George Wright III:

George Wright is a Proven, Successful Entrepreneur- and he knows how to inspire entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals to achieve Massive Results. With more than 20 years of Executive Management experience and 25 years of Direct Marketing and Sales experience, George is responsible for starting and building several successful multimillion-dollar companies. He started at a very young age to network and build his experience and knowledge of what it takes to become a driven and well-known entrepreneur. George built a multi-million-dollar seminar business, promoting some of the biggest stars and brands in the world. He has accelerated the success and cash flow in each of his ventures through his network of resources and results driven strategies. George is now dedicated to teaching and sharing his Prosperity Principles and Strategies to every Driven and Passionate Entrepreneur he meets. His mission is to Empower Entrepreneurs Globally to create Massive Change and LIVE their Ultimate Destiny.

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About Regina Martin:

The Motivated Educator is the founder of Scholars with a Purpose, LLC. As a higher education professional, she works with students to help them discover student success through the college journey and has been an Adjunct Professor for First Year Experience for seven years.

Regina also has a passion to empower individuals to Dare to Dream She became a Certified Motivational Speaker through the AB Fire Speakers Academy and  Angela Brand Her Fire Speaker Academy and founder of Dare to Dream Motivational Speaking and Coaching LLC to work with others to discover their dreams and potential.

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Guest Resources:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/regina.martin.106

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daretodreammotivate_/

Website: www.iamreginamartin.com