Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharde D. Martin.
Sharde, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
There’s an amazing song by an artist named Eric Roberson that’s entitled, “Dreams don’t have deadlines.” It’s such a beautiful sentiment, right? Well, that wasn’t exactly a living, breathing truth or reality for me. Because of this, it forced me to live under the pressure of other’s expectations and desires for me. I spent a great amount of time chasing after the fleeting moments of opportunity to live up to other people’s standards and ideas of Sharde.
As you can imagine, that became old and exhausting, to say the least. Fresh out of the gate, there were expectations placed on me to become the next female powerhouse minister. The problem? There was a creative force brooding underneath the surface. My feet were planted in the Church but my heart and my brilliance longed for the marketplace. No one ever told me that I could do and have both. I could, in fact, live a life of faith and still impact the world around me.
I finally decided to take a chance and bet on me. I took my love for storytelling & creating cutting edge marketing concepts, married it with my faith and violá, magic… PreachKid Media Solutions was born. I was able to fly under the radar and master various skillsets from conceptual directing to voiceovers. A few years later, PreachKid led me to partner with an Atlanta start-up and gave me the freedom to collaborate with other aspiring creatives in a one-stop-shop design and marketing firm. This venture afforded me the opportunity to work with some of the premiere faith-based public figures in the city of Atlanta and abroad. We were able to work with people from the likes of Gospel staple Marvin Sapp to the legendary Jennifer Holiday. It perfectly positioned me for expansion.
Today, I’m the founder and owner of Sharde Martin Unlimited. From authoring books to voiceover work to building brands to personal development & training, SMU is the launching pad and incubator for all things uniquely Sharde Martin. I never could have imagined that I would be living, thriving and loving the way that I am present. No, seriously. I didn’t have the background nor did I have the credentials for it. All I had was a malleable mind, a teachable heart and the grace & favor of God. I’m a living, breathing billboard that can attest that if God is for you, no one is able to stand in opposition to you.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Whew, chile! It has not been a smooth road but it has been so rewarding and you couldn’t pay me to trade in the wisdom that I’ve gained thus far. Trust me, the life of an entrepreneur is riddled with extremely high highs but it doesn’t come independent of devastatingly low lows.
My personal value system includes something that I call rigorous honesty. You can picture it as truth on steroids. The reality is that I’ve experienced financial, relational and even emotional breakdown on this journey of business ownership. However, what I’ve discovered that keeps me both focused and grounded is being closely acquainted with my “why”. When everything goes haywire, when plans fall through and when deadlines become fleeting illusions, your initial “why” has the ability to recalibrate your vision and refuel your passion.
Entrepreneurship has forever tattooed upon the corridors of my heart the importance of having AND maintaining a solid support system. Good friends, a good attorney, a good therapist and swaggy eyebrows will change your life. Investing in yourself with mentorship is a plus as well. 10 minutes with an amazing mentor is the equivalent of reading a great book. Don’t cheapen your brilliance. Invest in YOU! All of you. Mind, body, and soul!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Sharde Martin Unlimited – what should we know?
I consider Sharde Martin Unlimited to be the ace in your back pocket. I offer an array of services from training & personal development, content curation, social media marketing and consulting for businesses and brands alike. I specialize in conceptual & creative direction and voiceover artistry. I have an amazingly vibrant and hilarious podcast with my brother beloved Broderick L. McBride called “The Let Outt” which is available to stream on all digital outlets including iTunes, Google Play & Spotify. Moreover, I’m a transformational thought leader, Creative Strategist, and Writer.
What sets me apart from the pack? It’s quite simple. A redeemed heart that’s ready to love. Strong hands that have the capacity to show others that they, too, can taste of greatness. Finally, the undeniable power of prayer. It’s the secret sauce.
What am I most proud of? Hmmm. Every day, I’m graced to pop open these bright brown eyes and help others discover their voice, unearth their potential and make their very own dent in the universe. And I get to do it in the most #RighteouslyRatchet way possible! Ha! That, my good people, is what I call a win! (Yes, that was a shameless plug. You can grab the merch on my website! LOL!)
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
This is an AUUUUHMAZING question! Sheesh.
Honestly, it has to be humility. Webster’s Dictionary defines this as freedom from pride and arrogance. To rank low in hierarchy or scale. Many people shun the concept and technology of humility because they view it as a weakness. In reality, humility is power under submission.
Now, I refuse to be deceitful by suggesting that this has always been a strong suit for me. Lies, fairy tales and unicorns! There have been plenty of occurrences where I have failed. Like crash and burn. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. I was kind of what some would refer to a child prodigy. At moments, it felt like I came into this shindig called life with a conveyor belt of gifting.
There aren’t too many things that I’ve found difficult to wrap my mind around with earnest effort. Seemingly, there are things that just feel like they come naturally. Because of this, it’s quite easy to live a rather puffed up, self-reliant and self-important existence. My father used to say, “A hard head makes a soft behind.” Yeah, he was a genius. LOL! Falling flat on my face has taught me the power that rests in staying low. There are so many doors of access that I’ve walked through and opportunities that I’ve been afforded simply because of humility. Learning how to stay low and teachable has been will always be important to any success that I am able to achieve. And that’s strong facts!
Pricing:
- Branding/Conceptual Consultations ($100/hr)
- Voiceovers (Email For Quote)
- Trainings, Webinars & Seminars (Email For Quote)
- Social Media Marketing/Management ($350+)
- Content Curation ($250+)
- Hosting/Mistress of Ceremonies/Media Personality ($400+)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shardemartin.com
- Phone: 770-847-0911
- Email: info@shardemartin.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/shardemus
- Facebook: facebook.com/ShardeMartinUnlimited/
Image Credit:
LaSondra Spears, #LaLaTakesLife
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