Filed under: Dr. Boyce Money, News
Sil Lai spoke exclusively to AOL Black Voices. The interview is below:
1) Please state your full name and what you do
My name is Sil Lai Abrams and I am an empowerment specialist, writer, Men's Fitness magazine's relationship expert, and a domestic violence awareness advocate.
2) Tell us about your book and why people should read it
My book No More Drama: Nine Simple Steps to Transforming a Breakdown into a Breakthrough shows how you can transform the breakdowns of your past and present into courageous breakthroughs by using a self-help methodology called the Self Empowerment Principles In Action (SEPIA Process). No More Drama is a great book for those who are ready to stop surviving from crisis to crisis and start living authentic, purpose driven lives.
3) You're very open in your book about the challenges you've faced. What have you overcome in your own life on your road to success?
I've faced a lot of circumstantial challenges such as addiction, educational disempowerment, single motherhood, welfare, etc. However, the greatest challenge I've overcome is the belief that I am limited by my past and present circumstances. The reality is that we are free to create any type of life we desire and that we are only limited by the boundaries of our mind. When I realized and accepted that fact, I was able to begin to do things professionally that I had never imagined, such as raising six figures worth of startup capital, speaking at Harvard, or becoming a part of the movement to end violence against women and children.
4) What are some of the challenges you've met in trying to build and run your business?
Like all businesses, managing cash flow is a challenge. However, I've been able to establish a flexible cost space that affords me the ability to manage through lean times. Another challenge is balancing the time that a start up business requires with the needs of my family. It was a little rough in the beginning, but I've been able to find a fairly good balance.
5) Do you think that abuse in relationships ever manifests itself financially? If so, how?
Domestic violence is about control and domination, and a batterer will use any tool at their disposal to assert control, including finances. Some of the ways batterers do this is by hiding their own money, confiscating their partners' money, not allowing their partner to make any financial decisions or preventing them from working. In some cases, a batterer will intentionally accumulate huge amounts of debt by using joint checking accounts or credit cards as a means of revenge. The purpose of the abuse is to make a partner feel hopeless enough that they will never leave.
6) What are you working on now?
I continue to be excited about the different speaking opportunities that the awareness of my book has provided, as well as the launch of a national network of support groups based upon the SEPIA Process called SEPIA Breakthrough Groups. These groups are being rolled out through various non-profits across the United States and afford individuals in transition and the organizations which serve them a cost effective, proven method that empowers them to change their lives.
7) Is there anything else you'd like to share with our AOL Black Voices audience?
You can learn more about my work and the SEPIA Breakthrough Group by visiting my website at www.sepiaprocess.com.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.