Meet Haley Taylor Schlitz | Attorney, Educator, Author, and Activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Haley Taylor Schlitz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Haley, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success is my ideology and practices.

When it comes to success, my ideology is that you don’t find your path, you make it. You are not going to stumble across a golden paved road with your name on it one day in your life, you need to be the one who creates it. And although there are discrepancies in the tools various groups of people have access to, the approach of active participation dramatically increases your investment and therefore the payout of your life.

Some best practices that I’ve picked up throughout my journey relate to time management, self accountability, and adaptability. If you have time management skills, you will be able to manage your life in a way where you get your work done excellently and you can take care of yourself and your loved ones. This is a skill that was sharply developed for me when I was in college. I learned who I was as a student and as a person, and I set up excellent systems that are detailed and reliable to manage my time. When your time management skills are good, your self accountability skills will better. It will be easier to work when you have set specific time to be productive. It won’t feel as if you don’t have the space to reset, because you manage your time in a way where you respect both your working hours and non-working hours. Additionally, adapting is a key to success. You cannot plan out every detail of your life, although it is always necessary to have goals the paths you make to get there may have to go around roadblocks or barriers. Being in law school when COVID hit, a teacher, an attorney, and politically active have all greatly assisted in my adaptability skills.

It is important to focus on learning who you are, that way when new opportunities arise you are learning only the content, not how to digest and manage it as well.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m currently practicing as an attorney in the state of Minnesota. I would say what sets me apart from others is the fact that my journey to get to this point was very nontraditional, and my approach to different issues is also unique. I bring several points of view to the table including being Black, a woman, educator, author, and activist.

I am most proud of the fact that I have made it to where I am today. I got here by continually pushing myself. The difference between winners and losers is not failure, it’s quitting. The journey to where I am was not easy. From my 3L year where we transitioned back to in person learning after COVID, to my years of teaching, there were struggles. Some struggles one could predict, difficult classes or elements in the work environment. Other struggles were a shock to me, including racism from those who preach equality and sexism and discrimination based on my age from those who are supposed to be mentors. Although, these issues are not new. Since I was in my 5th grade public school classroom I have faced racism. As a Black woman in America the presence of racism and sexism is not new.

But the biggest lesson I have learned today is truly to never quit on yourself or the path you are making in life. It may sounds cliche, but it is true. My life is a path only I have the tools to pave. I decide what I do with the information I have been given. And what I want the world to learn from my journey so far is that you don’t find your path, you make it. And quitting on yourself is not an option.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Just having moved to Minnesota I am more of the visitor than the travel guide. But from what I have seen and heard, I would certainly include the following:

Eating at Wrestaurant at the Palace. I love their pizza!

Visiting the stare fair. I love going out with friends and doing fun activities, day or night! And I head the stare fair is two weeks long, all day, and a bunch of fun!

Going to The Dripping Root. I recently went to there and not only is their juice great, but the vibe of the place is amazing. It is such a nice place to read a book in the sun.

The Walkers Art Gallery and a coffee shop. Get a pastry, a warm drink, and head to the Wallers Art Gallery because the entire building is art, it’s not just hung on the walls. It really is beautiful and peaceful.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to include my parents and dedicate my success to them. They not only saw the potential and greatness in me, but they took specific actions to pull out the greatness in me. They supported, opened doors, and coached me. I am who and where I am because of them, not only literally, but also because they gave me everything they had and set me up to be successful. They push me to be the best version of my self every day.

Website: https://Www.haleytaylorschlitz.com

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Other: All my socials are on my website too.