Meet Natasha Harris | Published Author | Servant Leader | Entrepreneur | YouVersion Partner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natasha Harris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natasha, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success & the growth of my brand is to make a positive impact on the lives of all those that I encounter, as well as, to be a positive example for my children and family.

I am driven by my faith, purpose and my “WHY”! So many women, young and adult-age, have so much potential, gifts, and talents to offer the world, yet life experiences and the many hats that we wear tend to take precedence over us being all that we were created to be. I’ve learned, through experience, that you can walk boldly with confidence in your purpose AND still be able to be a blessing to others, the best way you know-how. Simply put, don’t count yourself out! In order to pour into others, you first must ensure that you’re pouring into yourself!

My brand started out as a women empowerment movement in 2019 called “She Who Embraces”! This women’s ministry still exists and is now under the umbrella of my new overarching brand “Natasha Harris Inspirations”. Through this brand, I seek to inspire women, mothers, sisters, wives to love themselves wholly and confidently with a focus on faith, self-love, health and wellness, mental health, personal & professional development, and so much more. This is an ever-evolving brand, as I am a forever “life student”! I’m also a woman with experience and her own set of imperfections! Because of the way life is designed, to encounter both failures and successes, I too, am still forever evolving as well! So I speak with empathy & similarities so that other women can connect based on the transparent fact that I have also been there.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Outside of my work as a women empowerment influencer, I am currently employed as a proud Healthcare Clinic Manager.

I am tasked with not only the day-to-day operations of managing a physician practice, but I am also responsible for mentoring and leading my employees into their full potential, be it personally or professionally. One thing that I love about my job, is that I have continuous access to “people”! I use to always tell others that I could not just sit behind a desk for hours, I need to be able to mingle and interact! So in pursuing positions, I always made sure that the role aligned with what I stood for personally and professionally.

Truthfully, I have always had the ability to take lead personally, but did not know I, too, had a gift to lead professionally as well until I was put to the test without much preparation. When I use to search for a position, I remember reading the responsibilities and thinking “I do not have all the boxes checked”, so I would not apply. Literally blocking my blessing and selling myself short. It wasn’t until I came in contact with a VP at my employer, who always said when I saw him, that “if it were up to him, he would just throw me in the fire and see what I am made of”…in a nice way of course. After speaking with him, he helped me to realize, that every situation is not going to be perfect and that sometimes you find out what you are truly capable of under pressure! Now, any of my peers who know me can attest that I only accept the challenging roles!! These role types are so rewarding because you get the opportunity to take what appears broken and give it a new purpose and outlook. Not an easy task, by any means, but worth every effort.

Another positive side of being in a leadership role is being able to empower my staff on a daily basis. Challenging yet, rewarding because you are faced with different personalities and opinions, naysayers, good people who are faced with tough life situations, organizational changes, and yet you still have to encourage them to show up every day! My method for doing that is simply to: just listen, encourage them, understand them, support them, hold them accountable, celebrate them, and in turn, a staff of individuals will soon become a positive operating “team”! I am not perfect by any means when it comes to leadership, but I lead with my heart, my experience, my faith, my love for people, and my desire to make a difference! Even as a leader, there are always lessons for us to learn from life and others. In order to be a great, effective leader, you have to first understand how to follow!

So when it comes to letting the world know why I choose leadership, why I choose to continue to show up, why I choose to focus forward at my purpose…it is because I have seen what authenticity, compassion, relationship building, loving on others and making a difference can do for not only me but others as well. If we are truly walking in who God created us to be, then the end result does not just stop with us, it’s about what God is doing through us so that we can be a witness and blessing to others!

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.
Well, I am super outdoorsy (minus the bugs lol) and simple, so I am pretty open to being out and about and just having a good time doing it! I’m not picky when it comes to a good time!

If I had to create an itinerary, I am a big kid at heart, so I am looking for places like D&B, SpeedZone, Putt-Putt Golf, Joe Pool Lake, Six Flags, Botanical Gardens, Klyde Warren Park (Hubby proposed here!), Fort Worth Water Gardens, the shopping malls, movie theatres, spas, etc.

For my foodie friends, I would have to say: First Watch, The Yolk, Texas Roadhouse, Saltgrass, ShellShack, Buffalo Wild Wings, BJ’s, Salata, The Keg, Modern Market,

There are still so many places that I would like to experience in the DFW Metroplex, so sorry if the list isn’t that long!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When it comes to my successes in life, my shoutouts embody a plethora of people!! First and foremost, I contribute all my success to God. Without Him being my firm and unwavering foundation, I would not be where I am today.

Secondly, my success stems from my entire family (Mom: Sharon, Dad: Patrick, Siblings: Pat, Jay, Dre, Megan, Arianne, Bryan & Chaz, aunts, uncles, etc. who were my first teachers and examples in life! I was raised on very strong and solid morals & values: faith, hard work, confidence, leadership, respect, integrity, honesty, support & to have a never-give-up mentality! These are all the things that I continue to take forward with me on my everyday journey! I’m sure many of you have been in a conversation where you have used this phrase, proudly & with confidence, “I was raised that way”!

Next, I would not have taken the leap of faith & believed I could even be an author, YouVersion Partner, entrepreneur, and still unveiling talents without one of my biggest supporters in life, my husband & my best friend, Aaron Harris! He is my Pastor, prayer partner, holds me accountable, believes in my abilities, and encourages me to be stretched to full capacity and be all God has called me to be! Walking in partnership with him daily personally, professionally, and spiritually is truly a blessing. Super excited to prepare for the launching of our physical location at The Next Level Church COMING SOON!! I couldn’t ask for a better partner to journey through life with! Alongside him & I are our wonderful children (Javion, Isaiah, Cameron & Kennedy), who are my “WHY” for going so hard and never giving up! When I think about their future & their ability to be GREAT, I am constantly reminded, that their little eyes are watching our every move! So where I was once taught morals and values, I am now the teacher or vessel to nurturing them into the same responsibilities, until the torch is passed on to them!

Lastly, I give recognition to my friends and mentors in life, past and present! I’ve learned so much about myself, in connection to others. Their ability to believe in me, invest time in me and my growth, share experiences with me helped me to understand different perspectives and new ways to navigate this thing called life! Sharing in good times, celebrating each other’s wins, comforting each other during losses or minor setbacks, I will forever cherish!

So talk about giving flowers while one is still here, I pray that those who have impacted me in a positive way at some point in my life, know and understand that I am forever grateful and do not take our relationships for granted! I love each and every one of you for being an intricate part of my growth!

Website: www.natashaharrisinspirations.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrsnatashaharris

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrsnharris_

Facebook: www.facebook.com/GodGrowthGoals

Other: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/21379/