As millions of young women return to college, Deya “Direct” Smith, a former Miss Black U.S.A., media maven, producer and author, urges them to map out their career plan, surround themselves with a “dream team” and stay focused on their goals.
“The point is when people see you ‘doing’ your dream and doing it well, you make those doubters, those haters into believers,” says Smith, author of “Touch Yourself: 30 Ways to Boldly Live, Love and Let Go!” Smith (http://deyadirect.net) “Our days of child-like naiveté’ are gone. Nobody owes us anything. But how you present yourself – prepared and with passion – could make someone want to give you everything.
Smith says college is a time for women to “seize the opportunity to explore options for improving your life and your career.” In her direct, tough-love book, Smith intertwines lessons from her life’s journey with heartfelt advice, targeting younger women who are struggling to get their lives and careers on track. Smith takes on the most difficult subjects from the emotional rollercoaster of everyday life to relationships, finances, health, sex life and succeeding on your job.
Smith invites college women to share their thoughts about how they’re trying to achieve their dreams on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DeyaDirect
“There’s a tendency for women to half-step their ways through life because of unexpected setbacks,” says Smith, who used the disappointment of a divorce from her college sweetheart early in her life to fuel a successful career on Capitol Hill and now in radio as a lead producer for the nationally-syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show (TJMS) which reaches 8 million listeners every week in more than 100 cities. “I’ve been there – divorce, car breaking down, trying to make ends meet paying bills. But you’ve got to say to yourself that you can’t waste your time on the should-haves or the what-might-have-beens, you’ve got to commit yourself to YOU – and what you want to get out of life.
Throughout her book, Smith interjects interviews she has conducted with such celebrities as Pam Grier and Alicia Keys. As Smith has travelled around the country, she says she is hearing from so many women who are eager to start a national dialogue helping women inspire each other.
For college women, “Touching Your Life, Unlocking Your Passion”, addresses everything from how to get out of bad relationships, manage your finances, network and find a job. A key part of her approach is interspersing scriptures from the Bible to emphasize key issues that tie to her core themes.
Smith is the creator and host of Girlfriend FM, a short-form video show-commentary-blog targeting female-driven hot topics on Tom Joyner TV and BlackAmericaWeb.com.
You can purchase “Touch Yourself” online at DeyaDirect.net or on Amazon.com. If you’re interested in a review copy, please contact Neil Foote, Foote Communications, LLC, neil@neilfoote.com, 214.448.3765.
