Over the years, I've learned to forgive my mother, who chose to leave this world when I was 21 years old. I've learned to use my past as a spring board to my life now. My tenaciousness, ambition, and caring and belief in the power of people to reach their goals all came as a result of what I lived. What I am is not what I was; I am what I have chosen to be right now. I am the result of intentions I have brought to fruition, with God's grace and guidance.

I'm sharing a little bit of my story with you as a demonstration of the power you have within you to succeed, no matter what your past looked like. You're not defined by mistakes or circumstances from the past. Those were just roles you played for a little while. You are defined by what's inside of you right now ' by how you're choosing to live your life, and how you express love, kindness, gratitude, and all the other qualities that make life worth living.

When you're building a new business, all these qualities are right there with you. There's no room for the past, there's only room for what you want right now. The gifts your past experiences gave to you will now serve you in moving forward. That's the only real function the past should play.

So from now on, whenever a wretched thought or feeling from the past creeps into your mind put it to good use. Ask yourself what it taught you that you can use right now. How can its lessons help you decide what you do or do not want your business to represent to your community of customers. Then let it go. It has no power to hurt you now, because you have the ability and power to take charge and build your business and life in your own unique way, regardless of what did or didn't happen to you in the past.

For example, if you were treated in the past like you were less worthy than other people because you didn't grow up in the best neighborhood or wear $150 tennis shoes, use that experience as an example of how you don't want to treat other people. Make sure that all your customers know how important and special they are to you, not just as a customer ' but as a person.

If you felt like you were never heard by your family, fine tune your listening skills and make sure your customers know you care about their opinions, and you're willing to do whatever it takes to be an essential ingredient to their success.

Use the gifts the past has to offer - then let it go. Nurture a clear vision of the potential and possibilities that lie before you right now. Use all your life experiences to create an environment that expresses the soul of who you are, and what you want your business to become.

Make a bold statement to the world by creating a life and business that feeds not only your spirit and the spirit of your customers, but your bank account as well!