The journey of life is unpredictable and filled with many twists and turns, both pleasant and unpleasant. As for Kerel Pinder, her journey has been marked with many changes and revelations along the way. “I had a goal for my life: to go to school, get married, and have children. That’s it. Well, when my relationship didn’t work out, I realized life wasn’t going to go according to my own plans.”
Kerel Pinder, a native of Freeport, Bahamas, wears many different hats. She is a speaker, playwright, and author of The One Year Challenge(2016)and May I Call You Queen(2020). She currently runs a podcast called “The Royal Access” and manages her marketing and branding business “Island Dreams Management.” As robust as her portfolio is, Pinder didn’t tap into all of these avenues until she experienced a breakup that changed the trajectory of her life forever.
Kerel Pinder shares, “The breakup was the real catalyst for the purpose driven woman I am today. After the break up in 2013, I took a year off dating. This was the shift in my life. I took a lot of time to myself to find my purpose as in, what am I here for and what does God want me to do? Since then, Kerel Pinder felt God pulling her towards a greater purpose. She has grown in wisdom and faith and enjoys sharing her journey with the world.
Q: What do you feel is the toughest thing you have been through and how did you overcome it?
The breakup, definitely. I sometimes feel bad saying that because it seems so trivial. Some people do not struggle with wanting to be in a relationship, but for me, that is the crux that I was given. The breakup in 2013 was the first time I learned that life doesn’t pan out according to my own plan and will. This experience was the first time I realized that I do not control my life. All these wonderful plans we have do not always happen. All these visions we share do not always come to pass. If we enter a relationship with Christ, we learn that our lives don’t go according to our own will, but His will.
Q: What inspired you to write May I Call You Queen?
“Queen” is a song by Ne-yo with the lyrics “may I call you queen?” I first heard it in the background of my friends’ wedding invitation video. The song was beautiful and I thought, I really want a man to call me queen. Where is he, Lord? When is he coming? In that moment, I heard God say, “I call you queen.”
Even after taking a year off and learning who I was as a person, there was still a part of me that wanted a void to be filled with a relationship. There are many other people who struggle with this void or similar ones. They will not feel worthy or significant until a particular thing happens. This void may be the absence of a marriage, a child, a job, a career, or fame, the list goes on.
We shouldn’t look for any of these things for validation. You will accomplish that goal and then realize that you still want something else. May I call you Queen is a reminder to find your fulfillment and satisfaction in Christ. In the first half of the book, I identify voids that people struggle with and share my personal experiences. The second half of the book teaches how to focus on God spiritually, personally, and professionally.
Q: What do you believe is the toughest part about starting a business as a woman?
As a woman, there is a certain fear of rejection or a fear of people saying no. We have to be more confident and remind ourselves that we can do anything. I realized recently that I sometimes think too small because of this fear. I have a virtual launch for my book May I Call You Queen and when I was asked about how many attendees I will be aiming to host, I said 350 people. My mom instead suggested that I aim for 2,000 people. I thought she was crazy, but she really wasn’t. I was definitely thinking too small. We’re scared of 2,000 because we might fail at 2,000 so we won’t say it. Since we don’t think we’ll fail at 350, we’ll say 350. Playing it safe may seem fabulous, but that is a crutch.
How can we overcome that crutch?
We can overcome that crutch by having accountability. You have to surround yourself with people who will push you, and people who will point out your insecurities. You have to purposefully engage yourself with individuals who want to see the best in you and who will help you get there.
Additionally, it’s important to put systematic steps into place. Creating systemic steps means starting with the end in mind. Ask yourself, what is my big goal? After you discover this answer, break it down into smaller goals that you can actually see and accomplish.
Q: What values and morals are most important when you’re trying to pursue your career and goals?
First, you must have integrity. Being accountable for what you say and do goes a very long way. I strongly believe that your word is your bond. Second, always do your best. Even on your worst days, you shouldn’t give half of your effort. Last, always show up. In life, things will go haywire, but you have push through all circumstances. If you commit, you have to show up and give it your all.
Q: What advice would you give to women still trying to figure out their lives and careers?
1. Don’t take for granted the experience you are getting now even if you don’t love it. Everything that you’re doing, is contributing to the overall goal. I first worked as a school psychologist for a few years. I hated that job, however, on that job I had a very wise mentor. A lot of my wisdom was birthed out of our conversations. You may not currently have the job you want, but you don’t know who on that job is impacting you. If you don’t love where you are right now, don’t take it for granted. There is something that you could be learning in this season. Ask for help to see it, and appreciate the season you’re in.
2.Think about what you love and what are you good at. For me, I was drawn to theater from a very young age. Even though I was hardly given speaking roles, there was something that I loved that kept me going back. When I wrote my first play, I thought that I would finally give myself a speaking role, but I didn’t. I simply loved seeing the story unfold. That’s why I loved theater. Think about things you genuinely love doing and it will help you to find your goal.
3.Place yourself in creative spaces. Journaling and traveling have really helped to enhance my creativity. Journaling really helps your thoughts to flow. I wrote in a journal the entire year I took off from dating. I actually used the same journal notes to write my first book, The One Year Challenge. Also, I know that everyone can’t travel, but when I did travel and go to different spaces, my mind was able to creatively flow. Do not box yourself into a place where you can’t change your mind and do something different. Try different things, change your environment, and you’ll be able to think more clearly and creatively.
Q: What do you think has been the most rewarding part of walking in your purpose?
I think the most rewarding part about walking in purpose is seeing the people I impact. It’s really not the money. The ability to pour into others and help others grow is so special to me. For example, I’m not exactly a traditional boss. I encourage my employees to speak their minds freely in an open forum. I want people who work with me to learn things that will help them in the future.
Q: What does the purpose driven woman look like? Do you consider yourself to be a purpose driven woman?
The purpose-driven woman is always seeking to grow and get to the next level. It’s not that they are never satisfied, but they know that there are far more things for them to accomplish. Also, they can always learn from anyone.
Yes, I consider myself to be purpose-driven. I’m a life learner and I can learn from anyone. I believe that God has called me to far more things on this earth so I have to keep learning and growing. The purpose-driven woman should always push themselves and strive to grow and learn more.
Pinder’s long term goal is to to speak, produce movies, and write books that coincide with the movies. Her overall message is clear: Life may not go according to our own plans, but every path has a purpose. You can find Kerel Pinder’s books The One Year Challenge and May I Call You Queen on Amazon. Her virtual launch for May I Call You Queen will be held on November 21, 2020.
You may find Kerel Pinder here:
Email: kerelpinder@gmail.com
Instagram: @Kerelpinder1908
- Kerel Pinder: When Heartbreak Leads to Purpose - October 21, 2020
- Shame to Body Shaming - October 12, 2020
- We Can All Be Self-Made Women - September 28, 2020
