Book Publishing, Creators & Entrepreneurs W/ Latoyaa Roberts Thomas

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Let's get started.
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Welcome to this episode of the Sunbeam Chats podcast.
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My guest today is Latoya Robert Thomas, and we're talking about her life, her books, her creative pursuits, an entrepreneurial journey, and so much more.
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Latoya Robert Thomas is a creative, social entrepreneur, communication strategist, author, publisher, and fashion entrepreneur whose work spans the Caribbean and the wider global south.
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She's the managing consultant at LRT Media and Business Solutions.
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She's also the founder and editor of Books by LR, where she champions Caribbean storytelling and supports emerging authors while creating literature that celebrates identity, culture, wellness, and imagination.
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She's the co-founder of Peru Designs, a Trinidad and Tobago brand that brings together Caribbean style and Ecuadorian craftsmanship.
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She has traveled to more than 80 countries, pursued an impressive academic journey, and continues to explore the connections between culture, creativity, business, and identity.
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Today we are going to unpack this colorful and dynamic journey from academia and communications to publishing, entrepreneurship, fashion travel, and her vision for Caribbean creativity on the global stage.
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Welcome to the podcast, Victoria.
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Thank you for having me today, Allie.
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Well, it's a pleasure to chat with you because as a you know, this is a long time coming.
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We would have met at a book, um, one of my book events, chapters and chats, that would have been last year.
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And so I know you had a book at the time, or you have several books which we will chat about, but you know, you're so much more than an author, so it really is a pleasure to have a chat with you.
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So let us start, shall we?
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Sure.
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Looking forward to it.
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Great.
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So tell us how are you doing today, Victoria?
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I mean, we were talking about the weather, and we are in the Caribbean, and it is hurricane season.
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Um, so how are you doing today?
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And how does the weather really affect your mood as well?
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Uh, yes, it does.
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It does.
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It's a little bit rainy outside today, so it's a little gloomy.
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I will not say I'm all bright and sunny today, but I'm inside, I'm indoors, so I'm dry.
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So I'm happy for that.
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And I'm gonna see how the rest of the day pans out if the sun comes up.
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Right.
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I know you're foodie as well, which we'll talk about in your travel.
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So, like when the weather's like this, I actually feel like reading a book, sipping in some chai latte, and just really, you know, was it with nesting and being in this cozy environment or watching a nice movie?
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That's my mood.
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What is your mood when you're my mood is definitely in bed under the sheets and covered up when it's rainy outside.
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Okay.
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All right, so let's talk now um about you, the toyer, in terms of your exciting and dynamic life, which it certainly is from what I would have read earlier.
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Um, so in terms of your career, um, you would have started off in communications and and uh you've studied um, you know, you have a wide range of of um in terms of areas that you've studied and also places that you've studied.
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Um so you've gone into academia, you're into publishing, fashion, entrepreneurship, and lots and extensive travel.
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Um, so you're very accomplished, you know, and so it was sort of interesting for me to say, okay, what do I want to ask Latoya and what do I want a guest to get from this conversation?
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Um, so let's start though with your early childhood.
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As I said, you're from the Caribbean as I am, and you're from Tobago.
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So tell us about your early childhood living in Tobago, and then even then, what was if did you have a dream to sort of live the life or accomplish some of the things that you've done in your life today?
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Sure.
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So for me, I am the last of four thrill children.
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I grew up on the island of Tobago, so very, very small island girl lifestyle.
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Tobago only has about 60,000 persons on the island.
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So, and then being the last in my family, maybe I was spoilt.
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Maybe I'm not too sure about that.
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That's what my siblings say.
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But for me, growing up, I grew up in a very um close family, Christian background, parents always providing, siblings always protecting.
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Education was important um for my parents, so I would have attended Bishop's High School.
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Um, some people say it's the most prestigious school on the island.
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Depends.
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But I I know most persons tend to, you know, academically do well and go on to achieve great career goals, etc.
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When I was younger, like presidents and prime ministers and such, that's all right.
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Yeah, so yes, we have some of those.
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We do, we do.
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Okay.
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But for me, I will say when I was younger, I I initially wanted a career part of law, but that didn't really pan out as well as I wanted.
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I I missed the application date because at the point in time, law would have closed off earlier than many of the other um areas of study, and that totally slipped my mind.
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I guess just enjoying life as a teen.
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So in the end, I randomly chose communications, and um eventually I realized I got to love it.
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And as I continued studying, I went into linguistics and also international relations, and I guess that led me to my love to explore the world, people, cultures, opportunities outside of TNT.
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Yeah, outside indeed.
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Um, because you know, just to talk about, I mean, you're you know, your bride would have indicated, but what was it like studying?
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I think was it Moscow first, or um what what what location and which country was your first international um um area of well space that you studied?
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Well, um my degree in in in comms allowed opportunities to do internships and experience abroad.
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But for me, when I completed my my first master's my MSc in global studies at UE, after I went off to Japan to live for two years, so I taught English language as a second language um to students within the primary and um what we call junior high, which will be lower secondary school, first year in the Caribbean.
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So I did that for two years, and that that was quite interesting to me because Asian culture and living in that part of the world is just totally different from what we experienced here.
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So that was like my first international long-term um emotion, emotion, sorry, into a different language, culture, people, and then I also did another master's um Imagine Spain, and that was interesting.
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Brushing up on my Spanish and focusing a little bit more on things that I can more relate to because they're more Western, that's fine.
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And then I also got an opportunity to study um in Russia, that was also um interesting.
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Not that Russian language was any of my full tea, because my program was in English, so that didn't really affect me.
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But again, I'm always up to understand the different language cultures, people and just immersing myself in different environments and seeing where it leads.
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But how do you acclimatize yourself or immerse yourself actually in these different cultures?
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So Japan and Moscow and and and so on, like you know, if a person's wanting to go abroad, which I have a lot of my colleagues or former colleagues and friends saying, Oh, I want to live abroad.
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Um, you know, and so how what what advice would you give to them in terms of sort of trying to settle in another country?
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Are there things that you need to do to sort of make friends and and you know build community?
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What were some of the things you did so that you can, you know, settle in and sort of really have a decent enough life in those countries?
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You know, that's a great question.
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I don't think there's one correct answer tip, but what else is you need to know yourself and you need to know what you are comfortable with and what you can take.
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So, for example, being in the Caribbean, if you know cold weather is not your thing, you need to mentally make up your mind if you could survive winters out there and what would that look like?
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Also, a simple experience I had when I was living in Japan, they don't celebrate officially Christmas Day.
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So, officially Christmas Day is a normal working day for them.
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So, my first Christmas spent as a normal working day, and the whole idea of Christmas season and holiday season, it was totally different for me because I'm like, wow, I should be just like having some soral and punch of creme and just sitting and chilling for like two weeks relaxing.
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But they don't celebrate Christmas Day, but in January they have a different other festival that's called Chinese New Year, and they they have their time off then.
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So you need to understand what works for you and what you could tolerate.
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If you know you're gonna feel homesick, you're gonna miss family, there's certain things that is really dear to your heart, and you can't give up, then you you will know what to tolerate.
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I also think that you definitely need to have an open mind.
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You definitely need to be able to appreciate other cultures.
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If if you're stuck to your way of seeing the world and don't understand that people um ascribe different meanings to different things and they see totally differently, then then you're you're gonna you're gonna you're you're gonna have problems.
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Like I could draw another example.
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Um, when I used to teach and the students will draw the sun, I don't know if you ever notice Japanese they see the sun as red.
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So when I will colour my primary school students, I'm colouring the sun as yellow, and they're like, no, that's not the colour of the sun, it's red.
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Wow.
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And that simple concept and idea is like, wow, how did they end up with red?
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Yes, but that is that is just what they see the world as.
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So you have to be able to open and tolerate things like that.
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That's true.
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Like I was actually chatting with a girlfriend of mine um before, and we were talking about her travels as well.
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And um, and I was like, you know, for me, if I were to live in a space for a couple months kind of thing, and to just really be me, you have to, as like you said, for me, find the things that you like.
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So for me, once you have a coffee shop and a bookstore that has great books and nice coffee shops and nice restaurants, and even to throw a cinnamon there, I'm I'm fine.
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I can live in that space, and then of course, art.
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So I think perhaps to add to that, you have to you're right, you're right, you have to know yourself, and then also I think some countries kind of you know fits your personality and your lifestyle a little bit more, so you kind of have to if you know you would kind of vibe with that space, I think.
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Yes, definitely, definitely.
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All right, so again, so just jumping off your academic studies and and these pursuits, I mean, I would have congratulations because I see your latest pursuit is um that you've been accepted into the Caribbean startup bootcamp, uh founders institute, yes.
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Um, so you have studied so much, we've we've discussed that.
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Why did you feel the need to get back into or to at least enter into this program now in at this stage of your life?
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Sure.
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So um for me, I do have a business background, but my company, Books by El Haru, that was a passion project that started out of COVID.
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You know, we thank God for COVID and all these amazing things came out of it.
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Um, Books by Elharo is one of them.
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Um, boredom led me to writing poetry, poetry led me to producing a book.
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That book led me to engaging a lot of persons who were asking about the publishing process, the writing process, etc.
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And that led me to form a company.
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And while I've been doing it for the last five years, more based on passion, project, hobby, because I have other business ventures.
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Uh, this year it took a conscious effort that I want to look at the model a little bit of how I do it, understand what works well, how I can scale, how I can invest and really grow that that business opportunity into possibly the premier um book publishing company in the region.
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Let's see how well I go with that dream.
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So I just felt that at this juncture I wanted to look at the the business model, how I structure, how I organize, and how I grow.
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And I found the the Founders Institute Um Caribbean startup um boot camp gives that opportunity and a provision to bring founders, mentors, VC persons to really look at what is being offered and to see how I could structure and make that into a more viable uh business opportunity that that could really serve the region.
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So I'm excited about it.
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Oh yeah, they're doing great work because I actually had Roll um on the podcast and he would have um spoken about exactly that institute and what he's doing in that space.
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And I think it's it's actually um for those of those founders who want to grow their business and really kind of go deep into um understanding what it takes for it to scale, I think that's definitely the space that you know you should operate on in really.
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Yeah.
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Okay, so let's talk about, and you mentioned it, books by LR.
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Um, which it's which I see the need to, because I mean, of course, we have the shared love for books.
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Um, what inspired you to start this publishing company?
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Um, and of course, let's, you know, you can start by also telling us about what your first book was, um, and you know, where why you felt the need to then establish this company?
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Uh sure.
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So, as mentioned in my bio, you know, I did have a background with communications, literature, languages.
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So I've always been into writing, talking, speaking, etc.
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Doing more long form articles, more editing of government documents, policy documents, that sort of a thing, meet media-based content.
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But during COVID, you know, we we all got the opportunity to find that inner thing in us that could keep us going.
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And for me, it was poetry at a point in time.
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So I had um during that period I was able to sit, reflect, and produce different poetry pieces.
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I did things on thematic areas like women in society, um, inspiration and motivation, travel for the world.
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So I have things about traveling books, also life in Tobago.
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So when I did enough pieces that I felt made a really strong collection, I decided that I really want to get this out there.
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And in the process of thinking about getting it out there, it was during COVID time, it was a bit difficult getting to the traditional publishers and all of that.
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So I started to do the research myself, and I guess maybe the academicness in me, the intuitiveness of business, it just all my skills just came together, and I realized, huh, I have the skills and the know-how how to get it done myself, so let me do it myself.
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So I did publish my first collection of um poems in 2020 into 2021, and that was pretty much well received, and a lot of persons in my networks, associations, etc., started to ask a letter questions about book writing and publishing.
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And I was like, oh, this is a solution, this is a viable option for people.
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Let's get it a bit more structured, and that is where books by LR was born.
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And from since then, I think I've probably worked with over a hundred um books titles by now in terms of putting out Caribbean writers, and my my clients that not only come from Trinidad and Tobago but across the Caribbean and also the Caribbean diaspora.
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Oh, that's excellent.
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So tell us about I want to hear about the the books, the Tide Reclaims, right?
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The Clyde Reclaims here, I think, is it?
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Um there we go.
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Especially since we are, as we said, in the hurricane season and you know, summer vacation or Java as we call it in Funaran Tobago.
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Um, so what inspired that book and you know give us a little in um insight as to what the book is about.
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So the title claims is a romance novel, that that is the genre that it falls within.
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But I didn't just want a boring boy meets girl, little boy like girl happily ever after.
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So because I was also working in the field of international development and sustainability, I'm from a small island, I see the issues of climate change and sustainability affecting us.
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Um, that became an underlying theme of the book.
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So basically, two characters, one being a marine biologist, who returned to Tobago, and I made up the fictional island called St.
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Giles, which is actually a small island of Tobago.
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Um, she sees the environment being destroyed.
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She has a love for the environment and reflection on it.
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So she hosts this conference to really bring the communities, associations, networks together to really discuss how climate change has impacted the most.
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And the another character, James, his family is originally from the Caribbean, but they migrated abroad, living in the States, enjoying life out there would have benefited from the shipping industry throughout the region, kind of a thing.
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That's how they build their company.
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And you know, they sent him back to the region to this conference.
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Most tokenism, not that they really cared, but he just attended because.
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And it's only when he's on the ground now, he's understanding so much change and the impact that has happened in the environment.
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He's understanding that the philosophies that his company uphold are not necessarily true to really maintaining sustainability and really developing the islands, etc.
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And so when he's on the ground, there's a bit of a tit and a tat going on between the two characters.
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Yes, fighting for the same purpose, same goal, but on the opposite side of the spectrum.
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But within it all, I guess they find love, find themselves, and in the end, caring for the environment.
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Eventually, James disbands his company um abroad and decides to focus on a more eco-friendly, sustainable company within the region, and they're trying to build and live happily within the Kyber while preserving, preserving life there.
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So it draws on my passion and my interest for the region in terms of caring for the environment, caring for each other, and um finding love.
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Yeah.
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Well, I mean, you're such an academic, right?
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So I wouldn't expect that you know you would write a romance that just has a lot of fluff, but it would have to have some sort of depth.
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And you know, personally, that's the type of romance books I like as well.
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Um, I know you had this amazing launch.
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What has been the response like to that book in particular?
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It has actually been excellent.
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I launched it last year in 2025, and I launched it in Tron and Tobago, and I also took it to Carrie Festa in Barbados last year, also, and it was well received there.
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So, and you still have copies on for sale?
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Um, yes, copies of the book is available on Amazon um for persons internationally.
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It's also available in local bookstores here in TNT, or persons can reach out to me at Booksby LR, that's the company, and we could arrange um for sales and purchase.
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Okay, um, so tell us for those who are now getting into or wanting to write a book.
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Give us a sort of a summary, if you will.
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Um, what is what is what entails?
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What does the publishing process entail?
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So you you know, you have an idea for a book and you start you want to write it and you sort of work with a uh editor or um, and you know, you have a draft, if I'm using the correct word.
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What does the publishing process entail?
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Now I understand now there's self-publishing for my interviews, and then there's publishing with a publisher.
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Yeah, so give us a sense of what the whole publishing process might take involves.
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So um step one is definitely you have to come to a point of having a draft manuscript.
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If you don't have a draft manuscript and you you just come at a broad idea, well then there are pre-stages that you can do, whether it's working with a ghostwriter or working with a writing coach towards getting to the bulk or meat of a manuscript.
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But once you have that draft manuscript, um again, you want to look at your kind of genre, your kind of audience to know if you reach that word cook count.
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There's no exact answer of when you had enough, but you need to know what the audience that you're looking for, the genre design for the book, and that will help kind of streamline where your word count should be.
00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:16.640
When you're at that stage when you think you had enough, that is enough, that is a decent book, then you will um send it to my company or any of the other publishing companies.
00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:20.640
But when you go through a stage of reviewing, sorry?
00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:23.920
I said no, you said my company, I like that the club.
00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:30.720
So then you go to a stage of looking at it for to assess the manuscript.
00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:38.640
This is when you know, as a publishing house, you're kind of looking for is this the next big book out there?
00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:45.599
Not necessarily bestseller, but not but will capture a market or a certain type of audience.
00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:59.839
If there's work that has to be done to fix the manuscript, then we can pair with an editor to go through to revise a coherent structure, final, final um output of the book.
00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:07.519
Once that's completed, then that editing phase could take sometimes a month to a year.
00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:16.799
Because everything that the book has to meet, but it needs to be rewritten, then based on advice, the author could say, Well, yes, they're willing to rewrite.
00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:25.440
But at the end of the day, too, I always give a lot of power and strength to the author that they have to decide because it's their book and it's their voice.
00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:31.680
Advice can just be given, recommendation could be given, but it has to be that symbiotic process.
00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:40.400
If anytime somebody's work with a company and the company's gonna rip the book apart and the author has no voice in it, I am a bit cautious about that.
00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:51.599
So once that um rewriting process is completed, um, then you're looking at normal format layout um type setting.
00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:56.240
This is when you're now looking at the actual physical structure and look and feel.
00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:02.799
If the book is gonna be a size six by nine, which is the normal typical size for books, um novels, kind of books.
00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:09.039
If it's gonna be a smaller, more pocket book, it can go down to like eight and a half by five and a half in size.
00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:14.400
Um, people look at different font types, you're looking at your typesetting, how the look and feel of the book would be.
00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:18.400
When the person holds that book in their hand, is it legible to read?
00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:20.079
Is it spacing nice?
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:23.759
Is the paragraph and structure indented or in block form?
00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:28.000
How your head ends are your titles are, how wide is the page margin.
00:23:28.160 --> 00:23:31.279
Those are the kind of things that you're looking for within formatting.
00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:40.240
Once that's completed, you know, you take some time to discuss cover designs, cover mock-ups, because you can judge a book by its cover.
00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:44.000
You know, you don't have to say in your car judge like my book by its cover, that's not true.
00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:46.799
Absolutely right.
00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.519
It's business.
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:52.720
Yeah, you're judging the book, yeah, you're judging the book by its cover.
00:23:52.799 --> 00:24:00.720
So you have to work in a few mock-ups to really know if it really speaks to what the book is about, would it really appeal to the audience, that sort of a thing.
00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:07.759
And something to note for new authors is that you know your book cover needs to make sense with the front cover and the back cover.
00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:12.559
A lot of times people put a lot of emphasis on the front cover and they did not focus on the back cover.
00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:21.759
The back cover is important, especially when you're a new author and unknown, because that that book synopsis or that book bloom that goes on the back cover is really important.
00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:27.119
Because most people, when they pick up the book, they look at the front cover and then they read the back cover before they decide if to open the book.
00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:27.680
Yeah.
00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:32.240
So you want to make sure that that is structured well.
00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:40.559
And then what I've noticed too, especially when I set the book by alarm, a lot of people in the Caribbean were publishing books before.
00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:46.640
Where they were just stepping up a book on a word document, going to a printery, printing it, binding it, and call it published.
00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:52.319
They will forget the stage where all properly published books need to have an international standard book number.
00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:58.319
That is like that catalogue and registry number assigned to that book to see that it's been published.
00:24:58.640 --> 00:25:07.039
A lot of people I've noticed within the caribon, a lot of persons who come to me did not understand the critical importance of something like that.
00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:13.680
So ensuring that the book is probably catalogued and documented, and then fine um final printing.
00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:40.960
I do local print you see in Trinidad and Tobago, or the book could be um uploaded to Amazon or any other two um party platforms, platforms like um draft to drafts or something like that, what what product, etc., for for final public consumption, and then distribution rights, how the book is distributed, whether to bookstores, um book networks and syndicates, etc.
00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:53.119
for persons all over the world to get access to your book, and that little process could take you two, three months, so sometimes a year, a year and a half, two.
00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.880
Just really depends.
00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:56.400
Yeah, absolutely.
00:25:56.640 --> 00:26:06.400
Um, again, listen to you, you know, the wealth of knowledge is coming out so clearly, and you know, you're able to give us the process in a summary, but in a very clear and deliberate way.
00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:26.880
Um, so my question to you, Latoy, is this, and and also I I want to acknowledge the fact that you know this has become a business for you on offering a service, but it started off with you, you know, saying, okay, let me write a book, and then sort of get and identifying an opportunity in the midst of it, and then you know, creating a business of it.
00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:45.279
And and you know, we spoke about the fact that you you have been an entrepreneur, and a lot of these projects that you involve in is that you are an entrepreneur because do you have the sort of normal nine to five you work for an institution, or um, is it that you have your consulting company and then you have these other businesses that you facilitate offering services?
00:26:48.160 --> 00:27:01.200
So, um, in the past, I have had nine to fives that keep me very busy along with my other businesses, but at this point in my life, I'm focusing totally on my businesses.
00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:04.240
So, my businesses keep me up anytime.
00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:09.839
I'm a very flexi worker, I am not a standard 8 to 4, 9 to 5 person.
00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:14.799
If something is in my mind and I want to work on this project now, even if it's midnight or 6 a.m.
00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:16.160
in the morning or 2 p.m.
00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:18.480
in the afternoon, I will get it done.
00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:27.279
So I'm very much task-driven rather than specifically reach me within um this time of the day kind of person.
00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:33.039
When did you decide to sort of leave and I would we would call it corporate or in whatever space?
00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:41.519
Because again, I've had quite a few women in particular on the on the podcast who are tired of working corporate, they want to work on their own or for themselves.
00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:42.640
I mean, that's me as well.
00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:47.519
I I decided no more corporate, and I'll just work on my projects, building the brand.
00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:57.279
So, for you, what was that defining moment when you decided, okay, I'm gonna build my own and you know, put my energies in my businesses?
00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:03.680
I think I didn't really have a defining moment, I think it's transitions.
00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:15.839
I I'm not saying no ever to cooperate again in the future, but I just think life and time and place happens, and for now my focus is just on these companies.
00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:21.359
But in the end, if corporate opportunities do come again, there's a possibility.
00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:31.359
I I wouldn't say like it's a no-no, but for now my focus is just that season where I'm working on entrepreneurship and building the companies that I that I have under my belt.
00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:45.839
Yeah, and the thing is just to also with someone that who like yourself who've had um so much training and and um in terms of travel and also being exposed to working with people and clients.
00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:57.200
I mean, let's be honest, you you going in a corporate environment that is the 8495 that does not allow itself for growth and development will, I am sure, killing.
00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:57.920
Frustrating.
00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.839
Yeah, it'll be frustrating, you know.
00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.839
Somebody calls it a soul-sucking job.
00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:10.720
And that's something I realized about myself because I was in corporate and I left, and and then I saw I went back in for a little stint, which ended up being six weeks.
00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:16.480
Um, and I remember the person the person who was interviewing me kept saying, Are you sure you want to come back here?
00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:17.759
Because you're doing so many things.
00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:27.039
And I was like, I thought I wanted to, but it didn't know she was right because I I just was I had outgrown that that context, you know.
00:29:27.359 --> 00:29:50.480
So I see the same thing for you because you have such a wealth of knowledge to share in different areas and sectors that really, you know, that consultant would make more sense to you, I think, and you'll be able to add value to the people who need it in terms of your services, but also kind of fulfill, um, you know, feed your soul in terms of um releasing all that of your knowledge.
00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.200
Yes.
00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:53.200
I I I agree, I agree.
00:29:53.359 --> 00:30:01.839
I I do agree with that point that sometimes when you're so experienced in life, it's really difficult to just settle for eight to four.
00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:05.680
So, yes, I could I can I can understand that that that point.
00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:11.119
And I'll go too because you are constantly learning, we call it, and studying.
00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:13.440
Sometimes, well, and I that was my experience.
00:30:13.519 --> 00:31:02.559
I went back into a corporate environment, and my boss was just and I don't want to say not on my level, but yeah, I will say that in in some ways, because they hadn't grown, they were in that corporate system for years, and that's all they knew because sometimes corporate, or if you stay in one job or situation for a while, because you have to extend so much of your energy and time and and everything to that space, you it does not give you the space to grow to learn new things, and so when I went back there, I was like, I can't, you know, for me it was suffocating, and so the decision had to be okay, do I stay under this person who clearly doesn't know as much, and I'm not saying it an arrogant way, but because I had grown, and and if I did, I would have died in terms of my soul, in terms of being able to produce.
00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:08.240
Um, so if I stayed there, that would have been worse to me, and I decided to leave because you know that's just how it is.
00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:11.920
Yeah, yes, yes, yes, definitely, definitely.
00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:19.759
Okay, now let us talk about another entrepreneur pursuit of yours um at another company.
00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:24.079
Um, so you're the co-founder of Perodesigns, I do believe I pronounced it properly.
00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:31.119
How did that happen um in terms of entering to this space in terms of fashion and entrepreneurship?
00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:36.400
Uh so uh career design is a really kind of funny, funny business.
00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:43.599
Anybody who knows me do not ascribe fashionista or into fashion trends that much.
00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:49.599
So this is a learning, you know, to have these these things that are like really like learning up for challenge kind of projects.
00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:51.359
And this is one of them.
00:31:51.599 --> 00:32:01.119
So initially, the backstory to query designs is querum actually means a letter in Spanish, and this company really have to say it's my husband's fault.
00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.880
Let's leave it as that.
00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:09.599
In terms of he was um working on a project based in Ecuador where we are managing a hotel there.
00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:14.720
And um he was on the ground and uh he was out one day.
00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:19.039
He told me he was going to a factory, going shopping, etc.
00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:27.440
And in my mind, I'm thinking, okay, he's going probably to buy curtain sheets, doing over the decor for the rooms, etc.
00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:33.920
And he calls me and he starts to show me a lot of fabrics, textiles, all of that.
00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:41.359
But in the process of him starting to show me things, I realized, well, this is not really directly linked to the hotel, so where are we going with this?
00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:54.799
And then he was explaining to me how well, you know, the the Ecuadorian area, the Andean mounted, is great for leather products, also, um, Andean textiles and all of that.
00:32:54.880 --> 00:33:16.079
And he's been talking a bit um to the locals there about the industry there and possibilities, and that evolved into what we know as Curry Design City, which is a luxury brand focused on Ecuadorian artisanry and Caribbean influence and culture.
00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:28.319
So it focuses on leather-based materials, specifically cattle skin, um, to do bags, belts, um shoes, um, sort of things.
00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:41.759
Um, then um the clothing has to do with the Andean textiles, particularly the alpaca wool, um, cottons, polyestas, etc., that that comes from that region, but it's in Latin America.
00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:48.880
We are very new, only about nine months old, and it's been a very interesting learning process.
00:33:49.119 --> 00:34:10.079
But the company has pretty much grown since its inception in terms of we attended our first international fashion show in Colombia in May this year, and we were also featured on fashion TT lookbook for this um July this year in terms of um uh local company into exporting, etc.
00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:12.639
So that is Curry Designs in a nutshell.
00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:21.440
Uh, there you go again, building and you know, going after another project, which I love, but we'll talk about that some a little bit in talk about that some more in a little bit.
00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:26.480
But I want to let's talk about the hotel though, um, and then the whole Ecuadorian experience.
00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:32.639
So, for those who don't know, um, especially if you're coming from the Caribbean, how do you fly to Ecuador as one?
00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:42.000
And tell us about the the hotel there, what is your offering, and and yeah, how can persons sort of find your hotel and what experience in in Ecuador?
00:34:43.599 --> 00:35:03.119
Okay, so the easiest route will definitely be about Spain to Panama, Panama to Quito, Quito, which is the capital of Ecuador, and then the hotel is located in a city called Panos, so it's about three hours drive from Quito, and it's at the outskirts of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:13.360
So, a lot of the people, when they think about the Amazon, automatically they only think about Brazil, but they are actually um, I think it's eight countries that has um comprised of the Amazon component.
00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:24.880
Um, Ecuador has part of the Amazon, and Barnos is like that gateway, it's the entry, so it's one of the closest entry points to um experiencing the Amazon region.
00:35:25.280 --> 00:35:29.119
So from Barros, it's like an hour drive within the Amazon.
00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:40.400
So a lot of our clientele focus on ecotourism, nature, health, wellness, relaxation, and the name of the property is Shannon 360 Hotel.
00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:41.840
Okay, lovely.
00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:44.400
And so you said ecotourism and stuff like that.
00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:48.800
So, how long have you been um have you all been managing or owning this hotel?
00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:52.320
One one year, um June, June.
00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:59.119
This year I would have made it one year, and it's been an interesting journey from language barriers to understanding.
00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:24.320
Yes, I grew up in Tobago, so I have a good idea of the tourism industry as a whole because I have had an experience within that, but also getting into the Latin market, dealing with the Latin American culture, dealing with the language, dealing with specifically eco-tourism, um, is again learning processes, but interesting journeys that I'm here to explore.
00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:25.360
I know very well.
00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:28.960
I mean, that's huge though, like having a hotel and stuff like that, you know.
00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:34.000
I guess you have a management team and everybody in place who can um all right.
00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:43.519
So if they were okay, so someone listening, apart from going to the hotel or in the vicinity of the hotel, what is one thing they need to do when they visit there?
00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:47.199
Wow, um, just take a day tour.
00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:50.639
Take a day tour to the Amazon area, you will enjoy it.
00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:53.280
But in that day tour, it's really packed, it's a long tour, though.
00:36:53.360 --> 00:37:17.199
You start like 7am in the morning and get home like 9 pm at night, but you can go to visit the indigenous community day, understand language, culture, tradition, how they have sustained off the land and living living in that area, and then you can also visit like a waterfall, you can also go sailing down one of the rivers within.
00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:22.480
Just enjoy the fresh air, just enjoy the fresh air.
00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:35.840
Go to one of the lookout points where you're just seeing mass of forest, just even when the rain falls there, it just feels different, it smells different.
00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:46.800
Your breeding, if if persons who suffer from respiratory diseases and etc., when you're there and you're breathing, it's so clean, it's so fresh, you just feel renewed.
00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:53.280
Eat some of the local food and just just just just be absorbed in nature for the day.
00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.559
Yeah, absolutely.
00:37:54.639 --> 00:37:57.519
And it's it's you know, now we're talking about tourism.
00:37:57.679 --> 00:38:12.320
You know, the trend is you know, um, more of a lifestyle and you know, tour tourism where people want to focus on wellness, uh experiential type things, you know, as you said, walking through the Amazon, more the baths, and so on.
00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:17.920
So it it I kind of it kind of fits with what's happening now in terms of the shift and trend in tourism, yeah.
00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:20.400
Definitely, definitely.
00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:24.239
So you travel to more over 80 countries.
00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:28.000
Um, is there favorite countries you've been to and why?
00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:32.159
Wow, oh my gosh, that's a hard pick.
00:38:32.320 --> 00:38:33.920
Oh wow, wow, wow.
00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:37.360
I think I need to choose my continent in terms of favorites.
00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:38.079
Here we go.
00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:48.800
Um, so let's see, within within Latin America and the Caribbean, I actually enjoyed a lot Brazil.
00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:55.840
So I've been to Rio de Engineering Brazil, very nice, very beautiful place to visit and enjoy.
00:38:56.079 --> 00:38:58.880
So that was my Latin America and the Caribbean pick.
00:38:59.039 --> 00:39:03.119
Um then for Europe, you know.
00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:07.519
Funny enough, I really, really enjoyed Budapest Hungary.
00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:13.679
Interesting, but I did, I did enjoy Budapest, definitely very nice.
00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:20.079
Um, going along the river, really cool walks, checking out Buddha and Pes.
00:39:20.239 --> 00:39:21.360
I didn't even know until I got there.
00:39:21.440 --> 00:39:25.519
I two sides the river in the middle, Buddha is one side, Pest is one side, together.
00:39:25.679 --> 00:39:26.239
Budapest.
00:39:26.480 --> 00:39:26.880
There we go.
00:39:27.039 --> 00:39:29.679
Very country, beautiful country to explore.
00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:33.280
In Asia, it will have to be Japan, definitely.
00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:35.119
Um, because I lived there.
00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:44.800
So the culture, the food, the people, the obedience, the respect, the order, the orderliness of the people is amazing.
00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:50.559
All my truly bad behaviors got cut out for that for those two years because I was just nice.
00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:52.639
Yes.
00:39:53.599 --> 00:39:56.320
And um sorry, you were saying something.
00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:57.039
Africa.
00:39:57.679 --> 00:40:03.039
Sorry, just uh the whole Japanese because we were looking at it in the World Cup, and they were the ones I think they were cleaning up too.
00:40:03.199 --> 00:40:05.280
Yeah, they were neat, they tidy up after they mess, right?
00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:10.559
I was like the most clean, the cleanliest person for those two years of my life.
00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:13.280
Like, like who carries their garbage with them all the way home?
00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:15.440
Like, you you just had to learn these things.
00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:21.920
Wow, yes, and then for Africa, I told well, it would be South Africa.
00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:22.639
Nice, nice.
00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:26.800
Look at you.
00:40:27.199 --> 00:40:29.679
I'm like, what is your favorite country that you visit in?
00:40:29.840 --> 00:40:31.440
You look at it like continents.
00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:34.480
Latoya, that's a nice one for sure.
00:40:34.719 --> 00:40:42.079
Um, so with all of that traveling, all of your academics, all of your continuous learning, your businesses, etc.
00:40:42.480 --> 00:40:48.960
Um, you know, I would imagine it has made you your worldview so very different to perhaps most of us.
00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:59.599
Um, you know, so what has all of the travel especially sort of taught you about human beings, and then also how has it changed you?
00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:02.719
That's an excellent question.
00:41:02.880 --> 00:41:16.320
I think one I have learned that no matter culture, language, experience, there is still a core that we all humans, so we still exhibit the same emotions and feelings.
00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:20.000
Um, just that some people might have it more intense than others.
00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:23.840
So I've learned to just tolerate persons.
00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:46.719
What I've learned about myself is that I am a very uh high-risk tolerant person, so I can experience different things, I could find myself in uncomfortable situations, I could adapt quickly, nothing really bothers me too much, and I think it's because that that opportunity to always move and experience and figure out change.
00:41:47.039 --> 00:41:48.239
Um, I'm okay.
00:41:48.400 --> 00:41:49.760
I'm okay with that.
00:41:50.639 --> 00:42:00.480
It has also taught me that funny enough, even though I've traveled to so much countries and all of that, somehow there's still a love for the Caribbean and home.
00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:05.920
So I live this mantra of you know, live local, think global.
00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:08.639
So I always find myself still coming back home.
00:42:08.800 --> 00:42:11.280
So I'm still deeply rooted in home.
00:42:11.440 --> 00:42:14.800
As much as I love abroad and I can do a lot of things and have a lot of fun.
00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:19.119
There are some weird things that when you reach back to Trinan's biggest like ah, a home.
00:42:19.679 --> 00:42:22.000
So I've I've I've come to accept that.
00:42:22.159 --> 00:42:24.719
Even so many annoying things, eventually I just laugh it off.
00:42:24.800 --> 00:42:27.039
I'm like, ah, this is really just what makes us Shri.
00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:27.599
Yeah, like.
00:42:27.840 --> 00:42:29.119
So I'm I'm I'm okay.
00:42:29.679 --> 00:42:30.800
Like what, sorry?
00:42:31.119 --> 00:42:36.559
Traffic, because that's the thing, because why I was I was, you know, in the Virgin Islands for and I've been there back and forth for quite a bit.
00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:46.719
And yesterday I was stuck in traffic, and I was like, if I was not in a day there, there's only traffic around like their version of a mall.
00:42:46.960 --> 00:42:54.639
Other than that, there's I'm like, okay, there we go for traffic, and this is even outside of school when school is out.
00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:56.880
There we go.
00:42:57.280 --> 00:42:58.480
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:42:58.639 --> 00:43:00.559
I I can imagine, I can imagine.
00:43:00.719 --> 00:43:08.239
Like, like for me, I'm like, like, I've come to realize like there they're like certain things like you just accept it.
00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:13.920
Yeah, yeah, it might really annoy you, but you're just like, okay, you find ways to adjust and laugh it off as home.
00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:17.519
So I've I've come to learn and I appreciate those things.
00:43:17.679 --> 00:43:27.199
And I think lastly, I think I've come to realize that I am a very multi diverse kind of person.
00:43:27.280 --> 00:43:35.920
Like I like loud, bright lights, and I like traveling, going on a train, meeting local people, eating out, all of that.
00:43:36.079 --> 00:43:40.320
But then there are times that I like to come back to quiet cocoon spaces.
00:43:41.360 --> 00:43:43.280
So I've I've realized that about me.
00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:47.039
Like the bright lights, I can't I can't keep them in me forever.
00:43:47.199 --> 00:43:49.119
Like, I I always have to come back home.
00:43:49.199 --> 00:43:56.800
I've really come to understand that because if I probably really wanted that that full sword lifestyle, I probably would have permanently migrated by now.
00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:58.480
And that's not where I am.
00:43:58.639 --> 00:43:59.679
Somehow I still see.
00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:01.199
Value in home.
00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:03.039
Okay, that makes sense.
00:44:03.199 --> 00:44:10.000
Um, because as I said, home will always be home, it really would be like you know, you come back and there's certain things that you really want to eat that you miss.
00:44:10.159 --> 00:44:17.519
Um, so I have to say, when I came back, although I can make pilau there, but a pilau and a on our kalou, which are some of my favorites.
00:44:18.400 --> 00:44:19.440
Uh yeah, yeah, yes.
00:44:19.679 --> 00:44:21.519
That's certain places you can't make those things.
00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:25.199
I have tried to make pilau a lot with Japanese rice, it did not work out.
00:44:25.679 --> 00:44:29.119
I just couldn't get the sugar to burn the way to some brown.
00:44:30.079 --> 00:44:34.400
You might have to use spinach instead to make a loo, it just doesn't lash that well.
00:44:34.719 --> 00:44:37.440
Yeah, we all had those experiences.
00:44:37.679 --> 00:44:38.559
It is what it is.
00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:39.360
That's horrible.
00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:45.920
Um, so Latoya, again, your life is so interesting, and you know, I was thinking about it.
00:44:46.159 --> 00:44:54.960
In terms of your view of, I mean, one, I would imagine you feel, and I use the word content because you get to experience so many things.
00:44:55.199 --> 00:45:00.880
And you know, it's like a life well lived because you do have your family, your husband, and you know, you have kids as well.
00:45:01.199 --> 00:45:08.000
So, you know, more than most people, you have really had lived, and I said it, an exciting and a dynamic life.
00:45:08.159 --> 00:45:21.280
Um, but of course, to be able to do such those things and still study and run businesses, you would have had, you do have a system in place in terms of the support with um, you know, dealing with the kids and what have you.
00:45:21.599 --> 00:45:23.599
So, what is that system like?
00:45:23.840 --> 00:45:32.000
Because women are listening and they think, well, you know, Latoria is so cool, and how she's able to do all of these things, and I may not be able to do that.
00:45:32.239 --> 00:45:40.960
What advice would you have for them to sort of going after the things in life that they want, notwithstanding their current context?
00:45:41.280 --> 00:45:42.719
You know what I mean?
00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:55.199
Well, you know, Aline, you know, we take these simple things for granted sometimes, but family support is indeed critical to everything that I've been able to do and accomplish in my life.
00:45:55.360 --> 00:46:06.320
So I'm very much thankful to my parents, to my siblings, to my husband for always supporting me with any endeavor I want to do.
00:46:06.480 --> 00:46:08.880
I think that is the base, having that support.
00:46:09.039 --> 00:46:28.639
And for women out there, even if you don't have immediate family, you need to have those people that you can trust, those people in your corner that could support you financially, support you with with words and comfort, support you just by being there, support you as a friend.
00:46:29.280 --> 00:46:31.280
You can't do these things alone.
00:46:31.519 --> 00:46:32.559
That's that's the one thing.
00:46:32.639 --> 00:46:49.440
Yes, I've accomplished a lot of things as LaTooy Robots, but Thomas, but at the end of the day, it's it's that support system that gives me the opportunity and the privilege to do a lot of the activities and the things that I'm doing, and it needs to start there.
00:46:49.920 --> 00:46:56.559
Secondly, I will say specifically to women go out there, challenge yourself.
00:46:56.719 --> 00:46:58.000
The world is your oyster.
00:46:58.079 --> 00:47:06.000
Yes, you may be stopped in Trinidad and Tego, you think things are a bit difficult here, or you're trying to get certain things done and it's not working out.
00:47:06.159 --> 00:47:15.039
But what I've come to realize is as a Caribbean national, there are a lot of countries and a lot of spaces and places that will accept you.
00:47:15.199 --> 00:47:24.159
They're looking for skilled workers, they're looking for diversity, they're looking for people that could bring something a bit different to the table to the organization.
00:47:24.559 --> 00:47:30.400
So don't necessarily limit yourself to only what's happening in TNT.
00:47:30.559 --> 00:47:37.519
If you're not that adventurous and crazy and want to go all the way to Asia, just try looking up the islands and seeing what opportunities there.
00:47:37.679 --> 00:47:41.360
Or try looking down to Latin America and seeing what's there.
00:47:41.440 --> 00:47:46.000
Even within the language, even though there may be language barriers or that we're worried about the language.
00:47:46.239 --> 00:47:48.320
Um, English is a global language.
00:47:48.400 --> 00:47:50.320
When just speaking English, you're safe.
00:47:50.480 --> 00:47:53.440
You you will find somebody to help you move around with English.
00:47:53.599 --> 00:47:54.960
I can attest to that.
00:47:55.119 --> 00:48:01.920
I have been to like Tingbak too, and eventually an English speaker was able to help me figure out why I needed it to get done.
00:48:02.079 --> 00:48:17.119
So at least we're already coming from a strength of having English as the language that we speak as a main language, so you can move into different places and spaces, but you have to be willing to take the risk and really go out there and see what out there may have to offer to you.
00:48:17.280 --> 00:48:18.400
Yeah, I agree.
00:48:18.480 --> 00:48:39.760
Because again, chatting with my uh um a girlfriend of mine before, she was talking about how she likes to travel on her own and she's married, um, and just explore new things, and I think it makes us so much better, um, more fulfilled as women, more interesting, and and really brings that joy because so much of us I think we we just kind of stuck and we put ourselves in that position.
00:48:39.840 --> 00:48:42.320
We don't want to explore things, we don't want to go places anymore.
00:48:42.400 --> 00:48:45.679
Like I still go to the movies when I can by myself.
00:48:45.840 --> 00:48:49.519
Um, you know, and of course, you know, I have someone that I can go with as well.
00:48:49.760 --> 00:48:57.760
But I think you know, for us women, because men do it, and I think that is I think one of the key things I want to come out here, come out of this conversation, women.
00:48:58.239 --> 00:49:01.280
Go and do it, explore, live your life.
00:49:01.440 --> 00:49:12.639
You know, if you want to travel, travel alone, do the solar, solar, solar trips as they talk about it, you know, take your precautions, but really go and explore and and you know live your life to the fullest.
00:49:12.960 --> 00:49:15.280
Yeah, definitely.
00:49:15.679 --> 00:49:22.719
Okay, so what is a day in the life of the toy look like with all of these projects happening, um, and the family?
00:49:22.960 --> 00:49:24.639
What does a day in the life look like?
00:49:24.719 --> 00:49:27.679
And then what how do you find rest?
00:49:27.920 --> 00:49:35.599
Because again, books and I'm reading, I think the importance we need to also understand the importance of finding rest, whatever the rest might be for us.
00:49:37.039 --> 00:49:41.360
See, you know, funny enough, my days are not always very loud and exciting.
00:49:41.519 --> 00:49:52.800
Many of my days are getting up, having breakfast, um, getting on my computer, checking emails, responding, having Zoom calls.
00:49:52.960 --> 00:50:01.679
If I need to meet a client in the field on the ground doing that, um, I live a very normal, quiet, comfortable life.
00:50:01.760 --> 00:50:07.519
If I'm into baby, I may get time to go check out the beach or just chill with friends.
00:50:07.760 --> 00:50:13.840
It's only exciting on the days that I'm traveling, maybe, but for most parts, it's a very quiet life.
00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:21.920
I do like to binge watch, so when I have time, I put on the TV and catch up on Netflix, or just read a book accordingly.
00:50:22.079 --> 00:50:27.199
But I don't think a normal day is like just very normal and chill for me.
00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:30.320
But your life is not normal, let me tell you that.
00:50:31.119 --> 00:50:33.679
For the vast majority of it is not normal.
00:50:34.239 --> 00:50:54.400
And I, you know, I'm not saying anything that is, but but I think that's a good thing for us to look at because you have designed and your life in such a way from the very beginning, from being in Tobago and deciding and going to school and and pursuing your set your studies and taking jumping on all of these opportunities that you said, okay, I want to go to Japan.
00:50:54.559 --> 00:50:55.119
You know what I mean?
00:50:55.199 --> 00:51:00.320
That's not a normal thing for a woman to say, I will do Japan of all places, you know what I mean?
00:51:00.400 --> 00:51:04.159
So you what I'm saying, your life is not normal, but it's something that we can learn from it.
00:51:04.400 --> 00:51:10.480
And but because you have you have always, and you said it, take risks throughout your life.
00:51:10.719 --> 00:51:22.159
Um, and you're so very entrepreneurial, you're able to spot opportunities, see things, and then sort of build um a business out of it, just like when you started writing your book, and then it's now a business.
00:51:22.400 --> 00:51:32.239
Then you're looking at and you're learning, you keep learning um in terms of the business now, tapping into your tourism thing with the with the hotel, now queer designs.
00:51:32.400 --> 00:51:34.079
So that's not a normal thing.
00:51:34.239 --> 00:51:45.599
Um, and I was saying that I'm reading this book, What to Make of a Life, by Jim Collins, I believe, um, who wrote Good to Great, and he was talking about people being encoded to certain for certain things.
00:51:45.760 --> 00:51:46.559
It's not normal.
00:51:46.719 --> 00:51:50.079
Some people are encoded to become, to be the way they are.
00:51:50.320 --> 00:51:53.280
And I want to say that's that's you, right?
00:51:53.440 --> 00:52:19.280
But others of us can others of us can look at that, listen to it, be inspired, and sort of really try to um you know get to this point because after you have done paid your dues in corporate and do some um and a lot of these things, you can sort of yeah, get up in that morning, have that cup of coffee or tea or whatever the cases, and and and sort of what's it would live the life that you want to live.
00:52:19.440 --> 00:52:25.760
And I think that's a good thing, but it's not not necessarily normal, it's normal to you because that's how it's normal.
00:52:27.280 --> 00:52:30.400
I I I guess I guess I've become probably normalized in it.
00:52:30.559 --> 00:52:30.800
Exactly.
00:52:31.760 --> 00:52:36.239
I wanted to because when you when you travel to different places, you see how people live.
00:52:36.400 --> 00:52:46.800
I mean, we in the Caribbean, we have a a level of hustle culture that is, I mean, second to none, and we still stuck in systems of the 8 to 4, 946 scenario.
00:52:46.960 --> 00:52:49.840
And if you were married, you're still again stuck in a system.
00:52:49.920 --> 00:53:10.159
Again, you were able to break out of that mold in a sense where you know you have the support of your family and your husband to be able to so that you could travel and and then at this point in time be able to study, take up another bit of study, because some women don't have that, so you're blessed in that regard, and you know, it's not normal.
00:53:10.320 --> 00:53:11.920
That's a BTS song, right?
00:53:12.000 --> 00:53:16.960
Um, I'm very much into K dramas and BTS, but I mean, you know, we thank God for that.
00:53:17.039 --> 00:53:52.480
I mean, for those of us who can uh achieve that, and and your life is certainly inspiration, which is why I said, you know, your advice to women so that they could sort of listen and and try to say, okay, let me let me break out of this thing, this system that I find myself in, and try to at least what whatever is left of my life, try to explore, you know, and and try to kind of feed my soul, be it reading books or taking up, you know, I was talking to her, crocheting or painting or do something, but do something else with your life rather than staying within a system.
00:53:53.679 --> 00:53:54.639
Yes, yes.
00:53:54.800 --> 00:53:56.880
I I could agree to that, definitely.
00:53:57.199 --> 00:54:02.079
So as we wrap up, final words, and then tell us where we can find you personally.
00:54:02.239 --> 00:54:12.239
And I know you touched on some of the, you know, your businesses, where to get your books and so on, but so let us know um how we can how Christmas can find you and your so Alina.
00:54:12.320 --> 00:54:16.239
I think it has been really a pleasure chatting with you on Sunbeam Chats today.
00:54:16.400 --> 00:54:23.840
Um, to the listeners out there, I just want to encourage everyone, be yourself, whatever that entails, just do you.
00:54:23.920 --> 00:54:35.119
And I think in the process of you discovering yourself, you will understand how are you contributing to society, how are you making your life a better uh person, and how and how you can impact others.
00:54:35.360 --> 00:54:46.400
In terms of finding me online, um, you can find the work that I do in terms of books and publishing at booksbylr.com or on social media booksbylr.
00:54:46.719 --> 00:54:57.119
In terms of my consultancy, it's LRTsmedia and business solutions.com and you can find LRT's Media on most social media pages.
00:54:57.519 --> 00:55:04.960
Uh the Curio Designs, the fashion brand, a Curier Designs T T on Instagram and Facebook.
00:55:05.119 --> 00:55:10.880
And for me, generally, you can just look me up on social media, it's LaToya, LaToya 2A's.
00:55:10.960 --> 00:55:12.800
My mom wanted to be a little bit more special.
00:55:12.960 --> 00:55:17.039
Well, LaToya Jackson was popular, but you know, she put two A's at the end.
00:55:17.199 --> 00:55:24.159
So L A T O Y A A, um LaToya Robots or La Toya Robots Thomas on some platforms.
00:55:24.239 --> 00:55:40.159
And I look forward to chatting, sharing knowledge, just being involved with anyone who needs to engage, needs to chat, uh part for their life and looking at sustainability, yes, but also life outside of just what you do today in TNT.
00:55:40.480 --> 00:55:42.639
It was a pleasure chatting with you today, Aline.
00:55:42.800 --> 00:55:52.880
Well, thank you, it's a pleasure, and and really it is it just inspires me to continue to do some of the things I'm doing, um, and you know, sort of like-minded in a couple ways.
00:55:52.960 --> 00:55:56.960
So thank you very much, and I wish you success in your up new program.
00:55:57.199 --> 00:55:58.639
I'm sure you'll do pretty well.
00:55:58.800 --> 00:56:05.760
And yeah, looking forward to seeing more, you know, the publishing and more authors because you know, books are very close to my heart.
00:56:05.840 --> 00:56:07.360
So I'm pretty excited about that.
00:56:07.440 --> 00:56:16.239
And I encourage um, you know, somebody who said if if you have the thought to write a book, at least you're close enough to becoming an author, at least getting there.
00:56:16.320 --> 00:56:20.559
So reach out to Latoria and her company if you want some assistance.
00:56:20.719 --> 00:56:23.039
Um, I'm sure she'll be able to help you.
00:56:23.280 --> 00:56:25.599
Yeah, so have a great day.
00:56:26.000 --> 00:56:26.480
Thank you.
00:56:26.880 --> 00:56:27.360
Be good.
00:56:27.920 --> 00:56:29.039
Okay, take care.
00:56:29.519 --> 00:56:32.480
This has been Sunbeam Chats with Arlene Holland.
00:56:32.800 --> 00:56:36.800
Be sure to download the podcast for more great inspiring stories.
00:56:37.039 --> 00:56:40.719
And don't forget to follow Sunbeam Chats on Facebook and Instagram.
00:56:41.039 --> 00:56:41.840
Thank you for listening.
00:56:42.079 --> 00:56:43.199
Until next time.