“Are you doing the same things this year that you did last year? If so you are loosing ground. ” – Unknown
Name: Orane Williams
Age: 28
What exactly do you do for a living?
I’m the founder and Executive Director of Dispelling Realities & Empowering African-American Minds, Inc (D.R.E.A.M. Inc.) in which I provide workshops from financial literacy to entrepreneurship to youth empowerment.
What state do you represent? New Jersey
Did you go to college? Where?
William Paterson University
What did you study there? Business Management
Why on earth did you choose this career path and how did you get involved in it?
Initially, I started out studying Computer Engineering but after one year of study I felt it wasn’t for me. I had a conversation with a business professor at my school and decided to take a few classes over the summer. Afterward I had officially switched my major to Business Management. I felt that one day in the future I wanted to be my own boss.
What are your future plans for your career?
My future plans are to self publish a few books and travel the world doing speaking engagements for youth and young professionals.
What are in love with about this profession? What are you not so in love with?
What I love about what I do is that I enjoy empowering youth and providing them with useful information. It’s kind of like when I speak to them I’m sharing things I wish I learned about when I was their age. What I’m not in love with is when they just don’t understand how important or how beneficial the information I’m providing for them can make a world of difference. I guess sometimes they just might not be ready for it and I think there isn’t much I can do about that part.
Give us an example of a day in the life of you doing what you do?
Wow! A day in my life. If only people could spend a day with me. No two days are they same I’ll tell you that much. Typical most days will start off with working out in the gym at 5 a.m. and getting back home to have my second breakfast around seven o’clock. Most days, I’ll start off with compiling a to-do list for the day or week which I find very much helpful. From there, I just work on each task which could be anything from brainstorming new workshop ideas, to working on my books, or contacting an organization to do a workshop for them. I do spend time on Twitter and Facebook posting messages of motivation.
What steps do you recommend to someone who is planning to pursue this career?
For someone who wants to do public speaking or be in the Non Profit arena I would recommend speaking to someone who does what you want to do. Take them out to lunch, pick their brain, and surround yourself with good company.
What is the single-most important piece of advice you can offer a person pursuing this career?
Be patient! The big bucks might not come right away but it will come in due time.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Some many good pieces of advice over the years, I would say it was to chase my dreams and the rest will follow.
What can we look forward to seeing from you next?
What you can look forward to next is my release of some e-books for the e-reader platforms this year. Now that I’ve stated it publicly I must hold myself to that.
What professional or community volunteer organizations are you currently a member of?
I’m a member of New York Urban League Young Professionals, Garden State Real Estate Investors Association, & William Paterson University Young Alumni Council
What’s a funny or significant memory from your college or high school days you are legally allowed to share?
A significant memory from high school I would say is that there was a period I had a substitute for a class. One day she took me out the class room and spoke to me on how she felt I was the leader in the class. I feel that was a changing point to me in realizing I was a leader.
What book are you reading right now?
How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months by John Locke
What’s playing in your MP3 player right now?
I mostly keep my iPod on shuffle except when I put something new on it. The most recent things I added were some new Soca mixes but I listen to everything from Hip Hop, R&B, Rap, Reggae, Zouk, Kompa, Gospel, House, & Club music
Where can we stalk you online?
Facebook Fanpage or Personal Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Website: www.oranewilliams.com
Other: www.dreammorethanyousleep.com
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