By: Jhanae Winter
With under two years in operation, Canderia Mckinney has crafted a successful business aimed at equipping Bahamians with the confidence they need to secure their next career opportunity.
Canderia developed her professional career by being a Certified Quickbooks Proadvisor with six years of experience in human resources under her belt, before branching out into her own business.
The Inspired HR can assist entrepreneurs, new hires, and business owners with the variety of services it offers such as, QuickBooks training, bookkeeping, HR employer’s packages, interview coaching, resume reviews and offering help to individuals in the area of professional development.
Canderia’s business is designed with Bahamians in mind, to obtain what is obligated to them in the workplace.
“One goal I have been able to achieve for my business is informing workers of The Bahamas about their rights and helping them navigate workplace woes by way of my blog, and social media posts, as well as hosting a virtual job preparedness program for graduates,” she said.
The achievements don’t stop there. One of her career highlights was hosting successful workshops for QuickBooks Training and partnering with other businesses such as Corporate Girl 242. Through this, she was able to give away a “Grand pack” which included work attire and workplace training, she told Bahamaslocal.com.
Consistent with her vision, in the future Canderia wants to host after school programs for graduates and entrepreneurs to provide them with the training they need to excel in the corporate world. She plans to do this by partnering with other trainers and corporate businesses who will help her throughout this process and lend their expertise to interested individuals.
Granted she has been in business for a year and a half, Canderia keeps her head in the game with a “tunnel vision” focus to avoid negativity and competition.
“I don’t look to the left or right. I also believe that while there is competition none of them have your vision, talent and gifting. There will always be persons who will be less than genuine but there are those who will love you and the work that you do. That’s how you get past the negative voices by focusing on the positive ones” she said.
This positive mindset is what has kept Canderia going in the midst of the pandemic. The year 2020 did not go as planned for her, as her business was still in the infancy stages but she navigated through changes with technology.
“I would like to believe that the pandemic has had more of a positive one than negative. Having launched my first workshop in 2020, I learnt that there were so many people who needed to learn about labor laws in a simplified way and were willing to take the next step in building their value in workplaces and businesses,” the business owner said.
While she is helping others on their journey towards professionalism and success, Canderia also embarked on a journey of her own, albeit a more personal one, all about overcoming self.
“In this season, challenges come a dime a dozen but the biggest challenge you must overcome is self. Sometimes I can admit that I stand in my own way by not executing the idea or not believing that it’s good enough when in truth so many people need the service,” she said.
Taking a step out of the safety net of a job and starting her own business, Canderia dealt with doubt and uncertainty.
“I was met with fear and discouragement from making such a move at this time. Most people think that a job is the only way to make it, but I am learning that, that couldn’t be any further from the truth,” she said.
But for this business owner, the idea of getting paid isn’t her motivation but pursuing her passion and purpose compelled her to continue through the challenges, and it proved triumph in the end.
But even when tough days come, Canderia gets through them by using her favorite motivational quote “a bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is in her own wings”. She expressed how this has carried her through rough days and it reminds her of the power that is already within her.
The Inspired HR Ceo, admits being one’s own boss is hard work. It reveals the truth of one's nature, level of maturity and forces one to make decisions which would not be made otherwise.
But she encourages other millennials starting out, to not “despise small beginnings”. She believes it takes less than one thinks to get started so “go for it!”
“Make the plan, put it into action, ask God to bless it and in time you’ll see how much that idea, or product line will grow. You have to get up and work each day, you need to put products out there, sell, sell, sell and you have to learn so many new things to survive,” she exclaimed.
Canderia can be found on her business Facebook page, The Inspired HR and on Instagram @theinspiredhrbahamas and website, https:theinspiredhr.com
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