Staying On Her Grind: Relationship Expert Tionna Smalls On Her Business Success

June 27th, 2012 - By Charlotte Young

plus-model-mag.com

“My motivation is from being born and raised in the ‘hood (East New York area of Brooklyn),” The multi-talented entrepreneur said in an interview with Black Enterprise. “Every day, you had examples of what not to be. Every day you saw people bite the dust. Seeing that made me realize that I didn’t want to be a statistic. I always wanted more for myself. I also have parents who are still happily married who taught us the game, so I guess I am passing along what I learned.”

Smalls acknowledges that although her book was the move that launched it all, her role on Chili’s show made the difference.

“After I got the role as the relationship adviser on the show, my writing career went through the roof, and I received a healthy book deal with a huge publishing company, HarperCollins. As far as popularity from the show in general, it has definitely made me a household name,” she said. I was still living in my hometown when the first season came out, and I had to move. People were following me home asking me to find them a man. It was crazy, but I love the love people have shown me since the show. It allowed me to meet many great people, and for that alone, I am thankful.”

In addition to all of her newest ventures, Smalls has also published a new book, “Men Love Abuse: The Guide to Losing the Nice Girl Image & Getting the Man You Want.”

“My latest book is off the chain! I can’t even lie to you. It is funny, endearing, and most of all honest. It is a book that lets women know that the less you sweat or stress a man, the better off you will be when it comes down to this thing called love,” she said to Black Enterprise.

“I come from a friend perspective, so I believe that helps people embrace the advice more.”

It’s no surprise that Smalls days are fully packed, she notes that she wakes from late nights to check emails, eight social media pages, proofread her work, check on the boutique and in between all of the work, she makes sure she finds time to take care of her fiancé. Despite all of the stress from business ventures and her full days, Smalls says she loves what she does, especially inspiring women looking for successful relationships.

“I love to encourage and empower women because I am a woman, and one day I will have a daughter, and it will be my job as her mother to teach her what she should and shouldn’t accept from a man or in life. I take that role as a love coach very serious,” she said. “I’d like to say I am the queen of self-esteem because if you have self-esteem, everything else will work out for you personally and professionally. You have to believe in yourself first.

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  • honest

    i liked Tionna i thought she gave Chilli the honest truth….she may come off rude and ghetto but that is because she is from the hood….she gives tough love…and guess what at the end of the day she has a man and knows how to keep one and Chili is still single…..I would rather get the honest truth about myself then have somebody sugar coat it…that guy from that show tough love is mean also he tells those girls the truth…idc what anybody says Chili’s standards are too high she needs to go watch Think Like a Man…

    • honest

      and Tionna was very funny…after watching herself on tv she may get a PR agent or might take a class on how to speak to people thats the thing about growing and learning about yourself…you get better with progress and her books are selling so for all the haters you can go kick rocks…she marketed herself exactly as herself and somebody noticed her and thats all that matters i wish Ms. Tionna Smalls the best and i hope she televises the wedding experience…im going to read both of her books

      • honest

        i rather take advice from a chick who knows how to get and keep a man then somebody who has all these certificates and doctorates on relationships but goes home to cats and dogs…that girl is the truth

    • DiamondDoll1008

      Chilli’s standards may have been high, but they work for her. Chilli was looking for a relationship, but she was not crying because she was lonely. She didn’t want to settle for less than what she wanted and I can’t blame her because SHE is the one who would be dating that person, not Tionne. Plus, Chilli’s experience is different because she has a child and is a celebrity, there are more thing she has to consider and she has to protect herself and her child in a way that is different than most people.

      And degrees and certificates do matter when it comes to relationship advice, because they have research-driven a verified insight and evidence into human behavior. It doesn’t matter if the go home to an empty home, because you don’t know the circumstances of their situation. People with advanced degrees and are in that business are able to spot BS a lot quicker and are not willing to put up with a messy situation just to say they have someone. There are too many people doing that already and they are miserable. I celebrate people who know what they want and won’t be with a piece of a broken individual just to have someone in their life.

  • Gala

    She is a very negative person. I don’t see how she became an adviser. When she was talking to chilli she was very rude, harsh and out of line. I remember one episode where she seemed like she wanted to fight the girl. People go to relationship experts to get help and correction. Not for you to get mad and worked up at them in your little red car. I was thinking ok maybe she went to school to do this. Uhm no she did not. She is always attacking other reality tv show people. When she herself has been trying to stay on reality tv. I don’t get this girl. She is overly aggressive with people she is supposed to be helping. She did not seem like an expert with Chilli. Making her wear a wig and getting mad cause she took that horrible mess off. Tiona needs some PR skills. Everything she had on was tight. Her lace fronts were beauty supply quality but she was always trying to tell chilli about class and style. Please! I am not a fan of shaunie’s but she does seem like a hater … cause shaunie show took off. Yes basketball wives is not a good look. But how does that justify using profanity, calling shaunie out names and going in on Shaunie all the time. While hers got canceled. Please work on your presentation and stop being the first to publicly bash people. I hope she stays off the air. She is just like Tami she gets mad when people disagree with her. There are plenty of relationship experts who are married and went to shcool for that. Have a seat.

    • http://www.facebook.com/lashonda.johnson.92 Shonda Johnson

      You know a lot about somebody you claim is a “negative” person. If you don’t like her,then don’t look at her,If you then she has a “negative” attitude,then don’t watch her,it’s simple as that. You sound like a hater and you also sound mad. If you don’t like Tionna then why comment on a post about her? Go jump off the Brooklyn bridge..

      • Gala

        I commented because Its my opinion. How about you go to the bridge and stand there and come to the conclusion that I have an opinion different from yours. People who argue with other people or get mad at them for having an opinion are usually not very happy in the 1st place with life, have a short vocab, stupid or narrow minded. I am sure people dont like you or think you are crappy. That does not make it illegal or right for them to go kill themselves. My opinion is mine. My opinion is not affecting her career. Some people adore her. I just happen not to. My opinion is not killing anyone. Its just my view and perception. At the of the day I still go home to my great life and have a great day. So do the people who dont like you and so do you ( I hope). We still wake up everyday…. and voice our different opinions and neither one of us have the right to get to a point to get upset. Because out of the billions of people in the world we will all have very strong different opinions. How about you get a life, go out more, get some, or masturbate to ease the tension, a better comeback and uhm the chip off your shoulder. Its a blog boo. A blog. No one’s kids or money is on the line. LOL

        • Crista

          Gala I agree girl. I dont think she was hating Shonda but this girl did get out of line plus she did literally curse shaunie out. I with you Gala people do not understand its just a blog. We all can express our feelings. I dont think Gala was a hater. She made a point. Gala you are too funny though LOL @ get some.

    • Meeting Me

      I know!!! She was scary. she would get so out of line with Chili. she even yelled! I was like how did she get on here. Chilli was unrealistic but this girl was not professional. Maybe her thing is just writing books. But this was funny!

      • Janelle Scott

        Just because she is not a professional doesnt mean that her experience couldnt help other.I have an BA in Pys.but my experience in life help me not just using the books I read and study that makes me a pro

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