Egypt Sherrod is pretty much the queen ofHGTV.
From there, Sherrod went on to hostFlipping Virgins, which she also executive produces.
Sherrod is the epitome of a self-made woman and has been hustling since she was a teenager.
Sherrod’s success story is one that is built on years of hard work and savvy investments.
Here’s the untold truth of Egypt Sherrod.
It was her desire to invest in her future that would lead to her career in real estate.
“While everyone else was buying pocketbooks and shoes, I was buying properties,” she said.
She eventually merged her real estate knowledge with her radio talent.
This, in turn, led to her TV career.
“I thought it was a cruel joke and almost hung up the phone.
To this day I am glad I didn’t hang up.”
Her family is filled with brokers, so she grew up around the business.
As she grew older, however, Sherrod developed a new appreciation for real estate.
Sherrod said that she still loves New York, but “it was not conducive to work-life balance.”
Sherrod has a daughter, stepdaughter, andanother baby on the way.
She manages to keep together what she likes to call her “mompreneur” life by staying organized.
“I’ve always been an HGTV fanatic,” she toldMadame Noire.
Flipping houses is tricky, so there’s a real need for Sherrod’s experience.
“It’s not easy, it’s not for everybody,” she toldThe Grio.
Oprah is her idol
Oprah has long been an influence in Egypt Sherrod’s life.
“I’ve followed her since I was a child,” she told Atlanta media personalityRay Cornelius.
“Oprah has always had a way of asking tough questions in a very direct yet compassionate way.
That description doesn’t sound too far from Sherrod herself.
Body-shaming isrampant in the industry, and the demands placed on women are often unreasonable.
I am conscious of my weight and my appearance, because I want to feel healthy and look good.
However, I refuse to allow anyone to stress me out about vanity.”
Whether or not you’re on TV, that’s advice that anyone can take to heart.
“I’m DIY all the way!”
“From painting, building shelving, epoxying flooring, refinishing furniture… that’s all me.
I have to be very desperate to call in the professionals.”
She does draw the line when it comes to any electrical or plumbing work, though.
“That’s where I call in the reinforcements,” she said.
She said that she loves her closet, but she spends most of her time in the kitchen.
“It’s the heart of our home,” she said.
“For others it’s fame or fortune.
For me, success means being fulfilled and leading a balanced life.”
She added that there’s no real key to her success.
Everything comes down to a strong work ethic and faith.
She definitely knows a thing or two about how to handle money and make it work for you.
In an interview withVibe, she gave advice to young women who want to be financially successful.
“With your money, you oughta know where its coming from, where its going and why.
Be responsible, step up, or your will turn around and have none.
Always manage your own money.
And it’s okay to have financial advisors…
But you’re gonna wanna be the one watching and managing all your money.”
She also reminded women that money is only a means to an end.
“It’s a tool to help us realize our dreams,” she said.
“Money shouldn’tbethe dream.”
