People

SHELF AWARENESS

A tireless advocate and self-published author to boot, Sherria Elliot’s life and works prove that no one is voiceless if they have the determination to be heard.
Text by Ryan Jarrell | April 4, 2018 | People

There’s only one secret, and it’s that there’s no secret at all. Legions of YouTube videos, bookshelves groaning with freshly-printed epistles from self-appointed gurus, websites interested more in recording the last four digits of your credit card than outfitting you for a life of independent wealth, there are countless sources intent on selling you the secrets of successful entrepreneurship. But ask anyone who’s actually done it, turned less-than-ideal circumstances into a full life of both success and solace, and they’ll all tell you the same thing: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

A born and bred Miamian whose life is equal parts motherhood, partnership, civic activism and successful business venture, there’s no aspect of Sherria Elliot’s experience that hasn’t been propelled forward by her boundless optimism and ability to make do with what life has provided her. A former police and corrections officer with 2 daughters born with albinism, Elliot was struck with two opposing paths in which to lead her life: either wallow in a life of disadvantage, or use the universe’s inclination to better the lives of not only her daughters, but of all those struck with a particularity that invites ostracisation and bullying.

Now in its 7th year of publishing helpful and heartfelt works that have inspired those living with albinism the world over, 4 Elliot Publishing is proof that to Elliot and others similarly endowed with her grit and determination, there’s really only one path to take when dealing with life’s dilemmas. With her first published work, But Mommy, It’s Not Fair, the main character was adapted as the face of important anti-bullying legislation, proving that nothing is impossible for those with drive and commitment. “My advice to young entrepreneurs would be to self-motivate and go forward, do not let anyone or anything stand in your way,” says Elliot, who also counts spearheading Ark Of The City Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to serving children in all aspects of their lives, as one of her life’s many successes. “Once you have the motivation to achieve something and a solid foundation to build upon, then success will follow. It won’t be easy but it can be done.”; 4ElliotPublishing.com.