We had the good fortune of connecting with Trina Cameron-Rothman, MBA and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trina, what role has risk played in your life or career?
For the longest time, I wanted to be “normal.” I took the safe road. The road most often traveled. I didn’t want to rock the boat. I just wanted to get up, get ready for work, drive to work and sit in traffic, clock in, do my work, keep my head down, clock out, drive home and sit in more traffic, do the mom thing, wash, rinse, and repeat. I lived for the weekend.

I have always been a Special Needs Mom from the day my daughter was born, but once Epilepsy re-entered our lives I started to change and one day I realized that my daughter was likely never going to be able to have a job of her own or provide for herself and that I would need to work doubly hard to not only earn my life’s income potential but hers. I knew that I would never achieve that by working in a “traditional” role and that I could no longer keep my head down… and then the Pandemic hit.

At the start of the Pandemic, I had no idea that I would be where I am today. To look back and think about all the things that had to happen for me to be here, it humbles me. One thing is for certain, it was born from taking a risk after risk. It started with launching a podcast in June of 2020. At that time, I had no idea what I was doing, I had never even listened to a podcast but I gave myself 30 days to figure it out and I streamed each episode live to hold myself accountable and to force some layer of professionalism on my end. I grew the podcast through the summer and then in November of 2020 I took an even bigger risk, I literally walked away from my “Essential Employee” status and high paying corporate job and started my own company, TCR Consulting. I felt that the world was changing and I saw an opportunity for my daughter’s future and I knew that if I was ever going to build what I needed to for her (meaning, my income potential and hers) that this was one of those “now or never” moments and I called my husband and told him I just tendered my notice. Surprisingly, despite having just been told that I had drastically reduced our household income during an incredibly hard season in world history he was very supportive as he saw my vision for TCR Consulting.

Risk taking has been very prominent in my life over the last year and I have been applauded and shamed for it alike. But as President Theodore Roosevelt says, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” Over the last year I have realized more about myself than I have in all my previous years of living. My life is my own. My choices are mine too. Taking these risks has forced me to take ownership of my life in ways I had never done before and it hasn’t always been easy but is has always been rewarding and educational. I, honestly, feel like I am actually living my life now.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others: My background is very unique. I have a Master’s in Business and Marketing. In addition to that I am a professional photographer with over two decades of experience. I am also a member of the John Maxwell Team, a trained Public Speaker as well as a Life and Business Coach- all though John Maxwell’s Leadership School. I am also the host of the Warrior Moms Live Stream/Podcast and the face behind the blog, UnSocially Acceptable. I put all of that education and experience together to create TCR Consulting, a boutique Social Media and Brand Strategy firm. We specialize in one-on-one coaching to help create a Social Media Strategy that is in full alignment with your brand. If you don’t have a brand we can also help cultivate your brand that authentically captivates who you are and the product and services that you provide. In addition, I offer branding and lifestyle photography and I even teach and empower my clients to take on their own product and branding photography. When I work with a client on their social media and brand it is more than “do these things” it is a full coaching program that is forward-thinking that encompasses all of my education and experience for a truly unique offering. We take a deep dive into establishing and addressing my client’s target audience. We are going to put a solid foundation in place- and then really build on it. It is the classic example of the Three Little Pigs, my clients and I build the brick houses of social media. I also teach a Social Media Masterclass each month to other entrepreneurs and I love it, I try to be extra in the class because I truly believe in offering value for their time and investment.

What you are most proud of or excited about?
I am most proud of the risk I took to build this business. I went all in with no safety net. I cashed out my 401k to be able to pay my bills while I built this business. Although, I have a business background and am confident in my ability to connect with others I literally started all of this in the middle of a Pandemic. I took a huge risk by starting this company when I did and I am so glad that I did and I hope that I can be an example for those who at one point in their life may have felt that they were made for more but settled for “normal” like I had.

How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?
Sometimes you have to learn the hard way. I used to say my super power was finding bad jobs. But when I look back I realize that each “bad job” was really just a lesson preparing me for where I am today. Because I had such a string of bad jobs and bosses I went through a period of time where I wondered if I was the common problem – maybe the job wasn’t actually bad, I was? However, I have read enough books now and done the work to know I just happen to be really good at picking the wrong place to work. When I was in undergrad I worked as a server and bartender and when I got my first degree I moved over to the legal field and then eventually into oil and gas. In 2015, I, along with all of Houston, was laid off. I really felt like a failure despite knowing that my layoff was not an isolated incident. In 2016, I started what I call my “Soul Renaissance” and I started to dive deep into self-development. In the Summer of 2017, my employer decided to start downsizing her practice which meant less hours for me and I reached out to a friend from a previous job who immediately offered me a chance to interview with his company in an outside sales role, they had to sell the job to me. Eventually, I did go to work for them and that’s where I put my graduate-level education to work. I did really well with that company and stayed with them until I was ready to start out on my own. When I announced that I was branching out on my own all of my old coworkers collectively said, “It’s about time.” Looking back, I now realize why every job felt like a “bad job” they weren’t for me. When I talk to my old coworkers they all agree, I was meant to do my own thing and they all knew it, I was just very late to the party. My old coworkers, friends, have been so supportive and often give me leads. I have been fortunate that the relationships I had built in my career have helped me in this business.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I am a fun and passionate person. People who meet me will comment that I am “comfortable in my own skin” that comes from years of working on myself but I want people to understand that I am mom of a special needs child and making my area of the world a better place is my life’s work. “Warrior” is tattooed on my arm. I am a fighter. When you lock arms with me you get all of me. I don’t know how to care in small portions. I am smart, driven, and capable. I appreciate my clients because I work every day to not only provide for my daughter and family but I also take every opportunity to raise awareness for the special needs and epilepsy communities. I am grateful to my clients in ways they cannot possibly know. Without my clients I wouldn’t have the opportunities that I do to advocate the way that I do. With each client shoutout, each chance to speak to an organization, each click of my webpage, that’s one more opportunity to introduce myself and quickly mention my work in the special needs community, that’s one more chance to raise awareness for seizure first aid. I was able to move the time of my show because of my clients and because of that I am seeing a massive rise in engagement, when I worked I had to host my show at night. Without my clients I wouldn’t be able to do that. I want my daughter to be a part of a world that accepts her and knows how to help her if she has a seizure and I am not there to help. When you work with me and TCR Consulting you work with someone who cares deeply because it is about more than just me.

I am blessed that I get to have fun, help and empower business owners to take back and build their social media and business, and I get to advocate for the special needs community. It is truly, truly, truly a blessing to be able to do what I do.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the best perks of having a background in outside sales, I know our city!

Monday, we will hang out in the ‘Bend and we would have coffee at The Perfect Latte in Richmond and then lunch at Harvest Kitchen & Bakery in Katy (they have a great keto menu) and then follow up with some minor league baseball and people watching at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.

Tuesday will be Upper Kirby and Rice Village coffee at Cavo on Bissonnet and then lunch at Luna Pizzeria with stops at Murder by the Book, Brazos Books, and Dromgooles, and then we can go over to Cru for dinner and drinks.

Wednesday will be all day at Galveston and the Pleasure Pier! I love the salt air so we have to spend at least one day out there!

Thursday we relax poolside at the Marriot Marquis because my friend has got to see a Texas shaped pool (btw, my favorite shape is Texas). We exlpore downtown for the night.

Friday we have brunch at BB Lemon, they have the best grilled cheese sandwich and the cutest patio. Then we spend the day exloring the Heights and all the murals. We finish at Down the Street with live music.

Saturday we check out the Color Factory for the ‘Gram and then hop on over to Karbach and check out some of Houston’s local breweries.

Sunday we have bruch at Astor Farm to Table after church and spend the day enjoying each other’s friendship.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people in my life that I contribute my success to- my daughter, Scarlett, she inspires me to be a better version of myself. I believe that Special Needs individuals are gifts from God and each day with her is a blessing. My husband, Ed, who loves me even when it is difficult, loving a Creative can be hard, I get it. My Mom, Becky, Dad, Chris, and Brother, Anthony, who help with my daughter so I can go out and work towards my dreams. My besties, Aydee, Angie, and Tiffany! My friend, Josh, who dished out some tough love and showed me that a “normal” life wasn’t for me. My friend, Tonja, who really deserves to be on my payroll! My sweet friend, Kelly, who lets me use her space to teach my Social Media Masterclass. Of course, my clients who are amazing and so fun. Every single one of my Warrior Moms (part of my podcast community) MandieLee and Tawny who are so strong. There are a few people who are no longer here too – 2020 and 2021 was a season of loss for me. I lost my uncle, John, my grandmother, Nancy, and one of my best friends, Adam, who all knew that I was made for more. I wish they were here to see that they were right to believe in me, I miss them dearly. I could go on. I am blessed to know many amazing individuals.

Website: TrinaRothman.com

Instagram: instagram.com/unsociallyacceptable

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tcrmba/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrinaCRConsulting

Other: UnSociallyAcceptable.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.