Traci Szemkus became pregnant at 19 and relied on welfare. Motivated to succeed, she vowed to complete her doctorate by 25, achieving it by 26. She repaid her welfare benefits through taxes as her career flourished. With a net worth in the seven figures, Szemkus co-founded a visual marketing company, WorkPlay Branding, with her daughter Lyrik, involving her in business from an early age. Their collaborative journey illustrates Szemkus's ambition and the dynamic between motherhood and professional success.
"One day, I was waiting in line at the food pantry. I had a voucher for food and wrote on the back, 'I'm going to be a doctor by the time I'm 25.' I don't know why I did it - maybe it was a cry for help - but I completed my doctorate two weeks after my 26th birthday."
"During the second year of operating our clinic, our tax bill was almost exactly that amount. I felt like I'd cleared my debt to the government."
"Still, it feels strange to call myself a millionaire. I have more security than I used to and don't need to struggle to survive. But I don't feel like I've made it yet or like I can coast."
"Lyrik has always been at my side as I built my businesses. When she was little, we used to drive around listening to CDs about business and goal setting."
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