My Story
I have always loved to talk. My six older brothers called me a “tattle-tale.” I didn’t see it that way. I was just informing Mother about the facts. She decided whether to share them with my Dad. Little did I know that my ease in communicating was a stepping stone for becoming a reporter, producer, news anchor, and moderator.
While growing up in the inner city of Houston, Texas my parents stressed getting to know God personally and getting a good education. I did both, two of the best decisions of my life. I learned that I could dream big because I had a BIG GOD who created me and had great plans for me. He is an equal opportunity God. I believed that so I started dreaming and praying and working hard to attend an excellent college in preparation for a career in broadcasting.
My prayers were answered. I received a BS in Speech and a Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. I was among the first alumni inducted into the School of Journalism’s Hall of Achievement for excellence in journalism.
I’ve had the wonderful privilege of working as a news anchor, moderator, reporter/producer at the national cable network, BET, as well as serve as a reporter and producer at the NBC-owned television station and ABC affiliate in Washington, DC.
Along the way my faith in God has remained resolute. I’m convinced He is intimately involved in every detail of our lives and His path is always the best one to pursue for fulfillment and contentment. That’s why I didn’t hesitate to walk away from a successful full-time career in broadcasting in 2002 to become an author, national speaker, and to launch the non-profit, Excellent Living.
My passion is to be an effective communicator whether it’s before an audience of one or thousands. I consider myself an “encouragement coach,” inspiring people to be their best, to run their own races, and to successfully make it to their finish line, without comparison or competition. I believe that God has allowed me to experience great triumphs and defeats in order to share my story with others so that ultimately we can all win at life and achieve our distinct purpose.
For Women Who Want More Than Comparing, Competing, and Coveting
All of creation is content to be what it was made to be except us. Fish flourish in water and ants are not worried about their size. But we waste time on the three C’s
– comparing, competing, and coveting. We aim at the bull’s eye on someone else’s board, pursuing a race we weren’t equipped to run.
Cheryl Martin shows women how to develop their God given uniqueness rather than becoming fixated on what they are not or do not have. Distinctly You unveils the actions and attitudes that may be sabotaging women and explores ways they can engage and build up their unique talents, interests, and strengths.
Readers will be inspired by people who were exceptional for God’s Kingdom. As the author shares her ongoing quest to be distinct for His glory, readers see how God created them to thrive.
Includes end-of-chapter questions for individual or group use.
1st Class Single: Rules for Dating and Waiting God’s Way
In 1st Class Single, Cheryl Martin shows you how to date God’s way…
- She gives you 30 practical rules to enrich your dating life, including:
- Consider it a Bad Sign If You are the Only One Happy about the Relationship
- Don’t Marry Potential
- Don’t Try to Make, Force, or Buy a Relationship
- Know Your Worth!
- Look at the Signs – Then Wonder!
1st Class Single gives you the benefit of learning from someone else’s personal experiences. Chock-full of biblical references and spiritual analyses, 1st Class Single is a reliable road map that will help any single navigate the often-dangerous course towards holy matrimony.
Rave Reviews
“I just could not put your book down. It jumped right into the heart of the matter and dragged me straight through to the end. I felt like you were talking right to me. You have inspired me to enter the 1ST CLASS SINGLE’S HALL OF FAME!”
“Thanks for being so real and transparent – and for all the Wisdom and Truth that was revealed on every page of the book.”
“1st Class Single has truly changed my life and my perspective on being single.”
“Excellently and cleverly written.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed your book. Given the way things are out here now, men need it too. Maybe more. All they need to do is change ‘him’ to ‘her’ and ‘she’ to ‘he.'”
Speaker
Cheryl considers it a privilege to speak whenever she is given the opportunity. Her presentations inspire and empower audiences in a practical and relevant way. She has discovered a common theme: people thrive with a dose of encouragement and seek tools and strategies for fully becoming their personal best.
Cheryl customizes her talks for each audience and is passionate about delivering life changing principles that assist in achieving the desired outcomes. She is flexible to deliver her messaging for keynotes, workshops, seminars, training programs, or retreats. She speaks in various settings: corporate, college, church, women’s conferences, singles and youth events, and training sessions.
Topics include Becoming Distinctly You, 1st Class Single, living with purpose, building strong relationships, proactive steps to success, making wise choices, sterling customer service, effective communication, and media training. Whether it’s before thousands or in an intimate setting, Cheryl brings a presentation that is thoughtful, transparent, enriching, engaging, and relevant. She enjoys uniquely crafting talks based on your organization’s goals and format.
Here’s the kind of impact Cheryl can bring:
“I’ve said it before, but I am not aware of anyone who gives women the kind of life-changing messages that you give…”
“Your presentation followed such a logical development of ideas and in such an entertaining way. You taught and entertained at the same time. This is quite a gift. As you spoke you had everyone just hanging on the edge of their seats. I just kept thinking, ‘Boy, she is doing exactly what she is supposed to be doing’.”
“Cheryl encouraged students to reach their full potential by challenging them with examples from her own academic and professional experience. She offered them an inspiring and attainable model of someone who has ‘made it’…”
“I have heard nothing but good reports from every person who attended. Thank you so much for giving yourself to our people.”
To explore Cheryl speaking at your event, please click the link below to send us an email.
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Broadcaster
Cheryl is the host of the weekly radio broadcast Excellent Living. Each program is designed to enrich, empower, enlighten and encourage listeners with practical and relevant principles for making wise choices and living with purpose.
Cheryl is an award-winning journalist and communications specialist. She was the popular moderator of Lead Story, a Sunday news analysis program on Black Entertainment Television (BET) for five years. The show brought together some of the top African-American journalists to discuss the major national and international news events of the week. During the 2000 presidential election campaign, Cheryl hosted Lead Story from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. She has also interviewed newsmakers such as President Bill Clinton, General Colin Powell, Vice President Al Gore, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
During her nearly ten year tenure at BET, Cheryl served as a news anchor and reported and produced several half-hour specials for the network: The Legacy: Dreaming and Living Success, an inspirational look at successful African Americans and the parents who inspired them to excel; Mission in the ‘Hood, a look at initiatives by inner-city churches to curb violence and strengthen the family, and Passage to Democracy, a chronicling of Cheryl’s visit to South Africa to cover the historic first all-race elections.
Prior to joining BET in October 1992, Cheryl worked as a reporter and producer for various television stations in Washington, DC, including the NBC-owned station (WRC-TV) and the ABC affiliate (WJLA-TV). She received the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s 1991 Silver Award (local program) for her documentary, Moms, Kids & Crack. The program highlighted the problems of mothers addicted to crack cocaine and the consequences for their cocaine-exposed children. Cheryl was also nominated for a local Emmy award by the Chicago chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.