Author of “Help Me Get My Stuff In Order”, Sharon Baker-Boykin Weighs In On Estate Planning/INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE NEWS

It’s been so important for Sharon Baker-Boykin, owner of Power of 1 Decision, LLC, to advocate for individuals and families to take the correct steps to protect their loved ones because Sharon understands what goes into estate planning — preparing for your stuff to pass to loved ones and others — when we have transitioned in life. Sharon has lost countless family members. This work isn’t only professional, it’s extremely personal.

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, we found it vital to highlight Sharon’s work, which includes her book entitled, “Help Me Get My Stuff In Order”.

Congratulations on all of your published books. As an author, what have been some of the most meaningful books you’ve written to date and why?

Sharon: There are a lot of us who have a goal to write a book. It can look like a big goal, especially if we have never written a book before. But I feel that all of us have experienced life and learned some valuable lessons that can help someone coming behind us. I have used the different experiences to write books to educate the reader on the life issues. My first 6 books are a trilogy plus a separate workbook for each of the story books that follows the story of Denzel and Sharon. Now I did not say that their last names were “Washington” for a legal reason — LOL. But each chapter in the book covers issues of buying a house, getting life insurance, their high school-aged son getting his girlfriend pregnant, elderly parents suffering from dementia and needing a guardian and a conservator, and other issues.

My other books cover estate planning, making powerful decisions, how to find your purpose in life, having a 90-day journal, and there is a prayer and worship journal.

As an influential professional in the industries of Law and Legal Life Coaching, what would you say is the best advice you’ve ever given?

Sharon: This is a great question. I would say that the best advice that I have ever given was to myself first, which is to fully listen to the needs of my clients and then to concentrate on their needs and not talk about me and my story. The client is seeking answers and a transformation from where they are currently to where they want to be.

The advice that they are seeking from me is in one of the following areas where I have experience and expertise — doing a Last Will and Testament, creating a Trust, seeking disability from Social Security, obtaining child support, obtaining grandparents visitation, determining how much life insurance they need, deciding how to handle an estate when a family member died without having a Last Will, or many other areas. Each area has a different answer; however, I must fully understand the “why” behind their request for help and what is the finish line that they are trying to achieve. Then I can give them the best advice to help them to get to their finish line.

Because of my background in the law, I understand that the law is not always black and white. It is different shades of grey. Everyone’s situation is different and the facts behind their question can help me to give them the best advice to help them reach their finish line.

What has been more challenging to navigate? Estate planning or being an attorney and why?

Sharon: Life is full of challenges to navigate. When I set out on the journey to be an attorney, I realized that I would then be the first in my family to tread down this path. It is difficult when you are the first one and there are no other family or friends who have accomplished this goal to help you maneuver through the jungle. So you are the one going through the jungle first and forging new paths for those coming behind you. You get the cuts and bruises first. But when you do accomplish the goal, you should want to help those coming behind you. I have always been the type of person who wants to help others.

To compare the journey of being an attorney to estate planning is different. My dad, Charlie Baker, died the Friday before Father’s Day in June of 2018. From his death in June of 2018 to January 2019, I had a family member to die every month. Not every one of them had their estate plan in order. Then I became the first Probate Court Administrator in DeKalb County, Georgia in May of 2019. So I tell people that God prepared me for the job with an inside perspective dealing with family deaths and with an outside perspective through the position of Probate Court Administrator, the Court, and the law of the State of Georgia. Having both perspectives helped me to be sympathetic to the customers seeking help when they came to the Court. It also helped me as a Legal Life Coach in this area of the law. I can and do love helping my clients who need help understanding the law and the process when someone dies with or without a Will in place.

I am also always asking people I come in contact with if they have their estate planning done. I know personally and professionally how it can impact the family of the deceased person when there is no estate plan in place. So I encourage everyone that I talk to get their estate planning done.

Powerful Decisions in the Classrooms of Life is one of the many published books you’re the author of. Have you had to make any powerful decisions lately? If so, what kind of decisions did you have to make?

Sharon: There are many areas in your life that you must make a powerful decision in. Those area include spiritual, relationships, family, education, career, health, financial, and fun. Every day we make decisions in one or more of these areas. I am defining a powerful decision as one that is purposeful, intentional, and impactful in that area. The most recent powerful decision that I have made is to keep my priorities in the proper order God first, spouse Raymond second, and me third. I am involved in many things and I have a lot on my plate. But the bottom line is keeping this order in place with my words and especially my actions. I have had to learn that “NO” is a complete answer and a complete sentence. I cannot and should not feel guilty when I have to say “NO” to taking on another project.

What has the experience been like for you to be a part of the renowned Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.?

Sharon: This puts a smile on my face. I pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated on February 1, 1980, at the Eta Iota Chapter at Columbus State University. This has been and continues to be 43 years of serving the community in my sorority. I have served in many capacities over these 43 years. I have been vice president of my undergraduate chapter — Eta Iota, past president of a graduate chapter — Iota Psi Omega in Athens, GA, and currently serving as parliamentarian of my current graduate chapter — Psi Omega Omega Chapter in Peachtree Corners, GA. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is the first sorority for black females created on January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University. We serve with excellence in everything we do.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Do mental health conversations come up in your line of work?

Sharon: Yes, mental health issues are discussed in my consultations with clients and in my talks with groups. We all can relate to having a family member, loved one, friend, etc. who is experiencing some form of mental health challenge and the impact it may have on our lives. When a family member is discussing estate planning, then plans are discussed on how the impacted person’s needs can be solved in the estate plan. This person may need some type of help or assistance financially throughout their life. They may also need a guardian and/or conservator to take care of their needs. The client knows who they trust to handle these functions for the person who needs the help. If this issue is not addressed in an estate plan, then the state will have to step in and handle it. The person selected by the court or the person asking to be appointed may not be the person that the client would have selected. So picking the appropriate help for the loved one is frequently discussed.

What is a super fun fact about yourself that many people are not aware of?

Sharon: I love sports — not playing but attending and cheering for my teams. I am a super Georgia Bulldog fan and I love watching and cheering for the football team. I also love attending the Atlanta Braves baseball games and the Atlanta Hawks basketball games. It is a wonderful release to cheer for the teams to win.

What are you most excited about for the remainder of the year?

Sharon: I am most excited about just being alive and well every day. I love what I do to help others to achieve their goals. I also work on my own personal goals to continue to learn and grow my company. I express gratitude to God every day for the gifts and abilities He has given me to do what He wants me to do to serve others.