Introduction and Book Reveal
Taryell Simmons: Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to another exciting episode of Rise Urban Nation podcast. Today we have a very special guest who is making her second appearance on our show. Dr. Wright is in the house—renowned social worker, international trainer, educator, and now published author.
Dr. Marya Wright: Yes, thank you.
Taryell Simmons: She has her new book discussing redefining time: Redefining Time: A Practical Guide to Achieving Success Through Tasks. We are going to dive in with Dr. Wright as she redefines time management to help us reach our fullest potential. Put the book up real quick and show the people the book.
Dr. Marya Wright: Yes, sir. It is beautiful.
Taryell Simmons: That is beautiful right there. How many pages is the read?
Dr. Marya Wright: It is 194 pages with all the details at the end, but once you finish the core reading, it is about 170 to 176 pages. Some of that includes workbook pages with writing space and blank pages. It is a really easy and engaging read.
Taryell Simmons: I got the digital copy when you first released it, and now I am going to get the hard copy. For our listeners who may not have checked out the first episode, can you share a brief synopsis of your background and what led you to write Redefining Time?
Educational Background and Entrepreneurial Journey
Dr. Marya Wright: Absolutely. I am happy to be back with your community. My name is Dr. Marya Wright. My degree and business are wrapped around social work, education, and community engagement. I earned my Bachelor's in Social Work from San Diego State University, my Master's in Social Work from Cal State East Bay, and recently completed my Doctorate in Social Work from USC. Overall, I am a social worker who works with system-impacted communities, families, and individuals, primarily supporting the professionals who interact with these communities. While I have done extensive direct service work, I found great fulfillment in helping service providers expand how they engage Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
Taryell Simmons: I love that intentionality. Often people enter institutional systems and stay there, but you looked at social work through an entrepreneurial lens early in your career. Were you uniquely one of the few doing that, or was there an established path?
Dr. Marya Wright: There was no path for any of this, and I had to figure it out step-by-step on my own. When graduating, my goal was to work for a child welfare agency. I enjoyed that experience, but saw the physical, mental, and emotional toll it took on me, my partner, and my household. I wanted to make a shift, so I gradually built my business around education and consulting until it became fruitful enough to pursue full-time.
Redefining Time into Task Management
Taryell Simmons: Managing time is a common struggle. Can you share a significant challenge you faced regarding time management and how you overcame it?
Dr. Marya Wright: For over a decade, people have asked me how I manage everything I do. When developing this book, I wanted to address that question and share the real barriers behind my journey: navigating single motherhood on county benefits while earning degrees, losing my father and managing his afterlife arrangements, handling unhealthy relationships, addressing mental health, and adapting to coast-to-coast time zone changes. My book challenges the concept that you must be a flawless time manager to reach your full potential. Instead, it is about being time-centered and mindful, maximizing efficiency through practical task management.
Taryell Simmons: An entrepreneur listener who balances motherhood and business recently asked how to prioritize tasks when feeling overwhelmed. What advice would you give her?
Dr. Marya Wright: Prioritize what you realistically have the capacity to complete in that moment. When overwhelmed by a long list, focus on what you can realistically accomplish within your timeframe and what you have the mental, emotional, and physical capacity to do. Research shows that crossing off tasks, small or large, stimulates a dopamine response in the brain that motivates continued action. In my book, I break down SMART goals into clear sentence structures, translating them into specific objectives, actionable strategies, and manageable tasks.
Mastering Work-Life Balance and Scheduling Breaks
Taryell Simmons: Do those strategies apply to daily life organization and achieving work-life balance?
Dr. Marya Wright: Absolutely. Work-life balance is not about over-scheduling every minute of your calendar, which causes burnout. In the book, I share time-blocking diagrams where I block specific hours for focused work, like emails in the morning and meetings in the afternoon, while intentionally scheduling breaks and self-care activities like gym sessions. When you have a ten to fifteen-minute break, step away from your desk, go outside, and take a brisk walk. Fresh air and oxygen recharge the brain far more effectively than trying to finish two extra emails.
Taryell Simmons: Scheduling breaks into time blocks is such a practical strategy. It reminds me of the airline safety rule: put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others. Taking breaks calms stress and restores executive brain function for making sound decisions.
Success Stories and Single-Task Focus
Taryell Simmons: Can you share a success story from someone who applied principles from your book?
Dr. Marya Wright: A professional preparing for an executive director role shared that the book helped her prepare for interviews and step into leadership. Individuals in substance abuse recovery and students preparing for academic semesters have also applied the frameworks. Because the book provides relatable experiences, readers can adopt what works best for their individual journey.
Taryell Simmons: Which key strategy re-inspired you most when revisiting your book?
Dr. Marya Wright: Categorizing tasks into what must be done right now, what is time-urgent, and what can be scheduled for later. Moving non-urgent items to a forward-dated to-do list prevents overwhelm. Furthermore, research demonstrates that multitasking limits productivity by dividing attention. Just like multiple devices slow down a single Wi-Fi network, attempting too many tasks at once hinders performance. Focusing on one task at a time ensures you do it right the first time.
Advice for Entrepreneurs and Closing Thoughts
Taryell Simmons: What lessons would you share with aspiring entrepreneurs?
Dr. Marya Wright: Write everything down. Do not let great ideas remain trapped in your head. Whether on a paper napkin or digital note app, capturing your thoughts is the first step toward manifestation, reverse-engineering action steps, and communicating your vision to advisors.
Taryell Simmons: That resonates deeply. It reminds me of your San Diego State alumni connection with Jordan Harrison and your shared history opening the student union.
Dr. Marya Wright: Yes, Jordan and I served as student leaders together at San Diego State, and it remains a true honor to witness his achievements and maintain that mutual support.
Taryell Simmons: What is one key action listeners should take today to start redefining their time?
Dr. Marya Wright: Look at your calendar and schedule a ten to fifteen-minute break each day. Rest and sleep are vital, especially for entrepreneurs who do not have set operating schedules. As emphasized by the Nap Ministry, rest is restorative and revolutionary.
Taryell Simmons: Where can listeners find your book and connect with you?
Dr. Marya Wright: Redefining Time is available on Amazon for Kindle and paperback, as well as on Ingram for global distribution. You can also connect with me across social platforms, including LinkedIn and Instagram, by searching Dr. Marya Wright.
Taryell Simmons: Thank you for joining us again and sharing your wisdom. Be sure to subscribe to the Rise Urban Nation podcast, share this episode, and start redefining your time today. Peace.
Dr. Marya Wright: Peace, thank you.
