Perseverance: Twice a teen mom, dropped out of high school, now owns a multi-million-dollar law firm.
The Steve Harvey Morning Show
iHeartPodcasts
4.5 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 6 September 2025
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Attorney Tessie D. Edwards.
A family and criminal law attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and themes from the episode:
🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Early Life & Adversity
- Tessie Edwards grew up in a challenging environment marked by poverty, teen pregnancy, and systemic injustice.
- She became a mother at 16, dropped out of high school, and had her second child by 18.
- Despite these challenges, she never lost sight of her dream to become a lawyer.
2. Turning Point
- A pivotal moment came when someone told her that her daughter looked like her. That realization sparked a deep desire to become someone her daughter could look up to.
3. Relentless Pursuit of Education
- Earned her GED, then an associate degree to qualify for military service.
- After a brief stint in the military (cut short due to pregnancy and miscarriage), she pursued higher education.
- Graduated from Indiana University with five children and went on to law school with her then-husband.
4. Professional Success
- Now runs a multi-million dollar law firm in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Has handled over 2,000 criminal cases and is deeply committed to serving families in crisis.
- Her firm has been serving the Atlanta community for over 15 years.
5. Support System
- Credits her success to a strong support network: her husband (who co-runs the firm), her children, her brother, and her team.
- Emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision.
6. Advice & Motivation
- Be clear about your goals and stay focused.
- Don’t wait for the “right time”—start now.
- Believe in your dream even when others don’t.
- Use adversity as fuel for your ambition.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- “I feel thankful but not satisfied.”
- “My life was so divinely chosen… I was just given a dream and the courage to go after it.”
- “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Transcript
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