Hada María Morales—Daring Others To Succeed

By Aída Bardales -- Críticas, 9/15/2007

People from all over the world arrive to the United States with the hopes of achieving the American Dream and are often confronted with a harsh reality. Nicaraguan Hada María Morales’s story started off the same way but quickly took many turns. Ultimately she found herself in a position to help others overcome the obstacles that impede stability in a new country. Morales arrived in Florida in 1987, along with her three daughters and her husband, Roger, to open a small business in Miami. A housewife and stay-at-home mom, Morales says those first few years were “a difficult transition because [in Latin America] you have family to help you.” But soon after, Morales found her first calling and became active in the community organization Woman for Human Rights, giving motivational speeches to victims of domestic violence and encouraging them to take a stand for their future.

It was during one of those speeches that someone from the South Florida Workforce (SFW) approached her to offer her a job, Morales’s first professional job ever. Five years later, Morales obtained her second degree in Human Resources at the University of Miami and is SFW’s Job Placement Specialist, serving as a liaison between employers and job seekers, and Public Information Coordinator for Spanish-language media. She leads Job Club workshops, a program geared for Hispanics, where she instructs people with often difficult backgrounds (single mothers, people on welfare, victims of abuse, the poor, etc.) on the interview process and prepares them for work life. After three weeks, Morales proudly sends her students on their way to landing their first job. “Most of the people that walk [into my classroom become] success stories,” she says.

Now, Morales has expanded her work at SFW to include bimonthly appearances in Univision’s daily morning show, Despierta América, where she serves as a permanent labor consultant, discussing a variety of work issues, from stress to how to balance work and home life. She writes a column on Univision’s website, too, where she often answers viewers’ questions.

Morales also does weekly radio segments for six different local, national, and international radio stations, where she offers loads of advice and suggestions on how to find and land a job, deal with discrimination and/or harassment in the work place, and plan for retirement. She combines in her faith—a couple of the radio stations are Christian. Morales is now getting ready for an upcoming visit to Honduras, where she will host a seminar for women prisoners to help prepare them for the workforce after they are released. She was invited by the Honduras Congress and UNICEF.

Morales’s first book, Madres, un ejército anónimo (“Mothers, An Anonymous Army”), came about after a friend suggested she publish the many stories she’d written for her daughters. Since then, Morales has published five more titles, and all combine her expertise and warm, humorous approach. Her most recent book, Atrévete a alcanzar el éxito (“Dare to Succeed”), was published this month.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Críticas spoke to the vibrant and highly motivated author (and the mother of four), who’s already working on her next books, about her message, the faith that keeps her grounded and inspired, and her commitment to helping Hispanic immigrants achieve the American Dream.

Your book, Vístete para triunfar (“Dress for Success,”Grupo Nelson, 2006), which addressed the importance of image and making a good first impression on prospective employers, was a hit in many bookstores (it made Críticas’s Janury 2007 best sellers list). What is Atrévete a alcanzar el éxito about?

This book complements Vístete para triunfar in that I’m telling my readers, “Ok, you [acquired] the tools in my previous book. This is how you can put them to work.” Atrévete a alcanzar el éxito is more of a motivational book, where Vístete para triunfar builds a platform with the basics on how to effectively seek employment. Atrévete is more hands on.

In your books and television appearances you highlight the importance of having the right attitude to reach a specific goal. Why is this important advice for Hispanics?

Sometimes, we [Hispanics] need a little push in adjusting our way of thinking. “Attitude” is a pillar that we need to build on if we want to move forward. Along with creativity, we need a winning attitude [to succeed]. A positive attitude is the only way to deal with adverse situations; and it is the only way to see the opportunities right in front of us.

The Hispanics I work with have often just arrived [to the United States] and are desperately in need of someone to help them. They are women who have been abused and think there is no other way out. Those people are often satisfied with a job, any job. My goal is to help them see they need to get ahead so that their children will follow in their footsteps.

You are a Christian, and your faith permeates your writing. Do you think your spiritual perspective helped you achieve the success you have today?

Without God’s grace and favor it would be impossible for me to write the books or even do my job. God goes ahead of me to open doors that I could have never opened up by myself.

He orchestrated every situation in my life, every opportunity, to place me where I am today. From my job, the first book I wrote to the last, the speaking engagement opportunities, to the ability to be involved with the media… all of these are doors that God opened before me and I did my part… I walked right through them.

In less than a decade, you managed to publish seven books, obtain an influential governmental position, and raise four children. How did you do it all?

I want to set a great example for my kids. I really know my purpose in life and I trust my vision. I am obedient to my calling; and, above all, I persevere. I know both my weaknesses and strengths, so I can take advantage of both. That is the secret. And my position with the Department of Labor gives me the opportunity to help others. It’s been an incredible transition, all perseverance and determination.

Tell us about your next book, No arrugue que no hay quien planche (“Do Not Wrinkle, There is No One to Iron”), which will be published later this fall.

It’s another motivational book, not related to work, the content is based on Christian principles, but it is light-hearted in tone and practical. I address people at all stages in life and the premise is simple: “I am in the middle of a bad situation but… life goes on. I still have to be in control.” I guarantee you, it will be a useful tool to better enjoy life.

What other projects do you plan to embark on?

My dream is to address high school students on the job world. I feel young adults leave school unprepared for job hunting and interviewing. I would like to write books to help them prepare for their adult life, and maybe see those books incorporated in their curriculum.