Meet Angela Nicole Holton | Author and Dating & Relationship Expert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angela Nicole Holton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela Nicole, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is not only something I don’t avoid, I actually seek and run toward it. If I’m not in a perpetual state of learning and growing, which I believe is integral to any form of success, then I feel stagnant and stifled and that creates an awful feeling of entrapment. I have always set higher-goals for myself since I was a young girl. It’s just part of my DNA. In my business, risk-taking is an essential part to my branding and building. It’s the reason I walked away from a 13-year career in New York City real estate to become a full-time personal development and relationship coach. Taking calculated risks is the reason I am a multiple published author, a newly appointed Adjunct Professor at the graduate school of social work at the University of Denver, a model at Wilhelmina Denver, and why I have been featured on television, radio shows, podcasts, and magazines. When I see an opportunity that appears intriguing to my heart and soul, I say to myself, “now, that would be fun. Why not me?” Then, with everything I’ve got, I go for it. If it’s not fun and purposeful to me, I’m not doing it. There would be no point if it’s not bringing me joy and fulfillment.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I think what sets me apart from others is that I cannot be placed inside a box. I believe in expressing my multiple talents, tapping into every aspect of myself, and constantly reinventing who I am. I want to try it “all” in the one life that I get to have. Truthfully and most humbly, I surprise myself sometimes with my ideas and aspirations. When I feel an internal stirring for something new, I don’t hesitate or second-guess myself. I jump, act, and see what happens. This is what confidence and success are built from. You see yourself doing things you only imagined and then you say, “wow, that wasn’t so bad. If I can do that, then I can do this!”

None of it has been easy. While taking first steps and consistency may come naturally to me, there are always other unexpected obstacles that present themselves and challenge our process. Of course, I have had moments of quitting. That’s when the second-guessing and imposter syndrome may kick-in. I’ve found myself asking this question numerous times, “am I supposed to be doing this?” But like any person who’s reached monumental success will say, “just don’t quit. Keep going!!” Sometimes when we feel like quitting what we actually need is rest and I’ve learned to honor and value rest more than the hustle and grind. Creativity and productivity still flows from a place of rest and non-striving. It may sound very cliche to simply say, “just do it. Don’t quit!” But I think we can elucidate more on that idea and make it more relatable to people so they know what actually looks like. To me, never quitting means to take time each day, whether it’s a few minutes or hours, to pour into your dream. Make a phone call, send an email, write a piece of music, a paragraph or page of a book. Do something daily to keep the fire stoked, the seed watered. Eventually, things that are planted and watered sprout and grow. It requires a degree of patience that tests our resolve and commitment to ourself and our dreams.

I am very proud of myself. Sometimes we don’t say that enough to ourselves, but I am very proud of myself. I am proud of the journey I’ve taken and the risks and challenges I’ve accepted. I’m proud that I have a palette for new adventures and never cowered to fear. I’m proud of the discipline and consistency I give to myself before I can offer it to others. And I’m excited for the chapter I’m currently in as a new adjunct professor and author. Returning to the academic forum in nearly 25 years are both exciting and challenging. I envision one day being a full-time author, writing from a desk that overlooks the sea. I believe my biggest moments and successes are ahead of me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I wish my friends would come visit me in Denver. It’s a city with a lot of versatility. My ideal week long trip with a bestie would include, of course, a trip to the mountains, Vail, Aspen, anyplace in the rockies is idyllic. We’d enjoy a beautiful hike and other outdoor activities, followed by an exquisite and elegant dinner bedecked in some of our fun, playful and sexy clothes. I love fashion too. If it’s wintertime perhaps après ski at the Four Seasons in Vail or the St. Regis in Aspen. Our culinary experiences would be the tastiest multi-cultural foods in Denver (I have a vast palette) which would include some of the best “hole in the wall” restaurants. They often have the best food. There’s a vegan sushi place called Wellness Sushi that I’m currently obsessed with. We would go for a spa day, massages and manicures and pedicures. Visit the Denver Art Museum and perhaps catch one of Denver sport’s franchises playing a game and a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. Such an incredible venue to watch live music. I love the shops and atmosphere of Cherry Creek so we’d walk around and shop or “window’ shop and grab lunch al fresco at Cherry Creek Grill or tacos at Machete’s. I’d also take her to my favorite park, Washington Park for a picnic or a leisurely stroll around the park. As someone who lived in New York City for 18 years and walked nearly everyday at Central Park for 10 of those years, Wash Park is a little slice of Manhattan for me. I’d also take her downtown to the shops and restaurants in RiNo.

I am an enthusiast of the arts — culture, food and music. I also love nature and the outdoors. I love traveling as well and think it’s one of the most fun and exciting ways to meet new people. I think hanging out in places where you can be social but not always overwhelming in size can be great places to check out. I prefer intimate gatherings and private events, group hiking or outdoor adventures or engaging in a similar group activity, like an intramural sport’s game or family and friends’ kickball game. They have teamed volleyball at Wash Park during the summers and activities for your dogs that are worth checking out.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I love this question because I take the expression, “it takes a village”, to heart. First shoutout goes to my Higher Power and Creator because my success wouldn’t be possible without having a belief in something greater than myself and for the gifts and talents that are placed inside of me. My parents for allowing me to be the fullest expression and most authentic version of myself, which birthed my confidence and their belief in me. My mom for showing me the “world” at a young age and teaching me that my dreams matter because they are in fact possible. My late grandmother, Nana, the matriarch of our family who literally sacrificed everything for our family and taught me that women can be or do anything, because I witnessed her doing it. I would also have to shoutout my fifth grade school teacher, Jan Schlossberg, who wrote me a little note card one day that said, “To the first female President of the United States,” and while that was never a dream of mine, the idea that she held me in such high esteem had an everlasting impact on my life and further engendered the belief and confidence within myself that I could strive for and accomplish great things.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanicoleholton/

Other: My latest book and author page on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Date-Night-Ideas-Couples-Entertaining/dp/B0BVHKRYCP/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1692655170&sr=8-5 https://www.amazon.com/stores/Angela-N.-Holton/author/B00ZDSUJ3W?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Image Credits
Garner and Regan Rouse Photography