The act of balancing her life as the head of a thriving business management and bookkeeping company while also being a full-time creative is an arduous yet rewarding one for Tina Divina Conaway.
As CEO of Moore Money, the Detroit native, who spent a number of years living in Chicago and now calls Southern California home, is in charge of everything from financial budgeting to planning and overseeing the implementation of daily accounting operations. Managing a wide-ranging client base that includes advertising agencies and architectural firms down to smaller businesses like auto-repair shops and more, Conaway and her team provide assistance to their clients, covering the whole gamut of professional business management.
Outside of her work in finance, she is a prolific creative writer, poet, and four-time published author known simply as Tina Divina. Her recently released new book, Unlearning: The Art of Mindful Positivity, is a deeply personal collection of writings she deems “timeless yet transformational” that she hopes will give extra encouragement, expand perspectives, and spur growth.
N’DIGO recently caught up with Conaway to learn more about her work as an author and the importance of “knowing your numbers.”
N’DIGO: In your own words, who is Tina Divina Conaway, the woman most known as Tina Divina?
Tina Divina Conaway: It’s always a little funny to think of yourself in the third person. However, Tina Divina is my creative alter ego. It is my first and middle name, what I use for my social media accounts, and how I differentiate between myself as the accountant/employer and myself as the writer, author, poet, event planner, and chef.
What are three words your closest friends would use to describe you?
Crazy. Outgoing. Sweet.
What profession did you dream you’d have as a child?
That is hilarious because I wanted to be an architect as a child. I drew my dream homes and everything, but then I wouldn’t say I liked the intricacy of the math in architecture. Luckily, I found my path in accounting.
How did you find your way into the world of Accounting and Money Management?
I’ve always been good at math and started off working in billing for my grandmother’s psychology company when I was very young. That job proved to be very lucrative. I had my office on the Redondo Beach pier overlooking the ocean when I was merely 21. I found profound fulfillment in my work, and this ignited a passion that prompted me to explore other facets of bookkeeping and accounting. I landed a job in property management accounting and stayed for about 15 years, honing my education and skills for my subsequent transition to Moore Money.
Please tell us about the work you do with Moore Money.
Moore Money is a well-established business management and bookkeeping company that has been around for about 36 years. The company was founded by Melissa Moore, a great friend of mine, and thus became my business partner. She initially hired me as the Senior Accountant and, over the years, expressed her desire to retire. I then acquired the company in January of 2022 and have been dedicated to fostering the growth and success of Moore Money. Today, I am the business owner, and we have an excellent and ever-growing team of bookkeepers and accountants. We streamline the financial processes, enabling our clients to focus on their core operations while we meticulously manage their financial affairs. The company’s motto is “Know Your Numbers,” which is highly important for business owners to expand their business and net worth.
Can you discuss the importance of financial literacy and “knowing your numbers”?
Many new clients come to us with no idea whether they are making money or losing it but desire to expand, or employees who want raises but do not know if they can afford them; hiring a company like Moore Money gives a business owner the confidence to make critical financial decisions by understanding the financial health of their business; hence, “Know Your Numbers.”
In addition to your work in the financial sector, you are also an accomplished author. Please tell us about your love of writing.
My love for writing probably stems from being an only child and cultivating my very imaginative and creative mind. My grandmother would often take me to the library as a child, and we would sit and read for hours. I loved reading a story that could lead my imagination into places I’d never even seen. This definitely inspired my writing and my respect for other writers.
What can readers expect when picking up your latest book, Unlearning: The Art of Mindful Positivity?
“Unlearning” is a deeply personal exploration of savoring life’s moments – both the joyful and the challenging. It’s about learning to find the silver linings and opportunities for growth, even in our darkest times. Through it all, the book emphasizes the importance of self-love and compassion as we navigate life’s ups and downs. For anyone who likes to wake on a positive note or perhaps needs a little push, “Unlearning” serves to act as a guiding light to transcend perceived limitations and allow us to embrace our perfectly imperfect selves.
What are three books that changed or impacted your life?
– Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein introduced me to poetry at a very young age and thus a part of my motivation to write “Closet Monsters” (a children’s book that I released several years ago based on my daughter’s stories that she would tell me when she was just about five years old).
The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran was spiritually awakening, and while he was not Buddhist, it definitely opened my mind to the likes of Buddha quotes and even Deepak Chopra.
– The Selected Poems of Niki Giovanni – Oh, to love and be loved the way that she would describe. I am a romanticist and absolutely devoured her writing.
Regarding self-care and wellness, what are some of your favorite things to do for yourself?
And everyone who knows me knows my love for vacationing somewhere tropical, which is my ultimate favorite thing to do to treat myself. That is all the self-care that I need! However, pampering myself is new for me; I am a lover and a giver, and sadly, I have always put others before the love of myself. Something that I have had to unlearn and part of my journey in writing my book “Unlearning.” Today, I know that pouring into yourself is just as important, if not more, than pouring into others.
What’s the thing you miss most about living in Chicago?
Without a doubt, the food! Chicago has some of the best food in the world! The other thing I have always loved about the city and something that I miss is the winter fashion game. I had to step it up when I lived there. I’m a beach girl who wears flip-flops year-round, but winter styling is fun, and I learned some new fashion games.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m a goofball!! I’m not afraid to put it out there. I’m also a lot of layers when you think you know me, I’ll surprise you. I’m multi-faceted and still want to learn and do more.
Best money advice for the youth?
Unfortunately, school is not going to teach you the ins and outs of being financially literate; instead of getting a savings account, start a 401k. I started one for my daughter by the time she was 18, and it will be far more lucrative than whatever percentage rate your corporate bank’s savings account will offer.
Favorite quote or affirmation?
“Love as though you have never been hurt before.”
What’s Tina Divina’s plan for the near future?
LOVE! And I don’t mean in the sense of a relationship, though one day I’d like that again, but the love of life and all that it has to offer. I am no longer waiting; I’m taking, I’m doing, I’m experiencing! I’m writing it down and making a plan for it, whatever it is. Because life is today, it is right now, and we can no longer take any moments for granted.
For more information on Tina in the accounting/bookkeeping space, please visit Moore Money at https://mooremoney.co. and to purchase and learn more about her writings, please visit:
Amazon Books: https://www.amazon.com/Unlearning-Art-Practicing-Mindful-Positivity/dp/B0CQ8G9KQH.
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unlearning-tina-divina/1144489591
