This conversation is fraught with technical issues, but it was so rich Rosetta wanted to make sure you were able to hear as much of it as possible anyway, because when it comes to motivational speakers, her guest on this one, Lisa Nichols, is at the top of the list. Her global platform, “Motivating the Masses” has reached and served nearly 30 million people. Her story is not unlike many of yours. She was a struggling single mom on public assistance before she became the Lisa you know today, and it was her courage and determination that enabled her to push through the obstacles and difficulties to become the “Success story” that so many look to for inspiration. Please turn your volume all the way up and take the time to listen to this episode – we promise you’ll mine some diamonds from it!

Find out how Lisa Nichols created her “Motivating the Masses” business model.

Rosetta is always interested to know the story behind the story, the path that every entrepreneur she interviews has walked to get them to the place they are at now. Lisa’s story is one that led her through many difficulties, all the way to the challenge of a friend to get started with a business that is now known as “Motivating the Masses.” Her story is one to inspire you that no matter what your dreams are, you can’t start from anywhere except where you are at this moment, and there are things you can do right now to make that start. Hear Lisa’s story and be inspired!

A 7th book from Lisa Nichols.

Lisa Nichols shares the message of her 7th book, “Abundance Now,” with us on this episode of the Happy Black Woman podcast. It’s her manifesto about mindset and effort to create the life you want, starting from where you are. It provides a clear and practical blueprint for personal success, drawn directly from the Lisa’s life experiences. Her unusual story of transforming her own life from public assistance for her family to leading a multi-million dollar enterprise is what is behind this powerful book. Get more details about the book on this episode.

Successful at helping others as well.

The success Lisa Nichols has enjoyed came at a very high personal price and the blessings she has in her life now are not lost on her. She’s given back in so many ways they are hard to count. Through Lisa’s non-profit foundation “Motivating the Teen Spirit,” she has touched the lives of over 200,000 teens, prevented over 3,800 teen suicides, supported 2,500 dropouts in returning to school, and has helped thousands reunite with families. Her desire to help those who are now in the shoes she once wore is an example and inspiration to many.

Lisa is available to help you begin moving toward a more abundant life.

Over the years Lisa’s company, “Motivating the Masses” has helped thousands move from a mediocre life to one of great success and she’s confident that she can help you as well. She’s continually cranking out additional courses, resources, and posts expressly for that purpose and she intends to keep on doing so. Listen to this episode to hear how you can connect with Lisa’s team and get your life headed in a new, more hopeful direction.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:30] A quick note about this episode.
• [0:54] Rosetta’s welcome and introduction to this episode with Lisa Nichols.
• [2:04] Why Lisa did her mission of “motivating the masses” as a business.
• [6:04] The power of Lisa’s ripple effect: more joy and less stress.
• [9:51] Lisa’s example of just getting started with your dreams and ideas.
• [10:48] How Lisa keeps herself focused and on track day to day.
• [16:56] What kind of team is need to run a company the size of Lisa’s.
• [23:49] About Lisa’s book, “Abundance Now.”
• [33:12] What makes Lisa Nichols a Happy Black Woman?

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: Abundance Now

http://motivatingthemasses.com/

About Lisa Nichols

LISA NICHOLS is one of the world’s most-requested motivational speakers, as well as media personality and corporate CEO whose global platform has reached and served nearly 30 million people. From a struggling single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur, Lisa’s courage and determination has inspired fans worldwide and helped countless audiences break through, to discover their own untapped talents and infinite potential.

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Motivating the Masses, Inc. – one of the country’s only publicly traded personal and business development training companies – Lisa has helped develop workshops and programs that have transformed the lives of men and women, and altered the trajectory of businesses throughout the country and across the world.

Lisa is also a best-selling author of six books and her 7th book, ABUNDANCE NOW!, published by Harper Collins, will be released January, 2016. In ABUNDANCE NOW, Lisa continues her journey with her fans, providing a clear and practical blueprint for personal success, drawn directly from the life experiences of its beloved author. ABUNDANCE NOW is the eagerly-anticipated follow-up to Lisa’s New York Times bestseller, NO MATTER WHAT.

Lisa’s extraordinary story of transforming her own life from public assistance for her family to leading a multi-million dollar enterprise is the inspiration behind her bold mission to teach others that it is possible to do the same. Today, fans worldwide revere Lisa for her mastery of teaching people how to accomplish unfathomable goals and tap their limitless potential.

A noted media personality who has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, the Steve Harvey Show, and Extra – just to name a few, is also celebrated for the impact she has on the lives of teens. Through Lisa’s non-profit foundation Motivating the Teen Spirit, she has touched the lives of 211,650 teens, prevented over 3,800 teen suicides, supported 2,500 dropouts in returning to school, and has helped thousands reunite with families.

Among the prestigious awards and honors bestowed upon Lisa for her extensive work are the Humanitarian Award from the country of South Africa, The Ambassador Award, and the LEGO Foundation‘s Heart of Learning Award. The City of Henderson, Nevada namedNovember 20th as Motivating the Teen Spirit Day; and the City of Houston, Texas named May 9th as Lisa Nichols Day for her dedication to service, philanthropy and healing.

Lisa lives, plays and works in the greater San Diego, California area and on stages around the world, working alongside her world-class team committed to Motivating the Masses.

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On today’s episode of Happy Black Woman, Rosetta chats with an inspiring entrepreneur and successful business owner, Kristi Jackson. Kristi is on a mission to help women become more profitable by connecting them with their empowerment. Her goal is to challenge the status quo in today’s business world, which leaves most women business owners less profitable and in business for shorter periods of time. Kristi shares her journey with Rosetta from struggling to find her way in the business world to finding her true purpose of helping others follow their purpose and build profitable businesses.

The power of never giving up on your dreams.

Kristi was incredibly determined in her quest to find support from women in the business world. After spending months looking for answers as to how she could make more money and be more successful, she finally realized the answers were within her. Kristi was inspired to create her business because she wanted to provide the answers she sought out on her own to other women. She knew she could help and she was compelled to do so. Kristi discusses how she ran her first business and was burning the candle at both ends, but was determined to see it through. This became the platform for her current business, Women CEO Project, where she helps women and organizations around the world.

Why you need to stop seeking permission to follow your dreams.

When Kristi found a way to pursue her purpose through her business, she realized she had been holding herself back for many years. She shares some action steps for women who are ready to build a business around their purpose. The first step? Absolutely, positively stop seeking permission. Kristi shares how common it is to see people and businesses facing obstacles they put there themselves. When you start believing in what’s possible, everything falls into place. Kristi goes on to share the value of growing your email list along with some other valuable steps that can build a strong foundation for your business.

The value of saying “no”.

As Kristi delves into her typical day with Rosetta, she begins by sharing why she says “no” a lot. She realized she was devoting time and energy that weren’t adding value to her life and that’s when she knew it was time to start saying no. Kristi also offers insight into how she structures her day and maintains focus with such a busy schedule. From travel to exercise to playing with her dog, Kristi shares how important it is to always make time for the things that truly matter to you. She also dives into her technique for managing tasks and some tech tools she loves to keep things organized.

Why not you?

As Kristi shares her story, it’s clear that she had to work hard to get where she is today. She overcame obstacles, persevered, and never gave up on her purpose. As Rosetta closes out her chat with Kristi they discuss some books that have inspired her on her journey. Kristi also shares her number 1 tip for aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to pursue their dreams: Why not you? She explains the power of this simple question and how it can shift your mindset from one of “can’t” to one of “can”. Listen in for a generous free gift Kristi is offering to the HBW tribe.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:33] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest,
• [1:25] Kristi’s mission and the work that she does.
• [2:35] How Kristi and Rosetta connected.
• [4:14] What inspired Kristi to start this business.
• [9:47] What made her turn it from an organization to an actual business.
• [11:37] Some action steps for women who want to grow their business.
• [17:25] Why you need to focus on growing your list.
• [23:27] How Kristi stays focused and stays on track.
• [28:29] Kristi shares how she organizes her tasks and projects.
• [32:25] A book that has inspired Kristi on her journey.
• [34:40] The #1 tip for women who are ready to build a business around her purpose.
• [36:49] How you can connect with Kristi.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “The Motivation Manifesto”

Kristi Jackson’s website: www.WomenCEOProject.com

FREE 10-Lesson Online Course: Goal Setting Pro Course

Women CEO Project on Instagram

Basecamp

Acuity Scheduling

About Kristi Jackson

Kristi L. Jackson, MBA. Author. Speaker. Publisher. Entrepreneur. Global Business Strategist. Founder of Women CEO Project, Behind the Grind and Power Culture Magazine.

I started Women CEO Project in August 2010, out of a personal need to become a better, more consummate business woman. I did not want to attend another event and leave without tangible business knowledge that could grow my business, make it more profitable, and teach me skills. I searched and searched and could not find the right fit, the right community, or the right mix of business lessons in any organization.

So, in 2010, I set out to create what I needed. It became a local, then global destination for current and aspiring business women all over the world who want to also become stronger, wiser and MORE educated entrepreneurs. In the 5 years of Women CEO Project’s existence, we have reached nearly 100,000 global businesses touching them with online lessons, courses, conferences and tutorials.

As the Founder, I’ve had the skill and fortune to consult or be affiliated with some TOP companies in the world including Chase Bank, The White House, Wells Fargo, IBM, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Dress for Success and Capital One Bank. Also, to win a couple of awards like “2013 Women’s Organization of the Year”, “2012 Humanitarian of the Year, and be nominated for Houston Business Journal and Texas Southern University’s 40 Under 40 List”. In addition, I’ve privately consulted with individual businesses in countries including Nigeria, Dubai, Monaco and London.

But more importantly, I’ve had the honor to work with many individual women and businesses who were looking for help refining their strategies, or creating a strategy, being more innovative in their industry, leveraging technology to scale her business or creating and packaging up her awesome to sell to her audience.

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On today’s episode of Happy Black Woman, Rosetta chats with another valued member of the HBW inner circle, Sharmie Williams. Sharmie discusses her mission of creating custom memory quilts for women who want to preserve their family memories. Her business, Digital Sphinx Designs is founded on 3 principles that are at the core of who Sharmie is: Artsy, Fit, and Secure. In this chat with Rosetta, Sharmie shares insight into how she found her purpose and turned it into a business, as well as what it was like to transition to civilian life after retiring from the Army.

Finding a secure space to create and feel safe in being yourself.

Sharmie has always been a creative person. As a child, she grew up with a grandmother who made quilts for every member of the family, no matter where they fell on the family tree. This inspired a love for art and all things creative in Sharmie. Her love of quilting came after spending many years working in needlecraft and other creative pursuits. Sharmie says that when she found quilting she knew she’d be doing it for the rest of her life. That kind of passion is what led to the development of her business. Sharmie is passionate about helping women preserve memories and she shares how quilting can be personalized to the individual in order to create a truly one-of-a-kind memory quilt.

How to create structure after retiring from the Army.

Sharmie spent 20 years in the Army, living a life of intense structure. After retiring, it became clear that she needed to approach life with some degree of structure in order to accomplish her goals and run her business. Sharmie discusses her typical day and how she manages her time in order to make the most of her day. She also shares the importance of defining your schedule in the way that best suits you. With this in mind, Sharmie structures her day to start a bit later in the morning, when she feels the most productive.

Accounting for time when pursuing your passion.

Sharmie discusses the value of accounting for your time, which is particularly important with creative pursuits. She manages her time by using a time tracking app that gives her a better understanding of how long each project takes. Sharmie shares why it’s important to manage your time effectively so that you maximize your schedule and structure your day more effectively. She and Rosetta discuss how easy it is to have your time eaten up if you don’t properly account for your time.

Stay the course and keep pushing forward.

As she closes out her chat with Rosetta, Sharmie shares a tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business: Choose to be fearless. She expands on this advice further by explaining that there will always be naysayers and doubters, but you can’t let them prevent you from living your life’s purpose. Sharmie shares her personal mantra and a favorite book that has inspired her on her journey. Sharmie’s story will inspire fellow creatives and anyone that wants to pursue their dreams.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:32] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest, Sharmie Williams.
• [1:19] Sharmie’s mission and the work that she does.
• [2:52] Understanding what a custom memory quilt is.
• [5:05] What inspired Sharmie to create this business.
• [6:51] Action steps to get started with creating a memory quilt.
• [11:22] Some reasons people go to Sharmie for a memory quilt.
• [12:48] How the business works and how Sharmie spends a typical day.
• [17:05] Transitioning from the military to a happy life in retirement from the military.
• [21:24] A book that has inspired Sharmie on her journey.
• [23:44] Sharmie’s personal mantra.
• [25:25] Sharmie’s #1 tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business.
• [26:36] How to connect with Sharmie.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life”

MANTRA: You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you. ~ Maya Angelou

Sharmie Williams’ website: www.DigitialSphinxDesigns.com – Sign up for Sharmie’s newsletter for access to tips to help you foster your creativity.

About Sharmie Williams

Sharmie Williams provides visual art creations that will inspire you to use art as an expression of memories, exploration, growth, and empowerment. Sharmie started this journey as a passion for designing quilts as personal family heirlooms. Along the way, she found designing and producing quilts and art provided an outlet to pour her stress, heal emotional wounds, and clear frustrating thoughts. Art refreshes us in so many ways, and Sharmie wants to share that passion with her community. In her spare time, she loves to travel and run (literally) all across the world; and she can talk computer security, too. ;0)

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Today’s guest on Happy Black Woman is a valued member of the HBW inner circle, Veronica Richardson. Veronica is on a mission to guide women who are in transition from broken relationships, failed attempts, and stagnant mindsets to a place of self-discovery in creating the life they truly desire. In this chat with Rosetta, Veronica shares her passion for the work that she does and what led her to discover her true purpose in life. She is inspiringly open about her journey and the “why” behind the work she does today through her business A Renewed Mind. Veronica helps women embrace their true selves and life an authentic life.

Find your way to an authentic life.

For Veronica, embracing her true self didn’t come naturally. She was raised in a single-parent household and faced the trauma of having an addict father from a young age. This forced Veronica to take on responsibilities in the household that would prevent her from being – or even seeing – her true self. She explains how she lived a life devoted to taking care of others, which in turn led to neglecting herself. This lack of self-care became a habit and – in 2011 – she was faced with a devastating separation, which became the foundation of her journey to truth. After finally being okay with loving herself and being authentic in the things she desired, it became clear to Veronica that she was meant to help other women. And so, A Renewed Life was born.

The value of being okay with loving yourself.

In Veronica’s life, taking care of others took precedence over self-care for many years. It wasn’t until she truly began to understand that it’s okay to love herself that she started to heal and become her authentic self. Veronica discusses how her childhood contributed to her inability to nurture herself and the power of finally coming to a place of self-love. She also shares the importance of really taking inventory of your life and making sure the people around you are living the life you want. Veronica offers some action steps that can help women who are ready for a renewed life get started.

Start now and improve later.

Veronica delves into one of the most important lessons of her journey: embracing fear and doing it anyway. She shares the importance of starting now and improving later and why this mindset can be truly transformative. Veronica goes further into the concept of envisioning the life you want – no matter what your life is now – and why you must surround yourself with people who are moving in the direction you want to go. She also discusses why it’s important to clean up your friends list when you realize some of the people in your life are holding you back.

Giving yourself permission to try.

This powerful discussion with Rosetta is filled with wisdom, insight, and inspiration that will leave you feeling ready to embrace your true self. Veronica shares some final advice for women who are ready to follow their dreams and start a business doing what they love: give yourself permission to try. She explains why it’s so important to get out of your own way and get out of your own head. Veronica gives insight into how we can actually be holding ourselves back from living an authentic life and it’s time to let yourself follow your purpose. She also shares her personal mantra: Say yes to my no, which is all about facing your fears and doing things that make you a little uncomfortable. According to Veronica, if you want something different, you have to do something different.

Outline of this great episode

• [0:32] Rosetta’s introduction of her guest,
• [1:41] Veronica’s mission and the work that she does.
• [4:33] How Veronica is able to help women and the process they go through with her.
• [7:04] The importance of being okay with loving yourself.
• [8:44] What that inspired her to turn her purpose into a business.
• [13:26] Some action steps that women can start with if they’re ready to have a renewed life.
• [16:21] A few more tips from Veronica you can implement today.
• [21:52] A book that has inspired Veronica on your journey.
• [23:17] Veronica’s personal mantra.
• [25:27] Veronica’s #1 tip for women who are ready to pursue their dreams and start a business.
• [27:16] How you can connect with Veronica.

Resources & Links mentioned in this episode

BOOK: “Their Eyes Were Watching God”

MANTRA: Say yes to my no.

Veronica Richardson’s website: www.ARenewedMindToday.com  – get your free guide: Starting Over: Create the New You

About Veronica Richardson

Veronica Richardson MS, CLC, Founder of A Renewed Mind is an expert in the field of coaching and counseling. Both her personal and professional experiences lend themselves to her delivery.  A Renewed Mind comes from a place of self-discovery for founder, Veronica Richardson.  After experiencing a separation, being forced into single parenthood and becoming a “side chick” to a married man, she discovered that being true to your own desires is the only way to be FREE. A life of pseudo-happiness, bitterness, confusion and resentment became normal.  However, as her personal growth story evolved, so did A Renewed Mind.  “My main goal in starting A Renewed Mind has been to guide other women who are in transition from broken relationships, failed attempts and stagnant mindsets to a place of self-discovery and learning to take A.C.T.I.O.N in creating the life they truly desire.”  “I’ve been the wife and mother and for years played my part as the side chick. In both situations I thought I was happy. I have no regrets because every moment helped strengthen me and bring me to the realization of what happiness really is.” “I now go BOLDLY after all this life has to offer, unapologetically.”

Prior to becoming certified life coach, Veronica earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Old Dominion University and her Master’s Degree in Study of Human Behaviors from Capella University. Professionally, she has served as an Adult Protective Investigator, Mental Health Counselor, In Home Counselor and Therapeutic Day Counselor (School Based) as well as a Social Worker.

Veronica loves to travel and has created a life that allows her to visit a new island every summer.  She is a foodie, loving all things food related.  She enjoys a good book, time with family and friends and a good glass of Moscato.

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