Woman Wednesday: Jourdan

*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.            


Q and A with Jourdan, originally from Honolulu, HI, and currently thriving in New York City.

“We rise by lifting others. It’s so important to bring others up with you.”


Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I am passionate about helping others and telling stories. I have a heart for people and a heart to serve. As humans, I believe it’s our duty to help one another and it really is the driving force of love. I stumbled into helping others through my career in television. My journey began in 2010 working for NBCUniversal at a nationally syndicated talk show and from there it took off. I’ve been in the entertainment industry for 10+ years, I’ve cast network shows, acted in national commercials, and sold a web series I co-created to BET Networks.

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Click here to watch Two Grown, the BET series: 

I am on fire for helping others find their voice and build their brand. That is why I founded Vera Jean Media. Named after my grandma, it is a boutique agency specializing in content creation, social media strategy, email marketing, and branding for individuals and small businesses. Authenticity is key.

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Q: What were your younger years like?

A: My younger years were built on the strength of evolution. I was born and raised in Hawaii. My grandfather was in the military and retired there. I was raised by my grandmother and a single mother. When I was ten, she married my step-dad, who was also in the military. We moved all over the country growing up. I think seeing the work ethic of my mom and grandmother truly molded me. I’ve been working since I was in middle school. I started a dog walking and lawn mowing business when I was around 13 years old. Being an entrepreneur has always been in my heart.

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Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: We rise by lifting others. It’s so important to bring others up with you. Know that you can’t do everything alone and there is so much abundance to gain through collaboration over competition.

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Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: We are a force to be reckoned with. There is nothing stronger than a strong, determined, fearless, woman. Feminism means to empower one another and that there is strength in numbers. When we are gathered with a mission on the brain…good luck stopping us. Period.

Thank you for reading!

I’d love to connect with you!

Website:www.verajeanmedia.com

Instagram: @jourdanguyton

Thoughts, questions, or comments?

Comment below! 🙂

 

Woman Wednesday: Camila

*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.           


Q and A with Camila, Uruguay–>Montreal, Canada

Sometimes, I just want to stay in my comfort zone and ignore what might help me and my business grow. However, the outcome is so positive that you will be proud of yourself.


Q: What are you passionate about?

A: My passion is to help people live a simpler life. As a professional organizer, I love to bring solutions to clients’ spaces by decluttering and organizing in a way that is functional and aesthetically pleasant. 

Growing up, I admired my dad’s taste in interior design (he was a notary though) and my mom’s sense of minimalism. I hadn’t heard of my profession until 2016 when I read Marie Kondo’s book and started researching about it. I studied to become a Certified Professional Organizer at POC (Professional Organizers in Canada), and I quit my full-time job as a daycare teacher to open my company Tidy Up.Solutions in Montreal.

I also combined my two passions—teaching and organizing—by teaching workshops to kids and adults.

I can’t wait to go back to clients’ homes! But in the meantime, I am giving webinars and virtual organizing sessions. 

 

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Photography credit: Laurence Campbell

 

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up in a beautiful tiny country with the best beaches in South America! Uruguay. I’m the second oldest of 6 kids. Both of my parents had full-time jobs, and my house was always in order. Yes, believe it or not. But I’ll tell you why: First of all, we didn’t have any clutter at all—very few toys and clothes. Secondly, we had help at home, so when my parents arrived from work, the laundry was done, dinner was ready, and the house was clean. What a privilege!

I got married in 2006, and one year later, I moved to Montreal, Canada, to study and have the experience of living abroad. Life is different here in many ways. Having help at home is not as common and a lot more expensive. I always thought of having 6 kids, but 3 is a good number.

Having an organized home is key for living with less stress and more joy.

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Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: In 2016, I knew I wanted to become an organizer. But there was an inner thought that didn’t let me ‘jump in the water’ for two years.

That was fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of ‘what if’; what if I fail?; what if no one hires me?; what if I suck?; what if I don’t make money and have to go back to my previous job?…etc.

I learned and I am still learning to confront and overcome my fears. It’s not easy. Sometimes, I just want to stay in my comfort zone and ignore what might help me and my business grow. However, the outcome is so positive that you will be proud of yourself.

Believe in yourself and work hard.

 

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Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: For me, feminism is having the same rights and opportunities as men.

 

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Thank you for reading!

 

I’d love to connect with you!

Click here to connect and check out my site.

Insta

 

Thoughts, questions, or comments?

Comment below! 🙂

Woman Wednesday: Najiva

*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.         


Q and A with Najiva, Jamaica–>New York–>Florida

“Your values and beliefs have a lot to do with how you lead the people around you.”


Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I am passionate about adding value to people’s lives through personal and professional growth and development. I have worked in leadership and management for 15 years for Walgreens Retail and Pharmacy Operations. My people management skills and leadership skills cultivated a passion in me to help my team members grow, develop, and advance to new levels, which led me to start my own coaching practice, The Consult Table. The Consult Table inspires new, experienced, and future leaders to maximize their potential to achieve the results in their performance. I also have a girls group mentoring program, Girls Dig Deeper Initiative. Girls Dig Deeper Initiative’s mission is to foster, guide, support, and encourage at-risk middle school girls within the schools and communities to empower them to dig deep within themselves to maximize their full potential.

 

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Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I was born in the beautiful country of Jamaica, and I moved to the United States when I was 9. From then on, I lived in New York. I left New York after I graduated from high school and moved to South Florida, where I met my husband. We have four beautiful children today. Growing up in my younger years, I always believed in the power of education because my mother was an educator for 24 years in Jamaica and teaches now in the United States. I grew up fascinated with learning, and self-development was important to me. I believed knowledge is power, and once you have that, no one can take it from you. My Jamaican culture plays a major role in the person I am today. Our food, music, dance, traditions, family ties, and etiquette help me to embrace my values, beliefs, and self-love.

 

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Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: Something valuable I have learned is that your values and beliefs have a lot to do with how you lead the people around you. In leadership, what I have learned over the years is that if there is something that you value and live by and your team believes in it, they will follow you. If you reflect on what’s important to you as a leader with your team, they will know what to expect from you.

 

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Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: I view feminism as women having equal access to opportunities, authority, and influence as men. Women should not be turned down from gaining access through the “open door” because someone feels like their gender makes them incapable.

 

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Thank you for reading!

 

I’d love to connect with you!

Email najiva@theconsulttable.com

FB business page: The Consult Table

 

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Thoughts, questions, or comments?

Comment below! 🙂

Woman Wednesday: Jenny

*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.         


Q and A with Jenny, Cody, Wyoming

“We can’t see the wind, but we feel it. We can’t see the sun at night, but we know it will come up tomorrow. We can’t see gravity, but we see the results. We can’t see sickness, but we see its effects. You can’t see love, but you see it affects. I can’t see God, but I see the difference in my life.”


Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I am passionate about living life to the fullest. I am a wife of 29 years, a mom of three, a lover of the outdoors, sports, baking, and doing anything with my family! I am passionate about helping people live life more abundantly—mentally, physically, and spiritually. I enjoy helping people overcome their limiting beliefs and fulfilling their purpose. I have been in sales for over 30 years, and this last year, I decided to step out and start accomplishing my goals from when I was younger. I had gone to college to be an athletic coach but stayed in sales since I have been successful at it.

 

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This last year, I really questioned what my gifts are and what am I passionate about, and I have been working on my skills so I can help people the best I possibly can. I became a certified health/wellness/life coach, a corrective exercise specialist, and a Beachbody online fitness coach. Currently, I am still working in sales roles, and I am the Peak Performance Coach for 20/20 Vision For Success Coaching.  

 

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I grew up in a Christian home, the baby by 10 years to two sisters. I was a daddy’s girl;  I was a tomboy jock and wanted to be the son he didn’t have. I always put the Lord on a shelf and called upon Him when I got myself into trouble or when something was wrong. I met my husband when I was 17, moved out when I was 18, and have been with my husband for 32 years now. When I was 24, we had our first child, our daughter. I never thought I wanted children, but little did I know that 6 months later, she would get me through some of the toughest, darkest days. A lot of hard things were taking place in my life, and my folks got divorced after 37 years of marriage. God used that baby to help get me and my dad through those tough times. During that time, I had an encounter with the Lord that changed my life. He showed up in the darkest of moments and poured out His love and rescued me from myself. I like the quote, “One who has been forgiven much loves much.” I really grasped the power of amazing, transformational grace and have been growing in that grace since that day.

 

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Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: Stay persistent in everything…life, work, and faith. Be the most persistent about running after the Lord. I believe we are all born with a hole and we look to fill it with different things like food, alcohol, exercise, drugs, sex, work, money, etc, but there’s only one thing that truly fills that hole and it’s the Lord. I’ve seen many millionaires have all the women, cars, and money and still not be happy, still feeling unfulfilled. I truly can’t imagine running this race we call life without my faith in Jesus. Sure, I still go through hard times, being a believer doesn’t mean all your troubles go away, but you have the strength to get through them. We can’t see the wind, but we feel it. We can’t see the sun at night, but we know it will come up tomorrow. We can’t see gravity, but we see the results. We can’t see sickness, but we see its effects. You can’t see love, but you see it affects. I can’t see God, but I see the difference in my life. I can see the lives of those around me. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen Him show up in profound ways that there is no denying it was Him, the love I feel, the hope I have. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

 

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Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: Be a lighthouse; there are a lot of women struggling with so many different issues, being overcome by waves of despair. We need to be a light, a beacon of hope, encouraging one another on.

I want to be the Proverbs 31 woman….

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings, she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand, she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

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Thank you for reading!

 

I’d love to connect with you!

Click here to connect on INSTA.

Click here to connect on FACEBOOK. 

—Jenny 🙂
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Thoughts, questions, or comments?

Comment below! 🙂

Woman Wednesday: Alexandria A.

*Note: Woman Wednesday is a part of our blog. Each Woman Wednesday post will feature a woman who would like to share information in the hopes of inspiring and motivating other women. Comments are welcome below.         


Q and A with Alexandria A. from Cherry Hill, New Jersey; living in Denver, Colorado

“Time is simply a witness and watches us do or not do. Courage is the catalyst between here and there.”


Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I’m an Italian Jersey girl with a loud, in-your-face, meatball lovin’ family. I was so fortunate to grow up with the wild pack because they taught me the value of hard work and to love what you do. Witnessing my family doing work that they loved shaped my entire belief system around “work.” It was inevitable that I start my own business and do it on purpose. 

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I’m a daddy’s girl, and I attribute a lot of my success to how he raised me. He gave me no option but to believe fiercely, love deeply, and go out there and change the world …and do that all for ME FIRST. I wouldn’t have the confidence I have today without his constant reminder and celebration of what was possible. 


Q: What are you passionate about?

A: Oh, man! If we’re going real big here, I’m passionate about LIFE. The feeling of possibility excites me and knowing that life has little miracles in store for me every single day.

I co-founded a company called Purpose Pioneers (aka my baby) founded on the belief of creating a world where people fully align what they do to make money with what they do to experience meaning and fulfillment in their lives. We call it the “sweet spot” between purpose and profit. We bring this belief to life by empowering established entrepreneurs to do 2 things… systematize their business so it can scale with purpose, then go beyond the business so they can transform into a thought leader and birth a movement by speaking on stage. It’s pretty damn magical!

 

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I’m currently 1 week away from hosting the Purpose Pioneers Thought Leadership Virtual Summit; 5 days of bringing Purpose Pioneers together from all over the world and giving them the mindset, tools, and inspiration to turn their business into a movement during a time of crisis. We’re then going to host the LIVE version this coming July in Denver, Colorado. Woot woot!


Q: What is something valuable you’d like others to know?

A: Things don’t take time; they take courage. Time is simply a witness and watches us do or not do. Courage is the catalyst between here and there. If you choose to act courageously moment to moment, it is then that you can play in the field of possibility and turn your dreams into reality.

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Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: Feminism to me is showing up in our true, divine feminine power… and it’s a choice. It’s choosing curiosity in the face of judgment. It’s choosing ownership in the face of blame. It’s choosing to operate from a place of wholeness. It’s choosing to fill up our cup first so we can serve from a place of overflow. It’s choosing to be the light in the dark. Women are powerful beings…if we choose to be.

 

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Thank you for reading!

I’d love to connect with you!

Click here to connect.

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Thoughts, questions, or comments?

Comment below! 🙂