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: 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?

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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.

life is now neon signage

Thoughts, questions, or comments?

Comment below! 🙂

Woman Wednesday: Allison

*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 Allison, Denver, Colorado

“I believe that if we let ourselves be paralyzed by our fears, we’ll never achieve our full potential.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I’m passionate about documentary filmmaking because of the ability to connect people through stories. I’m currently touring the film festival circuit with a documentary about two elderly, married entomologists. I’ve filmed digital content for clients like National Geographic, the BBC, the Travel Channel, Lonely Planet, NBC, and a host of others.

Steve Jobs famously said, ‘The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. The storyteller sets the vision, values, and agenda of an entire generation to come.’ I fully believe that! Stories have such incredible power to inspire, to reveal our shared humanity, to bring about positive change, and to create empathy and emotion (humor being one of my favorites).

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I’m also really passionate about helping female entrepreneurs acquire the skills to create their own video content from home. With the development of the COVID-19 coronavirus, I think a lot of women will be working from home over the next few months, doing more video conference calls, and trying to incorporate DIY video into their business to bring in clients. I wanted to help other women continue to succeed with their businesses! So, I recently began sharing the knowledge I’ve acquired over the years from big-budget film shoots and digital storytelling content and modifying it to help women create high-quality DIY videos from home. I’m really dedicated to helping them learn to make videoes and storytelling their business ally. I’m passionate about showing them not only learn how to use gear but also how to map out the story arc, messaging, and branding in each of their videos and conference calls with clients; how to develop a strategy before they begin putting up videos; and how to map out the way in which each video plays into the larger story of their business. Once they have that knowledge and skill set, they will have such incredible power to inspire and connect with clients!

Q: What were your younger years like?

A: I was a major introvert as a child. I was very quiet and spent an enormous amount of time reading. I loved stories, and I read everything from Roman mythology to the history of Dorothea Lange, to the latest science fiction novels. At 15, I began taking summer school classes at Stanford, and I later received both my undergraduate and master’s degrees from Stanford. My early fascination with storytelling influenced my decision to become a newspaper reporter after graduation. After a time, I transitioned to telling stories through film and video and incorporated the skills of a print journalist into my approach to documentaries and digital content.

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

A: When I first picked up a camera, I remember being very intimidated by the technical aspects of it. And I remember being similarly daunted by all of the logistics and crafting of a story arc when I made my first film. But I believe that if we let ourselves be paralyzed by our fears, we’ll never achieve our full potential. I steadily acquired the storytelling and production skills and the knowledge of film gear, and I would love to help other women out with that—especially female entrepreneurs who are working at home and need to incorporate DIY video into their business. I definitely empathize with how video can initially feel very formidable. My message is: Don’t let that fear paralyze you! There are so many ways to DIY it. And I’m more than willing to help anyone out that needs advice. There are many statistics about the power of videos and storytelling, but for me, it all comes down to the ability to connect with others, to inspire and motivate them, and to foster our shared humanity.

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Q: What does feminism mean to you?

A: To me, being a modern feminist means supporting those who identify as women, lifting each other up, amplifying our voices, and having the right to personally choose how we live our lives. I also think it’s crucial to consider feminism through an intersectional lens if we want the movement to be truly inclusive and representative of the voices of women of all races, classes, religions, abilities, and orientations.

Thank you for reading!

I’d love to connect with you!

Click the link:

fevacademy.com

https://youtu.be/QTZWH6hOnl8
Comment below! 🙂

Woman Wednesday: 100th Post!

*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.  


For our 100th post, we’ve gathered 35 quotes of advice from our featured women on The Woman Wednesday Blog. Enjoy!

 

Jessica L., Beijing, China

“When you start to doubt yourself is when you will fail. Follow your heart and believe in yourself and your calling–wherever or whatever that may be–one hundred percent.”


Chante, Richmond, Virginia

“The only excuses you have are the ones you make.” 

 

Cait Scudder, Los Angeles, California 

“Spend time getting quiet and getting clear on what you want to create and bring into the world. Vision is the birthplace of all creation, so you need to take the time to do this.” 

 

Lorie, Cincinnati, Ohio

“There is no one giant step that does it. It’s a lot of little steps.”

 

Deasha, Manchester, United Kingdom

“You do not have to have tons of money. You do not have to have knowledge or experience. If you have enough drive, ambition, and vision, then you can create any life that you want.”


Marae, Cuba 

“Impossible, after all, is only an opinion.”


Marina, County of Međimurje, Croatia

“Make brave decisions and just start before you are ready because “the right time” is just an illusion. Don’t wait until you will have time–create time for things that are important to you.”


Laura, Morris County, New Jersey

“I try to challenge myself daily, to develop different parts of who I am and who I want to be. I’m a work in progress. We’re all works in progress, and I think that’s a really beautiful thing.” 


Chelsea,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

“If you don’t have a plan, don’t fret! Try new things. Travel. See things. Do things. Live. And it will come to you, babe. And when it does, just go for it!” 

 

Jerusher, Atlanta, Georgia

“Time is priceless. Experiences are priceless. Memories are priceless.”


Lisa Maslyk, Winnipeg, Manitoba

“I truly wish I had gotten into it when I was younger, but it felt like such a big leap that I wasn’t ready to take at the time. Now that I am in it, I realize that it wasn’t such a big leap at all.”


Kidron, Baltimore County, Maryland

“I’ve realized that in my life, for me to overcome what holds me back, and to be happy, I have to let some things rest in the shadows. If they don’t contribute to the betterment of myself and/ or humanity, they probably aren’t worth holding onto. I decided I had to push forward for what I wanted (and deserved) if I had to be what I envisioned for myself.” 


Valerie, Wolfratshausen, Germany

“Remember when times get tough, toughen up. Just know that you are stronger than you think you are.”


Lucia, Montgomery County, Maryland

“From my story and from my family story, I hope that others, especially women, are empowered to keep dreaming and to not lose hope even if there are many obstacles in the way. Because by achieving their dreams, they will inspire a new generation of women to keep dreaming (and with dreams and hard work, succeeding).” 


Leilani, Fairfax, Virginia

“Fairytales and daydreams are possible as long as you work hard for them. Nothing comes easy, even if it seems that way, but if you believe in yourself, good things will come. Always be passionate, true to yourself, and constantly search for motivation.” 


Alysha, Berks County, Pennsylvania

“Don’t look at someone’s life and think you should be doing what they’re doing–you should do what makes you happy and what you are passionate about. I think life is too short not to live in a way that makes you approach each and every day with a full sense of joy and enthusiasm. There is always something to be grateful for and that can bring a smile to your face.”


Brittany, Mercer County, New Jersey

“Life is short, and you should do anything and everything you want to/love. Whether you are miserable at your job, doing things that don’t serve you, or you want to do things that seem out of reach, whatever that is…work toward your goals, do the things you love, and don’t stop loving your life.” 


Caitlin, College Park, Maryland

“Even the person who seems to have it the most together has problems, and we are all one big mess. I learned that what I considered to be a weakness was actually a strength that allowed me to help others with the same issues.”


Jessica, Hunterdon County, New Jersey

“I had to eliminate the mental barrier that said, “I can’t do it today, so I shouldn’t even try.” If you have a goal in mind, keep going, because you might be surprised by what you can do.”


Mary, Baltimore County, Maryland

“If you find the positive in every day, you will be so much happier. Also, when you have goals and put them into the universe, you are speaking them into existence. Finding the positives and putting them out to others will get you into the right mindset to achieve your goals.”


Raquel, King of Prussia, Pennslyvania

“You never really know what someone is going through despite their outward appearance or your depiction of them.” 


Megan, Baltimore, Maryland 

“I had a college professor who, day one of class, talked about how we introduce ourselves to other people by telling them stories about our lives so far. It’s sort of how we package and present ourselves. I think it’s a good idea to look at those tales we’ve curated and see what they say about us, and also, to realize that the stories society tells us impacts which narratives are worth keeping.” 


Jen, Green Bay, Wisconsin

“You can do what you set your mind to. Everything takes work, and learning is a constant part of life. If your dream is to one day own a business that makes money, you need to make sure you have all the skills and knowledge to make that happen.”


Tabatha, Washtenaw County, Michigan

Having a team is the cornerstone to success.” 


Jessica, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada  

“We are human. We can only learn from that and try to be better next time.”  


Ioana, Cluj, Romania

“What I would like everyone to know and apply is passion! Find something that you love doing and go for it. Take time for it, show what you do to other people, involve your loved ones in your passion. Whenever you feel completely disappointed, desperate, and that life is completely pointless, turn to that color or canvas, pot or music, or whatever makes you feel joy.”   

 

Kelly, Toronto, Canada

One thing I’ve learned is this: You cannot control what happens in your life, but you can control how you react to it. I think if I continued to sulk and think negatively, nothing significantly positive would’ve happened in my life. Changing my perspective and immersing myself in hope and positive thinking only resulted in positive changes in my life.”   


Carly, Melbourne, Australia

I used to give up on projects too early without enough feedback to see it through, and I attribute my giving up too early mostly to self-limiting beliefs. You can have the best business model and the best-looking website and great marketing strategy, but if you don’t believe in yourself first, you will fail every time. So for me, first and foremost is get your mindset right in the beginning, and set the foundations to build an amazing life for yourself and stick at it! The only way you will stick at anything is self-reliance, discipline, and self-belief.”   


Idoia, Barcelona, Spain 

“Once you are on stage, there is this magic, that it makes you shine even though you are under pressure. If you miss a step, the key is to continue. No one is expecting you to be perfect but you! It’s about forgiving yourself and continuing. A mistake is an opportunity to grow.”


Lasheika, Miami, Florida

“Nothing is a mistake. Everything happens for a reason, and don’t regret a thing because it’s all a part of your journey.” 


Helen, Phoenix, Arizona

“Feel through the fears, and make moves anyway.”


Emily, Denmark

“There is a whole life out there to be lived. No matter what and how much has been taken away from you, maybe you’ll never get over it, but you can get on!”


Chloe, Sydney, Australia

“Resilience has been essential for me in the past few years to really go for my dreams, fall on my face, and get back up.”


Nancy, Puerto Rico

“Life is all about working with what bothers us, not giving power to the problem but looking for solutions. And it is precisely why I tell my story. I had all the reasons to give up and be a ‘no one’ in life. Seeing the transformation in people is something incredible. Many times, people just need help, a word of motivation to help them take a step and get out of their current situation, turn their passions/ideas into a business, or make decisions. I like to work for causes, give a voice to those that can’t talk, help the needy, put on the worker’s boots, and reach out to those who feel lost. These things bring me emotion.”


Maria Tan, Philippines 

“I felt something was missing. I needed to be more and think beyond what to sell next and how to make more money. I talked to my mom about the meaning of life and she pretty much dismissed my question as something frivolous and overreaching. I can’t blame her though; she comes from a generation where having a white picket fence was the dream. After that talk, I went even deeper into depression. I was living my life void of any life. I would go from one task to the next and have no memory of doing so.” 

 

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