Huami Magazine New York/New Jersey Jan./Feb. 2022

Jan./Feb. 2022

Volume 1 Issue 6

www.mykelmedia.com www.thisiswhoiam.libsyn.com

Get The Latest Music by Anjelah Evans

My Expectations and The Truth

A Letter From The Editor

I would have to say that I grew up poor by world standards. I never felt like it because my mother constantly poured unconditional love into my other siblings and me. Her love wouldn’t allow me to focus on what I didn’t have or anything I could be missing. However, as life happened, I realized that when compared to others, my experiences were more complex. Even still, I had the opportunity to overcome them.

There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

A Letter from the Editor

What if tomorrow didn’t arrive? All of your plans, hopes and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on. What if everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never happened? There would be no reason to save for a rainy day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making promises. What if your last opportunity seemingly expired today? What would you do?

One of the most important things I learned from my upbringing is that the truth will always override my expectations. The very first car that I owned, I purchased for myself. It wasn’t a new vehicle, but it was mine. It had a few dents, and the tires didn’t match either. The heat or air conditioning didn’t work, and the exhaust pipe would shake like a leaf when I started the car, probably because it was being held in place by the wiring of a close hanger. With all of its imperfections, my car was a beauty in my sight, and I was very appreciative to own it.

I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would be if I chose to sit idle and accept what it presented to me. I have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge to me is an adventure. What is the worst that can happen? If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn something new about myself. Relinquish your pride and in return acquire life.

Though it seemed like I drove that car for all eternity, it only survived one year with me. I didn’t keep gas in the fuel tank, and I never changed the oil either. I drove it fast, and on cold mornings I didn’t allow it to warm up. Rarely did I bathe it or even provide it with routine or preventative maintenance, and before I knew it, my first and only method of transportation slowed down and shut off in the middle of the road.

www.huamimagazine.com

Ellen Richardson

Dorjae’ McClammey

Still Shots Photography Photographer

Todd Youngblood Photographer

Santana B Photography Photographer

Want To Advertise? Send An Email or Call

huami.newyork@gmail.com (336)340-7844

The best advice ever given to me happened when someone told me to make my tomorrow happen today. In doing so I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between what God blesses me with and what life can burden me with as well. I compare it to knowing when to be confident and when to be quiet, because someone may get it confused with being arrogant.

See, I expected my car to run forever, but the truth is I never did anything to ensure that it would. I expected my car to go when I needed it to but never considered my thoughtless and erratic treatment’s impact on it. I expected to ride forever, but the truth is I never invested in my cars’ future.

I’m saying that we will only get out of life what we put into it. How will we ever expect to know God if we never spend time with Him? My goal in life is to win. For this to happen, I must be willing to do what is necessary to win and align myself with what is true, which is God’s expectations.

Make you tomorrow happen today, but most importantly make it count. Life is but a whisper and we must put ourselves in a position to hear what it is telling us.

Terry L. Watson

Terry L. Watson Editor/Founder

On The Cover

Ideas Unlimited Events LLC Stefanie and Sade

Lakesha Spencer

Learn more about her journey of becoming a healthier version of herself. Drink 2 Shrink with Coach Lakesha. Atlanta, GA

30

Monica Montgomery

Learn how she brings her imagination to life through the stroke of pen.

St. Louis, MO

10

Brian K. McNeill

He is known as the Confidence Coach. Learn more about what he has to offer.

Charlotte, NC

26

Ideas Unlimited Events LLC

By Terry L. Watson - Photos Provided By Ideas Unlimited Events LLC

If you require event planning services, Ideas Unlimited Events LLC is here to help. Owned and operated by Stefanie Crawford and Sade Adkins of New Jersey, this versatile design company prides itself on exceeding clients’ expectations with one-of-a-kind party setups. They provide customized productions such as backdrops, floor wraps, centerpieces, and more and can take any event, big or small, to the next level.

Stefanie and Sade combined their skill sets to form Ideas Unlimited Events LLC in 2016. In the beginning, their focus was making custom cakes and treats. “Our cake business quickly grew, and eventually, we began decorating our own children’s parties. After we posted our work on social media, people started calling and asking us to decorate for them. Soon we were producing small-scale events and eventually grew into larger ones,” they said.

Things have changed a little since the beginning. Their focus is exclusively on decorating parties and digital creations, which can be ordered directly from our website. Some of the other products and services offered by Ideas Unlimited Events LLC are custom party favors, backdrops, banners, yard signs, name and number tables, themed tables, balloon décor, complete party decorations, throne chair rentals, 360 Booth rentals, and more.

What separates Stefanie’s and Sade’s business model from other companies? Their approach and commitment to providing their clients with the best experience possible. Many event planners do amazing work in their area, but they aren’t deterred. Instead, they are determined to succeed. “We have to make sure we have fresh and new ideas so we can stay relevant.”We get to know our client’s wants and needs and aim to go above and beyond to bring their vision to life. We feel like artists changing a blank canvas into a beautiful, decorated room. We go above and beyond to customize our client’s event to ensure it’s not like anything anyone has already done. Furthermore, our event decorations can’t be purchased at a local party store,” they share. This year, they are planning to launch the Ideas Unlimited Design Academy. The new addition will allow them to teach techniques to up-and-coming event decorators or parents wanting to learn how to spice up their own child’s party or event.

Stefanie’s and Sade’s love for helping and serving others has proven to be vital for the success of their business. They both have always been creative, so this business only enhances that it gives them a platform to showcase their talents. Stefanie is a mother of four beautiful children and has three sons and one daughter. Stefanie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Writing Arts and Education and has been teaching for 11 years. She is currently grooming second graders in the Salem City School District. “I enjoy teaching, but my true love is event design and digital designing, and being my own boss,” Stefanie says.

Like Stefanie, Sade has a genuine nurturing spirit and a love for family. She is a mother to seven beautiful children, three of her own and four stepchildren. She is currently a full-time student majoring in education and still finds time to work on their business to ensure the needs of its clients are met. “I have always been creative and can make almost anything I put my mind to,” Sade says.

They both share how their children inspire them. “We didn’t have the best foundation growing up. We didn’t have a support team and pretty much raised ourselves and our younger siblings. We both had a child before we graduated high school, but we weren’t going to let that stop us. We used our struggle to motivate ourselves because we wanted more for our children and ourselves. We love watching our children witness our lives as bosses. Yet, they are also hands-on in the business and help when they have free time.” Stefanie and Sade have recently started a business for their children called Poppin Playsets where they set up bounce houses and toddler soft play areas at events.

For others who may follow in their footsteps, Stefanie and Sade offer some advice that may help along the journey. “Invest in yourself, and don’t be afraid to take constructive criticism. We have grown so much in the last few years because we are not afraid to learn something new and take advice from others in this business that we aspire to be like.”

Moving forward, in addition to their plans of Launch Ideas Unlimited Design Academy, they also hope to continue to decorate and transform rooms and open a venue of their very own one day. To learn more about Ideas Unlimited Events LLC, please contact them directly or visit their website. h

Monica Montgomery

The Happy Pen Creative Writing Services

By Terry L. Watson

For Monica Montgomery, her life has happened by way of the right opportunities.

Writing is something that Monica realized a love for early in life. The East Saint Louis, MO native was raised by a single mother and is the youngest in the family of four. She grew up and still resides in East St. Louis and shares she was blessed to be exposed to the greatness that East St. Louis is known for.

“I come from a creative family, so writing was a natural path for me. I love reading stories about mysterious people and magical places. However, it wasn’t until I wrote my first short story for the Young Author’s contest in the 5th grade that I believed I could create those people and places. The entire class was asked to write a story for the contest. I complained to my sister that I didn’t know what to write about. Annoyed, she said the most random thing she could think of. “Write about The Backwards City of Page.” She rattled it off as if it was a real place, and I should have known where and what it was. Then she said, “It’s where everything is backward!” With her help, I wrote my first piece of fiction. I was hooked from that day on,” Monica says.

Monica is the owner of The Happy Pen Creative Writing Services. Her company offers writing seminars, coaching sessions, and commercial writing for websites and personal projects.

Monica received a scholarship to Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. She completed her Bachelor’s of Arts, English Literature, and music minor at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, and received her MFA, Fiction Writing from Lindenwood University, St. Charles. In 2020 she was selected to participate in the East St. Louis Urban Education Teaching Residency Program. The program was an intense ten-month accelerated Master’s degree program and helped Monica earn a Master’s in Elementary Education from National Louis University.

Today, Monica works as a first-grade teacher at Wyvetter Younge School of Excellence in East St. Louis. Professionally, she has written, directed, and produced several Christian plays and skits for her church’s youth group and spent the last fifteen years volunteering and mentoring youth in dramatic arts.

Her first short story was published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, “Chicken Soup for the African American Woman’s Soul,” in 2006. She has written her first novel series, “An Everlasting Love”. The first two books, An Everlasting Love: Concrete Soul and The Summer of Carlos, are available for purchase on Amazon. com, and the third book of the series will be released in June 2022. Additionally, she writes for I Am East St. Louis the Magazine and serves as V.P. at Top Dog Studios, a St. Louis-based independent film group.

Monica says what she enjoys most about writing is the ability to create a place of learning and escape simultaneously. “I love reading because I get to travel to far-off places and meet people from every walk of life and beyond. When I write, I don’t just want to tell a story; I want to create a space where the author, reader, and character meet in a harmonious ebb and flow. A place where one doesn’t exist without the other. The highest praise is when the reader or audience refers to a character as independent, free-thinking. I’ve had people walk up to me and say they have a love-hate relationship with one of my characters. The word that stuck out to me was relationship. As an educator, I love when a student gets it. Whether it be a first-grader learning to count by ten or someone taking up the challenge of writing, the light in their eyes is the same. It’s like a door they weren’t aware of opens, and they are breathing for the first time. It’s amazing to watch,” she says.

Like anyone else, Monica says she could spend hours talking about her wounds, woes, and regrets, but it wouldn’t change anything. Ultimately, it has been her trust in God that has carried her throughout her life. She shares, “In my late twenties, I was diagnosed with cancer. I have been in remission for fourteen years now, but it was a wake-up call. I could no longer wait for the life I wanted. I had to go out and get it. I never imagined myself as an author and a teacher. When I entered the Young Author’s contest in 5th grade, my teacher said she believed she had heard the story before and accused me of cheating. I knew I hadn’t, but it didn’t matter. I won second place in the district. The first prize went to a 6th grader. My teacher never apologized. and the damage was done. I have no children of my own, but I realized that my words and what I create with them are just as important to me as a child would be. Being honest meant exposing my “baby” to the world and subjecting it to public scrutiny and rejection. Any parent can tell you that hearing that your child isn’t good enough is painful, to say the least. To my surprise and excitement, readers are my writings, and I continue to trust God.”

Monica says the one thing she would have changed about her journey in life would be publishing an essay back in high school. “I believe it would have gotten me into professional writing much sooner. Then again, would I have gained the experience that I think contributed to the person I am today? Destinations are great, but life is in the journey,” she says.

“I love reading because I get to travel to far-off places and meet people from every walk of life and beyond. When I write, I don’t just want to tell a story; I want to create a space where the author, reader, and character meet in a harmonious ebb and flow.” h

By Terry L. Watson

It’s one thing to have a sweet tooth, but to have it satisfied is where the real pleasure comes in. If you happen to be in the Pensacola community of Florida, there is one company that is sure to meet your delight. That company is Delectable Delights by Tarolyn Inc., a home-based cottage bakery.

Delectable Delights offers both traditional and custom cakes, as well as a wide variety of treats. Owned and founded by Tarolyn Street, they can create anything for such occasions as baby showers, birthday parties, weddings, and more.

Tarolyn is the true definition of a savvy businesswoman. She launched her company with a determination to succeed and set an example to her children of what hard work will do for them. She has been married for 12 years to her husband, David, who she describes as her business partner, prayer warrior, best friend, and counselor. Together they shepherd a blended family of six children and seven Godchildren.

Tarolyn says the truth is she did not want to launch her business. “I enrolled into culinary arts school right out of high school, but I had so much going on in my life, including being homeless, that I did not finish. I would make cakes for family and friends, but I wasn’t interested in making cakes and treats full-time. My focus changed, and I enrolled in school to become a licensed massage therapist. I was running from my calling. I was scared. Scared of failure and scared of not being accepted. I was also scared of not knowing what to do. I had these emotions even after winning third place in the state of Florida VICA Commercial Baking and Pastries Competition. However, things changed one day when I heard God say, “I gave you a talent, so what are you going to do with it?” I told God if He’s pushing me out here, I know I have no choice but to move with His plan, and so I did,” she says.

On February 11, 2015, her company opened for business. Tarolyn says she was referred by her classmate, Shirley Johnson, to a customer who needed her services. Shirley was already familiar with Tarolyn’s sweet creations, and things took off once the connection was made. “From that weekend until this very day, I have soared beyond what I could ever have thought,” she says.

Tarolyn says what she loves most about her business is being able to touch the lives of others with something as simple as a cake or treat. “To be able to build relationships and bonds with people and see the looks on their faces when they see what my hands have created. Their faces light up with excitement. This makes it all worth it.”

With all that she has endured in life, Tarolyn continues to credit God with being her source and strength. “God is my biggest inspiration. Without Him, I’m absolutely nothing,” she shares. Tarolyn credits her husband and kids for pushing and motivating her to be the best every day. “On days when I need that extra push, they give it to me. They provide the drive and the confidence I need to go further.”

Additionally, she acknowledges Derric and Valiencia, a couple in her community who she says exemplifies what genuine love for community looks like. “I have seen them effortlessly care for the children on the dance team as if the members were their own kids. I’ve witnessed them take money out of their pockets to make sure no one is left behind,” she says.

For those who may be considering starting a business like Tarolyn, she offers the following advice. “Be confident in yourself and know your worth from the beginning. Even in knowing your worth, remain humble and learn something from every avenue of your life.”

As the future continues to look bright for her and Delectable Delights by Tarolyn, she hopes to become more involved in her community by giving back and serving. One way Tarolyn plans to accomplish this is to shine a light on more small businesses and help them grow and become more successful. That is what love looks like.

To learn more about Delectable Delights by Tarolyn, please visit them on Facebook, or contact them directly.

We Are Athletes, Not Tomboys

By Terry L. Watson

Chicago native Shajaunna Jordan has her hands and mind all over the place. She is the owner of the first-ever female-focused sports agency in the world, Ladies 1st Sports Agency, LLC.

Ladies 1st Sports Agency, LLC provides women the opportunity to pursue their lifelong dream of playing professional sports. It also offers an Agent Training Course, which prepares a new generation of women’s sports agents with knowledge, critical thinking, ethics, and integrity in sports management.

Shajaunna is a former student-athlete and attended Simeon Vocational High School in Chicago. There, she played three sports, including Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball. She was also an Academic Scholar. After graduating from Simeon, she attended Northern Arizona University as a scholarship student-athlete. She also attended Marshalltown Community College and Texas A&M Corpus Christi. She brandishes four degrees (A.A.-Communications, B.A.- Sports Marketing, M.S.- Physical Education/Coaching, M.S. Sports Management) with a Certificate of Athletic Administration. Additionally, she has coached and taught at the elementary, high school, and collegiate levels.

Besides the Ladies 1st Sports Agency, Shajaunna has developed other projects such as Men2 Sports Management, The Independent Professional Women’s Basketball League, The Independent Professional Women’s Basketball League, and The Girls Become Women Sports Foundation. The IPWBL is the first of its kind, as Shajaunna is the first woman to own her a league, including all teams. It provides women the opportunity to compete for experience and exposure or to stay in the game. The league is made of three regions, Midwest (Chicago, Indiana, and Wisconsin), Deep South (Tennessee & Mississippi), and Southern (Texas).

Shajaunna shares the idea and concept began in Spring 2016 with her Professional Women’s Basketball Team pro team, The Chicago Breeze. “My Vice President, Angelina Williams, is a former WNBA Champion and played overseas professionally for over 15 years. Angelina, along with my sister Constance Jinks is why I started the agency. I knew I wanted to change that process for women and make sure they were understood as a woman first and an athlete second,” she says. In 2018, the Ladies 1st Sports Agency, LLC was officially formed.

Shajaunna credits her mother with having the most significant influence over her life. “My mother was my first example of hard work and taught me how to control my destiny,” she says. There is another woman who has helped to shape her life. “I thought I would never meet another woman like my mother, but I was wrong. My high school coach Chris Pruitt showed me how to be selfless, be a teammate, and work with diverse groups of people. Coach Pruitt is why I work for women in sports.”

Shajaunna admits that her journey hasn’t been easy. She has operated and funded her business without sponsors or donations for the past five years. All she had was a dream to help girls become women. There have been times when she wanted to walk away from the very thing she loved. Yet, she held on, and now others benefit from her commitment. “I have quit seven times in one day. I wanted to go back to being a regular person. Though I didn’t give up but instead stood solid in what I knew,” she says.

Thankfully, Shajaunna didn’t give up. Her son, Alvin, a 12-year-old student-athlete, owns one of the programs she developed, Men2 Sports Management. “He shows me every day that I did something right in my life. I made him the owner of Men2 Sports Management because I wanted to leave my son with a business, not debt,” she says. Shajaunna understands that his eyes are looking at her as he positions himself to be the carrier of her dreams.

Moving forward, Shajaunna plans to continue with her mission and vision for Ladies 1st Sports Agency, LLC. She also intends to help as many women as possible. “There will be more girls who will become women and show men that they are athletes and not tomboys!”

Please visit her website to learn more about Shajaunna Jordan and her programs.

h

In The Key of Dance Studio

Photography by Bricen

By Dorjea McClammey

New Orleans, LA native Nykisha Banks loves to dance. Dancing has been in her blood since she was three years old. She shares, “As a child, I was one of those kids who cried on stage. That didn’t sit too well with my instructor, and my mother was told not to bring me back to participate until I was ready.” That time didn’t come until she was age eight.

From there, Nykisha found her footing and continued to dance and flourish. She has danced in many productions, all the way to high school. After graduating, she worked with a dance company where she traveled, continued her training, performed, and ultimately became a dance instructor.

Today, Nykisha owns In the Key of Dance Studio based in Conyers, GA. She also has founded a nonprofit organization, In the Key of Dance Performing Arts Inc., and published a book, A Dancer’s Leap Into Accountability. Her book details her 22 plus years as a dancer and dance instructor. Nykisha teaches ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and musical theater dance with her studio. She also offers a thorough stretching and conditioning regime, starting at age three up to eighteen, and it’s available for some adult classes. She also takes every health and safety precaution to ensure a safe, covid-free environment for her students.

Nykisha’s success as a dance instructor and business owner is rooted in her ability to connect. She is very imaginative, loyal, and, most importantly, an effective communicator. Her success in the small things translates to everyone else’s success, while her goal as a business owner is to be prepared for whatever the day may present. Nykisha takes pride in being a very hands-on, proactive leader. Her loyalty has gained a lot of respect from both her students and parents. “I’m held accountable every day, all day. As a dance instructor and studio owner, I hold the parents accountable, especially when it comes to having their kids ready to perform,” she says.

Nykisha founded In The Key of Dance Studio in 2011. That was during a period when she was often hired to train girls and boys in various locations. She ran her company as such until the opportunity for a brick-and-mortar location presented itself. She holds registration twice a year, once in the fall, and another registration session in January immediately after the holiday season. That session is open until March. She also offers summer dance camps.

Nykisha has always found a way to give back, and it made sense for her to launch her nonprofit. In the Key of Dance Performing Arts Inc. sponsors children in need after a thorough interview process. “I am committed to nurturing my community by providing art enrichment through dance. With the nonprofit, our mission is to provide lifelong tools that will aid in building a disciplined lifestyle from a solid technical foundation. There are many ways to reach our youth; we just happen to do it through dance,” she says. Nykisha also partners with another nonprofit, SelfDiscovery: Pain, Positioning, & Purpose Inc. The mission for connecting with them is to promote mental wellness, and they also gifted Nkisha’s company with BuildA-Bears for each dancer that registers. All proceeds Nykisha receives from her book and donations go directly back into her nonprofit.

Nykisha’s gift speaks for itself. They have won several awards, including the World Dance Championship for a lyrical piece, and received The World Dance Championship Choreography award for that same production.

When asked what she loves most about her business, Nykisha shares, “I can do the creative work without push back or constraint.” As someone who used to work in corporate America for years, dance was always her place of escape. Now that she is a full-fledged studio owner, she can do the work that she desires.

by Bricen

“I love teaching my young students major life values such as working independently or as a team, holding themselves and others accountable, and presenting themselves in front of others without any fear.”

Nykisha also values the impact she has on the lives of those she trains. “I love teaching my young students major life values such as working independently or as a team, holding themselves and others accountable, and presenting themselves in front of others without any fear. For me, it’s bigger than dance,” she says.

Nykisha says her inspiration comes from seeing her dancers grow as individuals. “Seeing them no longer calling their parents feeling upset or wanting to give up because they felt like their teacher was too hard on them shows growth to me,” she shares.

While Nykisha has enjoyed her journey, it has come with a few challenges. The Covid 19 pandemic has been one of them. After having to stop teaching & training as a result of the pandemic, Nykisha held a brick-and-mortar soft opening last June. She outfitted her facility with new mirrors, floors, ballet barres, fresh paint signs, and a sound system. She says, “It was a faith walk. I opened the doors knowing it was a possibility that no one would show up, but I had to try.” Her faith paid off as In The Key of Dance Studio has enjoyed constant growth, even during the pandemic.

As for what the future holds, Nykisha’s plans are very clear. “ I want to grow and produce bigger and more positive memorable experiences for my community,” she states. One thing is for sure; she will continue to dance her way into the lives of others for many years to come.

To learn more about In The Key of Dance Studios or purchase a copy of Nykisha’s book, A Dancer’s Leap Into Accountability, please visit their website. Her book is also available for purchase online at Amazon.

The Sales Confidence Coach

By Terry L. Watson

Brian K. McNeill of Charlotte, NC, is Brian K. McNeill is a true champion in the arena of “how to sell”. He has accumulated over 30 years of study and practice of professional selling. By his own count he has read over 700 books on Sales, Sales Management and Self Development. Brian has produced coaching programs, published several Best-Selling Books, and is committed to helping and serving others. The loving, caring husband and father is also a proud veteran of the US Army.

Brian is the founder of The Sales Confidence Academy. In this capacity, he provides training and certification for entrepreneurs. He is the current president of Virtual Team Network, a global online networking organization.

Brian exhibited signs of effectively communicating with almost anyone at an early age. He shares, “I entered the wonderful world of professional selling at the age of 23. That was 31 years ago. I soon came across some books about selling. After reading the first book, my interest grew, and before long, I had read several hundred books about sales. Some of the other topics were about Sales Management and Personal Development. The more I read, the better I became at selling. I eventually became a sales manager and my job. Sales and the knowledge and understanding of sales seemed easy to me, and soon I decided to start my own sales training company. Over the years, thousands of salespeople and entrepreneurs have benefited greatly from my sales training workshops, classes, and platform.”

Today, he is recognized as Brian K. McNeill, the Sales Confidence Coach. In this role, he teaches entrepreneurs and salespeople what to say and do, to ensure they are confident and prosperous in selling themselves and their services. His services include Sales Coaching, Sales Training, Sales Speaking, and Sales Workshops.

Some additional products include personalized and on-demand/self-paced sales training programs. He also has the Basic Essential Sales Training (BEST), a recorded seven-session curriculum covering the basic essentials entrepreneurs must know and the seven reasons why a client will say yes to you and your services. After completing the course, the entrepreneurs will have the correct language and confidence to sell their services successfully. There is also Get Profitable/Stay Profitable (GPSP), which includes everything in (BEST) plus a curriculum that teaches the entrepreneurs what to do with their time. Then finally, there is the Sales Confidence Course, the complete and updated course on How to Sell Your Services in today’s marketplace.

One of the books that Brian has published is The Shortcut! - The Fastest route to Selling You and Your Services so that you earn more money than ever before! Another book he has published is Asking for the Money - How anyone can close more Sales, even you! Another publication is a children’s book, Why Rhinos Make Great Sales People - Featuring Mr. Randall the Rhino.

Many of Brian’s typical clients are service-based entrepreneurs, Coaches and Consultants, Insurance and Financial Services Professionals, Attorneys, Accountants, and Bookkeepers.

Brian has also founded the M.E.N (Male Empowerment Networks of Charlotte). This organization is a Support Discussion group that meets virtually twice a month and has been doing so since August 2013. “We know that men need men, and teenage men need men. So we provide a safe and transparent space for men to talk about anything.,” he says.

Brian says he loves it when people take what he teaches them and earn more money as a result. “It brings me joy. I believe that God has uniquely gifted and qualified me to help people sell themselves and their services. My work is a ministry, and I honor God by helping people sell better,” he says.

Moving forward, Brian shares he will continue to make his workshops available, especially through online courses, so that people can take the training on demand.

To learn more about Brian K. McNeill, please visit his website.

Drink 2 Shrink with Coach LaKesha

By Terry L. Watson

Drink 2 Shrink sounds almost unheard, yet the concept is a reality for Coach Lekesha Spencer. The fitness enthusiast has transformed her life simply by addressing her health needs head-on.

The Detroit, MI native, says her company, Drink 2 Shrink with Coach LaKesha, was born in 2020 through her millionaire mentor, Stanecia Graham. Lakesha says Stanecia was the movement’s visionary, which allowed each partner to personalize and brand themselves in business. The concept is much like a franchise, minus the milliondollar startup cost.

“It all began when I went to the doctor for a routine physical. My doctor prescribed me four medications to go along with the six prescriptions I already had. As a nurse, I knew the effects of drugs and the side effects. I had to make a change, so I got my mind right and lost 45 lbs. The rest was history. To this day, all 10 of those prescribed medications have been discontinued,” Lakesha says.

For the most part, Lakesha shares her life is one of resilience. After several failed marriages, she learned how to bounce back and become the person she always knew she was. “After committing myself to better my health, I changed my mindset around food and unhealthy behaviors. As a result, I have released 45 pounds, and I look and feel amazing. I now walk with conviction about the product I offer. My ultimate goal is to help others who are serious about changing their health and weight loss,” she says.

Lakesha describes herself as a devout woman of God and a beacon of light to her family and friends. She was reared as an only child by her loving mother, whom she describes as her best friend. Growing up, Lakesha shares she was taught she needed to go to college to get a good education to become a teacher, doctor, lawyer, or nurse. So that’s what she did. She studied hard, and I obtained her Bachelor of Science

degree in Nursing. After three years of working as a nurse, she knew that it wasn’t for her. “I often questioned if it was even my calling at all,” she says. That doubt led her to dabble in entrepreneurship. “After I had an emergency surgery at the start of the pandemic in April of 2020, I relinquished the safety net of nursing and became a full-time entrepreneur.”

Lakesha shares that entrepreneurship has afforded her the freedom and flexibility to do exactly what she wants. It also provides her with a chance to take care of her parents. “We have allowed the opportunity to travel the world and enjoy one another,” she says.

She shares what she loves most about her business: the results her clients obtain when they follow the designed regime she provides. “I love knowing their results put them in a happier place where they feel so much better about themselves. There is nothing like a girl being able to fit into her favorite pair of skinny jeans again, or her going into the backside of her closet and grabbing her favorite dress that she refused to give up after many years.”

In addition to the positive results from her clients, Lakesha says their testimonies of overall improved health inspire her to keep pushing. “I am inspired because I am a product of the product, and I know firsthand the feelings I have from my transformation. I know that I am transforming lives, not just selling a product,” she says.

As a coach, she offers advice to anyone who wants to achieve in life and in health.

“Be very persistent and never give up on your goals and dreams. Be yourself and know that you can fulfill your heart’s desire if you don’t give up.”

Her plans for 2022 are to stay consistent and build upon the double digits of the year with the expectation of doubling the number of clients that she can help. She also plans to double her income which she says will allow for her to help her family and people in her community.

To learn more about Drink 2 Shrink with Coach Lakesha, please visit their website.