We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Toya Poplar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Toya , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My mission to empower individuals to pursue their goals while being kind to their souls stems from my journey toward self-discovery and personal growth.
My journey as a life coach and earring artist has been filled with ups and downs, but through it all, I learned that a mission is way more than words on a website. Coaching and creating have become a way to empower individuals to live their most authentic lives while motivating me to do the same.
After a lifetime of people “picking my brain” for creative ideas, in 2019 I added some boundaries to protect my knowledge work by becoming a life coach and professional ghostwriter. I started my coaching training by becoming fluent in the language of empathy. By immersing myself in a care group designed to cultivate relational intimacy, I soon realized that I needed the very thing I was positioning myself to pour into my clients. Learning how to see, hear, and handle people with care helped me to process some hard truths about myself and my past.
Before my training, despite being a great friend to others when they were in emotional pain, I would pull away from people and isolate myself when hurt. It didn’t take long for me to see that the anecdote to help me heal from past hurts was found in the same environment in which I experienced trauma (community.) I thought, “If hurt people hurt people I’m going to get as far away from people as I can when I’m hurt.” I realized firsthand that the impact of trauma is intensified when it is endured in solitude. The barriers that shield us from pain also block out affection. Needless to say, I quickly became a consumer of the environment I was seeking to produce.
Over time, I came to understand that to effectively help others invest their lives in what matters most, I would need to be in a perpetual practice of doing the same. In 2021, I became a certified Enneagram coach to help my clients grow from frustration to freedom. Self-awareness precedes trasformation. Before being in a position to cultivate community externally, there was some internal healing that needed to take place in my own heart and mind. I believe the insight I gained as I went from feeling alone to becoming aware is what empowers me to assist my clients in reaching a place of alignment.
Once I got into a good groove as a coach, I went through a health crisis that led to chronic pain. Upon noticing that my pain lessened while creating, I started making statement piece earrings. While designing, the pain would subside so much that it became one of my favorite forms of self-care. There were times in which my symptoms were so severe that the only time I felt like myself was while crafting. When I lost so much muscle mass that my invisible illness started to be outwardly noticeable, my super bold earrings became a healthy distraction in which my appearance didn’t reveal the challenges I was facing.
In 2023, FLY earrings took flight. My passion project rocked the runway during New York Fashion Week. The title of my showcase was, “Seasons of a Woman’s Life.” Each piece was designed to reflect how vastly different one season can be from the next and the importance of staying true to yourself in every season. “Feeling Like Yourself” is easy to take for granted until it’s threatened through trauma, life changes, loss, or grief. Authenticity means everything to me. Hence, the mission for FLY Earrings by Toya is to empower the wearer to FLY (Feel Like Yourself) no matter what.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a multi-passionate mom of six married to my high school sweetheart. As an entrepreneur who has felt exhausted, I know how vital it is to support people in staying true to themselves. In the busy world of entrepreneurship, it’s easy to forget who you are while striving for success. I’ve found that being genuine doesn’t just bring you joy—it also boosts creativity and helps prevent burnout. As an author, earring artist, and creative life coach all of my services are geared towards guiding individuals toward self-love and self-expression. Through my knowledge of the Enneagram and empathy training, I consider myself an ambassador of authenticity.
My debut Amazon best-selling book, “Stop Write There: Write or Remain Silent” is an interactive journal that encourages stuck creatives to create from a pure place. Available on Audible and Amazon
Black Pearls: A Self-Care Guide for Selfless Wives (How to go from irritated to iridescent.) Available on Amazon
The Self Love (Anti-burnout) Toolkit is Available for free download on my website ToyaPoplar.com
“FLY Earrings by Toya” are self-care accessories that promote inner beauty and individuality, helping you FLY (Feel Like Yourself). From funky colors, to dope designs, my earrings are the ultimate form of self-expression that remind women to be bold, be fly, but most importantly, to be themselves.
Enneagram Workshop Facilitator
As a certified Enneagram coach, I help individuals gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others, Your team will embark on an enriching journey toward self-awareness, authenticity, and fulfillment through learning about core fears, motivations, weaknesses, and strengths of your unique personality types.
“SELF Love Soft Goals” Facebook Group Community Leader
Our community is dedicated to,
S-upporting each other with empathy,
E-mbracing self-awareness,
L-oving through self-expression, and
F-inding our true selves.
We believe in creating a safe place where members can share openly, knowing that they will be met with understanding, compassion and celebrated for living a creative life and loving themselves well.
What sets me apart from others in my industry is that I don’t believe killin’ it has to kill you. You don’t have to be a bully, or brash to be a boss. Leadership does not require tyranny. Nor does a person’s weakness negate their greatness. I help my coaching clients, customers, and readers to stop vilifying their vulnerability. I invite my audience to celebrate their special way of being and embrace their authentic selves by reminding them that sorrow and appreciation can coexist. Just because you are experiencing grief doesn’t mean you are ungrateful. Even if you’re currently feeling burnt out, it doesn’t diminish your potential to achieve incredible feats.
The first location that FLY Earrings by Toya were sold is an Independent Black-Owned bookstore in Decatur, AL Brown Books and More Bookstore. It’s the best of both worlds. Owner, Janelle Brown has carried copies of my book for years, so having my earrings sold there as well is a true honor.
The second location to sell FLY Earrings by Toya is Renew Salon and Spa in Madison, AL. This cozy contemporary salon is owned by Neshonne McDonald, a multi-passionate entrepreneur who has created space for women to provide professional services to other women. It’s a place of relaxation and rejuvenation.
The third location is Art to Ware located in New York, NY is a amazing wearable art gallery that curates upcycled hand-made, one-of-a-kind art. Founder and curator, Leslie Ware and I attended the same high school.
Each location is Black-owned, women-owned and mission oriented. I’m so grateful for the powerful partnerships I’ve developed with so many remarkable women in so little time.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Shortly after I returned from New York Fashion Week, I came down with COVID-19, which caused long-term symptoms that eventually led to burnout and overwhelm. While awesome things were happening with my business, my life felt like it was coming to a screeching halt. I decided to postpone a writing workshop that I was set to lead, step down from my role as assistant editor of a successful magazine, take a break from social media, and give myself several weeks to live a soft life. I was initially bombarded with the fear that the bottom would fall out of my business if I took a break. But the experience affirmed the strength of my business. I realized that a little relational currency goes a long way. When you show genuine care for the people that you serve. Your presence is still felt, even when you’re absent. I received so much love and support that it highlights how suffering is relatable and taking the time to rest is respected. Learning that I can’t bully my body has translated into the realization that neither can I bully my business.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative for me is that there is no such thing as bored. I always have something to do. And not just a box to be checked, but something I am genuinely looking forward to. Creativity has forced me to stand in my value, set healthy boundaries, and has permitted me the liberty to craft an extraordinary life. As a life coach and ghostwriter, I have had the privilege of helping clients accomplish their lifelong goals. By tapping into their creative potential, people unlock new perspectives, overcome obstacles, and chart new paths. Knowing that the ideas I share with my clients will outlive me, makes everything I do worthwhile. My elementary school art teacher taught me that there are no mistakes in art. Until this day, I trust that when something goes awry, something awesome is about to happen. A creative life is a life worth living and a creative history is a legacy worth leaving.
As an earrings artist, I’ve watched women come alive as a result of wearing my creations. There’s nothing like watching someone feel beautiful, become bold, or exude a confidence they didn’t know they had as a result of wearing something that I made. When women tell me that they don’t feel like themselves unless they have on my earrings, it makes me feel like my dream of helping women stay FLY lept off my vision board and into their lives. I use preloved fabrics in my pieces and it blows my mind that fabric that one person disregards another person cherishes. Creativity has given me a sense of purpose and belonging. It is a joy to watch my earring art cause women to feel represented through cuteness, comfort, and the compliments they receive. The same way my earrings make a bold statement, but are lightweight, my coaching clients make a major impact but live soft lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.toyapoplar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toyapoplar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stopwritethere
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toya-poplar-9a2979149/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9OCHhw24f0gkdwtRuT9TNw
- Other: FLY Earrings Website https://www.instagram.com/flyearringsbytoya/ SELF Love Soft Goals Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3447318948679827 Invest Your Life Coaching https://www.toyapoplar.as.me
Image Credits
Nehemiah Poplar Trinity Poplar