We caught up with the brilliant and insightful La’Trece Bartley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, La’Trece thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s go back in time a bit – can you share a story of a time when you learned an important lesson during your education?
In college, I took a course on Organizational Management that taught me a valuable lesson: a company’s employees are its greatest asset. By studying successful and failed corporations, I realized that a company’s treatment of its workers significantly impacts its business outcomes. I found it fascinating that many companies prioritize endless meetings and strategic planning sessions to increase their bottom line over recognizing and valuing their workers. This seems backward to me. To me, the employee is the customer. If you value and care for them, they will care for your external stakeholders and customers and increase your revenue!
One of my favorite quotes I often reference is by Zig Ziglar “You don’t build a business; you build people, then people build the business.”
As we studied companies with long-term success, I discovered that their commitment to employees was the key. These organizations prioritize their employees’ well-being by offering competitive salaries, professional development opportunities, vacations, and promoting work-life balance. They even sponsored a yearly trip that included the employee’s immediate family. Even through challenging times, their employees remained loyal because they felt valued.
This lesson resonated with me because I also value people. I am passionate about life, people, and excellence. Having worked in subpar and great jobs, I understand the importance of treating employees well. As a business owner, I strive to create a culture of appreciation and gratitude for my team. I believe in paying them well and not searching for ways to cut back but demanding more from them.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
That’s a loaded question, so let me break it down for you!
I am the C.E.O. and founder of multiple companies. My purpose and calling are to help people become more Focused, Intentional, and Tenacious (F.I.T.) through coaching, consulting, writing, and speaking engagements. Some call me the “Get F.I.T. Strategist. I enjoy helping others live out their purpose.
Fitness is incredibly important to me. Fitness is not just about physical exercise but also about training your mind, body, and soul. Your body is the “vehicle” that enables you to fulfill your purpose, so taking care of it inside and out is essential. I help people “Get F.I.T.” through my businesses and podcast. I believe we are all created with a purpose by God. My faith is important to me and key to positively impacting others and fulfilling our destiny.
As for my background, I am a Southern girl with a lot of personality! I love running, pizza, and Red Velvet cake. I am the C.E.O. and founder of Purposefully Living, L.L.C., and E3 Consulting Agency, L.L.C. I’m also an author, writer, speaker, and leader with over 20 years of experience in administration, including executive administration.
At E3 Consulting Agency, we specialize in enhancing operational efficiency by teaching administrative teams and industry leaders how to become more Focused, Intentional, and Tenacious (F.I.T.) in their efforts. “Get F.I.T.” is a call to action urging everyone to Expand, Elevate, Excellence (E3). We aim to help companies, academia, and non-profits elevate excellency by emphasizing error-free work, agility, efficiency, leadership prepareness, and innovation in administration and executive support.
E3 Consulting also offers Executive Holistic Coaching to prioritize executives’ mental, physical, and spiritual health. Our focus is on C-Suite working mothers and wives, helping them reignite their passion for work and achieve a healthy work-life balance. We understand executives often prioritize others over themselves, leading to burnout and discouragement. That’s why we prioritize our clients’ well-being and ask, “How are you?” We also provide professional development and leadership preparedness services to help team leaders and administrative teams achieve their goals and maximize their teams’ efforts.
Through Purposefully Living, we create content to support others in getting F.I.T. We partner with schools and Women’s Business Centers, providing workshops to help individuals become more focused, intentional, and tenacious. In addition, to Get F.I.T. Coaching, which emphasizes total health and wellness, we offer women spiritual, work-life balance, and relationship coaching.
I am proud of my marriage of 19 years to my husband, Javier, and my three wonderful children, whom I homeschool.
I am devoted to assisting individuals in becoming F.I.T. personally and professionally. By prioritizing our relationship with Jesus Christ and caring for our physical, mental, and spiritual health, we can fulfill our true purpose and positively impact the world.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Purposefully Living, L.L.C. was “birthed” from my daughter, Olivia, and my miracle story. The short version is that I was diagnosed with a rare pregnancy, Placenta Acreta. She was embedded in my C-scar. The “science” behind the diagnosis is that as the baby develops and as I grow, I would have a uterine rupture and hemorrhage out and die. Initially, we went to a consult, thinking it was a routine follow-up, but four doctors later, my husband, who was a nurse, knew something was wrong. We were advised of the diagnosis and that the best option was abortion to preserve my life. I was told I needed to be immediately rushed to the emergency room for an abortion. If I didn’t, I would die, and the baby would not reach 19 weeks.
In our research, it seemed that everyone aborted. Four specialists later, it was the same diagnosis… abortion and death. I refused! I was ridiculed for not aborting. It was a very contentious situation. My husband and I decided to leave the hospital because we didn’t feel we had the backing and needed to advocate for our unborn child. It was a desperate situation. I had been denied by two hospitals concerning taking my case. However, a friend connected us with an excellent doctor I call “Dr. E.” Erin Burnett. Her staff was exceptional. More importantly, she didn’t try to force me against my beliefs but was honest regarding the risks.
My faith is one of my core values. This situation taught me perseverance, trusting the process, and the importance of becoming an advocate for my unborn child. I learned just how strong I was. I prayed a lot. I am alive, and I have a beautiful daughter. I still cry some days looking at her because I know how hard we fought. It wasn’t easy, but we endured.
One of our core values at Purposefully Living, LLC is the “Power of One” – one person can make a difference and impact millions. I donated my placenta for research, and my daughter Olivia and I were featured in an article. It was like God was showing out! Purposefully Living is more than just a business – it’s my opportunity to help others persevere and understand that their pain has a purpose. In my situation, I had to be F.I.T – Focused, Intentional, and Tenacious. I focused on my faith, surrounded myself with the right people, and was tenacious in fighting for my beliefs and not giving up. I want to inspire others to “Get F.I.T.” for whatever life brings their way.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Initially, my goal was to become a transactional attorney, and I tailored my efforts toward that goal. I was preparing to take the LSAT test post-graduation. However, during prayer, I was guided not to apply for law school. I prayed several times, hoping for a different answer, but I received the same response. The change in direction was significant, and I felt lost and overwhelmed without a clear plan. Nevertheless, I trusted in God’s plan.
I eventually found a job at a law firm, thinking it would be a good fit until I figured out my next steps. After working for a year, my boss called me for a meeting and said I needed to leave. I was taken aback by his words and asked what did he mean. He said I was settling. I was a natural leader; he encouraged and challenged me to dream big and “figure it out!” I was initially confused since I had already transitioned from not applying to law school, and now I was being pushed towards making another shift.
I cried a lot in the following weeks but appreciated my former boss for pushing me out of my comfort zone. I think about him often. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. He suggested that I put my resume out and figure it out! That pivotal moment launched me into Executive Administration Support, and I advanced quickly in that field. More importantly, I was blessed to leave my corporate career and start my own business helping others.
My former boss was correct; God had bigger plans for me, and I am glad I followed God even when it felt uncomfortable and unclear. My message is to trust the process and know that even your pivots have a purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Latrecebartley.com; www.E3Consultingagency.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purposefullylive/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PurposefullyLivingLaTrece
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latreceb/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaTreceBartley
- Other: https://anchor.fm/lau2019trece-bartley https://latrecebartley.com/about/
Image Credits
Sarah Hedden Photography