Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Allison Williams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Allison, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

The kindest thing anyone has ever done was believe in me. When someone truly believes in you they don’t give you a pep talk and send you on your way. They invest their time and energy and they don’t mind picking you up when you fall and cheering you on when you’re winning. Their commitment is the same. Without this person, I would have quit a long time ago. There was a time when I cared what others thought and this person would always tell me that my rewards don’t come from other people, they come from God.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Photographer and a Personal Development & Business Coach. My journey to get here was a test that turned into a testimony. Years ago I was involved in a life-altering situation. When I came out on the other side of this obstacle I made it my mission to help other women. During that tough time, I had to keep telling myself that I was not the sum of my mistakes. I was born to do great things and this one thing was not going to stop me. I went to church the next Sunday and the title of the sermon was “It Had to Happen.” The message was very powerful and from that moment I forgave myself and started my journey to healing. While I was in this dark time I kept empowering myself by saying affirmations and writing my own affirmations. I volunteered, I did a lot of praying, I started eating plant-based, and I started thinking about the things that brought me joy in life. I invested in healing myself which also included therapy. I wanted to pass on this practice of self-empowerment and self-awareness to other women. Whether they faced obstacles, need a second chance, or just want to like and love themselves more I was eager to help. I took an inventory of my gifts to figure out what I could offer and This is Affirm, LLC was born! The mission of my LLC is to empower, uplift, and inspire others. I started with my photography business (Affirm Photography) which empowers women to affirm who they are through the power of images. It’s about so much more than pictures and my clients consistently tell me how I make them feel and how empowering their session was. I also started a t-shirt company with empowering messages, and most recently I became a Personal Development & Business Coach. This is My Start, is a powerful program designed specifically for women who are ready to take a leap into entrepreneurship. The experience is designed to help them gain clarity and put all of their pieces together. I use strategies and tools to help them affirm who they are, decide what they want, and most importantly start. The first part of my framework is Affirm. This is the part that was built from my own testimony and I teach women how to unpack their story, create a new vision for their life, and we work towards starting their business if they want to be entrepreneurs or we develop a blueprint for a new chapter in their life. I love seeing people win and I enjoy helping them reach their goals and exceed their own expectations. This is my heart and my legacy. This is my purpose in life.

Before becoming a coach I spent almost 20 years in corporate training and development, eLearning to be specific, I used this experience to create my own online academy for my coaching business! I teach other women how to do what I did by taking an inventory of their experiences, skills, natural talents, and intellectual property, to build the life they desire. Anything is possible. It’s time to START.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I re-read The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz every year. This book grounds me and I do my best to follow these agreements.

The Four Agreements are:
Be Impeccable With Your Word.
Don’t Take Anything Personally.
Don’t Make Assumptions.
Always Do Your Best.

We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power by Rachel Rodgers. I loved the book so much that I joined the club and I am currently a member of her coaching certification program.

My favorite quote that I live by is: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can” – Arthur Ashe

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Being myself, being true to myself, and conducting consultations. You can learn a lot about a person during a consultation. Sometimes you may learn that they aren’t the right customer for you. The majority of the time I meet people who are right for me! I feel so blessed that the right people find me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thisisaffirm.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/this.is.my.start/
• Photography Business: https://www.affirmphotography.com/
• Photography IG: https://www.instagram.com/affirm_photography/

Image Credits
Me! Allison@affirmphotography