We recently connected with DeShonda Jennings and have shared our conversation below.

DeShonda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so one thing we think people don’t talk about nearly enough is investments – either time or money. What’s one of the best or worst investments you’ve made and what did you learned from the experience?

One of the best time and money investments that I made was when I hired one of my now, two Life Coaches. I was at one of the lowest points in my life and career. Feelng depressed, broke, and broken. When I hired Dr. Amy, she helped me to discover a lot of unforgiveness that I was holding on to. She helped me to see that the money was there. Because my focus was on what I thought I didn’t have, I couldn’t see or wasnt aware of what literally was in front of me. As I worked through unforgiveness in my personal life, my business life took off to a six figure home based business. Investing in her program allowed me to invest at a level that I thought I couldn’t afford. Working with Dr. Amy, as made me aware of my business and supernatural money. One of the greatest lessons that I learned is the money is there and always walk in forgiveness.

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?

DeShonda Monique Jennings is the epitome of Resilience & Leadership. The author, parent & youth advocate and Business Owner’s mission is to help high-achieving Women ditch their 9-5 and launch a profitable Business using their GIFT! DeShonda has over 20 years’ experience in childcare and 15 years in Entrepreneurship. She is currently furthering her education and is a firm believer that “It takes a Village”. In which through her non-profit she will continue to change lives one Woman and youth at a time.
Before I got to the DeShonda that I am today, I had several hurdles along the way.

I started off working for one of the World’s largest retail chains. That was a great opportunity but I felt I was called to do more. I was blessed to work many positions within that company, yet I still wasn’t satisfied. I felt as if something was missing. In 2005 I became pregnant with my miracle baby. Fast forward, I finally felt as if my life was shifting to a positive side. However, Even during that pregnacy I went through alot of spirtual abuse while carry her as well as living with an alcoholic. After giving birth to my daughter TyShaunda Leigh-Anah in July 2006, I started my Home Daycare Business as well as she was my reason for entering the Early Childhood Field. After being blessed with her 9.5 years after my son (and being told that I could not & would not be able to birth any more children) Alond with all the other hurt that I experienced, I didn’t trust anyone taking care of my miracle baby while I worked. I felt like a new parent because a lot of what I knew had changed in child development. As I furthered my education, I made a commitment that I would be “that provider” Protecting my own and protecting other children as if they were mine as well as working with families. DJ’s Shining Stars Daycare was established.

My life was great. I had a successful business, my babies were safe. I got to teach them and other children what they needed for early childhood development. Well. if I can be transparent. I still had a trust issue that I was holding on to. While I had this great quality childcare business, I was still working that corporate job on the weekend. You know, just in case the daycare happned to not work out once my babies got older.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ll share a little of my story…If I could be transparent, it was extremely difficult for me, because the addict I lived with was someone I loved. During those years, I stopped dreaming. I stop going after my own goals. I actually felt embarrassed and ashamed to be associated with that person. I felt as if I had let my children down by having them in an environment where they saw a family member drinking alcohol like it was water. I even tried to cure the addiction. Fast forward, as years passed, I built up enough courage to live out one of my passions. It worked for a while, but then I was right back to the state of embarrassment. I closed my business and went back to corporate. I was blessed with several positions. However, those positions were not enough. I dreaded going to work every day, yet I was afraid to live out my passion due to the alcoholic that I loved dearly. I went through what seemed like a hamster wheel for years if not decades. It got so bad, that it felt like all the things that brought me joy and happiness had vanished. Sometimes I pretend that things are fine, Everything good. You know how we mask it “I’m good”.
In 2019 I was at the lowest that I ever felt in my life.I felt so depressed and questioning what my purpose was, if it even mattered, facing my home being foreclosed, doing a chapter 13 bankruptcy to save it, and living check to check, still while now raising 4 minor children.Something miraculous happened. I began to activate my gifts as a way to heal. Through working out forgiveness and knowing who I really was, I realized that that was not my addiction. I could no longer live behind a door hiding from the gifts that God gave me. I stepped out and re-started my business. It is now a profitable 6-figure business that I am proud of. That realization of who I am, has truly blessed my life.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to work through limiting beliefs. I had to break away from the feelings of not being enough. I had to unlearn the generational ties of working hard for other people. I had to stop looking for others to validate my greatness.

Through personal development and life coaching, I now know that everything I need is already in me. From my own experience, I turned my passion into a six-figure business working from home. It gives me the time freedom to spend with my own kids. To take weekend getaways, vacation days, and holidays without the worry of if I can afford it, do I need to ask permission to be off. It feels so good!

Not only do I provide care for for kids. I provide them with quality Care. Early quality interactions which directly affect their quality of life and development, which in turn will affect the local level of community ,the state level the ,national level as well as the global level. I am able to teach them healthy eating habits from a young age. It required me to see myself as more than the woman that loves kids. I have to admit, it was some challenges in getting uncomfortable with my everyday norms. But I had to because doing the previous things didn’t bring me joy. As I honed in on my gifts and really understood what my purpose is, I became great at what I do and now blessed to help others identify their gifts. I had to show up as the woman that God called me to be. It feels amazing.My days are fun, I’m blessed with the ability to make a direct impact on the little people development. As I stated, my skills, talents, and passion is the love for children, seeing them grow and develop into their own person.

I now specialize in helping High-Achieving Women ditch their 9-5 and Launch a Profitable Business leveraging their gifts! I’ve been featured on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Pandora, The Wealthy Woman Podcast, CBSNews, NBC, ABC and so many more.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.deshondajennings.com
• Instagram: deshonda_j
• Facebook: deshonda.jennings

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