We recently connected with Dr. Tongie and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Tongie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

For the past 25 years, I have owned and operated Me and My Nanna, LLC , a licensed home care agency. We have three offices in the Atlanta Metro Area with another two slated for opening later this year in Los Angeles, CA, as well as, two additional ones for Ga this year. Me and My Nanna, LLC, is a private homecare agency. We provide Skilled Nursing Services, Certified Nursing Assistants and Companion Sitters in the homes of adults, seniors and children. We also proudly serve U. S. Veterans and their families. These services are ordered by a Client’s/Patient’s Primary Care Physician, a Georgia Waiver Program Case Manager working in conjunction with a certified medical team. We accept most private pay insurances and of course-private pay.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

When people ask “who are you?”. I’m always trying to compartmentalize just who I am. Do I say, “Hi, I am a medical doctor, but I do not practice medicine.”? Or do I say, “Well, I am a 29 year survivor of malignant papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, ( when I was 22 years old with 3 children and a marriage that was failing.”)? Or perhaps I can say, “I’m a survivor of rape and molestation.”. Then I quickly think, I’ll just say, “I’m a syndicated podcast host, a weekly radio host on KISSFM 1-5.9 and a t.v. host on Hot 7 T. V.-Ch. 117 in the amazingly beautiful country of Saint Lucia located in Paradise (Caribbeans)”. But somehow I think that my being a published author, motivational/inspirational speaker, CEO of several companies in media, book publishing, and consulting/coaching would be too much for anyone to believe. Hahahahahahahhahahaha…

My getting into serving others with my Gifts/Talents/Skillsets is something that was an unexpected, but deliberate act. See, with everything that I am involved in, it took me several missteps in business…in my personal life…in my way of thinking and processing my thoughts, to finally “let go” of how I believed things should be in my life, and begin allowing an Abundant Lifestyle to live within me. I was experiencing periods of utter destruction and mental perplexities before I allowed Life’s Lessons to teach me just how much I was Not in Control.

Having been diagnosed with cancer was one of the scariest times of my life, I am thoroughly convinced that within utter chaos, your ‘Real Brand’ will be discovered, if you’re willing to be still long enough to see what you’ve never seen before. But here’s the unfortunate truth about this, millions of people will not allow themselves the “Yes” needed to move Brilliantly. Nor to experience everything they’ve ever desired for themselves-their families-their communities.

My first business was launched when I was 25 years old. I was married to my first husband (RIP), a Mother of three and I had just beaten thyroid cancer-the bad kind. It has always been in every dream I could ever remember to have my own business. It was just something about unlocking the front door to my offices…flicking on the lights…opening the blinds…and listening to the whirling of a used copying machine, a hand me down desktop computer and a used office phone that rings constantly-that made me work 15-17 hour days six days per week. Being an Afro-American Woman owning and operating a nanny service was the talk of my small hometown in MS. I had television and radio commercials running a minimum of 10-15x per day which was truly unheard of at that time. I wanted to create the illusion of being bigger than I actually was. And guess what???? It worked.

For the past 25 years, I have owned and operated Me and My Nanna, LLC , a licensed home care agency. We have three offices in the Atlanta Metro Area with another two slated for opening later this year in Los Angeles, CA, as well as, two additional ones for Ga this year. Me and My Nanna, LLC, is private homecare agency. We provide Skilled Nursing Services, Certified Nursing Assistants and Companion Sitters in the homes of adults, seniors and children. We also proudly serve U. S. Veterans and their families. These services are ordered by a Client’s/Patient’s Primary Care Physician, a Georgia Waiver Program Case Manager working in conjunction with a certified medical team. We accept most private pay insurances and of course-private pay.

A few years ago-I made a “Leap” of faith and discovered a deeper degree to my Creative Purpose. During the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, I relaunched my interactive radio show, the Dr. Tongie Show. on the beautiful island of Saint Lucia. This amazing country is located in the Caribbeans. Initially the show was launched in Los Angeles, California, on L A Talk Radio. It was created to motivate-encourage and inspire through Kingdom Principles (Biblical) anyone who desires a deeper fulfillment in life. Because our audience is actively engaged through WhatsApp, in studio calls and a personal number established just for Engagers; I’ve witnessed first-hand just how effective the Affect of Change the island is experiencing. And for that-I’m not only Grateful, but I’m encouraged to do more.

What sets my Brand apart from any other Inspiration and Motivational Transformation Coach or Entrepreneur? It would have to be my rediscovery of the Kingdom Principled Mandate and my ability to actively live by these Disciplines. With this knowledge and understanding, I’m able to assist others in their own pursuits for living out loud and in purpose. And the other characteristic that sets my Brand apart is me finally, accepting and understanding that I am a Child of God. And this affords me the ability to Go-Do-Be and assist others. Knowing these Truths allowed me to answer Yes to my Now-forgive me from my Past-and with sheer abandonment expect an amazing Future.

I am most proud when I have been given an opportunity to work with a Client one on one. I especially enjoy those who may not have quite discovered their “why”. It’s always so thrilling to see their tranformation from the work they do to become who they were created and envisioned themselves to be.

As I continue living a Life that is demonstrated by Grace, my desires are for those who need to experience change in their lives to first be the change they desire to see. And secondly, to be perfectly fine with changing their perspectives when the need arises (and they will).

Operating in Faith is my discipline…

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

The funding for my first business, Me and My Nanna, LLC, happened when I was turned down from a bank down the street from my then job. I was a case manager for a growing law firm in Mississippi. The desire to open my business was ever present. I knew I wanted to launch a business, but there were a couple of factors that I had to deal with first. One, I had no clue as to the “how” to do this. And the second factor, I literally had no money.

At that time, my plate was pretty full. I was working three jobs (seriously). I had three children all under the age of 10 years old, a shaky marriage on the verge of dissolution, but the gnawing feeling was beyond anything I had ever experienced. I had to open this business and hearing “no” only fueled my desire even the more.

I remember the day I received the funds to open the doors of my business. It started as any typical day. I arrived to work on time and was about to start my day when the unbelievable occurred. Imagine if you will, I get to my desk and my co-worker was waiting for me. Because of the proximity of our desks, she could easily hear every phone call I made attempting to procure funding, where to purchase desks, computers, filing cabinets, etc. I did this without having any money. Hahahahaha…I guess you could say I was purely operating by Faith. I just knew if I did my part in the planning stage, God would provide everything needed to launch this business. I wouldn’t recommend anyone use this tactic, but because I operate by Faith and truly believe that I was born to answer problems-I had full confidence that everything would turn out just the way it should.

I had this co-worker named Deandra. I will never forget her. After hearing that the bank had turned me down for the loan, she did the unimaginable. She asked me “Tongie, is this really what you want to do?”. And of course, me with so much enthusiasm answered, “more than I’ve ever wanted to do anything in life”. She laughed and said, “I’ll help you”. Those words sounded like a musical production to my soul and I was on stage as the Main Attraction. The tears flowed and I couldn’t stop them. For the first time in my life, someone heard me, saw me and validated my value. Then my Friend said something that changed my life for the absolute best. Her declaration to me was simple-“Tongie, please do what you said you’d do-open your business, be fair to people and pass forward what I’m doing for you-to someone else”. This Principle is practiced in my life daily and the conviction is what keeps my entrepreneurial spirit in check. And just like that, she went into her purse and gave me $5,000.00. And I opened my business within two weeks. (****I had to work through my 2 week notice).

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Having resilience as an entrepreneur is a characteristic that may not be seen initially, but should you continue on the entrepreneurial journey, you will no doubt be tested in your “faith” (or lack thereof), in your “why”, and “if you have what it takes to go the distance when it appears that you are shipwrecked”. I can remember as if it was yesterday, my business was thriving. We had patient referrals from physicians I had trained with at the various hospitals in the Atlanta Metro Areas and several insurance companies were being onboarded. But what we failed to incorporate were the licensures needed from the State level to provide in-home skilled and non-skilled services to Medicare patients. And please believe we discovered this the hard way. While servicing approximately 30 -35 patients with skilled nursing services, we began the billing process. We soon were faced with rejection letter after rejection letter from Medicare. Why, you ask…WE DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY (LICENSURE) TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE COMPENSATED FOR WORK DONE.

This news was debilitating for my small agency. After all, I had employed some of the best nurses, certified nursing assistants and companion sitters in the area. How could I possibly tell those 50 caregivers that I would not be able to meet my payroll for them? Talk about sleepless nights…heart palpitations that mimicked a heart attack and the overall stress caused by this event. Nevertheless, I used what I had in my hands. I had the ability to pray…the understanding to know that prayer is indeed an action word that would require my willingness to persevere and seek help.

After several weeks of some of the darkest days of my agency’s existence and 17 Civil Complaints filed by caregivers who needed to be paid, and rightfully so, I was finally able to procure a loan from a dear dear Friend of mine. Talk about having a Friend who not only had the funds to help me, but had the desire as well. And we are still Friends to this very day.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mynanna.com and www.drtongieshow.com
• Instagram: @mynanna and @drtongieshow
• Facebook: @mynanna and @drtongieshow
• Linkedin: Dr. Tongie Scott
• Twitter: @drtongieshow
• Youtube: @drtongieshow
• Other: Link’d In – Dr. Tongie Scott

Image Credits
Photos provided by Kendric Williams and C. Morgan Scott (my stylist)