We were lucky to catch up with Imani Evans recently and have shared our conversation below.
Imani, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
We all have a “WHY” for what we do. I have many, but the one that anchors me to an unwavering passion for moving people beyond the pain started in my youth.
After being rolled through the emergency room for my second suicide attempt, at only age 14, I realized that I didn’t really want to die…I just didn’t want to live in the emotional pain anymore. I counted ceiling tiles as they rushed me through the hospital emergency room. I counted tiles to remind my soul that I was still alive. I…2…3…I am still here. 4…5…6…I am still here. 7…8…If I am still here by 10 then I want to live!
I survived that day and much more trauma to follow. However–I survived. Now, I am thriving.
I started Empowered Squared, Inc. to serve as a vehicle for personal development and life enrichment for those just like me….survivors who want to thrive. I developed a signature coaching system that helps others find the passion for life that makes them feel whole, The Barrier Breaker System ™.
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?
The long and short of my brand’s purpose is helping others achieve success through self-mastery.
I am a trauma recovery and transformation expert. I have spent the bulk of my education and experience supporting people in their journey from surviving to thriving. It is something I’ve had to do for myself, so I know it’s possible for anyone else.
As a kid who experienced a great deal of pain and struggle. I had to decide that my trauma was not going to define me. I had to learn to release my fighter demeanor and embrace my warrior spirit. The fighter only knows battle, but the warrior wins with strategy–trying never to be goaded into gratuitous battle. This distinction, for me, made the difference between learning to thrive instead of simply surviving.
I founded Empowered Squared, in 2018, with 4 core principles of self-mastery:
1.. Courageous self-inventory
2. Radical self-acceptance
3. Unwavering self-compassion
4. Consistent action toward the authentic self.
Empowered Squared is a personal development company that teaches clients to live the life they truly crave, using authenticity, increased self-awareness and trauma recovery as the gateway to sustainable change.
We offer several live virtual classes, workshops and courses. Our signature program is The Breakthrough Experience-TBE (TM). TBE is a 12-week, self-mastery program for serious-minded manifesters seeking a breakthrough for change. Too often people are stuck in a stagnant place and none of the strategies, despite their quality, seem to work.
Self-mastery is the key to getting out of your own way and getting unstuck.
What is at the core of such a breakthrough? Great question! The answer is simple…transforming core beliefs. What shows up in your life is what you believe, not what you want.
It is imperative to identify and transform the core beliefs that are keeping you stuck. These beliefs are not the ones hovering on the surface of your conscious mind. They are the ones hiding in the recesses of your subconscious mind.
Here’s the thing…you don’t need another strategy. You need a massive BREAKTHROUGH!
In addition to our signature program, we offer target specific courses. One of our upcoming programs is Toxic Relationship Recovery, which an 8-week course starting in July. It is designed for women who are recovering from a relationship with a narcissist, sociopath, or other antagonistic types. The most pernicious part of this type of abuse is the insidious gaslighting, which can have long term effects on one’s self-esteem. This course is a way out of this dynamic for good.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
On February 14, 2019 (yes, Valentines Day), I was returning home with my family after having to put our beloved fur-baby to sleep and I got the most shocking, unexpected news about my business. Someone called me to ask if I was in the office, but never said exactly why she was asking. Instead, she paused and said, “let me call you back”. My instincts led me to turn on the television to the news. And there it was…A 5-alarm fire in my office complex. Yep, it was my building. The flames were as high as the trees and it was clear that no office was going to be saved. Fortunately there was no loss of life, but about 10 of us lost our business. I was in utter disbelief,
The next day I went to the site to see if anything could be salvaged. I put out a call for helpers on social media and they did not disappoint. We salvaged what wasn’t decimated by fire or the water used to but out the fire. Fortunately, one closet was basically untouched but furniture, files, computers, laptop and everything else was a total loss. As with most experiences, I felt grateful and grief stricken at the same time. I was grateful that so many people donated time, resources, prayers and funds to support me during this time; But I simultaneously felt grief for the significant loss–including the loss of my sweet dog. My life was feeling like the start of a really good Country Blues song.
A reporter from Fox 5 came to interview me during the fire clean up. He asked me what I was going to do now. I took a deep breath and smiled. I said, “Well, now is the time for me to see if I believe all the things that I teach about change, transformation and manifesting a miracle out of a mess..” And that is what I did!
3 years later, my business revenue has more than tripled! I have hired an administrative coordinator and I am booked very consistently. I knew that what happened on the day of the fire was only external and it could all be replaced. The truth of the matter is that my vision and calling to empower people to overcome trauma is not contained in any four walls. It is in my heart. So it cannot be stopped. Every experience is an opportunity to grow, and/or an invitation to test your faith. I accepted both and transformed my life and my business.
How did you build your audience on social media?
My suggestion for building a social media influence is consistency. You don’t need to be perfect, nor have all the right lighting, or microphones, etc. What you need is the confidence in your intention to impact people and the humility needed to be teachable. Your audience will find you and paying attention to that relationship will help you figure out the necessary tweaks to your niche. However, make sure you are not chasing likes. Chasing likes makes you overly focused on the wrong thing. Just keep honing your craft and pushing your limits. Challenge yourself to post content every single day. There a lot of apps that your can use right from your phone to help you professionalize your content. I love using Canva and Word Swag. Download those apps and, like Nike says, Just do it!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.imanievans.com
- Instagram: imani.empowered2
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredsquared
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fearlessliving/
- Twitter: @imanipower
- Youtube: @ImaniEvans
Image Credits
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