We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeremiah BOWTIE Woods a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jeremiah BOWTIE, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

When I first started my own practice, I jumped in headfirst with passion… and not nearly enough planning. My biggest mistake? Quitting my job too fast. I didn’t realize that your current paycheck can actually act like your first investor. It gives you space to build without stressing over survival.

Because I didn’t have that cushion, I had to master storytelling. I became really good at clearly explaining what I was building, why it mattered, and what support could make possible. That skill ended up being one of the greatest gifts. When you can communicate your vision well, it opens doors money can’t.

If I could go back, I’d stabilize my finances before launching—but I wouldn’t trade the journey. It shaped my voice, my resilience, and my ability to connect with people.

My advice for anyone starting out:
Keep your job long enough to fund your dream. Build your credit. And learn to tell your story so well that people can’t help but believe in it with you. Passion is powerful, but preparation makes the dream sustainable.

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.

Hey folks, my name is Jeremiah BOWTIE Woods, Executive Director and Founder of The Hands Off Foundation Inc. I’m a certified Life Coach, a certified Sexual Assault Advocate, an emcee, entertainer, husband, father, and a community man at heart.

People love to say I’ve been talking my whole life… so I figured I might as well make a career out of it and use my voice for something worthwhile.

My journey into this work wasn’t planned; it was purpose. I wasn’t seeking out the nonprofit world, the mental health space, or advocacy. I was simply living my life until one moment shifted everything. I was selected for a jury in a case involving young survivors of sexual violence, and that experience changed me. It shook something loose in my spirit. I walked out of that courtroom knowing that if I didn’t step up and “fill the gap,” as my grandfather always said, then I wouldn’t be honoring what I was put here to do.

That moment became the catalyst for everything I do today.

Through The Hands Off Foundation, we serve women, children, and families affected by sexual violence. Our work is rooted in healing, empowerment, and community. One of our signature innovations is The Teal Mobile, the world’s first and only sixteen-minute immersive mobile wellness experience designed to bring mental wellness directly to communities, workplaces, schools, and events. We meet people where they are, physically and emotionally.

In addition to that, I host events, speak on consent and trauma recovery, and design programs that make healing accessible, affordable, and culturally relevant. What sets us apart is simple. We don’t just talk about healing. We create experiences that help people feel it. It’s our belief, and our reality, that you deserve to live a life where you do more than survive. You deserve to thrive.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I’m a big believer in having a great coach. Not because everyone “needs” one, but because the right coach can help you navigate the chaos and build with clarity. For me, that person was Connie S. Falls — and yes, the S is for “systems.” Connie helped me structure The Hands Off Foundation in the early days, from standard operating procedures to internal documentation to understanding how a real organization should run. Her guidance was loving, direct, and exactly what I needed to operate at the level I’m at today.

There’s also a book that impacted me in a big way, even though the title catches people off guard: “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.” Excuse the language, but the message is powerful. It teaches you how to silence negative self-talk, block out outside noise, and stop caring so much about opinions that don’t matter. When you’re building something no one has ever seen before, you have to be resilient enough to keep going even when the journey gets lonely, loud, or heavy. That book helped me build that mental fortitude.

And beyond that, I’m a huge history buff. I’ve spent years studying the writings and speeches of some of the greatest orators and leaders of our time — people who could inspire movements, shift culture, and rally entire communities behind a purpose. Their ability to move hearts and minds has shaped how I lead, how I speak, and how I show up for Teal Nation.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn is that everyone is not going to be happy or supportive of the work you’re doing, no matter how impactful, necessary, or life-changing it is. When you’re building something rooted in healing, purpose, and community, you assume people will celebrate it. You assume the intention speaks for itself. But that’s not always the case.

Over time, I realized something important. We talk a lot about wanting peace, joy, and transformation, but you can’t appreciate any of those things without experiencing their opposites. Peace means more after you’ve survived chaos. Joy feels deeper when you’ve known sadness. Silence is sweeter when you’ve lived through noise.

The same is true with people. For every person who wants a better tomorrow, there are others who are perfectly content with the comfort and familiarity of today — even if “today” isn’t healthy or fair. Some people are more excited about the way things used to be than the way things could be. And that’s not my burden to carry.

Unlearning the need for universal approval has been freeing. It taught me that my mission isn’t for everyone, but it is for the people who are ready to heal, ready to grow, and ready to imagine something better.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.handsofffoundation.org
• Instagram: @ The Hands Off Foundation Inc
• Facebook: The Hands Off Foundation Inc
• Linkedin: The Hands Off Foundation Inc