We were lucky to catch up with Leslie M Hardy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Leslie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Consistent income. A good government job. Guaranteed salary increase, albeit it minimal. Paid time off. 401K and retirement benefits. All of those descriptors were the making of stability and a solid foundation to build and raise a family based on most people’s standards, and it was. It may not have been my ideal job but it offered some semblance of security. So when my supervisor received my letter of resignation and asked what I was going to do next regarding work opportunity, imagine her surprise when I told her I wasn’t sure. Her sense of bewilderment was immediate and that same sentiment was reflected in others’ responses as they learned of my plan, or should I say lack thereof. The fact that I was a homeowner with a mortgage and a single mom raising a young, active child surely meant I would not give up such a viable source of income without a solid, sustainable plan. Right? Not quite.
My time at the agency had been well served as I had learned a lot about employers (working to meet the goals, objectives, expectations, etc. of others), people (managing relationships, personalities, and the variables therein), and most importantly about myself (who I would choose to be). As I daydreamed of being other places with no real place in mind, being constantly distracted at work, I knew my time there was swiftly coming to an end. The transition was inevitable, not just from that job, but from work as I had mainly known it. The crossroads had me contemplating my next steps as I danced with the possibilities reverberating in my soul.
By this juncture, I had been building a small homebased business as a beauty consultant with a very well-known cosmetic company and was doing reasonably well. It was a part-time “job” I had not sought but had grown relatively quickly, having built a team and earned the use of a car the first 6 months. You could say I was ignorance on fire and I was loving the new “work” vibe. But that fire began to simmer to just a flicker though I persisted with it for a couple of more years. Still, all the while, playing melodically in the background undetectable to me, was the playlist from the first date I’d had with my destiny.
Over the course of my 20-year employment history, I had experienced homelessness, motherhood, the support of government assistance, namely section 8 housing and WIC and food stamps, the graduation from graduate school and home ownership. By the time I decided to part with my last employer, I was thirty-six years old and had had twelve job experiences. I had dated a lot of job opportunities if you will, and just like in the dating world, some of those jobs came with potential while others just felt like problems. Still, as it is in dating relationships, there is a process to know and navigate the various work opportunities we encounter so we can make informed decisions as to which to choose to pursue. And unlike the school of thought of many employees, nothing is guaranteed.
At thirty-six years old as a single mom with a middle schooler, I had come to realize that I had “dated” my “destiny work” early in my work life, and in 2002 I decided to give it another chance. I went out with it again and we’ve been together ever since. Its name is, entrepreneurship (not employer) and we met on “the book-field”.
I had ventured into the world of entrepreneurship, not knowing that’s what it was, the summer before my junior year of college. Entrepreneurship was something new to me that brought with it new people, new places, new experiences and opportunities, and an excitement I had never felt! I had embarked upon an avenue that proved to be more beneficial than anything I had experienced; mind you my resume was extremely short. It provided exposure to an opportunity where I controlled if and when I would choose to work, how long I worked, and in doing so, how much income I could earn. It was the gateway to a new way of work that had limitless possibilities!
That destiny date with entrepreneurship occurred twelve years prior to me choosing to break up with and leave my last W2 employer. Entrepreneurship became the best vehicle for me to explore deeper levels of personal growth, mindset development, skill acquisition, new relationships, new industries, unlimited financial growth, wealth creation, and so much more. I’m not a car enthusiast, but one might say entrepreneurship is like a Deus Vayanne (look that up) disguised as a Datsun (Nissan). It may not look like or have what you want in it right now, but if you jump in, learn it, and work it, it is one of the best forms of transportation to level the playing field and expedite your track to a better way of life.
The book-field was the first date that served as the introduction, training ground, and incubator for the entrepreneurial seed that cultivated my roots of character, fortitude, and faith that empowered me to venture full-time into the world of entrepreneurship, changing the trajectory of my life. I would say destiny and I reconnected 12 years after first meeting on the book-field, and our union has resulted in who and where I am today. As a business owner for over 20 years, not having received a W2 in the same, I’ve experienced some highs and lows, including starting over and near foreclosure. I am happy and grateful that all of my experiences have prepared me to now live my best life as I help others lead, love, and live better, creating the lives they desire through the power of personal choice®!
Leslie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a proud mother of an adult son who has blessed me with a beautiful daughter-in-love and an adorable new granddaughter. I am a lover of life and Jesus Christ and I am called to be a healer.
Having grown up the oldest of my parents two children, I excelled academically, while existing in a shell of insecurities during my childhood. Like most families, we had our share of wins as well as our share of “what the hecks” that initially shaped the person I would be. Having been exposed to many ills of life at an early age, I became a shy, reserved child who learned to fake the face of happiness. I knew how it felt not to feel as though you were seen, heard, fit in or were important, just for who you were versus what you did, and it was from that place that I would be moved to advocate for other vulnerable, voiceless Victors in the making. My experiences and process through life are what shaped and prepared me for where I am now; however, the impetus of my work is my desire to please God and be a source of inspiration for others.
My career path has included my service in the public and private sectors, working with children, families, adults, and couples as an advocate and avid mental health professional as well as a life coach, focused on personal development, mindset, and relationships. My work as a therapist is inherent to my belief that people want to love and be loved, feel a sense of belonging and acceptance, and fulfill a higher purpose in life. Appreciating the courage, effort, time and commitment it requires to change, I work to guide and support people through their personal journey to identify, focus and work to achieve what’s important to them in living a more fulfilled life. I think real-life experience informs any person’s work. I’ve known the challenges & rewards of single parenthood, being a full-time student while a working parent, the success and struggles of business ownership & many of the other stressors that are typical in today’s world. I’m grateful that I’ve had an array of experiences that allows me to respect and appreciate all people. I’ve also served by consulting with other business owners, organizations, government and faith-based entities within the community to help address the needs of the people they serve.
In addition to my direct care work, I’ve also provided services through other platforms and settings. An Amazon Best Seller and 4X published author, I’ve been featured on award winning internet radio stations, podcasts, and magazines as well being the founder and host of my own podcast/talk show, “Life Perspectives”, where I engage guests in practical conversations to inspire people to live purpose-filled lives. I have served as a consultant for several independent media projects to include the multiple award winner short film, “Grief”, and the Amazon featured docufilm, “The Cycle”, which are educational, artistic references of hope and healing.
Having served as a licensed psychotherapist for nearly three decades, I am passionate about helping others to grow, heal, and reveal their greatness. I work to educate, empower, and inspire others to shift and grow mindsets, create transformational change, and lead, love, and live better through the Power of Personal Choice®. My life of experiences and decades of professional training have contributed to my success as a psychotherapist, transformation coach, trainer, speaker, author, entrepreneur, and simply – a caring human being.
When not working, I enjoy time with family and friends, attending sporting events, concerts, and the arts, as well as reading, engaging stimulating conversations, and most of all – “sessions of ocean therapy” (i.e. trips to the beach) and time being “G’Miha” (grandmother)!
You can learn more about me and my offerings as well as check out the merch by visiting the website at www.LeslieMHardy.com. Feel free to reach out via email at [email protected].
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Though I love to read I don’t always have the time to source through all of the books I do have. That is one of the things I look forward to doing during my down time and trips to the beach! Still, there are several authors, books and resources that I believe have significantly impacted my mindset and life as an entrepreneur, to include:
Think and Grow Rich – Napole0n Hil
Talent is Never Enough – John Maxwell
Relentless – Tim Grover
The EMyth – Michael Gerber
The Compound Effect – Darren Hardy
The Success Principles – Jack Canfield
The 4-Hour Work week – Tim Ferriss
The Millionaire Next Door
Born to be Rich
Strength Finders
The Holy Bible
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I believe we all will learn is that people are simply people and most are genuinely doing their best to live this life the way they know how. Therein is the issue, the “how”. Most people end up doing what they have learned throughout the course of life, and unbeknownst to them, they have likely learned some things that may have served them well back when, but has since become problematic in their now. And it is that revelation that brings people to a crossroads of decisions.
In any given moment, people must acknowledge where they are and decide if they want to change (forge a different path, do something different) or remain the same. Assuming they want to change and continue to grow for the better, they must then consciously choose to engage the process of change, believing that change is possible.
The ultimate lesson is that life is simply life. You may not be responsible for all the things that have happened TO you in your life, but as a functioning, competent adult, you are now responsible FOR your life and your response to your current condition is a choice. Our current status in life is a culmination of the series of choices we either made proactively or reactively to what we experience day-to-day. Therein, the Power of Personal Choice® is the power we’ve all been given to create the life we desire and choose to live, and it starts with the mindset.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LeslieMHardy.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieMHardy/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliemhardy/
Image Credits
Tailiah Breon Justin Cappon Ken Branson Che Brown