Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa Crichlow Helly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lisa, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission the drives your brand?

Every mission we do comes from my personal experiences. My business is a 501c3 nonprofit called “H.O.P.E. for the Beautiful Minds.” Our Mission Outreach Program is called “Born to Conquer”. This program is a huge step forward because it what ails full community outreach. We understand that not everyone going through difficult times is necessarily suffering from a mental illness. With the experience of the pandemic, we wanted to do our part and step up and serve on a larger scale.

Our current missions deal with the homeless community, both children and adults. We are working with Broward County schools and the Heart Program to service homeless and in-transition students with anything they may need. It may be school supplies, headphones, uniforms, hygiene items or even just gift items and treats!

With the adult community, we are donating goodie bags with a special message inside for the Easter Holiday season. Our traditional “blessing bags” normally have hygiene items, along with bibles/devotionals, bags, ponchos, etc. But this time, we wanted to add another special touch with the candy in it. Sometimes, people can forget that homeless people are just that… people! And the joy on their faces when they receive something like a special treat is truly a blessing.

We are also working with the Department of Corrections in Broward County to help individuals complete their community service hour requirements. We are fortunate to provide an environment where people can work towards their second chance in life in a way that is uplifting and judgement free.

Our motto has always been “planting seeds of hope, one mission at a time.” My personal faith is the moving force behind everything I do, and so giving God the glory is always priority.

Lisa , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

H.O.P.E. for the Beautiful Minds /Born to Conquer started in October of 2015 as a sort of blog. I discovered a gift for writing and started sharing my experiences with human trafficking, sexual abuse as a child, domestic violence, serious medical challenges and so much more. It was initially a way for me to heal, but I started receiving an overwhelming amount of (mostly) positive feedback. Others started sharing their story with me.

The outreach portion started with my three children. We would gather items and give them to the homeless people we would see whenever we stopped at a red light. I remembered wanting a hand up when I was in those low places, and so I started becoming the person and the help I wish I had in those dark times.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resiliency has been the name of the game my entire life. I started this business in 2015 with no experience and no mentor and slowly kept taking baby steps forward until it blossomed into this wonderful organization. But it wasn’t easy.

I had many major medical issues, from two mini strokes, cancer and heart issues, to most recently, a car accident as a pedestrian that left me in a wheelchair for a few months and I’m STILL recovering from. I’m also a single mom to three young boys and a junior in school finishing up my second degree.

At one point, I questioned how I was “worthy” of helping others, when I kept finding myself in a position of constantly needing serious help. I debated letting the whole thing dissolve and taking the loss.

But what helped me was focusing on what I COULD do, instead of what I couldn’t. When I couldn’t walk, I would write. When I couldn’t use my arms, I would speak. When I couldn’t speak, I would honestly cry, pray, rest and regroup. Then, I would get myself back up and try again.

When the funds were not available for missions, I would scale back on the number, but I would still execute. And if scaling back was not possible, then I would focus on the aspects that didn’t require funds, such as expanding my knowledge base, networking and virtual tasks!

Remember, there is not really a “problem” if there is a solution, even if the solution is not physically in your hands yet. Keep moving. Because becoming stagnant is where things can get dangerous.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Networking and surprisingly, word of mouth. I used to be pretty shy about talking about my brand, so networking events were difficult for me. The hardest part was always the follow up for me. I’m still learning to do a better job. So what worked for me was taking it one less at a time. Quality over quantity for sure. I take my time and nurture those connections. It works for me, as there is now a mutual sense of professional trust and even loyalty.

Let your work speak for itself. Remember that customer service goes such a long way. Most people will remember how a person made them feel over anything else.

Another tip that helped me was also diversifying my methods. Things change all the time, so maybe in one season a certain marketing strategy may be more effective than another.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.borntoconquer.org
• Instagram: @borntoconquerorg @hopeforthebeautifulminds
• Facebook: @hopeforthebeautifulminds
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCLCmV5OUOnl21qxnOCvKYhA

Image Credits
@valvisuals @the.cosmochic