We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mindi Lyons a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Mindi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

There is a quote that says “Sharing your story can be the key that unlocks someone else’s prison.”

My story is filled with trauma and drama, betrayal of unimaginable proportions, pain beyond comprehension, and loss. So. Much. Loss.

I used to feel intense shame about my past. I felt like if people knew all of the things I had been through or was currently going through, they would judge me. Criticize me. I’d feel even more isolated than I already did.

And some of that did happen as I began to be more open about my story.

But.

One day something happened that changed my whole paradigm.

When I became a single parent for the first time at the age of 21 (my daughter was 2), I had decided to begin sharing my story through singing. I performed concerts all over the U.S. on small stages, sharing snippets of my story in between songs.

After my concerts, I would visit with the attendees at my table where I would sign their CDs.

One lady came up to me and said something like this.

“I can’t thank you enough for sharing your story. I’m going through something similar, but I’m so embarrassed. Nobody knows. I felt so alone, but hearing your story made me feel like I’m not alone…someone else understands what I’m going through.”

That single experience shifted EVERYTHING for me.

I became OBSESSED with sharing my story, regardless of any criticisms or judgements that came my way because if that meant ONE person could feel less alone by hearing what I had to say, it was worth it to me.

My story developed exponentially over those next years up to the present, and BECAUSE of everything I’ve been through, I now have an assortment of “tools” in my toolbelt that help me relate to and help others who are going through similar things.

I have an insatiable desire to inspire, uplift and encourage people, to be the example of how pain can be turned into PURPOSE and how you can go from victim to VICTORIOUS!

This is my soul’s calling. To help women truly see their value so that they can embody the highest version of themselves and step into all of the beauty that is here for them to experience in life.

Mindi, 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?

When my eldest daughter was in high school, I volunteered at the concession stand during her basketball games.

One day, a student came to the counter to purchase something and greeted me with “Hey, Ms. Phoenix!”

“Ms Phoenix?” I responded. “Why Ms. Phoenix?”

“Because you rose above the ashes,” he replied.

Just a few short months prior to this interaction, I had become a single parent of my 3 children overnight. It was a very traumatic ordeal for many reasons. I won’t go into that here, but I share this because I had developed an identity and reputation over time of being “The Phoenix,” which is who I go by now only with different spelling.

My life experiences combined with my empathetic personality resulted in a strong passion for helping people become the best version of themselves, particularly women.

I have first-hand experience with the trauma that can stem from having a low self worth, and the toxic relationships that having empathy and low self esteem can attract.

I have realized the paramount importance of women understanding their value, of learning how to share their voice and speak their truth.

I have seen the transformative power of sharing your story…of how it creates connection and helps people feel less alone in their particular flavor of challenges that life inevitably brings.

My intention and my calling is to share my message of hope to the masses, and to help free as many women as possible from their limiting beliefs and behaviors so that they can step into the fullness of who they are and experience a life full of beauty and bliss.

I’m also a creative entrepreneur and one “arm” of what I do is my Branding Agency where we help extract the stories and essence of our clients, their mission, purpose, values and stories, and curate them into powerful imagery that inspires, ignites and transforms.

My open-heartedness, transparency, vulnerability, passion, humor and rawness are qualities I’ve become known for.

My work is to inspire and raise the collective of humanity through the sharing of my story and the stories of many others who have “risen above the ashes” of defeat.

I recall there being a question here like “What are you most proud of?” or something along those lines. This paragraph doesn’t feel like it fits in with the flow of the conversation before it.

I’m most proud of the intentional decision I made a thousand bazillion times to refuse to be defined by my past, my circumstances or what others think of me. I have managed to go from being a completely insecure, financially destitute single mom of 3, without even our own home for awhile, selling plasma to get groceries and gifts for Christmas, to being a financially independent successful entrepreneur who has raised and continues to raise incredible kids whilst also inspiring others to transform their lives.

I have a podcast launching soon, my first book will be coming out in a few months, and many other exciting things happening behind the scenes that will be rolling out! “The FENYX” is on her way to becoming a household name, and I adore welcoming each woman into my world who sees herself in what I’ve written.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In the autumn of 2021, I found myself at a crossroads, a moment that would forever shape the course of my life. Several years earlier, I had become a solo parent overnight, and the weight of that responsibility hung heavy on my shoulders. At the time, I was following the well-trodden path of the corporate world, bringing in steady paychecks and enjoying the comforting predictability of a regular income.

Yet, deep within me, there was a fire, an unrelenting burning desire that couldn’t be ignored. It was the yearning to take the leap into entrepreneurship, to create something that was uniquely my own, and to be there for my children who had expressed a strong wish to be homeschooled. The idea of being able to work from home and have the flexibility to be with my kids every day tugged at my heartstrings, but it also came with its own set of fears and uncertainties.

Leaving behind the so-called security of the corporate world was no small feat. The idea of stepping into the unknown was daunting, but it was that same mixture of fear and unwavering belief that fueled my journey. In November of 2021, I took that defining step, diving headfirst into full-time entrepreneurship.

The path wasn’t always smooth, and the entrepreneurial journey proved to be a test of resilience and determination. It’s a road that’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s one I embraced with open arms.

Today, I find myself in a place where I have the incredible privilege of being with my children every day. I can work from virtually anywhere, and I have the autonomy to set my own schedule. But what’s even more exhilarating is the opportunity to bring hope and inspiration to others.

In my journey, I’ve discovered that while entrepreneurship demands courage and unwavering dedication, it also opens doors to unparalleled freedom and fulfillment. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have embarked on this path, a path that was born out of love, necessity, and the unshakable belief that I could not only provide for my family but also thrive in doing so.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

We are often told that we need to “niche down”…and speak to a specific “avatar.” That is something that never felt aligned to me or what I’m here to do. I’ve always been unconventional and a bit of a rebel…and my personal view for my own self is this:

When you are authentic to yourself….to your vision….to your path…to your purpose…speaking your truth…following your own intuition, spiritual and personal guidance….your message will find the people meant to hear it and the people meant to be in your world and work with you will find you.

In my case, I’m not here to play small. I’m here to impact billions. “The FENYX” on global scale, baby!

My message has no specific age or race or demographic. It is for whomever needs to hear it.

I’ve also learned the importance of honing your inner authority. I used to be very swayed or thrown off by the opinions of others. I was always seeking answers and guidance and taking all of the courses and buying all the books in order to find answers to my problems or to figure out my next steps.

I’m not saying those things are a negative. But when you can get strong in your own inner authority, you just know…you can feel when something is right or aligned to you. And even if 99% of people disagree with you…it’s okay because you aren’t them and they aren’t you. You don’t need their approval. Your only need is to be authentic to yourself and to answer your soul’s purpose and calling. Even in the face of rejection, setbacks, and criticism. Even when you know what you are meant to do goes against all human logic.

My entire path has been extraordinarily out of the ordinary, and it used to bother me to feel so different…to feel like I never fit in.

Now I realize I was never MEANT to fit in because I am literally here to example to people that there is another way…you are LIMITLESS. Miracles can become an ordinary part of life when you walk this path.

Stay true to you, your vision and your mission. Keep the blinders on and shut out all of the chatter from people who have limited mindsets and won’t understand anyway. The legends and people we read in our history books were ordinary people who chose to go against the grain.

It’s our time to rise as legends…to write history with our stories of bravery and resilience.

Contact Info:

• Website: thefenyxfactor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.fenyx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAMTHEFENYX
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFENYXFactor