We recently connected with Misty Lakes and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Misty, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

For over a decade, I was a stay-at-home mom who owned a business in direct sales. I was successful in the company while loving being flexible to be with my children as they grew. I enjoyed the seasons of all the firsts and on to volunteering at school functions. What I didn’t love was lying down at night with guilt. I volunteered my time in many different places of service because I love to help people. The problem was I wasn’t my best for the most important people in my life. I was not giving 100% to anything, and I was exhausted. I could not stop thinking about my to-do list when I was with my family. When I was doing my to-do list, I could not stop thinking about spending more time with my family. God sent the right person to me at my breaking point. She asked questions and created a visual for me. It was a moment that I realized I was not spending my time with what I valued most in life. I made changes by starting to say no to things. I became more intentional with my time. I went to bed guilt-free. I knew I was not the only woman trying to figure out the work-life balance. From this, I started Misty Lakes Coaching, LLC. I guide women who are business owners to find more peace in life and work. It almost never aligns when I ask my clients what they value and how they spend their time. Social media, time wasters, and work are not their number one, two, or three values. However, it is how most of our time is spent. Peace is possible when we live in values first. This is my passion and why I do what I do. To see my clients transition to a life of peace is priceless.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was raised in a rural area with one stop light in the entire county. Relationships were important, and helping those around you was part of life. I have not left this community, and those values have not left me.

I have had an entrepreneurial spirit since I was a teen. I was a work-from-home mom in direct sales while I raised my children. In 2018, I began my coaching company to help women business owners find peace in balancing work and life. My passion is to help women use their God-given gifts to create a life and business they love. I offer one-on-one coaching for Misty Members. Group communication coaching is provided to small and large companies to help them have more peace in the workplace by learning about personalities and gifts. I hold events for a place for women to learn and grow together. I am a keynote speaker for company events. I am excited to begin offering courses this year. I have had 22 years of experience in the entrepreneur world. I am most proud of my recent decision to go to college to better myself and gain more knowledge to share with others. On May 4, 2024, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in communications, with an emphasis on strategic marketing.

I am an authentic, trustworthy, and experienced guide leading women to a spiritually grounded, empowered, and peaceful life and business.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

For over ten years, I had been a leader in a direct sales company. I earned cars, trips, jewelry, and recognition and gained the best of friends. When the decision was made that this was no longer what I would be doing, I no longer knew who I was. I wasn’t sure if others would know who I was. It was a tough season of life and transition. I had started my coaching company a few years before but had only planned on that being a side hustle. During this time, I learned that my identity is not in what I do but in who I am. I realized what I call Godfidence. For years, I sought confidence; confidence will teach you that you can do anything you set your mind to. When you put your identity in what you are doing and fail, it shakes you. However, you are unshakeable when you have Godfidence and put your identity in who you were created to be.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I realized that everywhere I went, I was advising women. Sometimes, it was life advice, and other times, it was business advice. I created a Facebook group and started influencing the women in my circle. As it grew, I realized that women needed to be encouraged and someone who would listen to them. Being brave, I posted a group post to offer a free coaching session. (I had not started my company yet) My friend Katie won the session. We had such a great session at the coffee shop that she asked me how much I would charge because she wanted to meet with me monthly. I calmly said that I would get back to her. Inside, I was like, oh my gosh, did that really happen? Knowing that I should do things in business the right way, I went to a friend, Kandi, to help me set up my LLC so I could start charging. I shared my vision with her. I told her about what happened with Katie. I did not have the money to pay that day, but I knew how to make it quick. The more I shared with her, the more she said I had never heard anything like this, and I would like you to coach me. She bartered her services for mine, and I got started right away. This is how I started when no one else understood why I would do such a business. When I didn’t have the support of those I wish I had. It did not matter. God sent me a Katie and a Kandi, and that was all the assurance I needed. From there, I have grown over the past six years and am on my way to my best year.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mistylakes.biz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mistylakesMMM
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/misty-lakes/