We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Moyanda Pierre a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Moyanda, thanks for joining us today. What’s the best advice you ever gave to a client? How did they benefit / what was the result? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)
As an executive coach, I work with many entrepreneurs and executives to get them to the next level or help them with transitional periods in their lives. It is such a beautiful process to watch a client come in with slight confusion or anxiety over the next level of their lives and be able to empower them through that journey. The best part for me is always learning new things from my clients, whether that looks like a new skill that they use every day or a mantra they’ve followed that has gotten them to a point of success. After every session, I am able to take away a piece of advice or an anecdote from my clients. In my experience, the best takeaway I have received is “in everything, the only way to success is to be 80% delusional, 10% disciplined, and 10% creative”. And he exemplified this mantra to perfection. When he first started coaching sessions with me, he was brimming with enthusiasm for his luxury, but he was also burdened by doubt, uncertainty, and the sheer magnitude of the challenge ahead.
As we embarked on our coaching journey together, his journey was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. His initial confidence gave way to moments of self-doubt, but that 80% delusional part kept him pushing forward. He was convinced that his idea was revolutionary, and he was determined to make it a reality. Essentially delusion for entrepreneurs and creatives is just confidence characterized by a sense of ultimate beliefs about an external reality that only you can see. We often think of delusion as just having faulty judgment or being mentally unwell but when we think about revolutionary ideas and successful businesses, the common denominator is always a 100% belief in something that has yet to be done and everyone else thinks is crazy.
The 10% of discipline is the glue that holds everything together. Successful entrepreneurs quickly realize that building a successful business requires more than just a great idea and overzealous confidence; it needs hard work, dedication, and a structured approach, but not just professionally — in the personal sense too. In the entrepreneurial sense, discipline can look like crafting a detailed business plan, setting milestones, and establishing a rigorous work routine. Discipline has to be unwavering; you have to show up every day, put in the hours, and keep your eye on the prize.
Even with all of this, it is the final 10% – creativity – that truly sets most entrepreneurs apart. They understood that innovation is the lifeblood of their company. In a constantly evolving market, we need to adapt, pivot, and come up with creative solutions to unforeseen challenges. This 10% of creativity infuses fresh ideas into our business strategies enabling us to stay ahead of the curve.
Delusion, discipline, and creativity cannot work without one another. The key is balance. You can’t be just 100% delusional, neglecting discipline and creativity. You have to find the delicate equilibrium to propel you forward. You literally have to sculpt your success, chiseling away at doubt and uncertainty while honing in on your discipline and creativity.
Over time, you can transform yourself from an entrepreneur filled with anxiety and confusion to a confident leader. The mantra of 80% delusion, 10% discipline, and 10% creativity – became a guiding principle in my own work as an executive coach.
In the world of entrepreneurship, where challenges are constant and success is far from guaranteed, this single takeaway serves as a testament to the power of belief, hard work, and creativity. And as I continue to work with entrepreneurs and executives, I’m reminded that each client’s journey is a unique tapestry of these three essential elements, woven together in their own special way, to create a path to success.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am Moyanda Pierre an entrepreneur and philanthropist. I am the founder and lead coach at Pierre Wellness & Coaching, an agency focused on providing mental wellness and life coaching services to entrepreneurs, executives, and creatives striving for success. My passion has always been to help others which has led me to pursue a career in psychology, starting a nonprofit for marginalized communities, and hosting various community service events throughout the year. In college, I began my entrepreneurial journey by providing business solutions to marginalized business owners, but I have always had a passion for psychology and mental wealth. I watched as my immigrant mother tried to grasp the American dream by creating her own businesses from the ground up, raising four children on her own, and working a 9-5. Her journey highlighted just how hard it is for the average person to have the American dream but it is not impossible with the right tools, information, and individuals available to ask for help. As a first-generation Haitian-American and middle child, I have always been characterized as a charismatic, innovative trail blazer. Through creating Pierre Wellness & Coaching I was able to combine my two passions with a vision of providing other overlooked services to creatives, leaders, and entrepreneurs who look like me. I have been studying to earn my master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and eventually introduce myself as a licensed therapist. I have a certificate in professional life coaching with a focus on executive coaching.
At Pierre Wellness & Coaching we provide our clients with the ability to fully visualize the next stage of their lives through interactive sessions, goal planning, accountability check-ins, and a database of relevant tools and resources. In the near future, we will also be providing our clients with one-on-one and group counseling sessions to contribute to their overall wellness. We understand that entrepreneurial mental health is often overlooked and rarely talked about in the sense of all of the moving parts that contribute to success but can diminish mental wellness.
I am proud to be able to offer these services to a generation of individuals who are trailblazers and yearning to accomplish more than previous generations. I am fully invested and passionate in my work which allows me to connect with my clients on a level that encourages them to reach for great things. My passion and excitement for shedding light on mental health topics related to entrepreneurship and executive life truly keep me motivated in my line of work. My philanthropic endeavors have highlighted how much I believe in holistic community solutions to mental health especially as it pertains to a lack of resources and scarcity trauma. My professional and academic journey will continue to focus on improving old ways and introducing news to include everyone in the conversation about mental health.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy thus far has been simply being authentic and empathetic. Human beings respond well to stimuli that are relatable and inviting. Often, thought leaders and wellness professionals get caught up in being able to prove their competence or credibility and over-explain things or use jargon that does not connect with their clientele. Even with a quick analysis of the most successful business person’s growth practices, you’ll find the thing that stands out most is an effort to connect with clients and a genuine passion for whatever they’re doing. Everyone’s ultimate goal is building clientele for financial success but fully acknowledging and understanding that the money is secondary and will always come if you are able to put your all into connecting with clientele.
Have you ever had to pivot?
When I initially began my entrepreneurial journey, I provided academic services to collegiate student-athletes and individuals who were juggling multiple hats and trying to earn a degree. I had no business plan, business model, or even website. My marketing was simply word of mouth and satisfactory customer service. I was making enough income to take care of the things that most college students want like new sneakers and a nice dinner every once in a while. I realized in my last year of college that I had an actual business that I needed to take seriously and stop settling for the bare minimum. I changed the way I thought about myself, my abilities, and my business. I created a business plan that required things like cost analysis, a marketing plan, and a service line. I moved away from just fulfilling the needs of student-athletes and busy students to recognizing that my skill was writing and researching. I studied the art of business on my own and compared a number of successful and mediocre businesses. Essentially, I moved away from fulfilling a need at the bare minimum to establishing a successful business based on a passion that highlights pain points for many.
Contact Info:
- Website: pierrewellnesscoaching.square.site
- Instagram: @therealyandaa
- Facebook: Moyanda Pierre
- Other: Email: mo@pierrewellnesscoaching.com