We recently connected with Shannon Moultrie and have shared our conversation below.

Shannon, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I am an author and blogger. Generally speaking, when you read blogs they are about other people; Hollywood, current affairs, etc. My blog tells the audacious truth about my life and it’s gripping details of the trauma I endured by family members. This intentional approach is to provide a platform for others, young and old, to safely tell their story. To encourage others to use their voices loudly in hopes of helping children generations to come.

My writing approach is also to shine the spotlight on a long-standing saying in many American families that has done more harm than good. It is to forever rid of the the family command that says, “What goes on in the house, stays in the house.” While the inception of this saying may have been well intended to promote privacy, unfortunately, it has done more harm than good and has fostered an environment for family predators to hide.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For the first part of my career, I worked in corporate finance in the United States and Aruba. I would later go on to Emory Law School and start working as a practice administrator for law firms. I’m also a registered mediator with the Supreme Court of Georgia. I’ve taken my collective knowledge, experience, and education and branded myself in the legal space.

I’ve now taken these same disciplines and applied them to writing, communication, and teaching on how to heal from trauma, advocating to change laws for children, and facing tough conversations head-on.

When I receive a message from one of my readers who tells me that my openness gave them the courage and permission to tell their story, it gives me the courage to continue my work.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Everything early on in my life said I wouldn’t become anything of value. That was hard to hear and to realize that my environment supported that claim. When you see your mother leverage her body for money, your sisters do the same, aunts and uncles doing drugs, and brothers supplying it, imagining that you can become a financial controller or go to law school if far-fetched. But I did.

I had to look at everything around me, and not necessarily say my mother is bad or my brothers and sisters are bad, yet what they were doing was bad. And I didn’t want to do those bad things. I would employ this way of thinking throughout my life, even when making business decisions.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

It’s interesting because my life’s story essentially taught me how to bet on myself. And that was my approach to business. When it came time to fund my website, marketing, book project, collaborations, and all of the tools needed to make my business viable, I used my own money. I didn’t take out loans or use credit cards. I bet on myself. I reserved a percentage of every paycheck specifically for my business. I kept my daily expenses low to create resources for my business.

I would later research grants to support my business model to assist with the overhead, but that process is lengthy and you are one of thousands applying for the same opportunity. They are out there, but you will need another resource while waiting for their support.

There’s nothing wrong with using credit resources. So I encourage new business owners to make the decision that applies best to them. For me, after experiencing student loans for my education, I knew I didn’t want that same approach for my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theconversation.info
• Instagram: @theconversationllc
• Twitter: @ConversationLlc

Image Credits
they are either originals or fair use.