We recently connected with Shirley Powell and have shared our conversation below.
Shirley , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?
My parents did many things right for my sister, brother and I. They gave us a very good and well rounded upbringing. We were a family that worked hard together (me beginning at 5 yrs. old) and played hard together. We were taught to respect our elders. We learned and spent quality time with our grandparents, aunts, and uncles whom we helped with their chores. Our grandparents, aunts and uncles repaid us with genuine love and old-fashioned values. We also learned the value of a dollar, you worked for what you received. The joy of working on farms, planting gardens, and harvesting. Grocery shopping with a list and exact price taught us how to be responsible, carry the bags or push the shopping carts home and return cart back to store. To receive these types of qualities only come from experience. I call this a WORK ETHIC, MORALS and GREAT CHARACTER. This gave me dreams, things I wanted to accomplish, being an individual and have the perseverance to create and do good in the world.
Shirley , 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?
Unbeknownst to me, I became an entrepreneur in my early 20’s. I created my first restaurant from the drawing board. Developed the concept, design, menu, decor, suppliers, hiring, employee manual, scheduling, customer service, training, baking, cooking, cleaning, marketing, print and radio commercials, banking, ordering, catering, involved in community and events, sponsorships, responsibilities 24/7 and everything and anything that was required to succeed and be one of the best restaurants in my region. I guess you could say, I succeeded. (What my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles distilled in me became truly valuable, while I was growing up.) Then on to purchasing, renovating, decorating yearly rental properties. One property after the other. Then on to a larger creation of a large scale build out, with construction of another fabulous restaurant with three times the magnitude of responsibilities of my first-born restaurant, to becoming a General Contractor. I also had a passion for fashion and beauty. Beauty had been ingrained in my family while I was growing up; and is a legacy starting with being chosen All American Family for New York state. My timeless and working professional mother had two pageant titles and my gorgeous sister represented Miss Universe New York State and other local pageants. I was Miss Teen NY. I began modeling at the age of 15 for fashion and bridal shows. As an entrepreneur and model, I found myself searching for quality makeup that was health conscience. I bring more than 40 years of business experience. As a result I found the need to create a line that provided a solution to the problem. When creating LaJeanell Skincare & Vegan Makeup System, I purposely sought to formulate a minimalistic product line; that provided beauty solutions for healthful/wellness/beauty lifestyle. My vision was to include pro-aging, natural, organic and vegan components to the product line. Thus, giving users a younger look, self-confidence and well-being.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
You guessed it. I had a serious stressful nervous breakdown, affecting my auto-immune system. Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, chronic depression, migraines and arthritis. It has been a long and trying road of regaining my health and lifestyle. Cleansing my entire system and changing to organic, natural, and healthful foods has been part of the process. English and western medicine and specific supplements are part of my daily routine, along with exercise. One of my joys was/is dancing, which I stopped during the pandemic. When I have flair ups, I have learned to treat them from my knowledge and experience as well as my most wonderful healthcare physicians. When you go through these types of trials and tribulations, it’s a huge transition. Your health is of utmost importance as well as having a purpose. It has been a hard and enduring road and I am grateful, for how far I have come. Beauty, health and wellness is the deck of cards I was given, and I am playing out my hand. I give God all the glory to where my story is now. My story has many chapters and I have more chapters to conquer. I have a purpose and I am excited to see where they take me. Helping others feel and look better when life seems so dark. I believe faith and strong convictions will lead us to great outcomes.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
TRUST. I was taught to trust others. A person’s word or handshake was all that was needed. When you have employees, you are relying on them to do their job and meet their schedule. When these don’t happen it reflects on the other employees that make up your team. But, you need to get rid of the bad apple (employee). When other employees see this action, they will give you massive productivity. Trust factor also enables other employees to have a great influence on others, for workers at all levels.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LaJeanell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lajeanell/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lajeanell/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-powell-6131a3115/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaJeanell
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/shirley.pow.71