We recently connected with Talmadge Spicer and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Talmadge, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

How did I get into coaching?

After going through a very dark period in my life, I got into coaching and needed to build my self-esteem and identity from scratch.

In 2014, I was leaving college with $150,000+ in student loan debt, 15 credits short of a Bachelor’s in marketing. I was disappointed but let my grandmother, who had co-signed my loans, Grannyma, rest her soul. I spent six years trying to get a 4-year degree, forcing myself to “college” despite not having any passion or concrete goals for the degree I was chasing. I only went to school because I didn’t feel I had any other options. Just like you go from middle school to high school, I was just going with the natural flow of things. At this point, I had never felt more defeated than at any other point in my life, and I felt like a major failure.

When I realized that no job I could get would pay me enough to repay those loans, even on the $4,000/mo “hardship program,” I started to look into entrepreneurship. It was attractive because there was no cap on the income I could make. So it made way more sense to start a business than to work the next 40 years of my life to just die in debt anyway.

I began to read books: Rich Dad, Poor Dad; Think and Grow Rich; How to Win Friends and Influence People. I started to think and act differently. For the first time in my life, I felt the INSPIRATION TO LEARN!

Eventually, I met my first mentor, who helped me open my first official business. It was great! I was the president of Yellowbrick Marketing Inc., hiring and managing my staff to sell Direct TV from a booth I was franchising inside Costcos. I oversaw three stores in Boise and Nampa, Idaho, and simultaneously worked with 6-12 people. At this point, I learned that I had a natural ability to coach others. I could see the strengths someone with low self-esteem would overlook and help them know why they are the bomb, and they would lift their chin and find success every day! The business would make $20,000 on average in revenue per week! I was having a blast!

I didn’t account for how lonely I would feel when I realized how far I was from everything and everyone I grew to love and identify with back home in Jersey. About five months in, it set in, “You’re really in Idaho” I remember looking around my apartment like I must be dreaming or I’ve lost my mind. This milestone marked the beginning of my mental decline. The novelty of starting a new business in a new place was beginning to wear off, and I found myself caving the “normalcy” of being home. The closest I could get to it was talking to my then-girlfriend, now ex, on the phone. The problem was she was never fond of me making a move in the first place and saw an opportunity in my growing sadness to make me regret my move even more. The more displeased I became, the more desperate I became for emotional support, but with no one nearby and no one who truly understood why I moved to Idaho in the first place, I was all alone for the first time in my life. The arguments between my ex and I became consistent and highly intense. I remember burning a box of things she bought me and thinking this had gone too far.

As I became increasingly depressed, my team dwindled in enthusiasm as well. One by one, my employees decided that this wasn’t something they wanted to do anymore and began quitting. Their leaving added more pressure to turn this ship around. But I couldn’t. I drank malt liquor beverages, ate ramen noodles, and cried to sleep every night for six months. Until one fateful night, I was on the floor of the parking garage attached to my office building directly across from the Boise City Hall building. I remember walking to the edge with tears slowly dripping down my face. I had been contemplating suicide and figured if I was serious, now would be the opportunity. I leaned forward but hesitated, “What would Grannyma think,” I thought. So instead of taking the plunge, I imagined it. I felt the wind blowing past my face and the weightlessness and suddenly realized that I never wanted to die. I just wanted a release. Of pressure or at least a purpose. A reason why I was going through all of this.

At that moment, I knew my life needed more meaning than just making $150,000 to get out of debt. I ended up returning home, hoping to find myself and my purpose.

After several years, jobs, and moving to California, I had a pivotal conversation with a man I met while working as a brand ambassador. He mentioned that he’d been doing it for ten years, and I realized that if I didn’t make a move, I’d end up just like him a decade later. I decided to pivot directly towards coaching and go all in. I didn’t know how to do it, but I knew I could and wanted to.

So the first thing I did was hire a coach. It wasn’t easy shopping for one. But once I found the right one, I enrolled in a program that taught me how to do business as a coach, and it helped me with my mindset toward being a coach. It was the best decision if it cost me $10,000 and my rent money.

Since making this decision 3+ years ago, I haven’t needed to work another job I hate, and I’m doing the most meaningful thing I could be doing. I’m excited every day I get to build my coaching practice!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Talmadge Spicer, also known as The Confidence Coach, is on a mission to empower 1 million people to overcome default mode and live by design. Since his mission started, He’s written several books, Spoken on numerous stages, hosted over 100+ one on one and group coaching sessions, and is currently impacting 85,000+ people worldwide through social media

His mission, his message, his motto and the title of his first book is have the guts to follow your guts because he knows that it will require you to deepen the relationship you have with yourself. Which, in turn, will make the world a better place.

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

Running my first direct sales business in Idaho was like stepping into the ring with a heavyweight champion, blindfolded. The pressure, the uncertainties, and the relentless grind took a toll on my mental health, pushing me to the edge of a dark abyss.

I found myself wrestling with depression, a beast that lurked in the shadows, whispering doubts into every decision I made. The weight of responsibility, the fear of failure – it all became an unbearable load on my shoulders. There were days when getting out of bed felt like moving mountains, and the sun seemed like a distant memory.

Suicidal ideation? Yeah, it became an unwelcome companion in those lonely Idaho nights. The isolation of entrepreneurship can be a breeding ground for those dark thoughts. It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff, wondering if the fall would be a release from the relentless struggle.

But here’s the twist in the tale – acknowledging the struggle and seeking help. I reached out to friends, mentors, and even professional help. Vulnerability became my armor. It wasn’t an overnight fix; it was a gritty, day-by-day battle.

Through that darkness, I discovered strength I never knew I had. I learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a courageous act of self-preservation. Idaho became the battleground where I fought not just for my business but for my own sanity.

And you know what? I emerged from that dark chapter with scars, but scars tell stories of survival. I wear them proudly because they are a testament to the fact that even in the darkest of times, there’s a flicker of light within us. It might be dim, but it’s resilient. It took hitting rock bottom to bounce back higher, armed with a newfound resilience that no business challenge could shake.

So, to anyone battling their demons in the lonely trenches of entrepreneurship, remember this: You’re not alone. Reach out, speak up, and embrace the struggle because, on the other side, lies a version of you that’s stronger, wiser, and ready to conquer the world.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Authenticity, no doubt about it. In a world flooded with polished pitches and scripted sales tactics, being genuine is like a breath of fresh air. People can sniff out fake from a mile away, and let me tell you, authenticity is your golden ticket to building a tribe of loyal clients.

Here’s the deal – I ditched the cookie-cutter approach and started showing the real me. No smoke, no mirrors. I let my passion shine through, shared my wins, and more importantly, my failures. It’s about being real, vulnerable, and relatable.

Clients want to connect with a human, not a sales robot. So, I threw away the script and engaged in genuine conversations. I listened more than I talked, understanding their needs, concerns, and dreams. It’s not about pushing a product; it’s about building relationships.

Authenticity breeds trust, and trust is the glue that keeps clients coming back for more. When they see that you genuinely care about their success and well-being, you’re not just another business transaction – you become a partner in their journey.

Let your personality shine in your brand. Share your story – the highs, the lows, and the messy in-betweens. People resonate with authenticity because it’s relatable. It’s about saying, “Hey, I’m not perfect, but I’m real, and I’m here to make a real impact in your life or business.”

Remember, authenticity isn’t a tactic; it’s a way of life. It’s not about selling; it’s about serving. When your clients see that you’re not just in it for the paycheck but genuinely invested in their success, they become your biggest advocates. So, drop the mask, be authentically you, and watch your clientele grow organically. It’s not just a strategy; it’s a mindset, a commitment to being real in a world that often feels too scripted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.talmadgespicer.coach/free-mindset-makeover
• Instagram: Instagram : https://Instagram.com/mycoachtspice
• Facebook: Facebook : https://Facebook.com/talspice
• Linkedin: LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/tspice/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyCoachTspice
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1zrEmjc_tEcP1U45BjS50A/?sub_confirmation=1