We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Teia Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Teia below.

Teia , appreciate you joining us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

I am forever grateful to my parents. They were intentional in their parenting and committed to teaching my siblings and I critical life skills. My parents taught us to love people and respect others. They showed us how to do things for others, often sacrificially.

I can remember my parents dropping off an elderly church member after Sunday evening services. The elderly lady wanted to pay my parents so badly for giving her a ride home. She reached in her purse and pulled a handful of coins. Both parents immediately rejected her money and instead, told her how much they appreciated just being able to help her. This happened often with the same elderly lady. Each time they would rejct her money, and my dad would get out of the car and walk her to the front door to make sure she got into her house safely.

While my dad walked her into the house, my siblings and I would wait in the car with my mom. We would always complain that they should take the money, we even vowed that when we grew up and did something for someone, we were going to take the money being offered. My parents explained that the lady had no children of her own and had no one to look after her. They explained how great it made them feel to be in a position to help her. They told us that it was a blessing to be a blessing.

They taught us to serve others unconditionally and with a loving heart. Seeing them serve this lady and so many, many others, has taught me the importance of serving. As adults, I’ve witnessed my siblings and myself sacrificially give, help, and serve others who are less fortunate without any expectations.

As an entrepreneur, I too have learned the value of serving others, treating people fairly, and realizing that it is indeed a blessing to be a blessing. As a mom, I teach my daughters the same lessons my parents taught me.

Teia , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am committed to helping people win in life and to live a life of gratitude. I’ve always believed that if given the proper tools, most people will make the better choice. As a Certified Christian Life Coach and founder of Family Vision 20/20, LLC, the core of my brand is about building stronger family systems, giving them tools to win, and helping them create synergy and effective communication. I provide both group and one on one coaching for families, teens, and corporations to discuss family goals and dreams. We find ways to help them have fun and create lasting memories. www.coachteia.com

My podcast, Family Seasons by Coach Teia, is an extension of my coaching services. It’s designed to be a resource in which they can find relative tips and tools about the many seasons families experience. For twelve seasons, the podcast has been giving hope and inspiration to families across the globe. www.familyseasonspodcast.com

Child At heART School, the business that my teen daughters and I run has been around since 2009. I started Child At heART School as a mobile creative and fine arts program for families, schools, corporations, etc. to spend quality time with one another. We have since expanded to school, scouting groups, nonprofits, corporations and so much more to create fun stuffed animals as memory keepsakes, holiday crafts, and fundraisers. We now have a monthly character box in which kids receive a surprise animal and character trait to practice throughout the month. At the end of the 12 months, children will collect twelve fun animals while learning a new character trait for life improvement. www.childatheartschool.com

Finally, I’m both the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of DFW Kids On The Move, a nonprofit for African American teen girls. In the nonprofit, teen girls learn to express themselves through creative and fine arts skills. The goal is to encourage healthy self-esteem and career development.

The two nonprofits that I serve as a board member are about supporting families and creating healthy life skills training for teens beyond adulthood. I am committed to helping others live a life that they can be proud of. Helping single moms gain confidence to build a home of sustainability. Helping families have productive family meetings with attainable goals. I’m committed to bringing hope and inspiration to those I’ve been assigned to.

Have you ever had to pivot?

With A Child At heART School, we provided mobile services to our clients. We brought everything to them. When the pandemic hit, we had to pivot to stay afloat.

We decided that the monthly character trait subscription boxes were the best way for us to continue this revenue stream and keep providing a joyful experience to the many kids who were struggling through the pandemic. These boxes contain everything that the recipient needed to create a new stuffed animal and a character trait that they could learn and practice at home.

Making this decision to still provide services to our customers at such a difficult time as the pandemic, was one of the best decisions we made as a business. Today, our subscription boxes continue to be our most popular offers.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Our reputation is important. How we treat our clients means a lot to us. Unlike some business mantras, I don’t agree that the client is always right because I do believe that respect is important for both parties to work together effectively.

People love the way that we provide excellent service with an amazing product. When people feel that way, they are more likely to share the experience with others. Companies know that we will add a fun memory to their holiday parties. Daycares expect us to bring joy to their little students with a new stuffed animal. With this reputation, we’re constantly referred by others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.childatheartschool.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/childatheartschool
• Facebook: facebook.com/childatheartschool.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachteia/
• Twitter: twitter.com/coachteia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtsS1OK53cY1WKlh9PkPRBw
• Other: www.coachteia.com