We were lucky to catch up with Teneshia Phillips recently and have shared our conversation below.

Teneshia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The story behind TP Management Group is deeply rooted in a journey of turning my personal and professional pain into purpose. Initially, I worked as a social worker and later as a compliance officer in state government. But over time, I started experiencing health challenges, consisting of significant pain and fatigue. It was during this time that I realized the stress of my job was only making things worse. I loved the work and cared about making a difference, but it became painfully clear that the job itself, and even management, did not hold the same level of care for me as I did for it.

I’ll never forget when a colleague told me to prioritize my health and think about my family’s future. She reminded me that if something happened to me, the organization might send flowers, but the job would be posted before my funeral. Her words stayed with me and made me reflect on my life, purpose, and the legacy I wanted to leave behind.

That wake-up call led me to the realization that my true fulfillment came from helping others achieve their goals and dreams. This passion to support others, especially entrepreneurs, became the foundation of TP Management Group. With a background in social work, I had a heart for service and a dedication to helping people better their lives. My diagnosis with Fibromyalgia was ultimately the catalyst that ignited my God-ordained purpose: to guide, encourage, and empower others on their entrepreneurial journeys.

At TP Management Group, our mission is more than just a statement – it’s a commitment to serve others in a way that builds them up and prepares them for success. Every day, I draw on my experiences to help entrepreneurs navigate the path I once walked. This mission is meaningful because it’s rooted in my story, my struggles, and my purpose, and I am deeply passionate about creating lasting impacts for the people I work with.

Teneshia , 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?

I’m Teneshia Phillips, founder of TP Management Group. My journey into this industry was shaped by a unique blend of personal and professional experiences that led me to turn my own challenges into a purpose-driven business.

My career began in social work, later transitioning into a role as a compliance officer. But over time, I began experiencing health issues, particularly chronic pain and fatigue, that were exacerbated by the constant stress of the job. That was a turning point. I found my true passion lay in helping others pursue their dreams, and I decided to use my skills and experiences to empower entrepreneurs. This led me to establish TP Management Group, where our mission is to provide the guidance, resources, and encouragement business owners need to succeed.

At TP Management Group, we offer two main services: Business Consulting and Lifestyle Management. Our Business Consulting services help individuals and organizations build strong foundations, guiding them through every step of business formation, such as LLC and nonprofit establishment, and ensuring all legal and regulatory requirements are handled seamlessly. We support business owners in clarifying their vision and developing strategies to achieve sustainable success.

In Lifestyle Management, our goal is to help clients simplify and reclaim their time. From managing personal tasks to coordinating lifestyle needs, travel, and event planning, we are here to take on the burdens of day-to-day responsibilities so our clients can focus on what matters most to them.

What sets us apart is our personalized approach. I know firsthand the importance of purpose, resilience, and genuine support, and I bring that understanding to every client relationship. Our mission isn’t just to provide a service—it’s to walk alongside our clients on their journey, giving them the peace of mind and the tools they need to thrive.

I am incredibly proud of TP Management Group and the impact we’re making. We’re more than just a consulting firm; we’re a partner in our clients’ lives, invested in their goals and committed to their success. My hope is that our clients see us as a trusted ally, ready to help them realize their potential and build legacies they’re proud of.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A powerful lesson I had to unlearn was what “losing” truly looked like. When I started my business, I made some big mistakes. One of the biggest was pulling money from my 401(k) to renovate a space I didn’t own, only to end up having to leave it later. I also made other rushed decisions that, in hindsight, needed more time and thought. In those early days, I would really beat myself up about these missteps, thinking I’d failed or “lost” because of them.

But over time, I realized that I had two choices: I could view these experiences as losses, or I could see them as lessons. I chose the latter. Each “L” I took became a valuable lesson, teaching me patience, strategic thinking, and the importance of not letting setbacks define my journey. This shift in perspective has been transformative, not just for me but also for my clients.

Now, I often share this approach with my clients. I remind them, “I don’t lose; I learn new lessons.” Every mistake, every setback, is an opportunity to grow and make better decisions in the future. I encourage them to see “losses” not as failures, but as part of the process of becoming stronger and wiser in their business and life.

Have you ever had to pivot?

A pivotal moment in my career came when I co-founded Bridging Legacies, a community mental health center. Bridging Legacies was designed to provide intensive mental health support, including outpatient group and individual therapy. Our main mission was to prevent psychiatric hospitalizations in the short term by offering a structured, high-intensity treatment environment, and to equip our clients with the resources and support they needed to manage their mental health in a less structured setting over the long term.

In our second year of operations, things were going well – we were making a real difference in our community. Then the pandemic hit. Like so many others, we had to adapt quickly and shifted to telehealth services to continue supporting our clients. However, we realized that our clients’ unique needs required the in-person support that our center was founded to provide. While telehealth was an option, it wasn’t the right solution for many of them, and it went against our core value of operating with integrity. In the end, we made the difficult decision to suspend operations rather than compromise the quality of care.

This experience forced me to pivot and shift my focus to TP Management Group. I began investing more time and energy into building TP Management into a business consulting firm that could help other entrepreneurs, especially those navigating challenging times and tough decisions. The skills and resilience I gained from running Bridging Legacies has helped me guide clients through similar situations, ensuring they make values-based decisions in their own businesses. This pivot allowed me to pursue my purpose in a different way, using my experience to empower other business owners to thrive despite setbacks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tpmgmtgroup.com
• Instagram: @tpmgmtgroup
• Facebook: @tpmgmtgroup

Image Credits

J. Pegues Photography