Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Teya Williams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Teya, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
Dreams Manifest was born out of a personal desire for clarity and response to an inner knowing that life had to have more to offer than the impending burn out my 9-5 (sometimes 9-2am) did. I was at a fork in the road. I was living what many would consider “the life”. You know rich aunty vibes & all: cool job title (designer), six-figure salary, no kids, world traveler, and mimosa brunches. At the same time, I was deep in debt from years of being overworked and underpaid and in an increasingly toxic work environment. I felt trapped!
Though I loved the work, (I’d dreamed of being an apparel designer my whole life) the situation wasn’t sustainable. I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d be able to do the corporate dance. Unfortunately, my financial situation at the time required that I kept on dancing!
It wasn’t enough that I, (along with my assistant) was able to completely revamp a very large business category and elicit greater investment from the company. The internal politics were crushing.
After being recruited as an expert in my field, I experienced what many Black women in corporate jobs have experienced for generations. I struggled to be viewed and treated as the authority they hired; to be heard, supported, appreciated, and celebrated. No matter the stellar sales numbers and achievements, I was treated dismissively and my achievements diminished. The constant barrage of aggressions, micro and macro, were starting to take their toll, both physically and mentally.
I needed an outlet that felt more purposeful and that potentially had some legs (ability to bring in cash down the road). I wasn’t sure what that could be so I built a Vision Book.
I’d built vision boards in the past but found the book format allowed me to be very specific and carve out chapters for the different areas of my life I wanted to affect. The goal was to really dig deep to communicate in images and words exactly what I wanted to focus on and why. From experience, I knew that whatever life I created, had to FEEL GOOD to ME on the inside and connect to who I am and how I want to connect in the world. When I looked at the finished product, I loved it and immediately thought, “I wonder if other people would be interested in building vision boards in this way?”
I asked a friend if she thought we could gather a group to get feedback. From there I hosted the very first vision board party in my living room with margaritas and tacos! That first workshop was seven colleagues in my living room – we had materials spread out across tables and the floor. Magazine clippings were everywhere! The conversations were deep and growth focused. The energy was infectious, I knew I was on to something.
Four months later, I was holding the LLC certificate in my hand and had parties scheduled at event spaces in Pittsburgh and Seattle.
The leap of faith would come a little over a year later, when I decided to honor myself, my body, and my mental health by walking away from that six-figure paycheck, to take time to heal and pursue Dreams Manifest full time at the end of 2019. That first vision book was focused on the feeling of FREEDOM and I’d spent my downtime getting closer to that ideal by spending my “off-time” preparing mentally and financially for the huge transition that was looming. At the time of my exit, Dreams Manifest was still a side project, and I wasn’t sure HOW I could make it work. I just knew I felt called to TAKE THE LEAP!
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
I came into the world as a little girl in Seattle, WA, with a knowing. An awareness that there was guidance coming from within. I’ve been aware of it as far back as I can remember. I have always been compelled to follow it. I know that’s not the norm. Our society teaches us to do what everyone else is doing. I’ve always been tuned into that inner knowing and a constant feeling that says there must be a better/easier way.
I’ve always been creative, loved solving puzzles, searched for answers, and always found myself cheering for people who follow their passions.
If I were to identify one word that would define me, it would be “seeker.” All of my personal and professional journeys have led to my becoming a Life Vision Coach.
I was so delighted when Oprah entered my living room via television back in 1986. The stories of her childhood resonated with me because our upbringings shared some similarities. When she shared her spiritual journey with us exposing us to the wisdom she was uncovering, it really spoke to me, I couldn’t get enough. Oprah provided me with introductions to thought leaders like Iyanla Vanzant, Eckhart Tolle, Don Miguel Ruiz, Gary Zhukov, Michael Beckwith, Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins, Martha Beck, Glennon Doyle, Gabby Bernstein, Liz Gilbert, and Brene Brown among others.
These spiritual teachers became my lighthouses. They reinforced that “inner knowing” as internal guidance and pushed me beyond the confines of traditional religion onto a self-discovery journey.
It’s interesting how counterculture it is to listen to and dial into that guidance and
follow it to our growth, joy, and healing.
If we’re dialed in and follow the guidance, life becomes exploration. It’s less painful. When we are willing to let life flow as it will & we look for the clues, to lighten our grip, make a different decision, trust the process and keep moving forward. Knowing there are no mistakes, only situations for learning, growth, affirmation, and redirection has been life affirming.
I’ve been able to build courses and workshops that challenge my clients to listen to their inner guidance and create a vision for their lives that comes from that internal place of knowing. Realizing that the journey is never ending as long as we’re breathing, and that they will continue to envision, create, and curate their lives as time goes on.
My life is filled with purpose having chosen this path. My desire is that more people are tuned into their intuition and living fulfilled, happy lives. I’m interested in the ripple that comes from that. What I’m doing today is in part a ripple from what Oprah created. Seeing someone who looked like me, on a personal development journey gave me permission and inspiration to do the same. I’d like to see how we shift the consciousness, by extending the ripple one vision board or vision book at a time.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Growing an audience or following and growing clientele are different though there may be some crossover, and you need both.
Building numbers or following on social media, I’ve done organically through my friendship circle, original posts and re-shares, and ads for workshops. I’ve even participated in some of the follow for a follow exchange with other small businesses.
Growing clientele (paying customers) requires a bit more strategy. That is the phase we’re in currently. I’m a creative, a seeker, guide & coach. I love building workshops and having conversations around personal growth, passions, and joy. I know nothing about SEO, (Search Engine Optimization), retargeting, and CRM (Customer Relationship Management). I understand that I need those things to grow this business. But I am not an expert and I want to dedicate my energy toward building my network and servicing my clients.
I’ve hired a business consultant agency to tackle this next growth phase for Dreams Manifest. I am happy to have hired another small Black owned business to broaden our reach & move us forward in that area.
My advice in addition to hiring a team, is focus on building a network. Issa Rae said something that stuck with me, “many people focus on networking up, when they should be networking out with people who are at the same level of the journey they’re on.” I’ve found that to be so profound and true.
Networking up requires those who are further along to see value in what you’re doing and be willing to share resources. networking across, is viewed more of a shared exchange. You are offering value to each other.
In my head I live in an egalitarian utopia where we are all equal, and all have something to offer. Truth is the rest of the world doesn’t operate on that premise most of the time. So, go where you can celebrate, and uplift each other, both audiences will grow together. Collaborations have incredible energy and potential!
You can count on a few friends to mention your name in rooms you may not have stepped foot in to create opportunities for you. I’m grateful for those who have done it for me. But you can’t wait for it. You must be found “doing the thing”! If you keep moving forward in your business, showing proof of viability, and being authentic to your intention, your people will find you!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I returned to Seattle from Pittsburgh, I was grateful to land back home with some cushion and financial breathing room. I planned to take a few months to sit in and shift out of corporate recovery and focus on growing Dreams Manifest through in-person networking and vision board events.
I had events scheduled for December and March. By February the world was shutting down due to Covid and I had to cancel the events. Like most of us at the time, I assumed the shutdown would just be a few weeks. By the end of October there was still no certainty about being able to host in-person events. As a result, I made the decision to explore shifting my focus to online workshops. I scheduled a month-long retreat at an Airbnb to dedicate myself to learning how to use the online course platforms and video editing software.
I left the retreat with two new online courses, a new skill set, and new revenue stream for my business that I probably wouldn’t have considered so early on if it hadn’t been for Covid. This dedication to finding a way to pivot and move forward when faced with obstacles has served me well on this entrepreneurial journey. Marie Forleo’s mantra in Everything is Figureoutable is absolutely true! EVERYTHING is figureoutable!
I had a set of rings with my very own mantra created as a reminder for when I’m feeling doubt or fear, each is inscribed with a single word; Surrender • Align • Allow.
If I dedicate myself to the journey, SURRENDER to the process, ALIGN myself with my vision, and ALLOW myself to be guided, the next right step
will always be unveiled. My commitment to myself is to keep taking the next right step as it presents itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: Https://dreamsmanifestllc.com
- Instagram: Dreamsmanifestllc
- Facebook: Dreamsmanifestllc
Image Credits
Photo Credit for Primary Image: Ruby Somera Design Studio