We recently connected with Tia Banks and have shared our conversation below.

Tia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

One year ago I climbed the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Mt. Kilimanjaro located in Tanzania Africa. On my flight from the United States to Africa I suddenly fell very ill. I had a terrible cough, my body felt like it was hit by a 24 wheeler, sore, chills, extremely tired. This was very rare for me because I pride myself in my health. I exercise, I eat well I refuse to take tylenol for something as small as a headache. I take my herbs and minerals and call it a day. So to say I was caught off guard by coming down with this illness literally days before I take my greatest physical and mental challenge to date, would be an understatement. I slept the entire 13 hr plane ride from New York to Qatar, only waking up to eat or use the restroom. I slept in the airports waiting for our connecting flights and I remember when we landed in Tanzania we had to take a Covid 19 test. I was concerned because according to the symptoms, I had them. As I’m waiting in line to enter the country to take the test My thoughts were racing in fear. I prepared 2 years for this trip and it could all go down the drain if I get a positive Covid test result. I was thinking if ‘m positive I’ll be quarantined in this foreign country, I’ll miss the climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro that I’ve worked so hard for, I grew more anxious internally until one of the male nurses that took my test called my name. “LaTia Banks.” I walked over mentally preparing myself for the worst. The nurse looks at me, hands me a folded white sheet of paper, I open it and in all capital letters the paper noted “NEGATIVE.” I gave the biggest sigh of relief. Although my results were negative, that did not change how I truly physically felt. I had 2 days before I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. I flooded my body with water and sea moss mineral capsules. I rested when I could. On the day of our climb our guides picked up our team. It was me, my partner Sheena, two friends from South Africa and two guides. We drove hours to get to the trailhead of Mt Kilimanjaro, Everyone was excited except me. I still felt like my body was not ready for this hike. Day 1 was the easiest part of the hike. After arriving at our first camp, my sickness got the best of me congested and unable to breathe, coughing every moment, The guides had to give me oxygen. I was ready to tap out, but something inside me said, ” Tia , I did not come this far for nothing.” After receiving oxygen, I felt. a little better, but my mental was strong and I decided nothing would stop me from reaching the top. Medically I should not have kept going, but I put my mind over the mountain and that experience helps me empower others with that same mentality today

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

5 Years ago I struggled with depression. I felt like I was just existing, wondering aimlessly. As I forced myself to climb out of my pit of darkness I knew I had to change my negative, depressive thinking into thoughts that did not come from me. I needed someone to speak life into me. There were two places that came to mind, Church and Youtube University. I decided that since I didn’t have to shower and get cleaned up to watch the Internet, YouTube it was! I came across a motivational speech by a woman named Lisa Nichols. Her words reached my soul. When she spoke I felt like she was talking to me. She inspired and motivated me with her passion and the inner light she naturally carried. I began to study Lisa. I read her books, watched her interviews, subscribed to her courses. I followed her teachings. This led me to exercising, and mediation and journaling. Lisa led me to removing the negative mindset that was dark, sad, and broken to a healthier, ambitious, lust for life. As I improved my personal development after one morning of mediation it came to me, I will climb the highest free-standing. mountain in the world. I wrote it in my journal. I didn’t know how. I never climbed a mountain, I never even went hiking, but I just knew that it would happen.

Years later sick as a dog, physically and mentally drained from the 7 day climb, 8 -13 hr days of hiking. I reached the top of the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
Before I could achieve overcoming Mt. Kilimanjaro, I had to defeat the mountain of depression. So I did just that.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn limited beliefs. I was always an athlete. I played NCAA basketball, played in France, Spain and for 12 years a professional flag football player. The majority of my life I never saw myself as anything more than just an athlete. I limited myself and abilities to what I was raised to do. My mom was an incredible track athlete, my Dad played basketball and baseball. I inevitably had athletic genes and although it’s blessed me with opportunities for higher education and travel experiences, I never saw myself beyond the athlete. In 2020 I was playing with the best flag football players in the world. By this time I was literally a walking trophy with all the championships I’ve won in my flag football career. if I was not working to make a living I just wanted to play football. During a tournament In the championship game I remember sprinting toward the quarterback from the opposing team to pull her flag, She made a jab move one direction as I bolted toward her I came to an immediate stop to turn to catch her and as soon as I planted I heard a pop in my knee. I knew right away something was wrong. I hobbled off the field. I ended up having a grade 4 cartilage tear in my right knee. My season was over. I was just invited to represent team USA for the WFFN (Womens Flag Football Network). That experience was taken from me in a blink of an eye. For every athlete that has endured an injury, it’s frustrating, because the only thing that can heal it, is time. At this point my body is aging and I had to believe that Tia Banks is more than just an athlete. It was after overcoming the adversity of thinking I could only be what I’ve always been, that’s where I Discovered purpose and greatness within me.

I took self-assessment tests, I asked friends and family what they see me doing outside of flagfootball and sports. I did my own surveying identifying other skills and passions and it all led down to what I do today. Motivating others.

When I removed my limiting beliefs, I discovered my power.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tiabanks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetiabanks/
• Facebook: @Thetiabanks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tia-banks
• Twitter: @thetiabanks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiZViSruiUGAsB7t0JZ8KNg
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tia-banks-motivational-speaker-dallas
• Other: https://swoppii.com/tia-banks-the-diversity-inpowerment-coach

Image Credits
James Batts Jr. slmpxstudios Nextlevel living