We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Yahrasiel Colbert. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Yahrasiel below.
Hi Yahrasiel, thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
I left teaching high school in 2012 to pursue free enterprise. I had a thriving beauty business that was on the rise. I was running an award winning youth program and my speaking gigs were picking up. I was making great connections, traveling, and building some great relationships. For the most part, things were moving in a good direction for me. Starting in 2014, my life took a different turn. I’m talking my whole life. My Father who raised me (the man I called Daddy) died. My biological Father died. A daughter (I didn’t birth her but she was my child), my niece, a cousin, 2 friends, and 1 former student all died. I lost my Director title with my beauty company meaning a huge cut in my pay. And to make matters worse, I found myself going through an unexpected divorce. There are many more obstacles, situations, and issues in between too. I found myself divorced, in massive debt, depressed, delayed, demoted, and defeated. I was a decorated woman of many accomplishments, degrees, and accolades. An overcomer, strong, a conquerer and here I was at one of the lowest times in my life. I applied for 62 jobs. I even called an old co-worker and told her that I needed to work. She was in charge of a position that I was qualified for and had even done before but she ignored me. I received a call from a lady named Desiree. She asked me if I ever thought about insurance and financial services. That she felt that with my background in Education and my sales skills that I could be successful. She offered me an apprenticeship with a local agent to learn the business and how to run an agency for 18 months and then I could have my own. I would earn commissions on products that I sold but the training would be unmatched. I had one person in my corner who encouraged me to take the offer. It was my girlfiend Gloria. Everyone else questioned taking a chance like this. You have 3 kids with one in college they would say. But I prayed about it and I did it. I knew it would be challenging but I truly felt it was where I was lead to go. I felt that this was the chance to get my life back.
Yahrasiel, 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 Yahrasiel The Multiprenuer. I am an Entreprenuer, Author, Influencer, Educator and Public Speaker. I truly believe in multiple streams of income and showing people that they can do it too. I believe we are all blessed with unique gifts that will allow us to grow in all areas of life and allow us to be financially free. We weren’t put here to not have our basic needs met. Yet, 59%of people are living pay check to pay check and 64% of people could get themselves out of a $400 emergency. I know what its like to be at the bottom.
I own Advent Insurance and Financial Solutions LLC. Its an exclusive Horace Mann agency. I offer home, auto, life, and business insurances. I also provide retirement and college planning options. I hold free Educational workshops for the employees and staff of Rockdale County Schools, Newton County Schools and Henry County Schools. 100% of my marketing dollars is spent in those school districts. Its an honor to serve the Educator community. I see to many families devasted by not having the proper protection in place. Some people lose everything after someone dies, a bad car accident, or even retiring and not having enough money. I find joy in helping others get a good financial picture in order.
I also teach part time at the global leader in the education of women of African desect, Spelman College. What a fine institution! I work in the Education Department and I count it a privilege to mentor my students and prepare them to do what I think it the best job on earth, Teach.
I am the Author of From Red To Black Weekly Financial Journal which is a 52 week scripture based journal. This book was a download from God. I am pretty sure it was written for me mostly. It has helped me to gain insight as to why I think the way I think. It has helped my relationship with God and it holds me accountable about my spending habits.
Over the years, I’ve had opportunities to speak to women, men, and children about my experiences and expertise. Most recently, I was the keynote speaker at East Tennessee State University for their Multicultural Graduation. Community is what I stand for and there is no better way to help than to share. I don’t keep secrets that will set people free. I try to be the person for others that I needed at different stages of my life.
I’ve been blessed to collaborate with some amazing brands like Amazon, Flori Roberts, Color Me Beautiful, Abella Eye Wear, Jessie James Handbags, Grubhub, JXpressions Christian Tee Shirts, and Aardy.com which offers travel insurance which we all need in the new world dealing with Covid. I don’t work with anyone that I don’t use or trust.
I have a show that live streams every Monday at 1 p.m. EST called Money Mondays. I feel we need to get comfortable talking about money as if we were at the dinner table talking about our day. I believe that all financial principles can be found in God’s word so I’m going to talk about it. It streams to Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok. You can also watch the video on Spotify. It’s a been a blessing and I’ve been broadcasting for over a year. I’m learning to make it better and better but I know the huge impact that its having on people so I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing. Each one, reach one right.
How did you build your audience on social media?
I have a brick and mortar business for Advent Insurance and Financial Services LLC but everything else I do is online. Social Media is the home of most of what I do. I really started off by just posting my about myself and my family. I was authentic and transparent. I was successful but I also had struggles. I was just being me and people enjoyed feeling like they could relate. I think even online, you can tell when people are being phony and insincere. It didn’t take me long to see that social media wasn’t just a fun place to catch up with old friends but that businesses were using social media to grow. After diving into the power and influence of social media, I didn’t want to miss my chance to be positively impacted by the benefits. I suggest that as you begin to build your social media presence, take some time to study and research. I read books, articles, attended classes and watched tons of YouTube content. You can learn so much on YouTube. I would say apply the social media rule of thirds. Create content that promotes your brand, but equally provide personal interaction, and some facts about your industry. People like to be entertained, educated and informed. You also have to be consitent across your platforms. Lastly, don’t worry about trying to please everybody. Everyone isn’t your target audience.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
I am about to share a story that many people don’t know. The opening of Advent Insurance and Financial Solutions LLC is my testimony. It was one of the times when I can truly say that God put his Super to my Natural. I totally had a Divine opening. I don’t have the typically story of startup capital. I listen to others and they tell of using personal funds (bootstrapping), crowd funding, getting loans, and securing venture capital funding. That was not your girl! While I was doing my apprenticeship, I learned that I would be opening my agency way faster than expected. I WAS NOT PREPARED. I barely had rent money to be honest. I had just received a large chargeback. This is when a client cancels a policy within a certain amount of time after its been issued. Your commissions are reversed. So now I was faced with traveling expenses to my training in Illinois, debt and bills at home, paying back the chargeback, getting a leasing space, paying all licenses, and so many more expenses. It was a train wreck. They say the strong don’t cry. That was a lie. I sobbed. I literally had mustard seed faith. Well, I got the money to get a plane ticket for my training. I would get paid while I was at training but I still needed the money to pay the hotel and meals that were on my own. I didn’t know how but I knew God would make a a way. I started selling items to get the money. I landed a speaking gig too. It wasn’t enough but I was working it. I visited a friend before I left and she and I were talking. She drove me to the ATM and pulled out the money for my hotel. Then, my friend in Illinois paid for my dinners. And the same lady friend that paid my hotel, paid my deposit to my new office. She told me that we were here to build one another up, to help each other when we are in need, to hold each other up when we are down, and support one another. She reminded me that she was just a resource and the God was my source and that He had already prepared things for such a time as this. She carried my burden like it was hers, she showed me Godly love, and I will never forget that my business was funded through the obedience of one of God’s daughters. I will always reach back and pull others up and be there for others as God sees fit. I met this girl in 1995 in Tennessee at college. Who knew that she would be a part of my life plan 23 years later. All things were together for your good
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linkin.bio/ig-iamthemultipreneur
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamthemultipreneur
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamthemultipreneur
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Yahrasiel
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/themultipreneur
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/YahrasielColbert
Image Credits
Paul Biagui, Photographer