Women In Wellness: LaKendra Smalley of The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
…Marketing and niching down- a lot of people are afraid to be specific in their niche because they fear they may be missing out on people and potential business. But what they don’t realize is that if what you do is too broad, no one knows what it is you actually help with. It creates more questions than answers with people. It’s like telling someone you are a doctor but not specifying what kind of doctor you are. People tend to keep scrolling when things aren’t clear.
As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing LaKendra Smalley. Coach LaKendra Smalley is the CEO and Founder of 7-figure earning life coaching school: The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs. The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs specializes in certifying, training, and hiring life coaches, and intends to employ a life coach in all 195 countries around the globe.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
Growing up, I remember feeling like I had all these things that were supposed to count me out from success. One, I’m from inner city Dallas and was born with an Attention Deficit Disorder where I struggled with focus and academics earlier in life. Two, I had to repeat a grade and graduated on my 19th birthday.
I also watched my mother battle with clinical depression- which is what ultimately inspired me to start my journey as a global leader, coach, and heart expert. I’d always go with my mother to the public library and watch her read self-help books in attempts to improve her quality of life. Realizing the amazing impact these self-help books had on her by helping her conquer unfavorable life challenges, I became passionate about humanity, psychology and in dismantling trauma and loss of hope in order to create a better and happier life for people.
Set on the career path I’d chosen for myself, I started my 15-year journey in the industry. Prior to deciding to open my life coaching school, I’d worked in behavior management as a parole officer and as a behavior adjustment educator working with at-risk youth with various mental illnesses for independent school districts all around the Dallas metroplex.
Despite my challenges, I am the founder and CEO of a 7-figure-earning company, The Global Institute for Coaches & Entrepreneurs, Inc. The Global Institute for Coaches & Entrepreneurs, Inc., a school dedicated to training and certifying one million life coaches around the globe. As a certified life & business coach, I’ve made it my mission to help leaders with their self-healing.
Too often, those who have not done their inner-work transfer their suffering onto others and inadvertently contribute to problems they are trying to solve. Affectionately known as ‘The Heart Expert’, I help my clients and coaches substitute the suffering in their lives with love via the institute’s iCARE model.
Due to the impact I’ve had in the lives of people I’ve touched around the world, I gained the following accolades: Top Executive Female — Addison Magazine, Pioneer — Nationally recognized SOS Award, Home-Town Hero — Radio One, 10 Shades of Success Dallas- Elite Award of Growth, and Community Service Award — Sons Of Light Grand Council, and A.A.S.R.M. & Seraphina Grand Chapter, O.E.S.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
I’d have to say my most interesting story would be about my expansion into the Philippines and traveling there to certify life coaches in-person, not knowing anything about the country or culture. That was a very life-changing moment for me because it made my business a global brand. Now, The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs has a hub in the U.S and in the Philippines.
Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Not having legal business aid and representation. I’m considered a heart-centered business, so for me, I automatically trust people to do what they say they are going to do. And sometimes, with that you get burned.
What I learned from my experience is to ensure there are contracts in place, in addition to proper documentation of any and all agreements.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
I want to certify one million life coaches around the globe. I want to certify the people that are in charge and have the capacity to change lives because that is how I can help the world to be a better place. I want The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs to be a part of change and for this company to be known for doing its part in transforming lives and making greater people. That is my biggest ask of the Universe and God: to position me so that I can be a part of change for all of humanity. That is how the work I am doing is making an impact on the world.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
- Learning to disconnect/unplug from every-day life: take mini- staycations and fully pull away from obligations- kids, spouse, and work- for a day or weekend. I would recommend doing some form of this once every month.
- Make time for relaxation- dedicating uninterrupted time for yourself. I have an app that when I don’t have time to go to a masseuse, they send a masseuse to me.
- Taking time out to journal- expressing gratitude, writing feelings about how things are going in your life, aspirations, and documenting progress.
- Grounding- connecting to the Earth’s energy to replenish your own energy. That could be taking your shoes off and walking in the grass, having a picnic, and re-centering your energy.
- Hire a coach- sometimes you need accountability. A coach can help you continue to see massive growth in yourself.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
It would be my goal to have one million life coaches around the globe and to have a Certified Life Coach in all 195 countries.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- Your personal growth and/or lack thereof can affect the growth of your business
- Outsource earlier- I know many people feel they aren’t in the position to do that yet, but you can. There’s never not a way. Instead of saying “I can’t do it”, say “how can this be done”. You can find interns, you can barter, give gifts and exchange services. You need to have to come into business not thinking “me vs we”. Think team.
- Hire a business attorney- It’s important that when you do business with anyone that you understand your legal obligations and other people’s legal obligations to you. If you hire a business attorney they can tell you what contracts you need for protecting your Intellectual Property. It also helps you have a different kind of posture as a business owner. Legal advice is needed for starting your business.
- Redefine the word “hustle”/ work-life balance- I would have personalized what that word meant for me instead of running myself into the ground. Redefine it to fit your business and yourself as a CEO.
- Marketing and niching down- a lot of people are afraid to be specific in their niche because they fear they may be missing out on people and potential business. But what they don’t realize is that if what you do is too broad, no one knows what it is you actually help with. It creates more questions than answers with people. It’s like telling someone you are a doctor but not specifying what kind of doctor you are. People tend to keep scrolling when things aren’t clear.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
I’d have to say sustainability because life coaching is recession-proof.
Thank you for these fantastic insights!
Women In Wellness: LaKendra Smalley of The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs On The… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.