Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda De La Mora.
Hi Yolanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am known as Yoli and I am a Serial Entrepreneur. To me stories are meant to be told in hopes of inspiring someone. I’ve always wanted to tell my story but have been too ashamed to tell it in its entirety as well as I never wanted anyone feeling sorry for me. As of late, I have gotten over myself and because I have entered the rewarding world of life and business coaching, I feel it only right to be very transparent as well as to let anyone who wants or needs to know, that I too have walked in some pretty ill-fitting shoes. I feel my story has prepared me to coach my clients, my family and friends or a room full of strangers better than any course or workshop that I have or will ever attend. MY story is 100% authentic and definitely not something put together by a marketing firm.
My story has never been told to the fullest. Sure, my parents, my husband and yes even my children know parts of my story but because I wanted to protect their feelings of sadness and or anger, they all only know particular parts and each know very different parts. Because my story was (and still is) very hard to share, I often-times push it to the way back of my memory. But again, it is my story and it has made me who I am today. -Because of it I am who I am and there’s nothing anyone, even the richest of the rich can do to change it for me.
I often chuckle in amazement when I hear people talk about their past struggles and they immediately follow it up with “I wouldn’t change a thing about what I’ve been through because it’s made me who I am”. “What in the world????” I’d be thinking. Well, I own my past struggles and they have made me who I am too but My God, not only do I wish things were different, I certainly hope that no one has to go through struggles that break their esteem, bring them close to the end of their lives or ruin relationships that may have otherwise remained, all for the experience or the right to say “My struggles made me stronger”. Trust me, I could find other things in life to make me strong. I’m sure you could too!
My story consists of teenage pregnancy, teenage marriage, frequent physical (spousal) abuse, rape and LOT’s of trying to prove myself.
Let me preface this all by saying that I grew up in a very comfortable home that was filled with love and I come from a very supportive family. My mom continues to prove what it is to be a STRONG, INDEPENDENT, SELF SUFFICIENT, CLASSY and DEPENDABLE woman. -but for me, that was not enough.
My sisters and brothers are considerably older than I am (well back then it seemed as if they were, not so much now) My youngest brother is 7 years older than me and my oldest sister is 14 years older. By the time I was a pre-teen, my siblings were gone from our family home and I don’t remember much about growing up with them. For the most part it was myself, my mom and my younger sister who is 4 years younger. -We all got along well but for me, and again, that was not enough.
I’ve sought out therapy and coaching in the past and it would leave me to feel somewhat better, temporarily, but barely ever even scratching the surface of my issues. My mind would often wonder while sitting in a session. I’d often ask myself “who is this person to give me strategy or advice as I know nothing about their struggle”. “How do I know how THEY have “made it through” if they haven’t shared any of that with me? Are they telling me how to “cope” based on what they’ve read or WHAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED??? I get it, training and schooling is essential as you need to use proper approach when dealing with trapped feelings, emotions and lack of self-esteem but coupled with the experience is what will allow for solid suggestions and powerful end results. I’m not saying that if you haven’t walked through the fire you are not equipped to tell another that they will get burned. What I AM saying is if you HAVE walked through the fire not only can you tell someone that they will get burned but you can also tell them what those burns felt like as you walked through that fire, tried and tested ways to treat those burns, the type of gear to wear to protect yourself from further burns and so on. It’s just a little different when you’ve actually been there.
In my coaching practice this is my approach. I speak first on what I know based on MY experiences not on which I have read. You see, It wasn’t until one day I sat with someone that actually told me their story BEFORE even asking to hear mine. I was so captivated, wanting to hear how it turned out and what steps this person took to get to her “ok” point. It was then that I started to search my inner self and it was then that I decided to become more transparent. Since doing so I have had people pour into me and I’ve been able to speak with certainty on that in which I have experienced AND that in which I have learned.
The reason behind me wanting to share my dark secrets is two/fold. One, for my own sanity and most importantly, to let somebody know that I get it, you may have all the support in the world and still feel lost and alone. You may have a sounding board but what good is it if you can’t or don’t share everything? In spite of all of that, you’re still gonna be alllllll right.
I’m challenging you to tell yourself that It’s going to be ok and to let you know that it is the pressure that creates the diamond. If only more people would tell their story someone may just be encouraged to get up and carry on. I’m not asking you to divulge your entire past but consider being vulnerable enough to open up to someone that may be struggling with what you have already gone through. I am SO ashamed of myself for holding back for so long. I have always offered to counsel and help as much as I thought I could but I held back so much. Even when the opportunity was there for me to be completely transparent my pride got in the way. I didn’t want what I thought was a “near perfect” persona to be ruined. I have people daily send me messages through FB and my instagram account telling me that they love my life or that my life seems so perfect or “I wish I had your life”. -WOW, is all I could think and for a short while the guilt nagged at me for not replying back “oh if you only knew….” but not enough for me to be totally transparent.
It’s a new day people, and more and more are committing suicide or being left to live miserable lives because of the burden they are carrying on the inside due to the fear of sharing, being ridiculed or even shut out. Also, because the content that social media feeds us every day, “keeping up with the Kardashian’s I mean the Jones’ has taken on a whole new meaning. I want you to know that there are more people like you than your social media feed is allowing you to believe.
In closing, my overall goal is to be able to sleep at night knowing that MY overall message is authentic and capable of changing lives.
….. and so my story continues
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It certainly has not been a smooth road. The most notable struggles were not financial or even lack of knowledge but lack of support from friends and family that don’t believe in your dream. Those who only stick by you when things are great and those who leave you because they don’t understand your constant absence due to trying to ‘level up’ and those who reappeared only AFTER the struggle was one. I’d say ‘friends’ have been my biggest let down throughout my growth process.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about SHEcorp, Inc?
SHEcorp, Inc encompasses all that I am. I am a Lifestyle Entrepreneur currently running three business. I have been in the Lifestyle Industry for over 20 years and started out doing interiors which consisted of home & business decor along with structural design. I, along with my husband also owned and managed 6 brick and mortar businesses which included 3 art studios, 1 interior design space and 2 home decor shops. Because of these experiences, my passion for helping others and having already obtained credentialing in event planning and interior design, I wanted to continue to encourage, motivate and teach others what I had learned along the way. Credentialed coaching was next on my list to complete my lifestyle brand, Thus SHEcorp, Inc. was born. SHEcorp focuses on helping women and girls attain their personal and business goals through coaching, advising and mentorship.
SHEcorp, Inc is the parent company to Everything Yoli which is an online ‘Women Power” shopping site that carries cool apparel, accessories and stationary and The Nervy Girl NFP Foundation, which is my Coaching Firm specifically for teen girls.
Over the years I have built my brand and it embraces everything that I love while also allowing me the opportunity to share and continue to give back to the community. I am an International Certified Coach who holds the following ICF approved designations; Neuro-Linguistic Programmer, Executive Coach, Life Coach, Communications Coach and College Admissions Coach. I am also a proud member of ILEA, ICF and CCA with additional certifications in Event Planning, Party Planning, Business Planning and Etiquette Coaching.
I am most proud of being able to service women from all income brackets without having to turn anyone away. I am an advocate for women and with the help of my supporters, I always find a way to give back.
My brand encompasses the pure Boss Babe, Women Supporting Women vibe.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I am most happy when I see other women achieve goals that they never thought they could. This makes me happy because I see so many women underestimating themselves because of what someone may have said or because of their current/past circumstance.
Contact Info:
- Email: yoli@everythingyoli.com
- Website: www.everythingyoli.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/everythingyoli
Image Credits
Photo Credits: Nadia De La Mora
