Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Lindsay.
Hi Donna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Three years ago, I became very dissatisfied with the work I was doing. I was looking for a new opportunity and praying about the possibility of starting a new career. At the time, I was working in a local elementary school and the position I held was starting to lose its luster. The long hours, demanding schedule, tons of paperwork, and many sleepless nights were starting to become overwhelming and emotionally unproductive.
One day while conversing with a close friend, I began to express my desire to do something new. My friend began talking to me about becoming a life coach. I had no idea what a life coach was or how to prepare myself to do this kind of work. Little did I know that one conversation would lead me to be trained and certified to establish Donna Lindsay Coaching and Consulting, LLC.
Each day, my friend and I would travel 30-35 minutes from our home to engage in coaching instruction, discussion, and role-playing that would catapult us both into our next adventure. The instructor was so engaging, my classmates so supportive, and my curiosity was peaked. While in class, the instructor had us to envision ourselves in our office working with our coaching clients. The visualization was designed to cause something non-existent to become tangible. However, when the instructor got to me he asked me to describe my office and who I was meeting with. I shared that I was not in an office but on a stage in front of thousands of people. I had a book in my hand that I had obviously written. With that said, my classmates stared at me with amazement written all over their faces. My instructor paused momentarily and then said, “Well, get to writing that book”. I remember saying to myself, “Why did you say that? You don’t write books.”
This monumental declaration did not forget me. I began coaching individuals here and there over the course of the next year, but I realized that I was still experiencing dissatisfaction. While I enjoyed helping individuals identify their barriers, set goals, and meet with success there was something missing. One year after enrolling in the life coaching class I was invited to write in two anthologies. The first, 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏: 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑, 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 contains a chapter I wrote entitled “The Power of Influence”, which teaches leaders how to use their influence to positively impact the people they lead through the lens of love. The second, 𝒀𝒆𝒔! 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑪𝒂𝒏, 𝑩𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 houses my contributing chapter “Take the Mask Off! Be the Authentic You”, which encourages readers to identify the purpose, explore misconceptions, prepare for the removal of the metaphoric mask they have worn, and take the steps needed to find their authentic self. In 2020, I was asked to be the Inspirational/Spiritual columnist for an online magazine that is distributed throughout North America. Presently, I am writing my own independent book due to release in early 2022.
In 2020, my writing led me to create a curriculum for a quarterly masterclass I train called 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭. In this four-week class participants are given the opportunity to identify barriers and challenges, release people situations and circumstances, and learn how to love themselves unconditionally. I am pleased to share that this class has been facilitated for individuals on a national level and international organizations desiring to help their employees improve their self-love journey. Presently, I am in the process of creating a self-paced online version of the class for individuals who prefer to work independently.
I believe that my faith, willing heart, and courage to embrace change is what set the stage for where I am today. As a result, I am thankful that I did not cave in or give up, but I turned my pain into my passion. Every organization I worked for, the people I interacted with, and the tasks and/or assignments I completed led me to where I am today. All of these combined endeavors has opened doors, created opportunities, and afforded me the opportunity to share my knowledge, help people recognize their potential and tap into their greatness, as well as meet people from all over the world.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My journey has definitely not been smooth. It has had its fair share of twists, turns, ups, downs, roadblocks, and newly paved roads. However, I always say, “Change is Good!”.
One of the things entrepreneurs or those transitioning from full-time employment to entrepreneurship are encouraged to understand is that change does not come easy. I was moving from a very secure and consistent career to one that would require me to be all things to my business. I was not only called to be the coach, but the secretary, social media marketing director, curriculum specialist, training organizer, and facilitator to name a few. I was moving from the place where clients were already present in the building to now identifying a target audience and strategizing how to interest individuals in signing up for coaching or enrolling in my masterclass.
Currently, I still hold a day-time position in my local school system and my evenings are spent trying to build my business. This can be trying mentally, physically, and emotionally. One of the greatest challenges that I face as an entrepreneur is maintaining consistency. There are evenings I would like to call in sick or take the day off, but that would lead to no revenue being generated, classes or individuals not being taught, or the curriculum not being enhanced and improved. This can be extremely discouraging, however, when I find myself falling into these difficult moments ask myself “Why?” “Why are you doing this?” Why do want to help people?” or “Why is your work important?” The answers to one or all of these questions often lead me right back to becoming regaining my focus and moving forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a 27-year educator who has worked with students from Pre-K to Grade 12 in a variety of settings. Presently, I work as a Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports Administrator. I provide direct support, guidance, and direction to school principals around behavioral strategies and interventions for at-risk students. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education: Specific Learning Disabilities/Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. Throughout my career, I have educated students with emotional disorders, intellectual disabilities, specific learning disabilities, deaf and hard of hearing, as well as traumatic brain injury.
As of April 2018, I became a certified professional coach, author, speaker, founder, and CEO of Donna Lindsay Coaching & Consulting, LLC, a life coaching organization that helps women to overcome self-esteem and self-worth challenges by learning how to love themselves unconditionally. I believe that a person’s ability to love themselves without condition impacts how they relate to others.
As a certified professional coach and speaker, I host a weekly broadcast on Facebook LIVE called 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. I am also the founder of 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, a Facebook Group that engages women in discussions, polls, training, and activities centered around improving their self-love journey.
In October 2019, my husband and I were crowned Mr. and Mrs. Black America. Due to the pandemic, our reign has lasted two years. I have participated in several amazing events such as: speaking on panels, judging talent shows, speaking at women’s conferences, engaging coaching circles, participating in parades, and imparting into the lives of children.
I am most proud that I said, “Yes!”. Yes to becoming an educator who serves the marginalized and disenfranchised. Yes, to become a life coach that assists women in learning how to love themselves unconditionally and unapologetically. Yes, to entrepreneurship and the learning curve that is embedded in the process. Yes, to the Mr. and Mrs. Black America Pageant, a pageant with a purpose. Yes, to every open door and opportunity that has been made available to me.
As someone who is spiritually in tune, I wake up each morning praying for my coaching sessions, as well as my clients. It is always my desire to see our sessions manifest and move in the direction that they were divinely orchestrated to go. Additionally, I believe that life’s experiences, my positive attitude, ability to read my client’s silence, and my personable, strategic, and engaging conversation are also what set me apart from typical or traditional coaches and counselors.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I do not believe in luck, but I do believe in manifested blessings. I believe that my life’s journey was mapped out long before I arrived or was planted in my mother’s wombs. I believe that what I am called or assigned to do is predestined. I believe that every test, trial, tribulation, victory, and/or success has prepared me to walk out of my assignment in life and in business.
Contact Info:
- Email: donna@donnalindsay.com
- Website: www.donnalindsay.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/_donna_lindsay
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/donnalindsayspeaks
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/DonnaLSpeaks
- Other: www.facebook.com/groups/lovemywaycollective
Image Credits
Antonio Lindsay M Denise Simmons Productions, LLC
