Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
Music commentary
Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
From Brooklyn to Bestseller: LaKeisha Williams' Journey to Authentic Leadership
What happens when a Brooklyn girl who society labeled a "statistic" refuses to accept limitations? Meet Lakeasha "Shine Shine" Williams, the powerhouse whose transformational journey from teen motherhood to bestselling author is redefining authentic leadership.
In this soul-stirring conversation, Lakeasha reveals the profound story behind her "Let It Go" devotional series that topped the charts on release day. She doesn't just talk about transformation – she embodies it. Growing up during the crack epidemic of the 1980s, raising children while pursuing education, and eventually turning around one of the lowest-performing schools in her district, LaKeisha's life demonstrates that your past doesn't determine your destiny.
"When you live right every day, you never have to perform," Lakeasha shares, cutting through leadership clichés with hard-earned wisdom. Her refreshing take on authenticity challenges us to embrace every facet of ourselves rather than conforming to narrow expectations: "I can be this AND that, not this OR that." This philosophy has powered her approach to leadership development, where she focuses on healing the person before tackling organizational challenges.
The conversation takes a vulnerable turn when Lakeasha discusses stepping away from career success to address her own depletion. "You cannot pour from an empty cup," she reminds us, explaining how her own healing journey birthed resources now helping thousands. Her mantra "Speak what you seek until you see what you said" offers a practical approach to maintaining faith through difficult seasons.
Whether you're struggling with personal healing, seeking authentic leadership principles, or simply need inspiration from someone who's defied every statistical prediction, Lakeasha's story proves that with faith and determination, transformation is always possible. Join the 30-day transformational journey with Lakeasha on Instagram @coach_shine_on_lakeasha or visit BrickHouseUnlimited.com to access her books and upcoming Leadership Masterclass.
Hey there, I'm Jacqueline Cox, but you might know me as ListenLinda. Um, where do I even begin? I guess you could say I wear many hats Podcast host, entrepreneur, Mrs Illinois, usa, and so much more but it all started with a simple passion to tell stories and empower others. Building a platform wasn't easy. There were days when I wondered if anyone was even listening. But then something amazing happened. I realized the power of my voice. Suddenly, my words were reaching people, touching lives, making a difference. Now I see my mission clearly to create spaces where every voice can be heard, thank you, and together we can make our voices echo far and wide. To be a guest on Listen Linda. Contact Jacqueline Cox on Facebook Messenger.
Speaker 2:Hey, hey, hey, fam. It is Friday, friday, friday August 1st, 9 amam Central Standard Time and we are back live with Arthur, number 4 and our 25 awesome authors of 2025 series and the one and only Lakeisha Shy Shy Williams baby, you were the first author we signed at Listen, linda Pub publishing and y'all remember we produced four projects in 11 days, all released on her birthday, and I'll hit number one on that day. Clock it, clock it. Oh, this is a major, major legacy.
Speaker 2:Now, before we get started, y'all know how I do I got to praise the Lord and Savior every day before we get it started. So let's bow our heads and pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for this moment, thank you for Lakeisha's story, the power in her pen and the transformation her words ignite. May this conversation bless every soul under the sound of my voice, speak life through these words and activate destiny in Jesus mighty, mighty name. Amen, amen, amen. All right, lakeisha, babe, you honored the calling, so I want to say congrats again on your birthday. Drops to let it go, let me grab, let me grab, let me grab. Okay, the Let it Go devotional e-book.
Speaker 2:All went. Number one, okay, we all made sure we pulled together everybody from under the Listen Linda umbrella on down to Shasha's umbrella. We made it happen. Okay, we want to thank everybody for showing up, so tell everybody what that felt like for you.
Speaker 3:Oh wow, it was surreal. Um, I knew that I wanted to celebrate my milestone birthday, turning 50, and I don't look it, I tell y'all time, girl, you look good.
Speaker 2:Don't look it Girl. I tell y'all time, girl, you look good. Girl, I want to be like you, that's so funny.
Speaker 3:So I knew that I wanted to celebrate it in a major way. I did not know exactly what I was going to do or how I was going to do it, but I knew that I wanted to represent me, was going to do it, but I knew that I wanted to represent me. You know who I was and everything that I have been able to not only accomplish but, most importantly, overcome in my 50-year journey and things that I still look forward to, and so it ultimately culminated into the Let it Go series, as well as the Leadership Unlimited magazine, and it just couldn't have been no greater achievement, and I definitely want to sincerely thank you for helping me through that process and journey and making sure that we were able to get it done in record time, and it really is truly a labor of love to celebrate, you know, 50 years and the next 50 years to come.
Speaker 2:Amen, amen. Now I want to just give you a few comments that I saw, like on goodreads. Um, as, as far as like your let it go 30 day devotional because, you know me, I deep dive, I go into it, I'm going to figure out what's going on, what's the tea. So your let it go 30 day devotional is your gold standard work on healing and it walks, you know folks day by day, day to lead to their own, you know, self-healing journey. Now Goodreads shows it at a perfect 5.0 rating, right With readers calling it amazing. One review said it was amazing and another one said absolutely amazing. When describing Leadership Unlimited magazine. About your legacy story too, that devotion hit hearts in your Leadership Unlimited magazine, curated for your 50th birthday. Readers also said Lakeisha has done it again. Praise your timeline, the positive affirmations and then walking in faith.
Speaker 2:I wanted to ask you let me see you came through right as our first signed author and producing those four powerful projects in 11 days. How did you stay focused as far as like just basically pacing yourself? You know cause. I know this has been a long time coming. You know, and I know it wasn't easy trying to cause, you know me, I got the crack whip and the bull honey. I want to know, dealing with me and, just like the pressure, trying to get it all, how did you stay focused and move so fast and to be able to produce so much quality in your work?
Speaker 3:I think when you live right every day, you never have to perform. And so when I think about everything that came with Let it Go including the magazine once again, let it go including the magazine once again. Even though we were able to get it done in 11 days, it really and truly was already together, right. And so that was definitely God's sin. And the funny thing is right. I was talking to my children. Again, if you know my story, then you know I have millennial sons and I was trying to get some feedback from them, like what should I do? How should I do it? And they were like Ma, use your story, use your story. And so to your question. It was already laid out there for me, right, I just needed a vessel, which you came along right in order to help me bring everything to fruition. So we talk about the 30 day devotional that essentially was crafted like two years ago, right? So I had those thoughts on my mind and in my heart.
Speaker 3:Again, I just didn't know how to let it go, right, I didn't know how to let it go, how to put it out there, and again, for me it's one in the same, because the magazine is a reflection of my life and everything that I believe. And so, even when we talk about the different parts, the questions, the interview questions that you asked of me, again it was just it's me speaking my truth, me being my authentic self. And when you are in that space and you're allowed you hear me using that word allowed, right, because we know how society is. You hear me using that word aloud, right, because we know how society is. Society likes to box you into this is who you are, my true, authentic self. Just like with the photo shoot.
Speaker 3:Again, that's who I am, that's who I am. So you don't get to define me, right. And with the tributes, the crazy thing with the tributes is in my mind I was like, oh, it would be nice to get you know 50 because I'm turning 50. But I had subconsciously said to myself I would be happy for 20. Girl, even after the magazine was published, I was still getting tributes in yeah, because you told me like I keep getting them.
Speaker 3:I was still getting tributes in After I already had the magazine in hand. People were still sending me tributes. And again, that just speaks to the many lives that I've touched over the years. And so, just to you know, wrap it all up. I'm just going to say that when you walk in your authenticity and you live based on God's purpose for your life, it shows up. And that's how you show up in the world, to other people, and so you never know who you are impacting, but continue to be you and again, live out your purpose, and people resonate with that. They resonate with authenticity, they resonate with vulnerability. Right, and that's what Let it Go is all about. And so leadership, as I've said, multiple yourself so you can be a better person for yourself and then impact others in a better way.
Speaker 2:Exactly, I 100% agree with that. If you start with you first and do the internal work, light is going to exude that and people, everything is attracted to light. So it's going to come naturally because you're being who you're supposed to be magazines and different things and I can truly say you are one of very few um who have actually um came in and not try to be somebody else in the process and it was just it was. It was like a breath of fresh air. You know, like, okay, now I don't have to coach you so much through trying to pull out of you what's already in there, because some people it's not, I don't you know what. I take that back.
Speaker 2:I don't think it's more so of people not trying to be who they are. I really just think people are afraid of what other people may think about their story, about about their journey, about who they are authentically. So what they do is they try to mask behind something that they're not to appease other people. And one thing about Shine, Shine, clock it, clock it, baby, Clock it. I was like whoo Sweet, she did that, baby, Okay.
Speaker 3:Listen, one thing people will always say about me is I don't care about the opinions of others. Yes, I do not care about the opinions of others, right? Because God made all of us different for a reason. We all have different paths, mistakes, and all flaws and all. I own, all of it. I am who I am, no matter where I am and no matter who I'm around, and if you know me right, then you know that about me. And so when I say I don't care, I don't care.
Speaker 2:Girl. She did not care, honey. She was like show that leg, show that leg. I was like okay.
Speaker 3:Yes, I was, because, again, when we speak about vulnerability, right To your point, vulnerability is about you revealing it right, revealing it all. And when I say revealing it all, I'm talking about, like, the core essence of who you are. And again, people, like society, like to say they want you to choose, you can be this or that. And my perspective on life is I can be this and that, like I don't have to choose. Right, because when God made us, when God made me, he knew what he was doing right and he made all of this right. So he wanted me to be smart and beautiful and sexy and kind and community-driven and goal-oriented and have such a soft heart a soft heart but also a don't mess with me attitude. Right, like he made me in his image.
Speaker 2:And so who are you to try to tell me not to embrace all that I am? So for me it's this and that, not this or that. Now I want to reach into your roots for a second. So you grew up Brooklyn, bk. During the height of the crack epidemic in the 80s that I know it, you know dealing with like trauma and survival at a young age. How did those early years shape your belief in healing and your calling into leadership? Like what did God begin to teach you as a little girl, watching all that pain around you?
Speaker 3:Um, I really, when, when I get asked this question, I really Don't ask me this question. I really I didn't ask you my question, did I? I really? Because, again, when you think about society, it's like mental health is real and I understand trauma, and so my message is that we're not responsible for our traumas, but we are responsible for our healing, and that's the space that I'm in, right? And so when people think about my beginnings, when they think about me being a teen mom neither one of my parents graduated from high school when they think about all of those things, again, according to society's standards, I'm not supposed to be who I am today, right?
Speaker 3:So people oftentimes ask me shine, shine, how was born in Allendale, south Carolina. But just the other day I was, you know, talking about my grandmother, who had the courage, in the 60s, to leave the South, to leave an abusive marriage because she wanted a different life, and that's how my family started out in New York City. And then for my parents to raise children here, and once upon a time, to raise children here, and once upon a time we lived next door to a crack house, but they also knew that we were not of that, right, like, that's where we live, but that's not who we were, and so that message was most definitely ingrained in me as early as I can remember that this is not your life and sometimes what happens is being an educator for almost 30 years and working with children. I oftentimes tell parents don't put your limitations onto your child, because the mind is a powerful thing, and we want children to know that there's different ways of being. And even if you didn't experience like my parents didn't experience certain things, but they knew it was a different way of being. And so that message of hope is what ingrained in me at a very early age. So I know when Barack Obama was president, michelle used to say that all the time, but I coined that phrase first.
Speaker 3:Like I'm in the business of hope. I'm in the business of hope, and that's what my parents gave me at a very early age. You can be anything that you want to be. It may sound cliche, but children need to hear that over and over again and you do need to find ways to immerse them in. You know different things.
Speaker 3:So as a child, you know I also attended an elementary school again poor neighborhood, poor school district but I had a principal who was ahead of her time and I was on stage doing many different things. I was in a band, I was dancing, I was in plays, you know. So, again, it was cultivated in me at home and then when I went to school, I had a principal who was ahead of her time. So when I think about my grandmother and my parents and my principal, I was in situations where, from a very early age, the seed was planted in me that you are from greatness and that is the expectation that we have of you. And I grew up, you know, with God, and my mother, definitely, you know, made sure that we knew and understood that we were the children of, we were God's children and we were blessed and we were meant to do great things here on this earth.
Speaker 2:Now. Thank you for that. So I want to get into some other things with you real fast. So with the 30 day devotional, I want to hold it up again for you guys who have not seen this beautiful cover with this beautiful lady on there. What devotional. It takes readers step by step through personal healing journey, right Through a personal healing journey, one intentional day at a time. How did your all healing story inspire the structure and the tone of that devotional, Like? What was the moment when you said this needs to go into print and into people's hands?
Speaker 3:Again. I first started thinking about this a couple of years ago when I decided to walk away from my school at its height. You know, I took a school that was ranked number 29 out of 32 schools in the district and by the time I left we were number one in the district for math gains, number two in the district across elementary schools for ELA gains, my cohort grade was top 10 in the district for ELA performance and top seven in the district for math performance, and every way that a school could be evaluated we were off the charts. I walked away from that right and that was a. I didn't realize it at the time, but I felt like I lost my baby and that took me on a tailspin of a healing journey that I did not know I needed Right. But again, we know that everything, everything is for our greater good. Everything is for our greater good.
Speaker 3:So, going through that process, I did begin to journal and you know and I reflected on, you know what happened to me at different points of my life. You know being pregnant at 16, going through a divorce, having to move my children into the projects, finishing up with school, while dragging them from one side of Brooklyn to the other side of Brooklyn to go to classes as well, just fighting to purchase my first property. I just reflected back on all of those times where, again, it was like, how did I make it through? And so at this point, a couple of years ago, I did take a step back, because, going through everything that I went through in my life in these 50 years, I always just kept going Right. And so then I began to ask my question. I began to ask that question to myself right, like what is it that you need? Like, what is it that you need? What is it that you need to pour into yourself?
Speaker 3:So the Let it Go journal right is not just for the people Like, it was my healing journey. It was actually my healing journey, which is why, at being in the leadership space for over 20 years again, I can do all of the leadership stuff right the data analysis, professional development, team building. That's the easy part of the job. But when it comes to people being the best versions of themselves, you have to heal right, and healing is I don't believe it's a one and done right. I believe that life be lifing right and, as trials and tribulations come into your life, what are we doing as a people? I mean, we see the mental health statistics, right. We see people crashing out all the time, right?
Speaker 2:I crashed out on your tail in a minute. I'm still going.
Speaker 3:And unfortunately, we see that in the most egregious ways as well, right, so it's definitely something that's needed and we need as many bold leaders as possible so that we can empower change. And so, again, just based on who I am authentically, I knew that me going through this process and going through this journey, I couldn't keep it to myself because I'm not a gatekeeper, right? And I believe that if something is good for me, then that means it's good for you and it's good for her and him and everybody. So let me get this word out, as far as I could get it out, and help as many people as I can possibly help so that we can, overall, improve our society.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, I'm 100 percent with you on that, absolutely, um, I'm 100 with you on that. And and when you, when you gave me the material, I was like this remember I told you I said, oh, we got go this coming out. This is because I was so overwhelmed with like, and to be honest with you, I think I was, I was more so overwhelmed. I just want to read it too, like I want to get this inside of me. So I got it first, I saw it first, but it helped me, like even like now I understand, like why publishers do what they do too, because we, we get to go in and actually get those nuggets before a lot of people.
Speaker 2:And for me, it was at a time in my life when I was doing your project where I needed that. So you gave it to me. It helped me. It helped me and I was like, yes, I want to be a part of this. Absolutely, thank you so much for even considering me. I was like because there's so many different publishers out here and you know so many people that publish you know so many people that do these things so and you're like really close with them.
Speaker 2:So I'm like, I'm like I know we're cool, like you know me and we're cool. But for you to say I want trust you. That meant so much to me and it's still good and I'm very, very appreciative Because you know, I had just started. I didn't just start publishing, but I had just started the company Right. So I was very fresh, you know, on the scene I had only did my own stuff in my you know, a few of my family, but in my magazine, of course. But um, for you to say you know what, jackie, I believe in what you're doing and I trust your, your vision, and I want you to come help me with this.
Speaker 3:That really that changed the game, and guess what? That's what leadership is, though? Right, like we have to trust other people. We have to know what we know and know what we don't know, and then we have to trust.
Speaker 2:Yes, so it was phenomenal for me. I appreciate you and the body of work that you created. Before we get into more with Lakeisha, we're going to take a break, get like a minute or so break from a word from our sponsor, and then we'll come right back. The sponsor is me, though, so just so, y'all sponsors, okay, so I donate right here at the bottom of your, your commercial.
Speaker 4:Come on here too, sis, have you ever survived something that was supposed to take you out? Have you walked through something so heavy, so painful, that you didn't even recognize yourself after, but somehow you made it through? Through the Rain is for women who've been through the storms, all women who face unique challenges and triumphs. This is about what we went through and how God pulled us through. This ain't just another book. This is real talk, real healing and real ministry For all women who've been through it and still got the strength to speak. Your tears, your triumphss, your testimony they all matter. You don't have to be a writer, sis. I got you from ghost writing to one-on-one consults. I'll help you get your story out the way it's meant to be told with grace and power. Your story has power. Let it do the ministry. Come join us through the rain. We're waiting on you, sis. Spots, payment plans are available. Dm me today and let's walk this journey together. It's time to turn your pain into purpose, your struggle into strength.
Speaker 2:A word from our sponsor. So that is the Through the Rain devotional. We're coming out with the anthology, but I decided to go ahead and do a devotion. I have 30 women come in and actually be able to tell their truths through the rain and how God delivered them through their storms and their seasons in their lives. So if you want to be a part of that, contact me on Facebook, dm me. I'm there all day, every day. That is my job Facebook. So contact me on Facebook. Dm me. I'm there all day, every day. That is my job. Facebook. So contact me on Facebook. That's the best way to contact me.
Speaker 2:If you want to be a part of it, spaces are limited. I have people signing up now, so come in. For $300. You get a list of things you can do, but you also be able to get your chapter in the bestselling book and also be able to help someone else, help your other. You be able to heal from the things that God has brought you through. So getting back to because you see I said that real fast and I'm trying to get back to my questions Getting back to defining healing and leading from experience, because that were what where we kind of left off. You went beyond surface level healing like, into leadership teaching here and especially for women, stepping into identity and purpose. How did your own journey from trauma in Brooklyn to life coaching and executive leadership um executive leadership strategy inform your message about healing, lifting others up and walking in your legacy.
Speaker 3:I'm sorry, can you repeat that again?
Speaker 2:Okay. So the question part was how did your own journey from trauma in Brooklyn to life coaching and executive leadership strategy inform your message about healing, lifting up others and walking in your legacy?
Speaker 3:Again, I'm going to reference the authenticity part, and I think that sometimes, when people quote unquote, make it right, because success is measured in many different ways. For me, it is right, but let's go with what society likes to typically see as success stories. Oftentimes, unfortunately especially for us as a people we want to forget about the trauma from our childhood and growing up. However, we grew up right, we want to forget about that and we want to just focus on I have this title, I have these degrees, I'm doing this, I'm doing that, but I think, in my opinion, right, that was, that is my strength, that's my strength and that's what I use to help me in the work that I'm doing today. It gives me the ability to see people for who they are, and I don't care if you are the CEO, right. I don't care if you are the principal, I don't care if you are the president. We're human beings first, absolutely, and that's what I see right. So I see you as a human being and my form of leadership, development, support is to help you. And so, in this leadership space, again, that's what I found in me trying to support people in their organizations. It wasn't necessarily about setting goals and writing action plans. It was about how do I help this individual with the blockage that they have and them not realizing and understanding that they have to let it go, because anytime we don't live on this planet by ourselves. So everything is group sport, right, because at some point, even if you're an IT person working in the office, at some point you got to deal with people. You got to communicate with people, right. So, whether you're running a team in a nonprofit or, you know, you're in a school and you're dealing with with your school community, people have to deal with people. And when I'm a sports girl, right. And so I'm like, when you think about football which you know we'll be back to football season so when you think about football, you need everybody on the team. The quarterback is not the only one that that's out on the field. You need your defensive end, your offensive end, you need your special teams, you need your tight ends, your running back. You need everybody. In order for you to win in life, you need to make sure that individuals are in a good space so that they can be the best versions of themselves, and when they're able to do that, then you're going to get the quality that you want to get in your different organizations, and so leadership development for me became and that's how I live my life right. That's how I feel like I've been able to overcome my traumas from Brooklyn and be, you know, as successful as I am today, because I have not removed myself, and so it was just a matter of how do I package that and share that message with others so that they too can understand. If you want your organizations to do well and, by the way, I have the receipts as well so clock that t right. I have that. This works. This works.
Speaker 3:You could turn around schools, you could turn around organizations, but you have to do it with the people. You have to do it with the people, and far too often we have forgotten about that and we forgot about the most important lesson of what makes a testimonial a testimonial You've had to have gone through the fire, been tested right, but you persevered, you remained resilient, you got through it, you learned your lessons and then your willingness to share it with others, and so leadership for me is the willingness to share with others. So everything that I am and all of my 50 years have helped me to be the person that I am today and the person that I will become. So I haven't forgotten and it's just. It's woven into the fabric of who I am and how I work and how I show up in the world.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and your life and your message. To me it echoes 2 Corinthians 1, 3, and 4. God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves receive. Right, I get that, like throughout doing your thing. That's what echoes to me, um, um.
Speaker 2:So how did God comfort you and how are you using that comfort to speak into other women's lives? Because that really is the heartbeat of your ministry to me, like, anytime I do any project with anybody, for some reason, when I'm reading something or I'm helping them with something, it's always a verse that comes to me. And even dealing with people, right, I try to figure out like, okay, so, cause I always believe, like it's something in that Bible that can resonate with everybody's story and with yours. To me, that's what it gave. It gave second Corinthians, one, three and four. So you know again. I want to ask you again, just in case um, how are you using that you know, the comfort that God gave you to speak into other women's lives or other people's? Because I don't want to box it in with just women, because even though my ministry is women, right, yours is everybody, cause I'm checking I could put some on Instagram, baby.
Speaker 2:And I'd be like, what did I do? I go on there If I tag Lakeisha Sean, sean Williams or a coach, he showed my stuff, you could believe I got 500. I'd be like, ooh yeah, I'm popping today and I go man, it's all for Lakeisha Shanshan. I'd be like, go ahead, girl, you got much to make me go child. And it's not just women, right, it's not just men, it's young kids. It's you know, kids as young as 16, 17,. I'm seeing on their life. They're all the way into 80s and 90s. And it's not just men, I mean, it's not just women, it's men too. So how do you use that Like? I know how I do it, but how has God's you know comfort been able to help you to speak into other people's lives the way you do?
Speaker 3:So for me, what I had to learn, like I told you a couple of years ago, when I started on this particular project of Let it Go, I actually like I had to live it first. So I live this, I lived this, and even though you know I have gone through different challenges throughout my life the most recent one a couple of years ago, when I wrote this like I was actually conscious of what I was going through, and sometimes God does that right, like that's how he works, like he wants you to be still and he wants you to pause and he wants you to know that, no matter what, he has you. And so I had to, I had to lean on him and I had to trust him and I had to understand that I'm also a human being as well. Right, and it is important, it is critically important for all of us to know and understand that you cannot pour from an empty cup. You cannot pour from an empty cup. You have to make sure that your cup is filled and what others get is your overflow, right? So you don't get to have what's in my cup, because what's in my cup is for me, because I cannot help anybody else if I don't first know how to help myself and pour into myself and love on myself and make sure that I am well.
Speaker 3:And I think for a little bit I forgot about that and I believe that God wanted to make sure that I was reminded that, hey, you're empty, you're depleted, and I was. I was and people didn't understand, like, why are you walking away from your school? And my thing to folks was number one mental health is real and I'm being vulnerable and I'm being honest with myself about the space that I'm in and I do feel depleted and I need to take care of me. It is important for me to take care of me. They tell you that all the time. When you get on a flight right, god forbid something happens you have to put your oxygen mask on first before you can help someone else.
Speaker 3:And I have forgotten that message and God wanted to remind me of that message. Message and in him reminding me of that message, let it go was born because I also lean into the understanding and I know that I'm covered and I know that everything and I mean everything is for my greater good and things don't happen to you, they happen for you and so, even with tears in my eyes, you know I can. I'm still submitting, I'm still submitting to God's will. Like what do you want it to be Like? That's what I want to submit to, and that's what I want to lean into and that's what I want to walk into and that's why I'm able to share my message Right and like you call it my ministry the way that I do.
Speaker 3:Right, because I understand that and I know that we have to, and so I had said this before and I just, I just love the saying we have to speak what we seek until we see what we said. We seek until we see what we said. So, even in yeah, I'm going to repeat that again but even in the midst of my stuff, I'm still speaking life into me, I'm still praying every day, I'm still working on what I know God has in store for me. Because, again, we have to speak what we seek until we see what we said. And not everybody can understand that, but isn't that what faith is? Isn't that what faith is Right? And so, although people will talk all the time about you, know they would like to accomplish this, they want this and that, whatever in their life. But you got to have the faith and you got to believe and you got to pour into you and I truly believe that when you're able to understand that, believe that, when you're able to understand that and also know that our job here on this earth and this is the way I raised my two sons I said God doesn't care if you go to a church, a synagogue, a mosque, a temple, the kingdom hall, he doesn't care.
Speaker 3:God cares about how you impact others, he cares about how you treat other people, and so I cannot do what I'm doing without positively impacting other people, and so I'm going to forever be in that space. Right, I'm going to make sure that I continue to take care of Lakeisha, aka Shine Shine Williams. Right, I'm going to take care of me. I'm going to fill my cup, because the overflow is what I can then give to others and share with others. Because this is not about this life is not just about me, right? This life is not just about my children and my granddaughter with her business, serenity Nail College. Right, it's not just about us. I want to take as many people with me as I possibly can and I'm not Harriet Tubman, but I am a history person, and when I think about the way she lived her life. She was already free, she didn't have to go back, but it was important to her to go back and get as many people as she possibly could.
Speaker 2:And those are the the behaviors, if you will, that I subscribe to I had to throw that up, I hope I spelled it right but serenity nail polish. Y'all check Lakeisha's page for more information on how to purchase. Okay, and donating to this young CEO, this baby girl, okay, and we'll make sure we put that out there. But, yes, absolutely, I 100% agree with everything you're saying. Now I know with Let it Go, 30 Day Devotionalional, you got a passage in okay, so I want you to look, look through it really fast and give us one spiritual truth that you hope that people take away after experiencing your project. Okay, so one. Okay, so one. Go go through your 30 days and just pick one and give us an excerpt from it.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay just so y'all get a sneak peek of what y'all. Okay so, and they just give you a bunch of fluff about their books. But on the list on linda live okay, we don't play that, we gonna get y'all a little snippet. You know what y'all need to get. Okay, coming through here.
Speaker 3:So so what's resonated with me is day 19, right, which is miracle making, and the scripture for this day is for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and that's from Jeremiah 29, 11,. Even in brokenness, miracles unfold. Gratitude multiplies your awareness of what's already good. Speak life over your future. It's already pregnant with promise absolutely phenomenal.
Speaker 2:Phenomenal, and that's a word, and anybody who knows you know I named my son after jeremiah 11. My oldest son is Jaden Jeremiah, and everywhere, everywhere, throughout my journey of just even becoming pregnant with him I'm going through that process Jeremiah 29, 11 always came up Everywhere I go. If I see a scripture, that's what was up I go to church pastor preaching about it. So I was like this it has to mean something and that means it was God's promise over my life and that I had to trust in him because I knew that he had a plan for me and he had a plan for my son. So that was his confirmation of you know. Basically, what you're saying is definitely real. If we want things to happen in our lives, um, if it's in god's will, it will manifest. But we have to, and we have to know that if things, just because we want these things right, doesn't mean that it's always in our best interest. So if it's not happening or it never happens, that because that's because god has something so much greater for us, right, like I posted something the other day that I it was a memory of mine, um, keish, and it was, uh, from nine years ago or eight years ago, where it was this little girl in our, in our references all the time.
Speaker 2:She has this teddy bear little small teddy bear and she's hugging this teddy bear and Jesus is kneeling down in front of her. Now he has this big, huge teddy bear and she's hugging this teddy bear and jesus is kneeling down in front of her. Now he has this big, huge teddy bear right and he got it behind his back and he's telling her to give him hers and she's saying, no, I want it. But she does not understand the magnitude of what he has for her. If she just sacrificed that small teddy bear, she has something so much greater, but she's so afraid to let it go let it go that she that she just may miss that month.
Speaker 2:So we don't want to be like that little girl and miss that a lot of times. We want to hold on to people and we want to hold on to things and we want to hold on to things and we want to hold on to memories, but we don't understand that things, these things can happen for us, because we don't have that, what, that degree or that accolade, or the, the popularity, or you know, I only got what? Not even 7 000 followers on facebook, but it's somebody only got a thousand. But then there's some people that got 30 000, but it's not about how many followers you have.
Speaker 2:It's not about the popularity that you receive. It's not always about the accolades. That I'm not. I'm not down in people who get their accolades because you work hard for them. So I don't want, I'm not one of those people that downplay people or saying you don't go get what you. You doing it all for Kyle, you're doing all for accolades. No, no, set the foundation for your kids. Okay, to show them that it's it is possible to achieve those things, but don't let those things overpower who you are. Don't become the accolade. Don't become that. Don't make it all about that. What you want to do is take that and show people just how good God is. That is the key, and once you do that and you give all glory to him, the blessings will overflow.
Speaker 2:I had one person tell me. The other day, I think, I posted on Facebook. I'm tired of telling you congratulations.
Speaker 3:Oh, I did see that.
Speaker 2:I am tired of telling you congratulations. I said, well, you're gonna have to delete me. I think I blocked that person like you're gonna delete me. If you are sick and tired of me showing my accolades or me showing the things that God is doing for me constantly in my life, I'm sorry. That's why he keep doing it for me, so I can keep giving him the glory. And if people don't know what's going on, that they don't know that it's possible. So you're going to know that it's possible with Jacqueline. Listen, linda Cox. Okay, you're going to know what time it is over here, but I want people to know what time it is because I want people to see what time it is, because I want people to see Look, two years ago this girl had a 20 page poetry book that she just did in an author challenge for Bookleaf Publishing and she took that book.
Speaker 2:She turned it into ministry. And it can't always be night clock, that T. You can go find it on Amazon. Uh, that was a small, small plug. But that turned into mountains can't rise without earthquakes. That turned into you know me, you know um participating in an anthology. She said yes herself, unapologetically. Right. That turned into me doing my own podcast, you know, listen l going syndicated 27 countries in less than a year. That's because I was what Lakeisha letting it go, being authentically me and meeting people where they are.
Speaker 2:I've never been somebody who tried to carbon copy what somebody else is doing. I've always believed in being who I am, my big personality, my flamboyant self. I stepped onto the scene shaking my neck and I ain't going to stop because somebody says, oh you, christian, you're not supposed to talk like that. Or oh you, christian, but your radio station plays R&B. I play music for the soul. Your radio station plays R&B. I play music for the soul. I play music for the soul and I'm reaching people where they are Because I'm going to bring in those people that listen to R&B. And then I'm going to throw in some gospel, and then I'm going to throw in some word Because they're going to say, well, she young like me, she woo, woo, woo, but she believes in this. So let me see what's today. That's how you bring people to god. That's how you minister to people. You have jesus met people where they were.
Speaker 3:That yes, yes he didn't.
Speaker 2:He didn't stay confined in the church walls and and shut people away who were not like him. That's the point of saving souls. That's what ministry is about. So when we take out the judgment and we take out the constant criticism and church hurt and shame and clothing it in tough love because love is never tough, love is never tough you can't. I don't understand how people put that together. Lakeisha, tough love, what does the Bible say love is? I didn't see tough in that, right. Okay, so we have to learn how to intentionally love people. Meet them where they are, don't judge people and and don't conform, uh, what you feel christians should be in that box because god, I didn't see god come down and get nobody. No gap, right that part I am, I'm going to be who I am Because guess what? That I'm being who he called me to be. He picked me because of who I am.
Speaker 3:He picked Ruth because of who she was. That's what they say. God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called. That's what they say.
Speaker 2:God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the cool. I was 35 years old, getting a presidential lifetime achievement award for my, for my authenticity, for my work, for my ministry and my podcast and my literature and my volunteer works in my community that I don't always pick up a camera and show, but the mayor, the mayor knew who I was because he wrote my letter of recommendation. So, evidently, just because everything is not filmed and seen doesn't mean it's not being done. But at 35 years old, I was able to achieve things that people in, in, in, in, in, like you say, coming from where I came from, in the foster care system. They have the caseworkers who, who judged me, who talked about me, who called me fast, you know the teachers who said I was never going to get out of college and they had, like this, even though I got good grades, ok, well, I didn't. I didn't get the best grades in high school, to keep it real, because I ditched a lot. But point I'm making is I, when I took my act, I scored higher than anybody in my class and they made me take it again because they were like, yes, they made me, they knew I was smart, but they was like ain't no way. This girl don't never come to school. But when I did it again, they saw that I had a gift right, and so those same people that they were putting on a pedestal ended up being exactly who they thought I would become. So you really have to watch when you put your mouth on people. You really have to watch when you judge people, because those same teachers, those same counselors, are now my friends on Facebook, they yelling to the rooftop that they just knew that I was doing everything I said I was going to, that I am today Right, it took God to, and that's why I try to tell people all the time. Sometimes you have to believe in the things that you don't see, because, look, nobody did this for me, but god, he took me through that refining this fire. He took you.
Speaker 2:Lakisha, somebody they a statistic, right, they make they tried to make you a statistic. Oh, she's a single. You know, teen mom. You know she. You know, living in the projects, I live there too. Hun, um, shout, shout out to Roosevelt, ashland, okay, 1410 building. But you know we, we, we were statistics.
Speaker 2:I was a foster kid. You know my mom and dad were on drugs. My grandmama, you know, just now that I moved from from household to household, different things happened to me. I wasn't supposed to make it, you know I was. I was a model, you know I did like videos and I did. You know I did a few, you know, fashion magazines or whatever, but it was always oh, she just this. We just don't put her in this box. She's just a pretty face. Not knowing that, I had the intellect and the math, you know, in the mind of a mastermind. But people don't see that because they don't see beyond the surface, right, and we're so much more than because we look good girl, but we see much better than that. Right, don't stop being cute because people mad.
Speaker 3:Exactly. I say that all the time Like hello, my face goes everywhere, my face and my body goes everywhere I go. Hello, what you want me to do, you know what I?
Speaker 2:had somebody to tell me. I had somebody to tell me it was a mentor of mine and she told me. She said, you know you can get an SBA loan, you can get all these different grants, but you got to tone it down Because you know, if you go in there and you all dolled up some people, they may be intimidated by that. You know it's a lady that works there and she might be intimidated by it because you too cute, you got to tone it down. I'll say, if I got to tone down how fat and this has always been me right If I got to tone down how fat I am to a piece of iron, that ain't the grant for me, child, because I ain't. We're looking busted just to get nothing from nobody. What's this? Do that make so a lot? And that's why I want to clarify we always must hold ourselves to the utmost standard, whether people accept it or not. You have to be who you are and you have to come in exactly who you are and not worry about judgment or what people may think about you, because at the end of the day, like theekisha says, god don't call it qualified. He going to qualify? He going to put you in those rooms.
Speaker 2:I wasn't supposed to get that lifetime achievement award and, baby, when I did, the noses was in the air, honey. They could not take it in that room. But when I got up there, because they couldn't understand why I me so young, I was the youngest person in the room receiving it and they could not understand it because they had never heard of me, they didn't know who I was and they didn't understand why I was receiving it. Until I got on that stage and I told my testimony and y'all can clock it on YouTube. By the time I got done telling my story, all those people that was turning their nose up at me was standing up giving me a standing ovation.
Speaker 2:You don't know somebody's story. You don't know what people bring into this world and that is why I do what I do and that's the reason why Lakeisha does what she does and that's why everything that's coming to Lakeisha, shasha and Williams baby, 50 years, 50 years. She's been in ministry in my eyes for over 30. Pouring into her community, pouring into these kids, pouring into these schools, taking her school from the bottom all the way to number one. She did that. She did that. A black woman, a black statistic statistic. Single mother of two from the projects, and if she can do it and god can work through her, he can definitely do the same thing for you guys mm-hmm so I want you guys, lakisha, uh, before we we head out, I definitely I want to leave you a verse to meditate on, and that's Isaiah 61 and 1.
Speaker 2:He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom from the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Lakeisha, that's the heartbeat of your work, that's you, isaiah 61 in you. Okay, Now I want to thank every single person under the sound of our voices for showing up with so much love. And, lakeisha, your energy is always immaculate and I love talking. I talk your ears off, put me off the phone a few times, but you are just getting started. Follow her, support her and let's keep lifting these powerful kingdom voices, like LaKeisha. Next week we will come through with Arthur number five. Until then, let your healing lead you, let your legacy breathe and keep shining. Shine, yes, lakeisha. Before we go, close us out in prayer, please.
Speaker 3:Father God, I come to you today. Thank you for this opportunity to again share the message that you have poured into me and qualifying me to serve this ministry and help as many people as I possibly can, and working with Jacqueline Cox and pairing us up together so that we can be that much more powerful together. And I just want you to bless everyone who was able to join us this morning and who will also see this taping later. I wanted to reach them and help them to get to their next levels of being. I want to say thank you every day for everything that you do for me, jacqueline and everybody else. In Jesus' name, I pray Amen.
Speaker 2:Amen. Now I don't know if I got the website right. Is this the correct website?
Speaker 3:Brickhouseunlimitedcom yes.
Speaker 2:Okay, so you all can find Lakeisha and everything she has going on. All your books are on there.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes your books is on there. If you want to get a signed copy or if you want to um find them, they're also on amazon. She has to let it go emotional. She has to let it go 30-day journal. She has leadership unlimited, as well as the. I know and we didn't touch on this a lot, but she also has a children's book. What's the name of your children? Shine on Brown Girl. Shine on Brown Girl. And also, before we end, I know we ended in prayer, but before we end, can you give people what's to come for Lakeisha Williams, what's to come? You know, what projects do you have coming up?
Speaker 3:so right now I'm currently still going through the let it go um 30-day devotional with the people, so you can join me live on Instagram. Um, I'm either going on 7 30 to 8 in the morning or during lunchtime, it just depends on what I have going on that day.
Speaker 2:What's your Instagram?
Speaker 3:My Instagram is coach underscore shine on Lakeisha. So I'm doing a 30-day transformational journey with the viewers live and in person, Again being vulnerable, sharing some real things that I'm dealing with currently just to help us as we navigate through this, because this is a self-healing guide to help you get to your transformation and at the end of this, it's going to lead us into a leadership masterclass where I'm going to get more in depth with the leadership development services that I hope to provide to school entities, business entities, individuals, Because, again, I've said this more than one time and I'll continue to say leadership is not about a title one time, and I'll continue to say leadership is not about a title. If you're a mother in your home, you're a leader in your church community, you're a leader in your community, you're a in your general community, you are a leader. So my goal and my vision is to empower bold leaders to implement change within our society. And so, yes, if you're wondering, in our society.
Speaker 2:And so, yes, if you're wondering, is this for me? It is absolutely for you. All right, y'all heard it here first. What? Even if you didn't, you heard it here, the best. Okay. So go to IG and in the morning she comes on and she, she does the um, let it go devotional and she does the Let it Go devotional. After that she will be doing a master class. So make sure you follow her on IG.
Speaker 2:Coach underscore shine on Lakeisha for more information, or you can contact her at BrickHouseUnlimitedcom. Purchase the books, purchase the magazine. Okay, now you understand about this magazine, honey. Look, keisha. Keisha did her thing thing in this magazine. So you definitely want to make sure you grab the magazine. She has a full photo shoot in there. She has the timeline from when she was born all the way up until she is now. So she gives you that walkthrough, that journey, that visual of how she became who she is and you know the steps it took to get there. She also gives tips on how you can be successful in leadership.
Speaker 2:So it's a lot of different gems she's dropping in these projects that she released, and I cannot wait to see what else Lakeisha has for us. You know if God put it on my spirit that she needs to do a podcast, so hopefully she will shine with Lakeisha podcast, okay, so, um, and if she do, she come right here with me. So, uh, I'm just, you know, cause she is like your ministry is, is phenomenal, and I think if you, if you't have to do it with me, just with anybody, but if you just elevate it and get it past the United States, I see you there, you know. So hopefully we'll hear more from Shanshan Lakeisha podcast in the future. I'm putting that. See how you manifest up. I'm putting that. So, if you got again, if you want to reach Lakeisha, you can find her on IG coach underscore shine on Lakeisha Facebook, lakeisha Williams. And if you want to, you know, make sure you purchase all of her projects brickhouseunlimitedcom. And until next time, yeah.
Speaker 2:Rule baby Mary J Blige, Birdie Smile. It's just those rainy days. Spend a lifetime trying to wash away, until the sun comes out and shines again.
Speaker 1:Smile for me. Smile for me On all those rainy days. Spend your lifetime trying to wash away Until the sun shines and I see your face. Smile at me.
