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1) What fabulous company do you own, how long have you been in business, why did you start it and what is your brand all about?
My name is Lolita Harris and the name of my fabulous company is Navigating the Heart Life Coaching, I launched my company July 11, 2014 which is only a short seven months ago. I started Navigating The Heart because I have been in the beauty industry as a stylist and owner for 22 years, as a stylist I listened to many woman share their struggles and it was if God always had me mentoring or speaking life into another woman. After being in that continuous practice for so many years I realized in 2009 that helping the woman with their challenges was the thing I loved more than enhancing the women outer beauty. I began to pray about it and it came to me slowly, first bible school, the launch of Lolita Harris Ministries, Church Leadership, Attained Life Coaching certification, and here I am today living my dream. My brand is all about giving women the tools they need personally, to help them to have healthy relationships with God, self and others.
2) If you could have any business owner mentor you. Who would it be?
If I could have a business owner mentor I would have to say I would choose Bishop Jakes. I chose him because God brought him from humble beginnings into greatness and God has given him the ability to manage ministry and do business in the secular arenas without compromising his integrity and rise to the top financially without receiving financial support from the church body. Two other things I can appreciate about Bishop Jakes is his ability to be comfortable in his skin and not allow the world and their ideas about defining who he is to put him in a box.
3) What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
The major difference for me between an entrepreneur and one who works for self would have to be the ability to sacrifice: time, family, finances and fun to see the dream come to pass.
4) What has been the most discouraging experience you’ve had as an entrepreneur and how has working to overcome it helped build your character, determination, and pursuit of your goals?
WOW! One of the most discouraging experiences I have had as an entrepreneur is my family not understanding the level of commitment it takes to pursuit your goals and dreams. In the midst of building my business and educating myself to prepare to be the best, my marriage, family and financial stability were all at stake. Working through those challenges has allowed me to live a more balanced life, by Gods grace my family was restored and my family has learned the importance of supporting me ( being the back bone of my family I supported everything they desired but they didn’t know how to reciprocate that).
5) What has been the most unexpected benefit/challenge of being a business owner that you didn’t anticipate when you began?
I believe that one of the greatest challenges for most new business is the length of time you must wait to see it get off the ground. This has been the challenge for me as well along with using that time to grow and develop the business: learning to do things better, develop new content and tools, new marketing strategies and meeting new contacts to name a few. While this is very difficult I fill my empty appointment slots with finding ways to become, GREAT!
6) Where do you draw inspiration, creativity and motivation as a small business owner?
I draw my inspiration from the word of God and all of the many women I come face to face with on a daily bases that I see needs the information and tools that I have to share. I also believe that my desire for women to overcome the challenges of their past and me being the instrument God would use to give them strategy to move forward from those areas where they tend to get stuck in life and relationships are also motivation and inspiration for me.
7) What do you consider to be among the most important character traits for women entrepreneurs?
I believe that some of the most important character traits for women entrepreneurs would be Integrity,Vision, Kindness, Endurance, Patience, Loyalty, Passion, Resilience, Confidence, Decisive, Audacious, Prepared, Flexible
8) How do you balance small business obligations with the other dynamics of your life?
This is a very interesting question for me because as a wife, mom, ministry founder and president, owner and operator of two businesses, it can be hard to call life balanced. I would venture to say that I give whatever role and responsibility required of me in the moment, the very best that I have, with Gods help. I say with Gods help because without Him all of these things are impossible, but with Him in it, nothing is impossible. There are seasons of life where I don’t get to do anything I enjoy or take care of myself as I should and then there are seasons where I can and I get to focus on my family. I would have to say that’s the best part of my life. I really enjoy my family and friends, but the greatest friend I have is in Jesus. Even with loving Jesus with passion the way that I do, I don’t get to spend the time I would like to with Him on a daily bases, but I ALWAYS pause throughout my day to love on Him and thank Him for who is and all He has done for my family and I, to invite Him into the practical things of my life and to just acknowledge His love for me.
9) In the next five years my company will…..
In the next five years I see my company as one of the top Coaching and Counseling centers : top 10 in Dallas, top 100 in the U.S and the top 500 worldwide. Nothing that God gives me to do is just about me, so I want to join together with other coaches and counselors to meet the past, present and future needs of people: emotionally, spiritually, relationally, financially, health, divorce, business, grief etc. I believe that with this type of company we can join hands with God and make a difference in the world. For my personal business in helping women grow personally and relationally, I would like to see 10-12 women/ day, three days a week in the office and a few via Skype or conference call. Two days a week I would like to teach about specific areas of relationships to go deeper in depth, giving the women tools to understand themselves and others better. I would also like to speak at least once a month as a guest speaker and to have an annual women conference. As for my hair business I will retire as an operator in the next five years but will keep my license up to date to bless women who can’t pay for salon services as an outreach.
10) How can Through My Lynnz Media blog readers keep in touch with you?
Through My Lynnz blog readers are able to reach me:
Phone: 214-457-7946
Email: Lolita@navigatingtheheart.com
Website: www.navigatingtheheart.com
Twitter: @Coach_Lolita
Facebook : Navigating the Heart