Shelley Willingham – Entrepreneur | Marketer | Coach

“No one thing makes you an entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur is a state of mind. It is using the culmination of all your experiences, good and bad, and packaging them up in a vision undergirded with passion and a determination to change your life and succeed.” -Shelley Willingham

As Seen in

In 2006 one of the most respected business publications in the nation, FORTUNE magazine, approached me about partnering with them on a special diversity section. I was blown away. Hard work, long hours, late nights, determination, and all the risks I took paid off. I was on cloud nine! I would have never imagined what happened next….

For me, being transparent played a huge role in me coming to terms with my “new life.” I realized a long time ago that this life isn’t just about me, but how my experiences, good and bad, can help others. Muhammad Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

I’ve learned so much from my successes and so much more from my failures. I want to help others move from daydream to action, from action to fulfilment. And along the way, if you stumble or if you’ve stumbled in the past and are struggling to get things back on track, know that I’ve been there and I feel your pain.

Bossy by nature.

As I drove out of the driveway of my dream home in my exclusive neighborhood, my stomach was in knots as I made my way to the meeting. The radio was on a gospel station, which seemed to be the norm lately. Not in the mood for music, I turned the radio off to be alone with my thoughts. I felt like I needed to pray. I wanted to ask God why this was happening…but I’m sure he was tired of getting that question from me as it seemed to be all I was focused on lately. I was nauseas and the seatbelt was getting uncomfortable, tight around my 5 month pregnant stomach.

As I approached my destination, I circled the parking lot about five times before parking. I sat in my Mercedes CLK 320, reflecting…trying to figure out how I got myself in this situation.

How did I end up at social services in need of food stamps and Medicaid? This is not how my life was supposed to be.