Hey everyone! My name is Jess. 👋 I’m from the Philadelphia, PA in the U.S. I’m currently a leader. I work in the fitness industry as a Senior General Manager and also serve as a life coach and founder of The Real Experience, where I focus on identity, growth, and helping people become who they’re meant to be. One thing I’m going to do this week as a leader is intentionally spend more time coaching and developing the people around me rather than just focusing on tasks and results. I currently lead multiple teams and leaders within my organization. Random fact: I’m also the host of Monday Motivation / Conscious Talks where I love creating conversations around mindset, purpose, and personal growth. Excited to learn, connect, and grow with everyone here!

Something that is super important to me, maybe because it was something drilled into me at a young age in the military but you must always protect your team from those that want to get at them. In the comments below, share a story where you felt protected by a leader or where you protected the team from someone who was trying to get at them. #Day 11: Protector

Monday’s are always viewed as the hardest part of the week. It’s the beginning of a new week, the start of the grind and everything that lies ahead. For many people, Monday feels heavy because it represents responsibility, pressure, deadlines, and the unknown. But… There’s also something special about Monday’s, especially as a leader… Monday is one of the few moments we get to reset before life starts moving fast again. It’s an opportunity to refocus, set the tone, and decide who we’re going to be before the week begins making decisions for us. As leaders we don’t just react to the week, we create the direction of the week. The best part about Monday isn’t the tasks on the calendar or the goals we have to chase. It’s the opportunity. The opportunity to lead ourselves before we lead others. The opportunity to learn from last week without carrying its weight into this one. The opportunity to build momentum, establish culture, and take one more step toward the person we’re becoming. Every Monday is a reminder that we get another chance to show up with intention! What’s one thing you’re leading differently this week?

Yesterday I went behind prison walls and left a changed person. 💙 I had the opportunity to speak with a group of incarcerated women whose stories carried pain, setbacks, survival, resilience, and vision. What moved me most was not where they currently are. It was witnessing who they are becoming. ✨ I went with a group of other leaders from across industries to coach them in developing their business ideas, because we know justice served people have a hard time finding jobs when they re-enter society. The business ideas they shared were incredible. The determination in that room was undeniable. You could feel the hunger for change, growth, and a better future. 💡 It made me think about how purpose sometimes finds us in unexpected places. It led me behind prison walls, and for some of these women, incarceration became the place where they were finally able to reflect and recognize how their journey is leading to their purpose. Being able to use my coaching business to partner with another organization and pour into these women reminded me why I do what I do. My purpose is to empower people to achieve their goals, grow into the best version of themselves, and lead with purpose 🤍 Yesterday, I was able to walk in that purpose behind prison walls. So now I want to ask you this: Where are you willing to go if you stopped limiting ypurself to reach who you are called to serve? 👑

I have been reflecting a lot on all the challenges and pain I have experienced in the last 6 years. From divorce, financial struggles, overcoming addiction, closing a business after 23 years, self value and self worth struggles and I am sure some I am forgetting some. I could have thrown my hands up at anytime and just said screw it. I am done, I am a loser, I don’t deserve it and I will never amount to anything. However, this is not what I did. I beat addiction I beat the financial issues I beat the divorce and have an amazing relationship. I have the self value I have the self worth I closed the furniture store and I am building a new successful coaching business. The pain was meant to guide me to the place I am now. Reflect on the painful moments in your life. You may be experiencing them right now. See if you can find the pleasure in the pain.