Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Monroe Robinson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jackie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My consulting and coaching journey began long before I every considering doing either professionally, I have always been that person that friends and family would come to for personal and/or professional advice. I can recall these “advising” sessions going all the way back to junior high school. People have often told me that they consider me a very trustworthy person that they can talk to about anything. They also know that I will tell them the truth if they ask my opinion. They have told me this is why they value my opinions and advise. This piqued my interest coaching and I became a certified professional development trainer in 2003.
I have always been a “people” person and liked helping people so after getting a bachelor’s degree in public relations, every job I was drawn to be one that would allow me to help people achieve, grow and develop. From helping junior high school and high school students prepare for the college application and enrollment process, to working in the career services departments at colleges and universities, to working in human resources training and development departments, all of my roles were ones that allowed me to motivate and empower others to become the best version of themselves.
I started consulting small businesses on a part time bases while working full-time. Someone I knew offered to pay me to do some work for them because they couldn’t hire a large firm with the budget they were operating on. I had never thought about consulting before then. Once I realized that I could capitalize on my skills with businesses like my associate’s, I made myself available to take on more projects. Because I have a minor in Marketing, my early consulting projects were marketing related. Eventually, I started conducting needs assessments and assisting with strategic planning, among other things.
Today, I not only consult small businesses, as a success-strategist, I advise and coach individuals as well. My professional moniker is “The Success-Ability Coach”. I assist people with uncovering and discovering the natural and learned skills and abilities they have that they have not been previously been using to help them reach their goals and their vision of success. Many people have skills and talents that they just don’t know how to use to their professional advantage. Or either they have a talent that they didn’t know they could use as a skill to help them get ahead. For businesses, I help them develop a success-strategy that aligns with their core values, strategic plans and overall goals and objectives as it relates to performance management and workplace culture development.
My passion for helping people also allows me to pour into people as an empowerment speaker. I speak at women’s conferences, schools, community events, and wherever I am requested to offer a word or encouragement. In my empowerment talks, I share personal and professional stories. I believe it’s important to have a story to share in order to empower people, which is why I released my first book in 2015. It’s a non-fiction book called “Broken But Not Destroyed: Restoration is Possible”. This is my personal story and I released this book to empower and to help others who may be hurting to heal.
I love working with women which is why I am a self-proclaimed feminist. I am concerned about women’s issues and I am a supporter of causes related to the equal and fair treatment of women in the workplace and in society and will continue to do what I can do to motivate and inspire women to stand their ground and be the women God called them to be.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
That path has not been straight and smooth. There have been some wrong turns, road blocks and detours along the way. In my early years of consulting, I did work with some folks in the entertainment industry. I dealt with unwanted sexual advancements and sexual harassment, to the point where I stopped doing that type of consulting. It’s a male-dominated industry so it was and probably still is common. Sometimes women are not taken seriously in some positions or industries and that is reflected in the way they are treated.
Also, these days, there are so many “coaches” out here. You have a coach for everything. At times I felt like I was lost at sea and no one could find me because there are just so many coaches. I had to figure out how to differentiate myself. I stopped using the word “coach” and now consider myself a success-strategist. Just as I do with my clients, I had to give myself permission to be me and do me, regardless of whoever else is doing something similar as I am. No one can do what I do like I do it and I can’t do what they do the way they do it. I had to get past the hesitation of doing what I am passionate about because a lot of other people are doing something similar.
When you start doing work for yourself, as an entrepreneur it’s important to expect that not everyone who you thought would support you will support you. In fact, I often hear from those I consult that their family and friends are not their biggest supporters, even if you are offering a product or service relevant to their needs, preferences or interests. This may not be the case for every entrepreneur, but it is for many.
This biggest struggle I have dealt with was support. As a female, in the coaching, consulting and speaking business, another struggle that I have dealt with is genuine connections. This is a female dominated industry and the focus seems to be more on competition rather than collaboration. Of course, a good dose of healthy competition is necessary but not to the point where you try to tear another woman down or you refuse to support other female entrepreneurs who have a similar background as yours. I have a lot of valuable and cherished connections but this is still an issue. What I tell my clients who have this same struggle is that those connections that are destined to be made will be made and they will get the support they need from the people they need support from. There are just as many supporters out there as there are those who will never support you, no matter what you do. I know this for myself too. The idea is to focus more on those who do support you rather than giving energy to those who don’t. Building a client base takes time and focused-effort. Sometimes you have to re-evaluate the business development and branding strategy to ensure you are attracting the type of clients and supporters you want. Not every platform will be a good match for your brand image. Not every circle will be a good reflection of what you represent. Although it might feel like rejection when people won’t support you, it could actually be a good thing because it forces you to work harder to secure your place and carve your own path. When I was concerned about this I had to remind myself “What’s for me, is for me, and no one can do anything about that.”
Success-Ability Solutions – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Success-Ability Solutions is that name of my consulting business. I operate this business part time because I still have a full-time job. My goal is to one-day operate SAS full-time.
I offer consulting and coaching services to small businesses and individuals. These services include needs assessments, strategic planning, training and development plans, career advising and planning, professional development workshops, and empowerment speaking, to name a few.
I am known for my training and development expertise and have been considered a subject matter expert. In 2017, I was recognized by two national training-related magazines. In March 2017, an article I wrote called “Cultivating a Workplace Culture That Grows High-Potential Employees” was published in Training Industry Magazine. In May of 2017 I was listed in Training Magazine as an “Emerging Training Leader to Watch”. I am very proud of this accomplishment and hope to be able to report more of the same.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is very personal. My definition of success is when you connect with something you are passionate about and you are able to fulfill that passion through your personal and professional endeavors and get the results and outcomes you desire to get from acting on that passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesuccessabilitycoach.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thesuccessabilitycoach
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesuccessabilitycoach
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