Today we’d like to introduce you to Tia Banks.
Hi Tia, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been an athlete. I played college basketball at Midwestern State University and played overseas. in Spain and France. In my mid-twenties I realized that basketball didn’t ignite my fire like it used to. When you play a sport for the majority of your life the excitement to play fades. As a self-proclaimed jock and adventurous I needed a new sport to keep my adrenaline pumping. Then out of nowhere a friend called me one day and asked me if I wanted to join her flag football team. She knew I was an athlete who loved to compete and of course, I’m always down to try new things, so I said yes without hesitation. It was then, I found a new love in the sport of flag football.
Flag football became my life. I played in various formats with my women’s team, coed, I’ve even played in an all-men’s league and was a force to be reckoned with.
On the weekdays I would play in leagues practically every day of the week and on weekends I would travel to other states to play in flag football tournaments. I would eat, sleep, breathe, live flag football. If I wasn’t working or adulting I was playing flag and hanging with my teammates. It became more than a sport; it was like therapy.
Although you wouldn’t think flag football is an aggressive sport with any activity it’s almost inevitable to play as much as I did and not get injured. It was during the pandemic when I suffered a major injury during a flagfootball tournament and suffering from a grade 4 cartilage tear in my right knee. This was a time when I felt like I was in the prime of my career. I was in excellent shape and well recognized for being among the top flagfootball players in the country. I was invited to play for the WFFN (Women’s Flag Football Network) USA team. When I got injured, the doctors told me that I would not be able to play for 6 months which meant I would miss my opportunity to travel the world playing a sport I love representing my country. I remember tears immediately flooded my eyes when I got the news. it’s an athlete’s worst nightmare, especially as an aging player, my time was limited. I knew I would miss out on major money-making opportunities with flag football. Having invested over 10 years in the game, hundreds of thousands of dollars spent over-time in league, tournament, and travel expenses, I was going to miss out on opportunities that would have paid dividends. And to add insult to injury it was during a pandemic a time when I needed my therapy the most. My therapy was taken from me in a blink of an eye. It may sound dramatic, but any athlete that has experienced a major injury can relate to that feeling, it’s just that dramatic for us.
Instead of asking why I asked a question that changed the trajectory of my life path. I asked “Who?”
Who am I without football?
I went on a journey to rediscover myself. I asked my friends, family, and co-workers what could they see me doing as an occupation. I asked them what they thought I was good at and I even asked myself a series of these questions because even-though athlete was the only title in my life I truly identified with, I knew there were levels deeper within me. I knew I was worth more than I gave myself credit for.
I had to redefine my skills, talents, and passions in life. I took self-assessment and personality tests. One test noted that I am a great communicator and would be excellent as a Cruise director or host for activities.
But one thing that practically everyone said was that I would be a great coach or some kind of motivational speaker.
When I analyzed the assessments, mixed with questions answered by myself and others there was a common denominator.
I realize in the course of my life deep down I aspired to be a change activator guiding people to live their lives with purpose and not by default. It just took for me to realize this before I could help others do the same. I ended up getting a Life Coach Certification and began speaking at Universities and High Schools.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My father is a Pastor and my mom is a track coach so being a motivational speaker and coach is in my DNA. It took for my “therapy” to be removed from my life, for me to realize I was being distracted from my true calling.
In my life, I struggled with depression. I had self-esteem issues. I grew up in the church, but I am also a lesbian and I’ve known this since my first crush in the 3rd grade that I was attracted to the same-sex. However, when your father is a Pastor and it’s frowned upon to be homosexual I felt like a prisoner in my own skin. Unable to be free to be myself. I stayed in the closet well into adulthood. I endured what I call life mountains, from mental illness to financial issues having slept in my car at one point. I had no self-worth. I’ve been jobless, spiritually broken and the worst part was having eyes, but not having a vision for my life. I had no purpose.
The adversities I faced with life mountains were no different than the real mountain I climbed. Mt. Kilimanjaro. Just like life mountains, there were uphill moments and downhill moments like a rollercoaster. I endured sickness that stayed with me my entire hike up the mountain. My very first night of climbing the guides had to put an oxygen mask on me because I couldn’t breathe. I felt terrible, but that’s life and if we get through the times of pain nothing will stop us from reaching the top of our mountains.
Through all the struggles I learned adversity can be our bridge to greatness. I help INpower student-athletes and minority groups with the strategies I used to help me overcome life mountains in addition to strategies that helped me reach the top of the highest free-standing mountain in the world. It all starts with the mind.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Tia Banks LLC is a company that provides motivational speaking programs, music, clothing apparel, and books. The company is led by up-and-coming motivational speaker, author, and life coach, Tia Banks. The company conducts mind-elevating guided hikes called Summit Sunday to connect people with nature also offering mental performance coaching sessions to help people achieve their life goals and live their purpose.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Mom is always my greatest advocate. She is 64 years old and in the best shape of her life. She competes in what is called the National Senior Track & Field Games which is like the Olympics for older individuals. She wakes up at 4 and 5 am every morning to train not only her body but her mind. My mom is an incredible role model she has always told me how great I can be but most importantly she leads by example. I am a lot like her. she is the organizer of a young women’s mentoring program empowering underprivileged youth and simply finds value in service.
My Dad is also an incredible supporter. My parents divorced when I was 11 but I consider my dad to be an amazing father. We went through a time in our relationship where we bumped heads and did not talk because of our conflicting beliefs when it came to same-sex relationships, but we overcame that mountain and have one of the best relationships now.
I am rich with support when I think about it. My siblings and other family members. various friends, I actually dedicated a my first book to those I consider a great support.
Coaches from the past and even my life coaches today play a role in my success.
I will say having climbed the highest free-standing mountain in the world, one of my biggest supporters was the woman who had my back every time the wind knocked me down in the blistering cold. I call her my partner in climb. Sheena. SheWins. she is my friend and someone I hold near and dear to my heart. She is the only person that said yes to climbing the mountain with me and if it weren’t for her support reaching the top would have been twice as difficult.
Pricing:
- 500
- 85
- 22
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.tiabanks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetiabanks/
- Facebook: Thetiabanks
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1alRv0UrbS4
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tia-banks-motivational-speaker-dallas?osq=motivational+speakers
- Other: https://swoppii.com/tia-banks-the-diversity-inpowerment-coach
Image Credits
Tia Banks
James Batts
Sheena Winston
Darryl Cummins
