Today we’d like to introduce you to LaNelle Renfro.
Hi LaNelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am an author, speaker, and media personality who initially started Dyvyne Events in 2013. I was enamored with the thought of assisting in the execution of memorable events that bring families together. I realized I could use that same service to put together empowerment conferences and seminars of my own. I allowed my event brand to support my personal brand as as motivational speaker (LaNelle Renfro). Later I created podcast Life Is Potpourri (currently relaunching), while cohosting We Are Survivors Talkshow on FMDGlobal TV.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
With launching any business or brand there will be hiccups. I remember missing a tax filing date with my event planning business when I first got started, and being penalized by my tax assessor. They will definitely calculate what they believe you owe if you do not handle your taxes appropriately. I laugh now, but at the time I was so scared when I received the notice, because they wanted me to pay their calculated tax amount, and I had not earned any actual revenue to file taxes on. Once I resolved that and understood the process, I didn’t allow that to happen again.
Another struggle was simply drumming up business. I did things a little backwards and unorthodoxed in launching, so I didn’t have a marketing campaign in place. This resulted in me having to do a lot to generate word-of-mouth advertisement. You have to get out and touch the people! You have to share your information in order for them to know you even exist. Of course, over time I have built repeat clients.
Far as my personal branding as speaker and author… there have also been speedbumps. Knowing how to create speaker sheets, and paying others to perform certain services to get you professionally ready, can be a nightmare. I had someone run off with my money after hiring them to create my book cover, and that delayed my project tremendously. So yes, there are definitely hiccups that you can run into. You just have to stay focused and keep your eye on the prize.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
As an entrepreneur, I wear many hats. I am most proud of my community-based empowerment projects and receiving an international humanitarian award. After working on a project years ago during Steve & Marjorie Harvey’s mentoring program in Dallas, a crazy spark ignited in me. I wanted to empower others and impact lives more than ever before. Anywhere I can speak with men, women, and children in regards to surviving detriments that threaten their emotional well-being, I am happy. I have dealt with domestic violence, stranger dangers, and other negatives that honestly could have taken me down a bad path. I’m proud of myself for taking time throughout life to just heal, grow and understand myself as a woman; who wants to impact others in a positive manner. I am most proud of breaking generational curses, and setting my children up to flourish void of the traumas I endured early in life.
I’m proud of myself for touching the lives of the complete strangers who now recognize me for my conferences; those who have attended and reach out often awaiting the next.
And I must say I’m proud of becoming a signed model (Wallflower Model Mgmt) over the age of 40. I never would have imagined this would happen, although it was once a dream as a young girl.
What matters most to you? Why?
I want to be successful in driving home to others that compassion and patience with themselves is necessary to succeed. I want them to know that no matter what they have gone through it does not have to dictate their life story, that there is power in broken things. I liken that visual to shards of glass because even when glass breaks it’s still powerful enough to cause damage.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lrenfrofaulk.com / www.Dyvyne.com
- Instagram: @LaNelle_Renfro / @DyvyneGroup
- Facebook: LaNelle Renfro / Dyvyne Events
Image Credits
Tavia Whitlowe
Khayshea Pope
FMDGlobal TV
We Are Survivors Talkshow
AT Home Stores
