Finding Your "Purpose Power" with Markiesha E. Wilson

Lynn Shematek: 00:00:02

Hello friends.

2

: 00:00:03

I'm Lynn Shematek with a good news team.

3

: 00:00:06

Let's meet Markesha E.

4

: 00:00:08

Wilson, change consultant, executive

coach, and bestselling author.

5

: 00:00:15

Join our co-host Deacons Jon

Shematek and Lauren Welch as we

6

: 00:00:21

bring you another podcast episode

in our second season of Good News!

7

: 00:00:26

All about people making a

difference in the world.

8

: 00:00:29

Jon Shematek: Welcome, Markiesha E.

9

: 00:00:31

Wilson, back to our podcast.

10

: 00:00:33

Good News!.

11

: 00:00:34

It's so great to have you back with us.

12

: 00:00:37

Lauren Welch: We are delighted

to have you with us today,

13

: 00:00:40

Markiesha thank you for being here.

14

: 00:00:42

Markiesha Wilson: Thank

you so much Jon and Lauren.

15

: 00:00:44

I've missed you guys.

16

: 00:00:47

Jon Shematek: We've missed you too.

17

: 00:00:47

I don't remember when we actually recorded

the first episode, but it aired in October

18

: 00:00:52

23, so that's the last we've seen of you,

but not the last we've heard about you.

19

: 00:00:58

Markiesha Wilson: Wow.

20

: 00:00:59

I didn't realize it was

that long ago, I'm back.

21

: 00:01:03

Jon Shematek: Yeah.

22

: 00:01:03

Markiesha Wilson: Accepting

the invitation both ways.

23

: 00:01:05

Jon Shematek: Thank you.

24

: 00:01:06

We're just getting our second season

started of interviews and you are our

25

: 00:01:11

very first person who accepted a second

invitation, so we're quite honored.

26

: 00:01:17

So Markiesha, since then,

what have you been up to?

27

: 00:01:22

Markiesha Wilson: Oh gosh, now

that I know it's been since: 2023

28

: 00:01:26

So many things have changed since 2023.

29

: 00:01:30

Some things.

30

: 00:01:32

Are still the same, right?

31

: 00:01:33

I am still doing a good bit

of human capital consulting,

32

: 00:01:38

still doing executive coaching.

33

: 00:01:40

I've taken some exciting new

clients, being able to work

34

: 00:01:44

through their, strategy and such.

35

: 00:01:46

And I also contributed to a book,

so now I'm a bestselling author.

36

: 00:01:53

Jon Shematek: Wow.

37

: 00:01:54

That's great.

38

: 00:01:55

The book that you contributed

to is called The Rich Code

39

: 00:02:01

Markiesha Wilson: Cracking the

Rich Code, and I'm in Volume 13.

40

: 00:02:05

Jon Shematek: Volume 13.

41

: 00:02:06

Markiesha Wilson: And

42

: 00:02:06

Jon Shematek: you're in

it and it's best selling.

43

: 00:02:08

Markiesha Wilson: So that was such an

honor I was reached out to, and who

44

: 00:02:12

knows, might it have been because I was

on this show with you, but reached out

45

: 00:02:16

to me on LinkedIn and told about this.

46

: 00:02:19

Series called Cracking the Rich

Code, he asked me if I would be

47

: 00:02:23

willing to contribute a chapter.

48

: 00:02:26

After reading what it was about it's a

catchy title, but it's not specifically

49

: 00:02:32

about what you might think when you

hear, oh, it's, how do I get rich quick?

50

: 00:02:36

It's not about that.

51

: 00:02:37

It's really about the values

characteristics and behaviors of people

52

: 00:02:41

that live a rich life and that can

be defined so many different ways.

53

: 00:02:46

So I was excited to contribute my chapter.

54

: 00:02:48

I, it's one of the, I think

greatest things I've written.

55

: 00:02:51

Jon Shematek: It was a logical follow

on to your first book, but that

56

: 00:02:55

was a whole book that you wrote.

57

: 00:02:56

In the climb.

58

: 00:02:57

"Eight Audacious Actions to Overcome Life

and Climb the Corporate Ladder with Joy."

59

: 00:03:03

Markiesha Wilson: Yes.

60

: 00:03:04

That book is really my whole.

61

: 00:03:08

Heart, soul musings

advice is in that book.

62

: 00:03:13

I and I mentioned this in the

chapter in Cracking the Rich Code.

63

: 00:03:16

I was having a conversation,

and this is completely true

64

: 00:03:19

with, my, my hairstylist son.

65

: 00:03:22

We were having lunch and we

were talking about being rich.

66

: 00:03:27

And I was saying, I define

it this way and that way.

67

: 00:03:30

And he said, for me, if

someone has left a blueprint.

68

: 00:03:34

For life, then that

makes them rich and wise.

69

: 00:03:38

And I said, huh, that's

exactly what "In the Climb" is.

70

: 00:03:42

That's the blueprint that I

leave the earth with, right?

71

: 00:03:45

Is that where I talk about these

stories of my life and what I learned,

72

: 00:03:49

what I did well, what I didn't do

well, and tips on what you can do.

73

: 00:03:52

The Eight Audacious Actions

to Overcome Life and Climb

74

: 00:03:54

the Corporate Ladder with Joy.

75

: 00:03:57

Look how fast I said that.

76

: 00:03:59

Jon Shematek: Wow.

77

: 00:04:00

Markiesha Wilson: But what people tell

me when they read the book is that

78

: 00:04:03

it is really the overcoming of life.

79

: 00:04:06

These eight things work for, right?

80

: 00:04:08

It may not even be climbing the corporate

ladders, climbing, whatever your climb

81

: 00:04:11

is, whether it's financial, spiritual,

emotional, relational, but that's what

82

: 00:04:17

folks say I give them great wisdom around.

83

: 00:04:20

And so that's my blueprint, my

turquoise blueprint, if you will.

84

: 00:04:24

Jon Shematek: That's a

great way to look at it.

85

: 00:04:26

We've actually just, completed, an eight

part, discussion series between Lauren and

86

: 00:04:31

me, primarily, called, on the Beatitudes.

87

: 00:04:34

There are eight Audacious

Beatitudes and we called it the

88

: 00:04:38

Blueprint for the Christian Life.

89

: 00:04:39

Markiesha Wilson: I did not know that.

90

: 00:04:40

But yeah, and actually, oh my gosh, be so

disappointed if I were to say out loud,

91

: 00:04:46

I didn't know there were 8 beatitudes.

92

: 00:04:48

Jon Shematek: It depends on which book

of the read you different numbers.

93

: 00:04:52

Markiesha Wilson: Then I'm safe.

94

: 00:04:53

Jon Shematek: You're safe.

95

: 00:04:54

We know there are 10 commandments,

but there might be 8 beatitudes.

96

: 00:04:57

There might be nine.

97

: 00:04:59

Who knows?

98

: 00:05:00

One.

99

: 00:05:00

Someone said one thing, another said

another, but anyway, one's, yeah.

100

: 00:05:04

Your book, your first book

has done well, I take it.

101

: 00:05:07

Is that right?

102

: 00:05:09

Markiesha Wilson: Yes, it's done.

103

: 00:05:10

And when people ask me for the numbers,

it's not something that I keep track of.

104

: 00:05:15

I keep track of impact and

the stories that I get.

105

: 00:05:18

I keep track of the people that come

to me to say, I read your book and it

106

: 00:05:23

did this for me, but it has done well,

meaning that the impact it does sell well.

107

: 00:05:30

Everyone knows that, cracking

the rich code doesn't necessarily

108

: 00:05:33

mean that, I sold a lot of books,

for me it's about the impact.

109

: 00:05:37

And people ask for it.

110

: 00:05:38

once they read it, they ask

to give it to other people.

111

: 00:05:41

And so that is when I know it's

having real impact, is that

112

: 00:05:45

people read it and say, oh no.

113

: 00:05:47

My brother needs to read this.

114

: 00:05:49

My uncle needs to read this.

115

: 00:05:50

My sister's gotta read this

I wish my boss would read it.

116

: 00:05:55

Jon Shematek: Yeah.

117

: 00:05:55

Lauren Welch: Markiesha, your article

in the, cracking the Rich code is the

118

: 00:06:00

surprising answer to big questions.

119

: 00:06:02

can you share some of

what you wrote in that?

120

: 00:06:06

Markiesha Wilson: Oh, I absolutely can.

121

: 00:06:08

Giving is my core value.

122

: 00:06:10

That is my number one core value.

123

: 00:06:12

It's in the eight

audacious actions, right?

124

: 00:06:15

I say exhibit generosity,

it's one of the eight.

125

: 00:06:18

because it's so much me.

126

: 00:06:21

It is my core and I wanted to talk more

about it, but if you wanna know behind

127

: 00:06:28

the scenes, I accidentally discovered

this to be my chapter no one knows this.

128

: 00:06:35

Only Jon and Lauren and a couple

of close friends know this, but.

129

: 00:06:39

After the climb, I had been asked

to speak different places it was

130

: 00:06:43

at the height of Covid and I was

preparing myself for a keynote speech.

131

: 00:06:48

So I started to write my keynote speech.

132

: 00:06:50

I might have, I'm not sure if I had done

the TED Talk, by the time I interviewed

133

: 00:06:55

with all of you last time, but I did a

TEDx talk in South Africa on forgiveness.

134

: 00:07:00

I was going through the process of

preparing the same way for my keynote

135

: 00:07:04

speech I was trying to figure out

what nuggets if in 45 minutes I had

136

: 00:07:08

to share my blueprint and my wisdom

and my everything, what would I say?

137

: 00:07:12

And I kept circling around my core values.

138

: 00:07:14

Generosity.

139

: 00:07:15

it's what I wanna say.

140

: 00:07:16

I wanna talk a little bit about my life,

but I want my call to action at the

141

: 00:07:19

end to be that folks need to give more.

142

: 00:07:21

it's how I figured things out.

143

: 00:07:24

So I was working on that and I.

144

: 00:07:27

Knew I had to write this chapter,

but believe it or not, they were two

145

: 00:07:30

completely separate things in my head.

146

: 00:07:33

They were completely different.

147

: 00:07:34

I was working on a keynote speech and

then I was beginning the work on the

148

: 00:07:38

chapter, and as I was speaking with

a friend who's in publishing and so

149

: 00:07:43

on, she was like read me this speech.

150

: 00:07:46

And I was like, sure.

151

: 00:07:47

So I started reading the speech to her

and she's I don't understand why that's

152

: 00:07:52

not the chapter It's the same thing.

153

: 00:07:54

it really didn't click to me, and I

consider myself relatively smart, a 4.0

154

: 00:07:59

in graduate school, I think it was

divine alignment that I was talking

155

: 00:08:03

about the essence of who I was

generosity is the essence of who I am.

156

: 00:08:07

And I did have all these life questions,

and so once I really synthesize it,

157

: 00:08:11

that's why the title is so long is

I discover it in the writing of this

158

: 00:08:16

as I'm asking myself these questions.

159

: 00:08:18

How am I gonna get it over?

160

: 00:08:19

How am I gonna get through?

161

: 00:08:20

How am I gonna live this?

162

: 00:08:22

For me, it was giving.

163

: 00:08:24

Yeah.

164

: 00:08:24

As I remember Markiesha, the

last time we talked, you said you

165

: 00:08:28

wanted to be a philanthropist,

166

: 00:08:30

Markiesha Wilson: That's what I'm saying

and that's why it's so interesting

167

: 00:08:35

because it is my core value, which is

why I knew I was going to weave it in

168

: 00:08:38

here since 2023, I've been able to give.

169

: 00:08:43

Two or three book scholarships each year.

170

: 00:08:46

Just yesterday, I was able to give

a very large donation to my church.

171

: 00:08:51

My pastor is retiring after 50 years.

172

: 00:08:54

Jon Shematek: Wow.

173

: 00:08:55

Markiesha Wilson: Yes.

174

: 00:08:55

And I was able to give a very

large donation that they're gonna

175

: 00:08:58

use toward the refurbishing of

the, video and sound system.

176

: 00:09:03

So I'm doing it, Lauren.

177

: 00:09:04

Lauren Welch: there was never any question

178

: 00:09:08

Markiesha Wilson: it was for me.

179

: 00:09:08

'cause I was like, where's this money

coming from that I'm gonna be giving away?

180

: 00:09:12

I've been thrilled to be

able to do those things.

181

: 00:09:16

Jon Shematek: that is, great because

when you talk about being generous,

182

: 00:09:19

where I've appreciated your generosity

is in your wisdom and what you give to

183

: 00:09:25

all of us in your writings and when we

talk with you it's so deep and genuine.

184

: 00:09:30

you said, I wonder where's

the money gonna come from?

185

: 00:09:32

I know you're a person of

great faith and the money just

186

: 00:09:35

comes when it needs to come.

187

: 00:09:38

Markiesha Wilson: I think also

when you give to people that are

188

: 00:09:41

in need, it always comes back to

you in the way that you need it.

189

: 00:09:45

And when you give, like you're

saying, Jon, it's not just money.

190

: 00:09:48

'cause that's the big thing.

191

: 00:09:49

People are like I'd be a

giver if I had more money.

192

: 00:09:52

You have time, you have talent,

you have expertise, you have.

193

: 00:09:56

Skill, you probably can

cut the grass for somebody.

194

: 00:09:59

There's so many things that people

can give other people I think

195

: 00:10:05

money is the great excuse, right?

196

: 00:10:07

Honestly, I can't help it

because I don't have money.

197

: 00:10:10

But there, it's time,

it's wisdom, it's support.

198

: 00:10:13

It's a smile.

199

: 00:10:14

I've made this a practice.

200

: 00:10:17

Since I was a server at 17 years old,

I don't leave a restaurant without

201

: 00:10:23

that server feeling appreciated.

202

: 00:10:27

Even if the food wasn't good, even if

their service wasn't the best, I will

203

: 00:10:32

give them some type of encouragement.

204

: 00:10:36

And I believe that's a gift as well.

205

: 00:10:38

Oh

206

: 00:10:38

Jon Shematek: it's for sure, I don't

want to give away your, chapter.

207

: 00:10:44

for, 'cause I want people to get your

book and read the whole thing or read

208

: 00:10:48

the chapter But I can tell you one thing

that really did capture my imagination

209

: 00:10:53

is you started talking about superpowers.

210

: 00:10:55

Lot of us use that all

the time in our languages.

211

: 00:10:58

Say if I had a superpower,

what would I want it to be?

212

: 00:11:02

And you had a completely different

spin on that in your chapter.

213

: 00:11:07

Markiesha Wilson: Absolutely.

214

: 00:11:08

Jon Shematek: Oh Yeah.

215

: 00:11:09

It's so engaging.

216

: 00:11:10

I loved your first book.

217

: 00:11:12

I did read it from cover to cover.

218

: 00:11:15

I enjoyed the cover.

219

: 00:11:16

I remember that Bird of Paradise and your

mom's callal lilies and all that stuff.

220

: 00:11:19

Yep.

221

: 00:11:20

yeah, which is very cool.

222

: 00:11:21

But this, I don't know, maybe it just,

I needed to hear what you had to say.

223

: 00:11:27

Markiesha Wilson: Do you want me to read

a little bit of an excerpt from the book?

224

: 00:11:29

Jon Shematek: would be awesome.

225

: 00:11:30

Markiesha Wilson: Who are you?

226

: 00:11:31

What on earth are you

supposed to be doing?

227

: 00:11:34

Lately, we've begun to believe that

all humans have superpowers, right?

228

: 00:11:38

People are claiming every superpower

from empathy to telepathy.

229

: 00:11:42

Don't get me wrong.

230

: 00:11:44

I love the idea of having a superpower.

231

: 00:11:46

I choose to be invisible.

232

: 00:11:48

I think I'd be able to get around

faster and learn what people say and

233

: 00:11:51

do when they think they're alone.

234

: 00:11:53

Being invisible would be the

best way to observe my clients.

235

: 00:11:57

Knowing your purpose,

power is far more critical.

236

: 00:12:01

What are you doing here?

237

: 00:12:03

What are you really

supposed to be doing here?

238

: 00:12:08

What is your purpose, power, and how

do you find out if you don't know your

239

: 00:12:11

purpose, power, if you raise your hand,

this is a question I can help you answer.

240

: 00:12:16

When you take a self inventory and

identify that thing, service, talent or

241

: 00:12:20

expertise that you love to give away,

that is where you and your purpose.

242

: 00:12:26

So that's my take on it.

243

: 00:12:28

So I believe it's far more important.

244

: 00:12:30

to find your purpose, powers that thing

that energizes you over and over again,

245

: 00:12:34

that you love to do, that you literally

can't not do, You can't stop it.

246

: 00:12:40

That is what I believe

is your purpose, power,

247

: 00:12:44

Jon Shematek: and it is related to giving.

248

: 00:12:45

Giving something away.

249

: 00:12:47

Giving.

250

: 00:12:47

exercising your gifts, I

think is one of the ways.

251

: 00:12:51

Markiesha Wilson: Yes.

252

: 00:12:51

And you all are in the spiritual.

253

: 00:12:54

So you know that like you said

about the beatitudes, right?

254

: 00:12:56

there's, anywhere from 12 to 25

or so, spiritual gifts, right?

255

: 00:13:01

Yeah.

256

: 00:13:01

That we've all been given and I

believe mine are encouragement,

257

: 00:13:05

teaching, giving, and faith.

258

: 00:13:07

when I take the spiritual gifts inventory.

259

: 00:13:09

it's about figuring out

how you're using that.

260

: 00:13:13

How does that manifest for you?

261

: 00:13:16

So if it's in teaching, I'm always,

going to be, teaching or encouraging some

262

: 00:13:22

server, teaching them how to do it better

next time if I've gotten bad service.

263

: 00:13:26

Or encouraging them to continue

doing what they're doing.

264

: 00:13:30

when you find out what the gift is and

you're finding a way to operate or it

265

: 00:13:33

finds you, because a lot of times you

find your purpose because people keep

266

: 00:13:39

coming to you asking you for that thing.

267

: 00:13:43

Sometimes people are probably like,

Lauren, you make the best this, or,

268

: 00:13:47

Lauren, can you help me with this problem?

269

: 00:13:49

And the more people do that's when you

start to ask yourself and take inventory.

270

: 00:13:53

What do people consistently ask me for and

how does it feel when I give it to them?

271

: 00:14:02

That's a way to discover

your purpose, power,

272

: 00:14:06

Jon Shematek: Markiesha, I'm thinking that

where you're leading with that is when you

273

: 00:14:10

think of how do I feel when I'm exercising

274

: 00:14:13

Markiesha Wilson: yes,

275

: 00:14:13

Jon Shematek: it's the right purpose

if, fill in the blank, right?

276

: 00:14:18

If you're feeling.

277

: 00:14:21

Markiesha Wilson: yes, I absolutely, if

you're feeling joy, and I could even go so

278

: 00:14:24

far as to take it to the dark side because

u asked what's happened since: 2023

279

: 00:14:31

Everything hasn't been wonderful.

280

: 00:14:33

It has not been wonderful.

281

: 00:14:34

Since 2023.

282

: 00:14:36

I lost my brother just this October.

283

: 00:14:38

you might recall on our last

call, I had already lost a sister.

284

: 00:14:43

I had already lost my mother,

and I already lost my father.

285

: 00:14:46

So from 2023 to where we stand today,

I was taking care of my brother.

286

: 00:14:51

he was in a facility in Pennsylvania.

287

: 00:14:54

I'd become the primary caregiver,

and then I lost him in September.

288

: 00:14:57

He had a number of medical issues,

Jon, this is your power when you

289

: 00:15:02

are low and dark, but you do this

thing and you feel bright and joy.

290

: 00:15:10

Yes.

291

: 00:15:11

Yes.

292

: 00:15:11

my brother was.

293

: 00:15:13

I think some kind of angel.

294

: 00:15:15

he taught me so much about

loving the simple things in life.

295

: 00:15:19

He loved two Boston Cream chocolate

covered donuts from Dunkin'.

296

: 00:15:23

That's what he wanted all the time.

297

: 00:15:25

That brought him joy and it brought

me great joy to bring it to him.

298

: 00:15:29

And even in losing him, figuring

out how I can give and do for others

299

: 00:15:35

brought me great joy And you're right

that is a big way of knowing that this

300

: 00:15:40

is what you're supposed to be doing.

301

: 00:15:43

Jon Shematek: And Markiesha, would

you say, your faith must have been

302

: 00:15:46

part of what sustained you through all

that also was one of the aspects of

303

: 00:15:51

that, this joy that you felt even in

the midst of a really bad situation

304

: 00:15:56

where there was suffering and you were

still able to exercise a gift there.

305

: 00:16:01

Markiesha Wilson: Absolutely.

306

: 00:16:02

I'm a woman of faith and so was my

brother, he knew where he was going

307

: 00:16:06

when he closed his eyes, and I also

knew that my faith was sustaining me,

308

: 00:16:12

supporting him, going every two weeks,

jumping on the train, all those things.

309

: 00:16:16

faith was my source to be able to do it.

310

: 00:16:20

And it's also the joy that felt

when I could see his face and

311

: 00:16:26

he just lit up to see those two

chocolate cover Boston Creme donuts.

312

: 00:16:32

Giving gives me great joy.

313

: 00:16:34

Jon Shematek: Markiesha, I know you, this

is you're so integrated that your whole

314

: 00:16:40

philosophy of life, your faith, your,

understanding of generosity is totally

315

: 00:16:45

part of what you do professionally as

well in your, coaching and, writing,

316

: 00:16:51

has something changed about that?

317

: 00:16:53

the world is very different in many ways.

318

: 00:16:56

the big world in addition to

our own families and what we're

319

: 00:17:00

going through personally is this

a harder message to deliver?

320

: 00:17:05

Is it heard?

321

: 00:17:06

Are people ready to hear this?

322

: 00:17:08

Markiesha Wilson: this is such a great

question, The time that we're living

323

: 00:17:10

in, Is unprecedented in so many ways.

324

: 00:17:15

the world today is changing every day.

325

: 00:17:18

It's rapidly changing.

326

: 00:17:20

It's changing in ways

that you don't expect.

327

: 00:17:22

It's changing for people that you

don't expect it to change for.

328

: 00:17:27

I am a change consultant.

329

: 00:17:28

I've been doing change

management for years.

330

: 00:17:30

So when you ask, is the

message harder to hear?

331

: 00:17:35

I think that people are a little bit

numb and a little bit deaf right now,

332

: 00:17:38

but I think the message is more necessary

to hear right now, which is that.

333

: 00:17:45

change, whether it's your job, which a

lot of people are experiencing right now,

334

: 00:17:49

even just the way that it's changed, to

just do it or to show up at it physically.

335

: 00:17:55

the energy that it takes to show up as

your authentic self when you're going

336

: 00:18:00

through stressors with potential job

loss and all of these changes are.

337

: 00:18:05

Critically important for people to hear

now, and get tools to work through them.

338

: 00:18:11

the message around, positivity is harder

for people to receive right now, but the

339

: 00:18:17

message around my need to understand the

change that I find myself in and tools

340

: 00:18:23

that I can use to manage how it feels and

how I show up at work at home, or in my

341

: 00:18:30

organizations that I support, I think is.

342

: 00:18:33

Critically it's more important now

than ever that people understand

343

: 00:18:37

how change feels the cycle of it the

psychology of it and what it does

344

: 00:18:42

to you how fear can paralyze you

in a change situation if you don't

345

: 00:18:48

consider the possibility of positivity.

346

: 00:18:53

So now where I start with people is.

347

: 00:18:57

Let's just talk about how this

feels to you, and then we can get

348

: 00:19:02

to those eight audacious actions

That help you get through the thing.

349

: 00:19:07

Jon Shematek: Yeah.

350

: 00:19:09

I'm struck by that, actually, that answer

surprised me a bit and I'm delighted

351

: 00:19:13

to hear it because I've met so many

people that have sunk into a deep valley

352

: 00:19:18

of despair almost, which is that's

353

: 00:19:21

Markiesha Wilson: Oh yeah.

354

: 00:19:22

Jon Shematek: the other hand, I was

355

: 00:19:23

Markiesha Wilson: I went there.

356

: 00:19:24

Jon Shematek: Okay.

357

: 00:19:24

Markiesha Wilson: them there.

358

: 00:19:25

Jon Shematek: Yeah.

359

: 00:19:25

Markiesha Wilson: I was in that

valley called despair, but I had

360

: 00:19:29

to make a conscious decision to

get out of that valley of despair.

361

: 00:19:34

I had to fight for that.

362

: 00:19:36

I'm not gonna lie to you.

363

: 00:19:37

September lost my brother October.

364

: 00:19:39

My relationship got bad.

365

: 00:19:40

November.

366

: 00:19:41

I lost a contract, pushed

through Christmas because you

367

: 00:19:45

have to, and it's wonderful.

368

: 00:19:47

January lost another contract.

369

: 00:19:49

So yes, when I tell you I'm

not just coming to You like

370

: 00:19:53

Pollyanna, but it is because I

went through the valley of despair.

371

: 00:19:57

I saw people there and I made a conscious

decision and I crawled out of it.

372

: 00:20:02

I still have dirt under my

fingernails from crawling out

373

: 00:20:05

of that valley of despair.

374

: 00:20:07

Jon Lauren.

375

: 00:20:08

We have to make a decision to

do that, and people have to

376

: 00:20:12

find whatever you can draw on.

377

: 00:20:14

For me, it's faith, and for me, it's

also my ancestors because I haven't

378

: 00:20:19

told you this, but most people assume

without me saying that I'm black.

379

: 00:20:24

Because I'm a black woman.

380

: 00:20:26

Jon Shematek: we did notice that.

381

: 00:20:28

Markiesha Wilson: You noticed, right?

382

: 00:20:29

I'm a little bit, it's St.

383

: 00:20:31

Patrick's Day today.

384

: 00:20:32

I don't know when this will air,

but I am also a quarter Irish.

385

: 00:20:36

But my grandfather half

Irish, half Puerto Rican.

386

: 00:20:39

But because I have some

ancestors who lived.

387

: 00:20:43

A worse day than I did.

388

: 00:20:46

You notice my company's name is Wilson

Chapman, Chapman is the Name of my

389

: 00:20:50

great grandparents, Elizabeth Chapman,

and I named it for her because when I

390

: 00:20:57

grew up, Chapman's was a grocery store.

391

: 00:21:00

She also had owned a fish

market and a dance hall.

392

: 00:21:03

And so Chapman, for me was pulling

my ancestors legacy forward.

393

: 00:21:08

And now I lean in on Elizabeth

Chapman's resilience.

394

: 00:21:12

She had been born in 1900

and she owned businesses all

395

: 00:21:16

the way into the early 1980s.

396

: 00:21:20

So that tells you she lived

through Jim Crow, she lived

397

: 00:21:24

through the Civil Rights movement.

398

: 00:21:26

She lived with knowing her grandparents.

399

: 00:21:29

Surely slaves and she had less than I did.

400

: 00:21:34

I have a master's degree.

401

: 00:21:35

She probably finished high school.

402

: 00:21:36

So if I can't draw on my ancestors and my

faith to get through this dark valley of

403

: 00:21:41

despair, What am I really doing out here?

404

: 00:21:44

for that, yes, Jon and Lauren, I

was in the valley of despair, but I

405

: 00:21:48

had to make a conscious decision to

draw on my faith and my ancestors

406

: 00:21:53

and the wisdom of others to get out

407

: 00:21:56

. This is, for a history lesson on

what people have done through time,

408

: 00:22:03

when they were feeling oppressed or

miserable or hopeless for a history

409

: 00:22:08

lesson on how they got through it.

410

: 00:22:10

There's this book, it's called The Bible.

411

: 00:22:17

Yes, exactly.

412

: 00:22:18

That's it.

413

: 00:22:19

Jon Shematek: Yeah, that's it.

414

: 00:22:22

It's very contemporary, isn't it?

415

: 00:22:25

Very contemporary.

416

: 00:22:27

I'm just so struck Markiesha by, people

I think are so hungry for purpose.

417

: 00:22:37

That's why I just love

your purpose, power analogy

418

: 00:22:41

Yeah.

419

: 00:22:41

I'm struck again by how, in your

professional life and personal

420

: 00:22:45

life, and I know that they're not

separate at all really, but, how?

421

: 00:22:49

No, not

422

: 00:22:50

Markiesha Wilson: anymore.

423

: 00:22:50

Jon Shematek: you're

Markiesha no matter what.

424

: 00:22:53

You mentioned vulnerability.

425

: 00:22:55

To be vulnerable with someone,

you do have to trust them.

426

: 00:22:57

So there's gotta be someone

that you're trusting when

427

: 00:23:01

you're asking, hypothetically,

ask Lauren how she's doing.

428

: 00:23:04

I bet when you ask, you look

like you care about the answer.

429

: 00:23:08

It's not like, how you doing?

430

: 00:23:09

But don't tell me 'cause

I'm busy, type of thing.

431

: 00:23:13

That's absolutely, that's a gift.

432

: 00:23:15

That is a gift.

433

: 00:23:16

Markiesha Wilson: Thank you.

434

: 00:23:17

it's interesting because

I'm a trainer also, right?

435

: 00:23:20

And we're taught when you become a trainer

of adults to wait 10 seconds after you ask

436

: 00:23:24

a question because people need to process.

437

: 00:23:27

So I'm trained to wait 10 seconds.

438

: 00:23:29

So when I say, how are you doing?

439

: 00:23:32

I'm gonna wait.

440

: 00:23:34

And that pause gives

people time to decide.

441

: 00:23:38

How I wanna answer, but it does also

mean I've held space and even it's,

442

: 00:23:43

even if it's 10 seconds, sometimes

I might have been the only person

443

: 00:23:47

that day that held space in this 10

seconds, like the service culture

444

: 00:23:51

is where I do my daily work, right?

445

: 00:23:54

Like preachers, they show up on Sundays.

446

: 00:23:55

But as a person, I do my daily work

in service, If I am in a grocery

447

: 00:24:01

store, the line has been long.

448

: 00:24:02

The people have been rude, and

I've waited in line a long time.

449

: 00:24:04

I will always say to that

cashier, hang in there.

450

: 00:24:08

how are you doing?

451

: 00:24:09

This line has been going on,

sometimes they're, shocked that

452

: 00:24:13

someone actually cared enough ask

the question and wait the 10 seconds.

453

: 00:24:17

I do actually care about the answer.

454

: 00:24:19

I actually like people.

455

: 00:24:20

There are people that don't like people.

456

: 00:24:22

I actually like people.

457

: 00:24:24

Lauren Welch: There are, and

giving that 10 seconds Markiesha,

458

: 00:24:26

you're creating sacred space.

459

: 00:24:29

people, might not name that sacred

space, but they can feel it.

460

: 00:24:34

And that's why many times, they

can respond to You vulnerably?

461

: 00:24:38

Markiesha Wilson: I think what has

made me a successful professional

462

: 00:24:43

and executive coach, right?

463

: 00:24:45

I was already an executive coach

before Georgetown certified me, right?

464

: 00:24:49

he had already found me.

465

: 00:24:50

I was already doing it.

466

: 00:24:52

I've always had this ability to.

467

: 00:24:54

Discover or see the stress in a person.

468

: 00:24:58

And give them.

469

: 00:25:00

A relief vow.

470

: 00:25:01

Like whether that has been a joke, like

going to my top executives like, goodness

471

: 00:25:08

gracious, what is going on around here?

472

: 00:25:10

You must wanna choke

everybody in this building.

473

: 00:25:12

just giving them something to say

that they can never say that's been

474

: 00:25:16

a way of giving, leaders relief.

475

: 00:25:19

or just holding that space.

476

: 00:25:22

But I think what has made me

successful is that I do actually care.

477

: 00:25:28

I actually like people,

and I have a disarming way.

478

: 00:25:32

I'm not five feet tall.

479

: 00:25:33

I think that's part of it too.

480

: 00:25:36

Jon Shematek: See, we

can't tell that on Zoom

481

: 00:25:38

. Markiesha Wilson: But so

482

: 00:25:38

Jon Shematek: we just

see, boom, that's it.

483

: 00:25:40

She could be 10 feet tall.

484

: 00:25:43

Markiesha Wilson: People say, I have

a tall personality, but something

485

: 00:25:45

about my stature and personality is

disarming because I try to create a

486

: 00:25:51

comfortable space for you to share.

487

: 00:25:53

last year.

488

: 00:25:54

I closed out with one CEO, this CEO had

a very powerful position in Baltimore

489

: 00:26:00

and everybody was after this person.

490

: 00:26:05

I won't say the gender, that

makes it easier to discover,

491

: 00:26:08

but, they just had no safe space.

492

: 00:26:14

even that time together, in the

beginning I had no trust, Jon, I had

493

: 00:26:19

to work to build that trust because

they were stuck in feeling there.

494

: 00:26:26

me just being able to spend that

time and help them quiet their

495

: 00:26:31

spirit and thoughts long enough,

share what the challenges, were.

496

: 00:26:38

Gave me time to help them

discover they already knew.

497

: 00:26:43

That's why when people ask me, a lot

of times, what do you do for a living?

498

: 00:26:48

My first answer, and people

told me, this sounds arrogant,

499

: 00:26:51

but I don't think it does.

500

: 00:26:52

I say nothing and they say nothing.

501

: 00:26:55

I said, yeah, I tell people

what they already know.

502

: 00:26:58

And people call it consulting.

503

: 00:27:01

Jon Shematek: That's beautiful.

504

: 00:27:02

Markiesha Wilson: Tell you what you know.

505

: 00:27:03

Jon Shematek: Yeah.

506

: 00:27:04

Markiesha, you've given us so much wisdom

today, and I know Lauren always has

507

: 00:27:07

her one last question, but before she

does, I'm gonna ask your permission if

508

: 00:27:11

I can read a sentence from your chapter

509

: 00:27:14

Give more of the surprising

answer to life's big questions

510

: 00:27:17

and cracking the richer of life.

511

: 00:27:19

13, because this has

struck me, Very close.

512

: 00:27:22

It might have been right at

the very end of your chapter.

513

: 00:27:24

But I want, I just wanna read it.

514

: 00:27:26

'cause this is actually,

this is what you mean to me.

515

: 00:27:29

Markiesha Wilson: Oh.

516

: 00:27:29

Jon Shematek: it goes like this.

517

: 00:27:32

50 years from now when someone

asks, who was Markiesha e Wilson?

518

: 00:27:38

The answer is that she was a Christian

Black woman who inspired everyone

519

: 00:27:46

and gave everything she could.

520

: 00:27:48

amen to that.

521

: 00:27:49

Amen.

522

: 00:27:50

Markiesha Wilson: Amen.

523

: 00:27:51

It's very tears through my

eyes reading my own words.

524

: 00:27:56

Jon Shematek: Yeah.

525

: 00:27:56

Everybody, people go and buy this book.

526

: 00:27:58

that's the only chapter I've read

in it so far, but it's powerful.

527

: 00:28:03

And as is your first book,

these are great reads.

528

: 00:28:05

We highly recommend them.

529

: 00:28:06

we'll have the links in the show

notes, Markiesha, as well as the link

530

: 00:28:10

Markiesha Wilson: to your

531

: 00:28:11

Jon Shematek: website if anybody needs

to get in touch with you professionally

532

: 00:28:14

Markiesha Wilson: Thank you,

533

: 00:28:14

Jon Shematek: Lauren, let me ask,

do you have any last, item you would

534

: 00:28:17

like to check in with Markiesha?

535

: 00:28:20

Yeah.

536

: 00:28:20

we'll give Markiesha, one more

chance because I know she has

537

: 00:28:25

more inspiration to share with us.

538

: 00:28:28

what would you like to leave us with to

think about until we see you next time?

539

: 00:28:32

Markiesha?

540

: 00:28:34

Markiesha Wilson: Yes.

541

: 00:28:34

Oh, that's a great question and I think

what I wanna leave you and your viewers

542

: 00:28:41

with is just, Knowing that no matter

what your eyes may see, no matter what

543

: 00:28:51

you're going through in this day and time.

544

: 00:28:55

you have everything

you need inside of you.

545

: 00:28:59

if you believe in God, believe

that, God put everything you need

546

: 00:29:02

for this moment, it's no accident

that you're living in this moment.

547

: 00:29:06

You have everything you need inside

of you to move your life forward in

548

: 00:29:10

the direction that you need it to go.

549

: 00:29:12

You want it to go, and God has said for

it to go, it's all inside of you already.

550

: 00:29:19

Be very careful not to let the

distractions of this time keep you

551

: 00:29:26

from going where you need to go.

552

: 00:29:28

Be careful not to let fear,

anxiety, stress, or other

553

: 00:29:33

people's fear, anxiety or stress.

554

: 00:29:36

keep you from going where

you know God wants you to go.

555

: 00:29:40

Lauren Welch: That's, Very good advice for

all of us, I need to remember that often.

556

: 00:29:45

Thank you.

557

: 00:29:46

Markiesha Wilson: Yeah.

558

: 00:29:48

and I want to thank all who are

watching and listening today.

559

: 00:29:51

Until next time, peace and blessings.

560

: 00:29:54

Lynn Shematek: This episode

of Good News has been brought

561

: 00:29:57

to you by Listening for Clues.

562

: 00:30:00

For more podcasts, check out

our YouTube channel or our

563

: 00:30:04

website listening for clues.com.