Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nisa Williams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nisa, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
In the past, I believed that self-care meant going to get my nails done, getting a massage or many of the other activities that are suggested in the mainstream. I looked great on the outside, but the internal feelings of peace, rest, joy and beauty that I desired remained elusive. Over the years, as I studied and became a practitioner of Social & Emotional Intelligence I discovered that what I was actually doing was considered self-maintenance, which is defined as the act or process of maintaining oneself. Self-maintenance is necessary, but I learned that true self-care is the practice of cultivating and protecting one’s own well-being and happiness from the inside out.
I live a very full life as a single mother and business owner with a full-time job. It is very easy for me to become overwhelmed with the demands of everyday life. Because of this, depression and anxiety had become one of my daily challenges. I now practice several forms of social, mental, spiritual, and emotional self-care. To be transparent, I am still working on developing physical self-care rituals. Some of my daily practices include meditation and mindfulness, spending time outdoors hiking or at the beach, allowing myself to feel and express the fullness of my emotions, having deep insightful conversations, surrounding myself with inspirational friends, creating and protecting my boundaries, and when necessary, spending time alone to think and grow.
Social and Emotional Intelligence has taught me to ground myself in the present and protect my inner peace. Because of this I am much more productive in my work and business, and more at peace and grateful for the life that I have created. I am less affected by the daily challenges that life throws at me. That’s not to say that I don’t encounter stressful situations. I do! However, I am better equipped to handle them with grace, knowing that I can control what happens in my own world, and only influence what happens outside of it.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a certified Social & Emotional Intelligence Coach and the owner of NW Associates. My focus is on helping entrepreneurs increase their Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in order to run highly successful businesses. The beauty about what I do is that Social & Emotional Intelligence covers all aspects of life, so what I teach is immediately useful both personally and professionally. I find it rewarding to help people, especially women, dive deep into self-discovery to understand what motivates or hinders their success. For example, when I facilitate workshops about time management, we first delve into the participants’ emotional and personal barriers to managing their time wisely; what is keeping them from consistently utilizing the many tools that they inevitably already have in place? Another rewarding workshop that I teach is on the topic of Imposter Syndrome, something that many of us experience and allow to stall our progress. Currently I teach virtual workshops for several Women’s Business centers in Southern California. I will be expanding in 2023 to facilitate virtual and in-person workshops nationwide. I will also offer one-on-one and group coaching sessions for budding entrepreneurs.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
When I look back, three personal qualities that I believe were most impactful in my journey were grit, empathy, and curiosity. Grit is another word to describe perseverance in the face of significant adversity or obstacles. Over the years I encountered many personal and professional challenges that could have caused me to give up. Some were self-inflicted due to poor choices, and some were out of my control. Although I didn’t know it at the time, my ability to persist during times of challenge while keeping a positive mindset has been instrumental in living the peaceful life that I enjoy today. The ability to empathize with the emotions and challenges that others experience has been a major driver along my entrepreneurial journey. Each iteration of my for-profit and non-profit companies have always focused on helping those in need, particularly those in underserved populations. Curiosity is what continues to drive me. I am immensely curious about how I can continue to use Social & Emotional Intelligence techniques to help improve the lives of others. The advice that I have for those who are just starting on their journey is to remain curious about the future and to keep making steps forward even when there are obstacles. Sometimes you will take baby steps, and sometimes you will make leaps and bounds, but every step matters as long as there is forward movement.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
I understand that enhanced Social & Emotional Intelligence skills are important for every human being in all facets of life, and I facilitate workshops for all individuals. Most frequently, I contract with organizations that serve entrepreneurs as well as individuals in any phase of their business. My passion is in serving those in underserved and/or disadvantaged populations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nisawilliamsassociates.com/
- Instagram: @nwassociates
- Twitter: @nw_associates
- Youtube: NW Assoicates
Image Credits
Head shot image credits: Matthew Eric Brooks, MattFinish Photography
