We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Felicia Jeffries a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Felicia, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
Growing up in rural Mississippi as an only child, I had to learn ways to keep myself occupied. I was a creative with a vivid imagination. I remember wanting a green stool, and next thing you know, I was spending half the day cutting down the perfect size tree for the legs of that stool and looking for a seat in my daddy’s work shed. I was always an optimistic kid.
Life has tested my optimism many times. Being around people of varied social status, encouraged me think of farfetched ideas. They were farfetched for me because my family wasn’t well off. I grew up knowing what it felt like to have my feet wrapped in hot towels in wintertime before I went to sleep, because the house wasn’t insulated enough. I remember seeing my mom put plastic over the windows to keep the draft out.
I had a friend whose family was well off. I loved my family, but I admired the way her family lived. I used to dream of traveling and driving nice cars and living in a home where we didn’t have to pull a string from the ceiling to turn the lights on. I wanted a home I wouldn’t freeze in wintertime because the house wasn’t insulated properly.
I remember desiring to take showers. We didn’t have a shower. We could bathe in the tub, but since the water heater didn’t work properly, we’d run out of hot water, and my mom would boil water to help fill the tub up the rest of the way with hot water. I had a chance to experience comfortable living when I slept over at my best friend’s house, and in my mind, I knew I would have a comfortable lifestyle.
I started working at age nine selling perfume to my mother’s friends. I wanted more money. So I went to the factories when I got older. I figured hard work would get me where I wanted to be, and I remember telling my mom, “I’m leaving here one day, and I’m not coming back.”
My dad was a very hard working businessman who owned his own business, but being black in rural Mississippi was like living under a cloud that rained lack of opportunity. I could see the disadvantages at a young age without anyone explaining to me what my family and other black people in the community were experiencing.
Daddy was a very smart man. He read a lot of law books and knew how to defend himself. He was also a Mason and well known in the community. On top of all that, he served GOD, Jehovah. I’m sure life would have been much more difficult had my father not chosen the path he chose. I admired my dad; he taught me a lot about the value of being a business owner.
Although we didn’t live lavishly, I didn’t want for any other necessities. We had food, nice clothing, cars to drive that he knew how to fix. Although I had a deeply ingrained dissatisfaction with how we lived life, I loved my family. When I decided to leave Mississippi, it was a bittersweet moment.
I said my goodbyes to my family and left. I came to Texas and started my new life. I stayed optimistic through the many challenges I have faced. For example, two years after moving here, I had a stroke, and ended up having brain surgery. I wasn’t afraid. I trusted in GOD fully, and HE brought me through that ordeal. I’ve been blessed to take adverse situations and rise out of them.
Life has so many hurdles and is full of pain. No-one can deny this; however, the way I have dealt with my issues has helped me tremendously. I don’t take credit for any of the good gifts I have received. GOD deserves that credit. I know as long as my optimistic attitude flourishes, everything will be okay. I sometimes pray for a positive optimistic attitude when I really need 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 do many things. I don’t own a television, and that’s by choice. Life if short, and it’s too short to waste precious time on unproductive self-sustaining activities. I have several irons in the fire. We’re giving our business a facelift so to speak. We want to help baby boomers find their purpose in life through business ownership.
All the years of writing books, designing business courses, and filling our business blog with relevant business information has not been in vain. We have a fully interactive platform for the business owners who are just starting out as well. We realize they need support to obtain sustainable growth. Our platform has relevant business educational material for those individuals to succeed.
I am also an artist. I take time out to create meaningful art that resonates with people who have overcome challenges in life. It’s also very therapeutic. I am working on a series of oil paintings that are due to be released late next year.
Being an author is exciting. I have another book brewing that should be completed by end of summer next year. It’s about wise biblical principles that help business owners succeed at business.
I have also taken a serious interest in Ai since it is the future. I developed a course on how to properly use it. It’s available on Teachable. And I’ve passed my certification exams to become a prompt engineer. My goal is to stay on top of the adjustments being made in society as they relate to business. I am forever a student. I embark on things that bring me satisfaction which results from helping others achieve higher goals in life.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I’ve gathered so much experience in life. I worked in the fast food industry and in factories in my teens. I always had a business. In my twenties I sold new cars. I became a paralegal in my thirties, and out of it all, I learned how to deal with people and address their needs in a sophisticated manner. I remember the general manager at one of the dealerships I worked at taught us how to properly shake someone’s hand. I never forgot that. When I shake someone’s hand, particularly a man, I get oftentimes get complimented on my firm handshake. Being flexible in life is necessary. You continually learn, and it affords you the opportunity to embark on different adventures in life.
Good customer service is important no matter what industry a person is in. I have heard so many complaints about the customer service in the consulting industry. At Moore Financial Services, we put customer satisfaction at the forefront of our dealings. The ability to satisfy your client and say no when necessary is necessary to thrive.
The best advice I can give is to have a really close relationship with the CREATOR, Jehovah (Yahuah) GOD, because HE sees things we don’t see and will guide you through difficulties in business. Being willing to become a child to the Heavenly Father and hear HIS voice to guide you is crucial in these times. Therefore, listening to the right voice is imperative.
In summary, flexibility, discernment, and a listening heart are the three qualities that matter most in my life.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Connect with me directly through email at info@
Contact Info:
- Website: www.moorefinancialservices.net
- Instagram: @bizcreditmovement
- Facebook: @bus.matters
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicia-jeffries-52aa0a43/
- Other: www.feliciajeffries.club
Image Credits
Images taken by Diamond Color Studio.
