Meet Wanda Childs

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wanda Childs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Wanda, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Finding my purpose was (not) easy, what’s funny, I didn’t know I had a purpose to begin with. I spent most of my childhood and adult life not knowing I had any special gifts or talents, which left no room for me to believe I had a given purpose. I’ve learned not knowing your purpose, or not understand you have special gifts and talents can cause you to feel like you’re living a meaningless life.

I thought being gifted and talented was tied to being a great singer, dancer, actor, things that others could do without being trained or taught, they were just naturally gifted in those areas. Well, since I had none of the above, I simply assumed I was gift less, which meant I had no real purpose for being here on earth, just here existing. I was in my early 40’s when (someone else) helped me discover my gifts, which lead me to my purpose.

I was told by several people I had the Gift of “Comfort”, I thought WOW, “Comfort” is considered a gift? Whenever someone was sad, stressing out or depressed, people would always ask me to give that person a call, everyone said I would know exactly what to say to comfort that individual. I have been in positions when I have (unknowingly) spoken to someone who wanted to commit suicide and after I had a long conversation with them, they changed their mind and later told me about it.

Discovering that I had a gift of comfort, helped me to walk in my purpose, which was to encourage, inspire and motivate others. Which lead me to understand why GOD would have me start (one) of my companies called Blessed 24:7®️ Gift Shop. The merchandise says BLESSED 24:7®️ which is a reminder that even on a bad day GOD is Good. God would have me take my trademark message and sell gift merchandise to help inspire people all over the word.

I started my retail gift shop online in 1996, while I was in a space where I do not understanding my own purpose, however, GOD has a habit of giving you an assignment and when you trust HIM, God will give you exactly what you need to fulfill that assignment, you just need to get started and let HIM do the rest. My purpose is to inspire, encourage and motive others to Trust God even in the middle of their storms.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am single, with a full-grown son who lives aways, living his best life and I am so proud of him. I am a woman of God, my relationship with GOD and my family is extremely important. I am an entrepreneur at heart and a full-time business owner, mentor, author and a motivational speaker.

While I was working in the office of corporate America and needed extra income, I decided to start a side business. In 1995 I came up with the idea to start my own Custom Printing Company named Printing Express & Designs, LLC. My printing company specializes in helping YOU Brand YOUR Brand with custom printed Promotional & Marketing Products. I actually get excited watching my customers logo come to life on custom printed souvenirs, t-shirts and other projects my company prints..

I enjoy helping others with marketing and promoting their brand to the point it inspired me to create my own personal brand. In 1996, one year after starting my 1st company, I created company #2, a retail gift shop called Blessed 24:7®️ Gifts. I trademark the phrase Blessed 24:7®️ and started selling my own gift merchandise with my trademark logo.

The message Blessed 24:7®️ was created to inspire, encourage and motivate others to trust GOD (always) in spite of unfavorable circumstances. The message has made its way around the World and I am now selling my brand in 9 different languages. After creating my two companies, 10 years later I ended up getting wrongfully terminated from my daytime job, yes I was FIRED. It turns out one of the worst days of my life turned into the best day of my life. I used to mourn losing my corporate, daytime job and now I celebrate my termination date each year.

Being fired motivated me to write my 1st book, titled “Pushed Into My Purpose” the book would later turn me into a motivational speaker. I’m also the Founder & President of a non-profit organization (Mentoring Program) where I teach a seminar on Entrepreneurship “How To Start Your Business from Ground Zero” TM and another seminar on Self-publishing “How To Write YOUR First Book”. The nonprofit is my way of giving back and helping others discover their purpose.

I’m excited to be a full-time entrepreneur, I’m absolutely grateful to be able to walk in God’s Word, HIS Will and HIS Way. It’s truly a blessing to be able to serve others with my custom printing company, helping them with marketing and promoting their brands and then I get to also serve others with my retail gift shop (Blessed 24:7®️ gift merchandise that inspires and reminds others that God is good all the time. My gift shop slogan is (even on a bad day God is Good) you are Blessed 24:7®️

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

This journey of entrepreneurship has had its ups and downs and many life lessons. The 3 important things to remember is to #1 trust God, #2 whatever you do, do it with a spirit of excellence and #3 at all times provide great customer service. It is important that whatever you decide to do, if you are not passionate about it, there’s a good chance it’s not your purpose. Once you discover your purpose, you will become a light that will help guide and inspire others who are trying to find their way.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

If you are a multitasker like me, there will be times when you feel overwhelmed. To overcome this, you have to practice time management, you must be organized and create a daily (written) To-Do list. I’ve discovered my daily To-Do list is most helpful because it helps me with organizing my day. Crossing off items from my To-Do list gives me a sense of daily accomplishments. You have to set boundaries, have at least 1 day set aside and relax and spend times with friends and family to separate yourself work, work, work. You have to find a way to shut down and recharge, it reduces stress levels. Enjoy walking in your purpose without the stress!

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