We caught up with the brilliant and insightful DeShona Charles a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
DeShona, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I am very grateful to have grown up in very diverse settings and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I also keep diversity at the forefront, with raising my family, in selecting where we live, work, and “play.”
Because I have experienced multi-dimensional diversity, I have thrived in building lasting relationships and successfully working with clients in both the counseling profession (my first career) and my career as a real estate agent. Both professions have very diverse clientele. Without having the skills and abilities to communicate and work alongside a large mix of people, my businesses would not thrive.
What’s been extremely helpful, is that when I walk into a room, I try to focus on similarities and not differences. This keeps me focused on why I am in certain rooms, whether it’s for work or leisure. I am always interested in what we have in common or what conversation can I start, whereas we can all relate. I try to focus on being myself and leaving any assumptions “at the door.” With this approach, I have been able to successfully engage and make connections with many people who, “do not look like me,” personally and professionally. I have also been a part of many challenging, but productive conversations amongst people who, “do not look like me,” because I am not afraid to have those conversations and especially not intimated about being the only African American in the room or challenged with other differences that may not deal with race.
Lastly, I am mindful that there is more to diversity than race. The list of things that set us apart from others, is vast: Socioeconomic status, culture, physical appearance, age, place of origin, language, gender, sexuality, religion…etc., I am aware of how these differences can pose as challenges, but as per the challenges that could or have directly impacted me, I work hard to not let them defeat me, but instead focus on solutions.
“We are only in full control of ourselves and how we react to situations. I continue to show up various rooms, as my best self. The rest is out of my control.” -DeShona-
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?
My name is DeShona Charles and I am pleased to share my businesses, passions and purpose with all of you. When people ask me where I am from, I say Georgia, because I have been here ALL of my life and this is my HOME. I love ALL things Georgia! When I am not working on my businesses, I enjoy volunteer work, reading, relaxing, and spending time with family and friends.
I want to thank God for allowing me the health, skills and abilities to pursue my passions. Next, I have to thank my husband, children, my business partner, and a host of other family and friends, for being so supportive of me in this journey.
My first career and love is my work as a Licensed Professional Counselor. I have practiced counseling since 2005. I am the co-owner of Affirm Wellness, PC, a full-service counseling and professional development company, in Gwinnett County, GA. We provide counseling, behavioral health/business consulting, continuing education classes, and conduct personal and professional development presentations, to groups and individuals. I absolutely love what I do as a counselor, as mental health and wellness is highly important to our quality of life.
My business partner and I launched our nonprofit organization, the Affirm Wellness Foundation, Co., in 2023! Our mission is to enhance mental health awareness and promote individual autonomy through education, advocacy, and resources. We are looking forward to partnering with community organizations that also promote mental health awareness, so that we can create a huge impact in our communities, with a host of wellness events, resources, and campaigns. We would love your support, as we launch our various projects in 2024 and years to come!
Prior to 2021, I was juggling a full-time job and seeing clients part-time, in my counseling practice. The pandemic afforded me the opportunity to experience the “work from home life,” as I truly enjoyed being home more, spending more time with my family and having more control of my time. With having experienced that, I decided to transition from my f/t job and join my counseling practice f/t. Since the transition, I have constantly worked hard to add to my portfolio of skills, allowing me to diversify my income earning streams.
I have added Licensed Realtor to my portfolio and this has been a great pairing! Many of the skills that I already possess as a counselor, have been extremely helpful in navigating this business. I have a growing real estate business that is built on transparency, clear communication, attention to detail, relationship building, commitment to professionalism, and superb problem-solving skills. I have worked hard to build partnerships with a team of other real estate agents, loan officers, inspectors, credit specialists, insurance agents, home improvement service providers and other professionals, that are some of the best in the business. My goal is to continue to help families and individuals learn more about the homebuying process, by providing workshops and individual consultations, navigate through the barriers of home ownership, and to help hundreds of families and individuals achieve their goals of buying| selling| leasing properties in the years to come. I service and/or have referral partners in many Georgia counties.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Many people start businesses and fail. I have failed at business. The difference in the people who are successful in business vs those who are not, is the willingness to keep trying and making adjustments as we go. The hardest thing to do is to keep trying and the easiest thing to do is to give up. The success of your businesses depends on YOU.
I believe that the top 3 things that have helped me on my journey have been the following: I have an unwavering ability to build lasting relationships and network with others. In my opinion, networking is extremely important, because most of the time, there is already someone out there who has done what you are trying to do and they can help guide you in the right direction. Do NOT practice business or work in your profession, in isolation. Surround yourself with people who you can learn from.
Next, my ability to stay calm in fast-paced, high stress and uncertain situations. These kind of situations are a part of life and they can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. Panicking decreases our ability to think clearly and takes our focus away from solutions. I try to breathe, stay calm, and think about ways that I can solve the problem. Sometimes this may mean calling someone who can help me solve the problem, so that I can talk and work through it.
Lastly, I have learned the importance of being well-rounded. I am not a business major or an accountant. I am not a loan officer and home inspector. I do not know everything there is to know about my professions. However, since I am a business owner, I have to know a little bit about everything involving my businesses. Don’t be afraid to invest in your continuing education by taking classes, outsourcing, finding a mentor, reading and researching…etc., to stay abreast of the things needed to be well-rounded in your profession. The only way to keep your business growing or to grow in your profession, is to keep learning.
How would you describe your ideal client?
Because I come from a human service profession, of course I want to HELP everyone, but I have learned that’s not realistic. I cannot HELP everyone, as sometimes your goals, visions, personalities, circumstances…etc., do not align and you can do more harm than good, to both parties, by continuing the client/professional relationship.
My ideal clients are ones who can benefit and really want the services they are seeking. My ideal clients are thoughtful, considerate, responsive, consistent, appreciative, committed to the process, honest and willing to learn.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.affirmwellness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/affirmwellness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=affirm%20wellness%2C%20pc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deshona-charles-19b9b989
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/unapologetically_deshona/ https://deshonacharles.thejonesyrealtygroup.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091630486730
Image Credits
Will B Shots
