Meet Issachar Lee

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

Hi Issachar, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something I’ve been battling with until recently honestly, I can’t say that it doesn’t leak in from time to time on its own.

In fact, I remember there was a time coming out of college I was offered an internship at CBS NEWS. A young black kid from Kansas, being offered a spot at one of the biggest news organizations in the country in the biggest city in the country being New York City. While I was of course excited, shook with disbelief and couldn’t get my bags packed fast enough so I could live out this golded opportunity ahead of me, I remember telling myself I wasn’t good enough.

I remember the first day walking up to those doors, going inside to the security desk, them asking me who I was with and freezing up because looking at everyone else coming in, how they were dressed, how they looked, chest out, smiling, coffee in hand I couldn’t help but feel I was in the wrong place. My family we were ok but we didn’t really come from much. We always were close nit took care of each other you know good down to earth rooted family, but we never looked or acted like the people I saw walk into that building. We had no experience, so I had no experience. It made me feel that the best way for me to navigate this new world, which I had no experience in and survive past the first week, was to shut up and find a nice quiet place in the back where I’d hope no one would notice me and see just how much I stood out. Maybe then I could last a week, maybe even two and have something to tell the folks back home when they eventually let me go. About how I was able to last two weeks so maybe then the next kid out of kansas after me could last three weeks or maybe… Gasp… a month!

That kid was scared as fuck… I kid you not.

It wasn’t until I walked passed by one of the sound operators there. He was a black man, maybe in his late 60s been there almost 20-30 years in the exact same position. I noticed him on the day to day, he hardly ever looked my way and when he did, I’d nod and he would give just a stare. Figured that would be the extent of our would be relationship, another reason for me to be in that quiet corner I was telling you about because I obviously got on someone’s bad side somehow and it aint even been a week. I’ll never forget that day as long as I live I swear. Because on this day… Things were different then the usual stare I grew accustomed to. I walked by him this time, he was just coming out of the sound room and he grabbed me off to the side while walking down the hallway and it was so weird I kid you not, never actually knew the guy beyond a few head nods. He grabbed me by the arm off to the side in the corner of the hallway and said to me to fix my tie, it was off, so I fixed it. He then told me to tuck in my button up more and adjust my belt but not before telling me to make sure to go to target right after today and buy a new one because my torn hand me down wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I tucked by shirt and noted a new purchase after work. He then said to me fix your face you look like a damn lost puppy walking around here like that, pull your shoulders back and walk with some confidence – like you own this place. I told him that I’m new and just an intern. He then replied, and thinking like that will make sure that’s exactly where you stay. He then told me I’ll be watching you tomorrow and you better come in here looking like the guy they offered the position to and not the one that begged for it.

I went home that day processing everything that happened and when the next day hit what do you think I did? I walked in there like the guy they offered the position to and not the one that begged for it. Oh I also had a new belt from target one that fit right and shined the light off the buckle. I walked in with confidence even if I had to fake it, I made sure I smiled and shook hands with every person, learned what position they held and built a mental log of networking. And when they asked what I did I never told them I was an intern I told them I was a producer that just came on board. This often lead to more thorough conversations and details about the workplace that I never got when folks thought I was just an intern. I even walked up to the prime time anchor whom was Scott Pelley at the time and pitched him some of my ideas on a news reel. This was frowned upon for interns to speak directly with anchors and you already know I got hit over the head by my program advisor for it, but I don’t regret a damn thing. Scott shook my hand told me he liked that idea and from that day on when we had round table production meetings, I was the only intern in the room that Scott called on from time to time (albeit still rare occasions) to see if I had an idea to offer. I was no longer the kid in the back, nor did I had a seat at the table just yet but I was definitely seen as the kid in the middle with some shit to offer.

Boy when I tell you the smile on that old mans face when he saw me moving the room. I tell you I keep that smile as a constant memory everyday. I don’t think I saw him smile much before that day but man did it mean a lot. I almost think the most high Yah put him there I don’t know maybe like an angel. He motivated me in a major way. Helped me realize who the hell I am. I was the guy they offered the position to and not the one that begged for it.

So I’d say what’s helped me overcome is realizing who I am, reminding myself though I am the youngest, blackest person in the room, that hey they requested you, they asked for you, they wanted you… I look in the mirror and tell myself this was a moment that Yah meant for you and only you to arrive and thrive in so who are you to tell him he’s wrong, or to say you aren’t enough, unfit, unqualified for, underdeveloped?

I ask myself before I do in any room are you the one they offered the position to or are you the one that begged for it? Alright act like it!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I really don’t know what to say honestly when people ask what I do it’s weird honestly. I tell them I’m a financial coach that makes content on social media to make it easy. I also use phrases like financial edutainer to more accurately represent what it is that I do I educate and entertain and let folks pick the meat of off the bones of what I say. But to be foreal I’m not an expert, I’m just a guy that make it his mission and journey to heal peoples wallets.

I started my brand Healer of Wallets 2 years ago off of something that honestly shouldn’t have even took place.

A buddy of mine asked me how to get started with investing. You see in my friend group I slowly became known as the go to dude on stocks and investing because after my time in new York I learned how money is actually supposed ot be used. You see were were taught to earn and save growing up, but the true purpose of money is that every dollar you have is an opportunity how you use that opportunity could either build you or destroy you. I got curious of what would happen when I sued that opportunity to make me money that I didn’t have to physically work for because ya boy was getting tired of them late nights, early mornings grinding. So I learned about the stock market and made it my business to turn my money into to something more than just an item to pay bills with.
So fast forward my buddy asked how to start investing. I spent 2 hour son the phone with him telling him what platforms to use, how much to put in and what to invest in, etc. This man after 2 hours of a convo said. Bro you know I’m not finna remember this conversation right… Could you like make a video going over it for me? I almost wanted to throw the phone I kid you not but my dumb self said sure. I made a 1 minute video calling it investments for dummies and just went over the most basic thing I knew about investing for this knucklehead dude to hopefully watch and get something from. I tried to send it to him but the file was too big so I decided to post it on Facebook and send him the link. I didn’t rezlie that I had set the privacy to public instead ifo private. The next morning I see my video had over 100 likes on it. Then later 500, then later 1,000. With loads of comments asking for further steps, what I thought about this stock not covered, so on and so on.

I quickly realized that what was just me trying to help my boy spurred into me being made aware of a need that I didn’t know was there. You see I always thought what I knew was common knowledge like everyone knew and im just basic with it – again that imposter syndrome rearing its ugly head yet again.

But in fact it was the opposite I was being called to educate people desperately wanted that freedom that I was also wanting. So I started healer of wallets and in 6 months a paeg that had no more than 500 followers on it grew to over 50000. 6 months after that 140000. To where we are today at over 270000 people being tuned in learning about financial literacy, credit, taxes, myths about finances and more.

I think that most amazing part of it all is how I’m able to help people attain the live they want on their own terms. It doesn’t matter what level of knowledge you have the community being built is one that is welcoming and engaging. Questions get answered and answers are always found. That is what excites me being able to make content that is educational, organic, authentic and true to who I am and people that TuneIn see that and have a desire to support that mission.

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?

The 3 biggest skills I think that can help anyone at any stage of their life are these:

1. Those that win are those that can learn to be comfortable, in uncomfortable situations.
a. When you learn how to be adaptive, moldable and able to move around in any environment and still find a way to find peace, happiness and thrive even in the most uncomfortable situation there is literally nothing that can shake you and break you. Look at a messy room, and don’t immediately get overwhelmed, don’t immediately freak out instead think of the best way to clean it, think of the best way to organize it, and after you’ve spent 3 minutes doing that START and SATART with a smile of confidence. I kid you not there is nothing on this earth that can stop a mind like that.
2. How to win friends and influence people
a. One thing college taught me is that you don’t need college to be successful… I’m not kidding it’s a waste of time. Moist things you can learn on Youtube or in a 6-month trade program. What wasn’t a waste time is learning that the world moves because of people and learning how to navigate, network and influence your circle is what is going to get you past where you are to where you want to be and its going to get you there a whole hell of a lot faster too. Everyone hates people rising up the ranks due to connects right? Welp I tell those people you better find better connects. I say this as a guy that use to cry due to lost opportunities due to the same thing and my mentor got me straight. He told me I know you aren’t sad about that, sad about how you didn’t do enough to make sure you had a seat at the table. Because if you don’t have a seat at the table you’re probably on the menu. Your network is your net worth, in business, family and life. Those around is influence us in a multitude of ways. Learn this and be the one that molds your life in the proper direction.
3. Choose to be happy
a. Man life is tough I tell you and with more success only comes different problems. If you honestly think money, love, kids, whatever is going to fix traumas, triggers or whatever else is wrong with you, then I have some beach front property to sell you. Sometimes in life you literally have to choose to be happy. Choosing to free your mind of all of the stress of yesterday and future and just be happy today… in the present… Enjoy what’s in front of you more than hating what’s behind you and you’ll feel more fulfilled. You’ll look at the journey you’re on with optimism. You’ll be grateful and faithful for your path in life including the struggles because they helped make you. You learn how to transform pain into pleasure and stress into motivation and power.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

I think these past 12 months have given me a lesson in patience. You know I’ve always been such an ambitious guy so go go go and just going after everything. That’s how I was taught that successful people must be. But Man was the past 12 months humbling, my business boomed, then I got divorced, then I went through depression, going in debt, suffering credit loss, then had to learn how to co-parent for the first time, then got in a relationship with an amazing woman, moving across the country, business starting to pick back up, getting out of that depression, getting weight back on my body, learning how to be a better friend/brother/son/boyfriend/dad/faithful person of the most high…. Bruh

It all came at me all at once. In 12 months my life was at its lowest lows to the highest highs. That much of a transition I tell you is traumatic to say the least. I still don’t know if I’ve processed it all yet. But what it did teach me is patience. What it taught me is how to find comfort even in the uncomfortable. Even if that comfort is a small, tiny, lit space in a dark room. Find it and make it your own. Light it up one candle at a time. Don’t worry what other people ar doing you just keep lighting one candle at a time. Pretty soon you’ll look up and that once dark room is now times square. With a path lit up in every direction. Be patience, focus on what you need to do and breathe. Breathe through the pain, the bullshit and everything in between. You’ll be ok… You’re not dead… And that is a great starting point to build something amazing off of.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.healerofwallets.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healerofwallets/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/izzy-lee-media/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYWUucHttXGlFrUzw8ED1Pw

Image Credits

Issachar Lee