We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful LaKeisha Moore. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with LaKeisha below.
LaKeisha , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I found my purpose while navigating through my own challenges. Like many others, I went to graduate school thinking it was the one path to my then-idea of success. After starting my journey in graduate school, I felt confused and disappointed when I was being told “No” to several roles because I was either still in the graduate program, or graduated and was told I didn’t have enough hands-on experience. Though they didn’t feel like it when I heard or received each “No”, as I continued to push on, I learned that all of the “No’s” were actually opportunities in themselves.
As a graduate school student and recent alumni, I tried to return to the school system I recently worked in, as well as tried to enter different industries and use my newly gained knowledge without success. There were times when I felt that for whatever reason, I just wasn’t good enough. Though I felt confused, dejected, and like I was not good enough to be successful, I found that I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to learn or improve so I could reach my goals of success that I had been working so hard to achieve. Opportunities to learn and improve presented themselves in the form of two mentors who always encouraged me and gave me guidance on how to better navigate my journey to success.
While learning the lessons that my mentors taught me, including lessons like how to network and the importance of a brand, I realized that even with their support, the main factor in my success was me and I had to determine what steps I was going to take to reach my goals and stop allowing myself to hold myself back just because I was hearing the word “No”. When I internalized the fact that my success depends on me, I found myself more willing to reflect and view each “No” as an opportunity to learn. I also reflected on the conversations I was having and realized that I knew people who were also holding themselves back by not working through what was deterring them from achieving their ideas of success. It was then that I found my purpose, to help others to rise to the occasion of elevating themselves to achieve what they want. Realizing that I did not want to be a person who holds herself back, I realized that I wanted to help others find their way to their own success as well and thus Aspire To Moore was created as a way for me to continue to grow while doing something I love, helping others.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As the owner of Aspire To Moore, I coach individuals who recognize that they are not achieving their goals and are ready to refocus their efforts to attain the success that they desire. Through the coaching sessions I help others to realign themselves with their path to the goals and also align with new goals as they arise so they can ultimately realize success.
One of the most special things about Aspire To Moore for me is actually a moment. The moment I am referring to is the moment when my client shares, with joy, the success that they achieved by sticking to the plan that they set for themselves. It is an utter joy to be a part of that moment, and it is also when my clients seem more confident in their ability to continue to plan and successfully execute their next steps to achieve the future that they want.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back over the past few years, the skills that I think were most impactful were listening, asking questions, and recognizing the narrative I am willing to give life to. As a Personal Development Coach, listening skills are key to being of service to your client. Listening effectively helps you to determine the right questions that will help your client navigate their way through their deterrents to success. I also consider recognizing the story I am willing to tell myself as one of the most impactful skills in my journey because it has allowed me to stop myself from getting discouraged and focus on the fact that I am in charge of my success.
In order to develop one’s listening and questioning skills, I would encourage others to remember that coaching is not about what they have experienced and how that may benefit the client, it’s about what the client has experienced and how they can use what they have learned to map their journey moving forward. In order to improve on recognizing the story one is willing to tell themselves, I would encourage others to be intentional about making statements like “I can’t” and “It’s hard”. Is it true that you can’t, or true that you haven’t learned the way to achieve X yet? Is it impossible because it’s hard, or is it hard but still achievable, and if it’s not achievable, is there still something to be learned? These are lessons that I am grateful for and work to incorporate them every day.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing that my parents did for me was encourage learning both in and outside of school. As a child and teenager, I frequently went to different programs where I learned things like sowing, swimming, and fencing. We also had family trips to museums, aquariums, other states, and to Glens Falls, NY to my aunt’s farm where I learned about nature. My family also encouraged my love of languages and learning about different cultures. They supported me as I learned Spanish and even went to study abroad during college. I feel that being encouraged to learn about things inside and outside of school helps me to be open to other peoples’ experiences which helps me to be a better coach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aspiretomoore.com
Image Credits
Starmecca, Director of Photography
