We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shaylon Ware. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shaylon below.
Shaylon, 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.
In 2016 I launched a blog from the collective history of my journal entitled Joy In The Journey. The objective was to chronologically transcribe my journey in discovering and reclaiming a lost treasure affectionally named “JOY”. I’m not sure at what juncture I lost the innate sense of fulfillment, gut busting laughter or was there some cataclysmic event that was the finale of what was once the champion of my strength. Or had it been a slow sequential process, like a full glass imperfect by a mere superficial fracture over time leaked its content upon the surfaces of life encounters. The blog was supposed to be a means to an end, compiled journal entries of many encouraging topics and revelations that aided myself and others in identifying thieves to the thriving and maintaining their joy overall. The pursuit of purposeful living filled with joy was the niche.
Unbeknownst to me, in my attempt to capture a new narrative, life would invite me on journey of bravery, deep sorrow, great loss, unwavering faith, rebirth, courage, joy and untamed purpose. The morning of December 11, 2018 I woke up from a dream, shaking. The images and message in the dream convinced me that it was time to leave my government job; a career that I had built over 15 years. There was such an urgency, as if there was no time to waste. With clarity and being fully persuaded, I resigned from my position with state government that same morning without a plan or proof to support my decision. All faith, no fear! Later that day I spoke to my Mother confirming my availability to transport her to her annual routine Dr. appointment on scheduled for the next day. She was excited because that meant shopping and Chinese buffet afterward.
Tomorrow came. December 12th, the day I died so that my Mother could live. The day began as any other. Several phone calls back and forth between my Mother and I planning our shenanigans, discussing the daily tea while driving, laughing at trivial things, sharing compliments and eagerly anticipating a “get in, get out” appointment. Together we arrived at the Dr. appointment. Together we waited for the results from a battery of tests. Together we received her diagnosis of stage 4 terminal cancer. She was immediately admitted to the hospital. We spent the next 7 days in the Cancer Treatment wing engulfed by a whirlwind of interdisciplinary teams, test results, scanned images, terms and language we had never heard before.
“It is our recommendation that you prepare end of life arrangements.” It was these words that challenged us both to rise and fight. Overnight, I became a full time caretaker and a warrior. My Mother a general of War. The battle was relentless, enduring, intense, our frailty was strengthened by community, our hope in Christ and love. Sleepless nights were often filled with painful tears, quiet prayers while eagerly awaiting the light of day, hoping for a different outcome. We resolved to never give up or give in.
Within a year of caring for my Mother, all my resources were depleted. I lost my home, friendships had become distant. I had absolutely nothing. Life without light. I moved in with my Mother. In the midst of such trial, it was there in her home that I found reason. Somehow she and I managed to keep each other going, maintaining joy in the face of adversity. We kept standing for a brighter day, defending our hope against fear and death. We had the hard conversations, addressed all regret, beginning our own emotional and interpersonal healing. We prayed together and for others who would come to visit her. We danced in the kitchen while cooking some of our favorite foods. We cried and asked for forgiveness when fatigue, stress and anger would get the best of us. I was her warrior, she was my joy. As her health declined, every moment became an opportunity to love passionately, forgive quickly, speak with full transparency and vulnerability, every moment became an intentional engagement, giving meaning, purpose and honor to what we new would one day be no longer.
After 2 years of battle, my Mother, my best friend won her victory on May 7, 2020.
Now that I am no longer a caretaker, who am I? What do I do now?
Build again. Move across country. Become an entrepreneur. Take new leaps of faith. In order for me to heal, I took one year sabbatical to walk the corridors of my heart, purge what was unhealthy and create a new garden within my spirit. Out of the ashes, hope arises. Beauty is often born out of what has been broken. A greater purpose emerged. In my attempts to capture joy, I found it in the journey of self discovery, newness, adversity, adventure, exploration and arrived at self-love, internal fortitude, peace and contentment. I became bold, intimately acquainted with my pain, identity, purpose, memories and desires. Discovering purpose for my pain, grief and loss activated an UNTAMED resolve to assist youth and women nationally and internationally in their healing process. Journeying with others for their development, healing, empowerment and restoration is now the substance that nourishes my soul.
What in essence appeared to be an end of life in one frame, became the catalyst for this new life I am now living. My purpose entails resurrection, audacious color, nonconforming authenticity and calm. I specialize in helping other recover and reclaim their joy in the face of adversity and discover their reason.
(Thanks Mom! Thanks God.)
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Shaylon Ware embodies a keen transparency that comes from an authenticcandidness that ignites, heals and transforms lives across the globe. Her profound revelatory messages are empowering, provoking and unconventional; inspiring individuals to embrace their identity, untame their purpose. A multi- dimensional woman of faith, vision, passion and purpose, Shaylon Ware is dedicated to building, leading and empowering through inspiration, truth and transformation.
Shaylon Ware is noted as a contagious speaker, author, successful entrepreneur and mentor. She is a nationally certified counselor of 15 years with the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Deafness Rehabilitation and a Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Northern Illinois University, combined with nearly 20 years of corporate government leadership and program management. A prophetic preacher in nature, she is also a licensed minister of the Gospel. Her ministry is marked with miracles of healings and deliverance. With a fervent love for the Lord and his people, Shaylon Ware, an anointed prophetess, singer and creative, has devoted her life to demonstrating the fulfillment of purpose, wholeness and scripture. She is the CEO and Founder of; ICM International, Inc. Apostolic School of Ministry & Training (incepted 2015 relaunched/rebranded federally recognized 2021) Ministry. Missions. Mentorship. (ID Your Identity, Discover Your Gifts, Transform Worlds)
Shaylon Ware Global Ministries Equipping the believer, Expanding the Kingdom and Engaging humanity globally through faith, prayer and edification.
Shaylon Ware Enterprises
UNTAMED, LLC Counseling & Consulting Firm
Building Women Who Build Women
(Healing, Empowerment and Restoration)
Training: Corporate, Government, Nonprofit
Her newest venture, becoming a Realtor in August of 2024, launching Untamed Realty Co. A Real Estate agency serving the DMV region.
She is the proud Mother of one son, Jalen Wilson, and resides in Washington, DC.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey.
1. Love and Faith.
2. Resilience
3. Personal Management
My advice is to become well aware of your values, beliefs, character weaknesses (to identify areas for development) as well as honoring your process to self actualization. Be kind, gracious and generous to you, in patience with your journey. Identity what you believe and believe in, then become that. It is easy to honor that which you love. Sacrifice for purpose and potential. Be willing to walk on the water when there is a flood (adjust, dream beyond what is visual). Take inventory and the necessary time to heal when wounded, breathe when overwhelmed and reconstruct where there is a breach. Seek knowledge, not affirmation or validation. Seek wisdom and understanding, then apply what you learn or glean. Never trust that which is wasteful; we are to always multiply and be fruitful. Surround yourself with those who have expanded experience and expertise; be willing to follow and lead, be a student and a professor.
Most importantly, cultivate what you love, manage well what you deem worthy and never resolve to quitting. Everything and everyone great in the earth started off small! Give yourself the permission to grow INTO what you are called to.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I would love to partner and collaborate with others who are passionate about transforming lives and enhancing the lives of others, those who contribute positively to their community, who are impactful in their sphere of influence no matter the industry. I am particularly interested in interpersonal/personal development, international/foreign relations, foreign missions and counseling and training.
Others are able to connect with me via service@shaylonware.com or www.shaylonware.com
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.shaylonware.com
- Instagram: Shaylonwareenterprises
- Facebook: Shaylon Ware and Shaylon Ware Enterprises
- Linkedin: Shaylon Ware
- Youtube: Shaylon Ware (@shaylonware18)
- Other: ICM International Inc. www.liveicm.org
Untamed Realty Co. Shaylon.Ware@cbrealty.com
