We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Toni Bowles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Toni below.
Toni , 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.
My journey finding my purpose was certainly not linear. In fact, I navigated earlier parts of my life using a generic checklist method mainly because I had no idea who I really was. I did not have the self confidence or strong valuation for what I brought to the table to be able to authentically examine my purpose. Because of this, I spiraled into a very dark place, one filled with emptiness inside which led to a dramatic shift into self discovery in my late 30s. I no longer wanted to feel empty inside so I set out to investigate my authentic self. It took about a year of really hard work and self discovery to get in touch with my purpose and what lit my fire inside. I had to break before I really built myself back up into a more resilient, honest, unapologetic version of myself.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an innovative entrepreneur and commercial developer focused on improving and uplifting the community by creating physical space and opportunities to amplify the talents and skills of marginalized populations. I have long felt unseen and unheard so my goal is to hold space for and re-amplify individuals and organizations that are experiencing this early on.
The Neon Exchange, Inc. has been identified as a leader in the region’s event space and small business incubator sector. As the business navigates and fills the community’s needs, it continues to discover gaps for which to fill which lead to expansion into other areas. The Neon Exchange, Inc. is also home to a nonprofit startup, Play Brightly Youth Charitable Foundation, which addresses the gaps in services for females in the sport of basketball during the early stages. I continue to stretch and grow in new and creative ways as I pay attention to my surroundings and what my community needs. As a small business, The Neon Exchange, Inc. has the privilege of being so close to the customer on a daily basis so that we can meet them right where they are. Whether it is providing space to grow their own small business, showcase their talents and/or celebrate the special moments in their lives, we are here for it all.
I am also in the process of writing a book documenting the journey of finding my purpose through the investment of an old, dilapidated hotel, the renovation process and activation as the heartbeat of Downtown Gilroy. The biggest risk I’ve ever taken was on myself, by cashing out my retirement and investing in a better way of life for myself through this renovation project and the startup of The Neon Exchange, Inc.
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?
Three most impactful qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge are:
1. Develop a solid research and resourcefulness ability.
2. Do not take people, places and things for face value.
3. Develop grit as early as possible.
Advice to cultivate these areas:
1. When we understand that it is impossible to know everything at all times, we get comfortable with not having all of the answers right away. When you pinpoint a question or a problem you are stuck on, learn to find the subject matter experts and drill them with questions. Use online research tools to sit through tutorials, read manuals, books, blogs and forums. Find old copies of the work product and reverse engineer the product to better understand how to arrive there. Basically, uncover all methods to better understand the problem before you.
2. Try to develop a sense of questioning source, relevancy and cross-checking authorities. You will often find the many sources seemingly have all the answers but it often is not the case. Optics play a huge role in making things seem reliable but the only way to tell for sure is if you do your homework on the subject or person.
3. Grit is defined as courage and resolve. Determination to find answers or achieve what you set out to do despite people telling you that it is impossible or that you are crazy requires you to be steadfast in yourself first. You will no doubt be faced with obstacles that will throw you off track or knock you down but having the courage to get up and try again in the face of being knocked down is where grit is cultivated.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me is model resilience (not tell me about it but actually model it). They were young and faced so many obstacles but they were determined not to give up in the face of adversity. Sometimes parents try to hide the difficulties in life from their kids with the hopes that their children aren’t somehow damaged by them but in reality the process of realizing suffering, having the courage to face it head on and rising up successfully to overcome it is the best lesson a parent can hand down to their children as it relates to building resilience. I am stronger for having witnessed the gritty but successful journey of finding happiness and a purposeful life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theneonexchange.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonexchange/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neonexchange/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toni-bowles-b677352/
- Other: www.playbrightly.org
