Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: And we are live.
Hey guys, you are live today. Here I am, Heather with Head in the Clouds.
[00:00:09] Speaker B: And Andres and real estate agent in the Huntsville, Alabama market.
[00:00:15] Speaker A: And today we are live streaming. We are live streaming on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and tick Tock.
And over to Andres to take it away.
[00:00:27] Speaker B: Heather, I'm so excited. Today we have the pleasure of having two wonderful women joining us today from the Texas area and one of them is Glenda, who is a real estate agent in the Dallas Fort Worth, Texas. I've been touching base with her for the past year and a half and she made an introduction with Phyllis Jenkins, who is a very talented and passionate woman who's helping women across the nation share their stories for the world and open up her own non profit organization, Powerful Journey and is helping so many incredible people through impactful stories. So I have pleasure to have them, both of them here today and man excited for the content today and dive into that. Ladies, thank you for being here. I appreciate you and excited to dive in.
[00:01:29] Speaker C: Thank you for having us.
[00:01:31] Speaker D: Thank you. Thank you so much.
[00:01:38] Speaker B: I always say it's incredible how our life goes and journeys and how we come across people at the right time.
Not necessarily things to happen at that particular moment, but we always come across people at the right time.
And I will say this is one of those examples, right? Heather and I put together this podcast because we want to share stories. We want to hear stories and be able to impact other people through those stories. And sure enough, when I mention it to Glenna to say, hey, I know someone that you guys need to talk to and here we are today. But ladies, before we dive into the specific and things, wanted to see if you can take us back and share something on how you both, you know, how your story, both of you came together.
[00:02:37] Speaker D: Well, for me, my name is Glenna Cummings. I'm a real estate consultant in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
And I've been doing this since 2007 and I love to help people with their dreams, getting their goals and their dreams.
And Ms. Phyllis, Phyllis and I go to the same church. We worship together and we. She invited me to meet with her one day and, and I, I really did not have any idea of what we were going to talk about, you know, so I just said, okay, I'm gonna go to get to know her a little bit better.
And when I went there and she started telling me about her mission, it was just amazing. Her mission is just amazing how she's helping people really write their story and for people to know more about their story.
And, you know, in the journey of life, we experience ups and downs, bumps in the road, and during that experience, it's. It's.
It's all part of our story. And that the. The bumps that we experience in the world, we look back at it and we have stories to tell for generations to come.
So it's amazing how she's helping people tell their story so that they can leave a legacy for their family.
And it's amazing how we tied in, because here I am doing real estate, helping people get their dream homes and leaving legacy for their family through generational wealth, and she's helping people move, tell their story, and leave a legacy for their families through the bumps in the road that they experience.
[00:04:41] Speaker C: Absolutely. And I'm going to jump in for a moment and back us up just a little, because the way we met was really amazing in that we had only seen each other on a Zoom meeting where we prepare to do.
I'm on the prayer team at church, and Glenna is on the virtual team as well. And so we would meet in a huddle on Sunday mornings, second and fourth, for me.
And I had only met her virtual virtually. And one day we were at something at church, and. And I was walking by, and Glenna was talking with a group of people, and I heard her voice, and y' all can hear she has a very unique voice. And I said, that has to be Glenna. So when she finished talking, I walked over and I said, are you Glenna? And she said, yes. And I gave her a big hug, introduced myself, and the connection has been great. It's been wonderful. And just getting to know Glenna and Glenna, vice versa, brings us here today.
[00:05:59] Speaker B: Awesome. Awesome. And it's interesting, like, you guys said, you were meeting over ZOOM multiple times, but when you heard that voice, you're like, that has to be heard.
Aside from that, was there a moment that.
In that connection, in the first connection, when you. Both of you just knew there was supposed to be something meaningful together, you guys were supposed to do something meaningful together.
Was there a moment in there?
[00:06:27] Speaker C: We kept saying, Andreas, on our zoom, we would send each other messages, and we kept saying, we've got to get together. We've got to get together outside of this. And so finally, I. I think Glenna initiated it and said, hey, when can we get together? And so I invited her to my office, and we connected right away. We knew that I don't believe in coincidences, so to me, it's a divine appointment that she and I have met.
[00:07:03] Speaker B: Absolutely.
And so Many opportunities happen like that because it's not coincidence. It just meant to happen. Sometimes it just doesn't make sense at the beginning.
Right.
Looking back now, what do you think brought you, both of you together in that season of life when you can reflect on what you're going through at that moment?
What do you think brought you guys together?
[00:07:33] Speaker D: Like Phyllis said, it's a divine appointment and you know that God has no surprises.
And this has been ordained for years to come and we just met and executed it during these few past few months.
[00:07:54] Speaker C: And I think this is just the beginning. So, Andreas, check back a year later and we'll let you know what else we've done together.
[00:08:03] Speaker B: Absolutely. I would definitely revisit because we've been talking off camera about this situation, the purpose of your organization, what you're doing, and we're going to dive into that. But I believe this is one of those moments as well.
Just like we put the podcast together.
[00:08:22] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:24] Speaker B: This is one of those moments where we're crossing path when we need to. And we'll see a year from now where this takes us right this journey.
And now, before we dive into your mindset, something that I heard you say multiple times in our conversations is never give up on your dreams. I want to briefly touch on that before we dive into more details and get into some of your stories.
You often say that.
What does that phrase feel like for you today?
[00:08:57] Speaker C: As I think about the don't ever give up on your dreams. Let me just say that for my 50th birthday, I and I'm really big on birthdays. I see my friend Van is is in with us today and she's also one of our authors.
I'm very big on celebrating birthdays. And so I for my 50th birthday had like a banquet and everyone got a magnet that they could put on their refrigerator door that says don't ever give up on your dreams. And I was 50 then, I'm 68 now, and I am still saying don't ever give up on your dreams. And because God continues to open doors that, that I things that I had prayed for and desired even as a child are beginning to come true.
So I still say don't ever give up on your dreams. And we can talk about what's coming true for me next month a little later on in the interview. But that's my teaser right there.
[00:10:14] Speaker B: Thanks. Why do you think that that message resonates so deeply with women in May's life or for anyone?
[00:10:24] Speaker C: Well, and I'm glad You said anyone. Because we should never give up on our dreams.
Our dreams have no expiration date.
So if God has put a desire in our heart and we are courageous enough to believe that it can come true, then it doesn't matter how old we are, because the dream that's coming true for me next month, I dreamt that as a child.
So what if I had said, oh, that'll never happen? So it's a mindset thing as well. Andreas.
[00:11:00] Speaker A: I was just gonna ask that. Phyllis. I was gonna say, what do you think is the number one thing that holds people back from achieving their dreams?
[00:11:08] Speaker B: And.
[00:11:09] Speaker A: And would it be mindset?
[00:11:10] Speaker C: Yes, it's their belief system. What are they telling themselves?
Will it never happen? Or, oh, yeah, it's going to happen. I just don't know when, but it's going to happen. And so having that positive mindset and believing that one day it's going to happen. I'm big on vision boards. And so put your vision board together where you are seeing what it is that you're dreaming, and when you see it and you continue to say it's going to happen, well, eventually it will.
So, Heather, thanks for asking that question.
[00:11:53] Speaker B: I think we're not patient enough on our own dreams. Right.
We have an expectation it doesn't happen, and it's easy for us to, okay, move on, find something else.
And keeping that mindset to never giving up.
[00:12:10] Speaker C: I think timing is everything.
If we got everything that we wanted at the moment that we desired it, I don't think we would be mature enough or in that season where we could accept it and really appreciate. Appreciate it.
[00:12:28] Speaker B: Absolutely. Absolutely. We're not.
[00:12:31] Speaker D: Sometimes.
Sometimes we overthink things instead of just having the faith and move forward when we have those dreams.
[00:12:44] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:12:46] Speaker A: That was a key, a nugget, as you would say. Andres. Right there is. We overthink things instead of having faith.
[00:12:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
Happens more often than we can imagine.
And I want to. I want to take us. I want you to take us back and. And take us back to the day when.
When you realize, you know, what's my purpose? What's.
You know. I know you mentioned briefly your story about the doctors. Can you take us back to when the doctor told you how close you came to not being able to survive?
[00:13:25] Speaker C: I will.
[00:13:26] Speaker B: What was. And what was going through your mindset? What's going through your mind?
[00:13:31] Speaker C: Let me start at the beginning, where several years back, I found myself in a hospital bed, and the doctor came in and said to me, Mrs. Jenkins, you are lucky to be Alive. Well, let me just say to y', all, I'm a believer. So I said, I am blessed to be alive.
And so he went on to say, though, that the woman in the next room who had the very same thing is not going to make it.
So after I had a five day stay in the hospital, I left there saying, okay, God, you took her, but you left me here.
What more is there that you want me to do?
And so, Heather, Andreas, Glenn, Glenna. I set out to find my purpose and I did a lot of good things, but they were not what God had for me to do as far as my purpose. So I was looking outside of me and again, doing some great things.
[00:14:39] Speaker B: But.
[00:14:40] Speaker C: But when I looked inside, that was when I discovered, okay, as a child, I've always been one that encouraged others. I encouraged my peers and adults alike as a child. So that was instilled in me.
And the other thing that I did was I've always been a writer.
I would. Back then we called them diaries.
Now we're journaling, but I've always been a writer. And so when I began to look inside of me, that's when I discovered my purpose.
And so I sat down with paper and pen and wrote down PJ which are my initials, Phyllis Jenkins.
And I wanted to come up with a name for my organization that had those initials. And from that Powerful Journey was birthed. And Powerful Journey is where we help women and a few men tell their stories, write their books by turning their life challenges into life changing messages. And I just want to say again, I see several of the authors that have joined us today and I am so excited to have each of them here.
[00:15:58] Speaker B: Absolutely. We are too. It's so impactful. You know, looking back, you said you were looking, you're a writer, you're looking back at what you wrote, your diaries, you journaling.
What shifted that moment? What allowed you to look back and say, there's more to me there that I need to be able to put out there.
Right. Because we can easily. Just like you said, it could have easily been the person next to you, you know, yeah, it could be. It could have been the both of you. But you, you took that moment and you and you asked the question, what is there for me? You know, what else is there?
[00:16:49] Speaker C: I think that that's the missing piece in so many lives today is stopping asking questions and pulling back layers like, like an onion going deep within ourselves. And that's when we discover what our purpose is.
So many times we're just looking outside and, and Seeing what others are doing and thinking, well, maybe that's what I'm supposed to do.
But no, when we start looking inside, peeling that layer after layer after layer, that's when we discover our God given purpose. And I like to say I am doing my God given assignment.
[00:17:33] Speaker B: That is so, so important. When you sit there taking the layers off, keep going deeper within ourselves, it's so easily to stay surface. Lay with this.
We don't want to know what's behind the cort and sometimes we don't want to face what's behind the pain.
And like you said, it's so important to dive deeper into that and truly understanding what the lessons is it was going through. Right. And how can we move forward.
[00:18:01] Speaker C: Exactly. And when we look at that pain, it helps to lead to our purpose. And we, once we get turn that pain into our purpose, the freedom comes and we're able to move forward and look at the lessons that we've learned and teach those lessons to others, not keeping it to ourselves.
[00:18:24] Speaker A: In the comments we have Jackie that says Ms. Phyllis encourages everyone to achieve their dreams.
Having the mindset you have is an amazing thing that not everybody has. And not only do you have it for yourself and able to like achieve your dreams, but like Jackie says, you encourage everybody to reach their dreams. When was, was it or was there like a specific like light switch that went off that you're like, I can do this and help other people too? Was there a defining moment that made you be like, let me shine my light on the world?
[00:19:00] Speaker C: Well, again, I've always been an encourager. From a child. I've always been an encourager. And my acronym for LOL is Leave others lifted. If you're in my presence, I'm going to find some way to leave you lifted. Leave you better than when you came into my presence.
And so, so to answer your question, when I started telling other people about my story, the lessons learned and what God had done for me, I started seeing how it fueled them to be able to move forward in whatever they were stuck in. And so that, Heather, is when the light bulb went off. Okay, well, there's something here.
[00:19:53] Speaker B: It's truly amazing when you start putting and you do the work of putting the best interest of others, just helping others, how things automatically happens both for that person, both for you and your business.
It's just the energy, it's just the faith of doing the right thing and you find your purpose and, and in some ways you always knew it was within you. Right? Because you mentioned you have always Been an encourager, and now you're doing that even at a higher level. How incredible is that?
[00:20:30] Speaker C: It is very incredible, and it is very rewarding because I know that I'm doing what I was put here on Earth to do, and that is to encourage others to tell their stories, write their books, and leave that legacy for generations and generations to come.
[00:20:49] Speaker B: Indeed, absolutely.
Now, circling back to the Never Give up mindset mission.
Now that we heard your powerful Journey, what would you tell someone who's sitting where you were?
Maybe they're scared, uncertain whether for some.
Some clarity, what would you tell someone in that situation?
[00:21:16] Speaker C: I would tell them to do it scared.
You don't wait until you're ready, because you'll never be ready. You've just got to get up and move forward. My very first Powerful Journey women's conference. God told me to go back to my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, and have my first conference.
And there was like a tug of war going on because I was like, God, I left there after high school, went to college, got married, and have not gone back as far as living there. My parents were there, but that's where he wanted me to go and have my very first conference. I did it scared.
And I contacted some of my high school friends who live there still, and they became my feet on the ground there to help me get it prepared.
[00:22:08] Speaker B: And.
[00:22:09] Speaker C: And it was a success.
God showed me how you don't wait till you feel that you're ready. You do it scared.
[00:22:19] Speaker B: Absolutely. And I think us being in the real estate space, Glenna, correct me if I'm wrong, we can relate to that. When you hear people are waiting for the perfect market conditions to be able to make something happen, Right, Glenna?
[00:22:32] Speaker D: Yeah. There's no such thing as the perfect market conditions is you're gonna miss out on something or the other man.
[00:22:41] Speaker B: And how do you. How do you help someone, you know, push through, get past that moment of. I'm waiting for the perfect moment, like writing a book. You can't wait to the end of it because you never know when it's your last opportunity here. And you. Something you said on one of the videos is too many people take all their dreams to the graves. Right? You.
I may not be saying it word by word, but it wasn't along those lines. How important is that to push through and put it in writing, make it happen?
[00:23:15] Speaker C: It's very important. And I'm going to start with my famous quote, which is, don't take your story to the grave.
It does no one any good. When you take it to the grave, and those lessons learned could have been shared with someone else.
So it's important to move forward with writing your book, to leave a legacy of words behind.
And those words will continue to go on from generation to generation to generation.
And what better way to leave your story in your own voice? Because guess what? Somebody's going to tell your stories, and they're not going to tell it the way you would tell it.
So it's better for you to tell it. And the other thing is, it's not about you.
It's about those who need to hear what God has brought you through. Those lessons that you have learned, it's no longer about you. It's to go forward and to pull somebody else out of where they're stuck and to give them hope, inspiration, encouragement that will help them to move forward. So stop thinking that your story is for you, because it's not. It's for others.
[00:24:37] Speaker B: We were just talking about that before we went live. You know, it's our story.
It stops being ours because so many people connect with how what we've went through.
And sometimes, like I mentioned, looking at one of the bios and the videos, sometimes the story, we're not able to connect to the story, but we can connect to the pain. We can connect to the adversity that we're going through. And so many people are there able to connect and take a good look at themselves and start diving deeper, like we mentioned earlier, start peeling layers to better understand what they're going through and how they can move forward.
Exactly.
[00:25:19] Speaker C: And when I look at some of the authors who are here today, Jackie Leonard wrote, and Jackie, I have your book here. I'm in my office. So this is Jackie's first book, and she wrote about positive words, Painful Times, Triumph through divorce.
She has shared her story from the powerful journey stage, have touched so many lives with sharing that you can come back after going through a terrible divorce. You can come back and it doesn't have to be a divorce. There are other lessons in her book that you can take whatever situation you're going through and move forward.
I saw Van, who is also one of our authors. Van just wrote her book about growing up in the foster care system.
And she is. She stood on stage, shared her story, and has spoken to many about growing up in foster care, but moving forward. So much so that she is launching her own nonprofit organization to help others that are going through the foster care system.
So these authors have taken their stories, their pain, turned it into their purpose. Their purpose Into a platform. Jackie sells her books everywhere she goes, so it's her. And it's no longer just a book. It's a message.
It's lessons learned. It's helping others to know that what God has done for us, he will do for you as well.
[00:27:15] Speaker B: That.
That's incredible.
It's very impactful. I listen to those videos and I hear the stories.
It moves me every time I hear it. I watched the video several times, and it moves me. So I'm looking forward to being part of that conference.
[00:27:35] Speaker C: Very good.
[00:27:36] Speaker B: So when we.
Can you walk us through one of those.
Can you walk through the audience to.
When a person comes and say, hey, I have a story to share.
Can you walk us through that process?
[00:27:56] Speaker C: I will. First of all, when they come, they're not sure which story to tell first because we've all lived and we've all had some difficult challenges. We've all had some life challenges, some life experiences. So they need clarity.
Which story do I share first?
And so I've created a story blueprint to help bring clarity.
Of which story do you share first? And the number one question that I ask is, which story will bring the greatest impact?
We're not in it just to be storytellers. We are in it to make a difference in the lives of others. And so for that person who doesn't know where to start, which story, which story do you think will resonate more with others who are going through with what you're going through right now?
Everyone.
If I had a mirror, I would put it up here and say that our story mirrors someone else's challenges.
And they think that they're the only person that's going through that particular situation. And until they hear your story, your wins, your victories, then they think there's no hope. But once you begin to share your own story, your life lessons, your wins, your victories, then that fuels them with excitement and joy and hope, inspiration, that, yeah, I can move forward.
So that's how we get started, choosing that one story that will be impactful.
[00:29:48] Speaker B: And what do you think people may minimize their life experiences instead of valuing them. Is that something that you have, a common cross?
[00:30:00] Speaker C: Yeah, they minimize it because it's their everyday life. They don't think that it can go forward and help someone else. And so many times we're living life so fast that we're not slowing down thinking about, what did I go through today?
What am I to learn from what I went through today?
What can I teach someone else about what I went through today?
And so slowing down, looking at what we are grateful for, that we went through on this particular day, I. I encourage everybody watching to keep a journal. Start keeping a daily journal. And. And before you go to bed at night, write down what happened today.
What are you grateful for?
What could have really gone wrong, but God made it right, and. And help you to triumph through it? Write that down. Because the older we get, the shorter our memories become.
[00:31:16] Speaker B: It's so easy to get home and plug into the TV and forget about the day rather than reflect and appreciate.
Right. And it's slowing down.
Just not too long ago, it was New Year's, September this weekend. Right.
[00:31:37] Speaker C: And guess what? It'll be New Year's again. 2026, real soon.
[00:31:43] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:31:44] Speaker A: So, like, next week, it feels like it.
[00:31:47] Speaker B: We don't do that often enough. Slowing down and appreciating the moment. I have a quote that wrote a few years ago. Embrace the moment and enjoy the journey.
[00:31:58] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:31:59] Speaker B: You never know when is your last day, your last moment. Appreciate what you have, what you're going through. Learn from what has happened and help those coming behind you.
It's something so simple, yet so difficult to do.
[00:32:17] Speaker A: Now you offer scholarships to women. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
[00:32:22] Speaker C: I do, and I will. That is how we give back to the community.
And we give two annual scholarships away. The first is to a graduating high school senior. And that is in the name of Mildred Ida Byrd Q. Mildred Ida Byrd Q. A strong woman who was very instrumental in my life. She was my dad's only sister, and I launched this scholarship before she passed. And she was able to come to the conferences and be a part of giving that scholarship to that young high school graduate that was ready to move forward and keep moving forward with their education. The second scholarship that we give out is to a single mom of a special needs child.
That scholarship is in the name of Madian Chumley. She called me her birthday twin because we were Both born on July 4th. But Madian was an educator as well as Mildred Outerbird Pugh. They were both educators.
Madian Cholmondeley was an educator who worked with special needs children.
So what better way to honor her legacies?
By giving a scholarship to a single mom of a special needs child. And it has been an honor, a privilege to see their faces when they receive the scholarship, knowing that we are making a difference in helping them to be able to make a better living for themselves and their children.
So thank you, Heather, for asking about that.
[00:34:15] Speaker A: That's amazing.
[00:34:18] Speaker B: That is.
It's incredible. That you, you know, through your work, not only are you helping people share their stories, you're giving back to the community.
And it's great to see that. It's great to have that in place.
[00:34:33] Speaker D: It is amazing. It's a great ministry.
[00:34:38] Speaker C: Well, I grew up in a household where I saw my parents giving all the time.
We were always giving. And so that's been instilled in me to find a way to give back to others. And so it's a blessing to me and an honor to be able to give back to my community.
[00:35:04] Speaker B: I feel you. I feel the same. My parents as well.
My mom is always someone that is looking out for everyone else besides her.
I think I got that from her.
And my dad, what a wonderful character and smile. Never in my life did I see that man angry. So that was a given gift every day.
Very blessed to have them.
Nice going back quickly into storytelling. What advice could you give someone to the people that fear judgment when they consider sharing a story.
[00:35:46] Speaker C: Instead of fearing judgment?
I want to invite you watching today who know it's time for you to write your book.
I want you to put an empty chair in front of you, and in that empty chair is seated your reader.
And that reader is sitting there with tears flowing down his or her face, saying to you, the writer, I need you to share with me your life lessons learned from the situation that you're going through. Because I'm in that situation right now.
So I need you to stop fearing judgment. I need you to stop thinking about you start thinking about me and other readers who need to hear what you've gone through, because that's where we are right now.
The lessons that you learned, those are the lessons that will help us to overcome what we're going through. So please, and this is the reader speaking, please get out of yourself, start writing your story.
Because not only do I, the reader, need to hear it, but other readers who will come years and years and years after us, we'll need to read it as well.
[00:37:21] Speaker B: Wow.
And that's.
That's touching because we are the one holding oursel back and telling that story, you know, and knowing that that someone there wants to listen to me, wants to listen to you as the writer.
Sometimes that's what we need.
We don't know it, but sometimes that's what we need. Just to know that there's somebody willing to listen.
[00:37:54] Speaker C: How many books have we read?
And we said, oh, my goodness, this was just for me.
They were writing this for me.
And I teach, when I teach in the Writer's Journal and the Authors Academy.
There are five words we want every reader to say, your book changed my life.
We could say, your story changed my life.
But change is the key word. We are changing the lives of others. We are impacting the lives of others when we tell our stories, when we write our books.
[00:38:37] Speaker A: And people want something to identify with. Like you don't want to feel alone in the world if you're going through something and like divorce, for example, you know, there's all kinds of like self help books and how to books, but when it's somebody's personal experience that they've already walked the path that you're on and if they can kind of guide you to go the right direction, if there's a fork in the road and you were going to take the wrong path, but because you read the book that somebody wrote that's already walked that path, if you're right and take the correct path instead and totally change the trajectory of their lives by sharing your experience that you went through with them, you can save them the trouble, the heartache of making the same wrong choices.
[00:39:21] Speaker C: Absolutely. And that's how we have to look at it. Heather?
[00:39:27] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:39:27] Speaker B: You mentioned the Writing Academy.
You know, if we submit it to book writing and the legacy creation. Why is publishing that book so powerful? To preserve one story.
And I'm very confident you're going to say your quote, don't take the story to the grave.
[00:39:49] Speaker C: Those three words though, that you ended with, preserve your story.
That's what you're doing. You're preserving your story. Story. The generations and generations to come. I recently wrote an article for a magazine and the title of that article is the Story I Wish I had.
And the story that I wish I had was the story of my grandparents.
My dad was the youngest in his family, and so my grandparents were elderly when I was a little girl, as well as my mom's. And so I was too young to, to know the deep questions to ask them.
And now I'm longing y' all to know more about their childhood. I'm longing to know more about what made them smile. What? What. What made them angry. What was.
What were they really like on the inside? Not just what I saw.
That's what I long for. And guess what? If they had written it down, I could read it in their own voices. I could read it in their own words. And not only could I read it, but pass it down to my children. And they pass it to their children and it continues. What a treasure.
What a treasure that would be. And so writing your story goes from generation to generation to generation. And yes, Andreas, don't take your story to the grave.
[00:41:32] Speaker B: And I can relate to that story, as I mentioned one day, about your grandparents, because I lost my mom's size grandmother just about three years ago, and that woman remembered details about her childhood and everything that happened through the family, that every time I got a chance to talk to her, I was just. I could just sit there and listen to her all day.
But being here in the US I didn't do that quite enough.
So I longed for those stories. I longed for those moments where I could sit down with her and play dominoes and just share stories and just enjoy her presence. But I want those little details.
[00:42:11] Speaker C: I want to encourage you while all of those memories are still fresh, for you to write it down. All the things that she said to you, write it down so that it can be passed along to. To others who would love to have sat where you sat when she was living.
I've been asking my aunt's questions, and my mom is still living, and the questions that I've been asking them about my grandparents, they don't know, y'.
[00:42:43] Speaker D: All.
[00:42:45] Speaker C: They don't know. And so there's. There's like a hole here, just wishing that I knew those answers. And so I am beginning to write my own memoir. I'm taking my own medicine because I want my children and my great grands and on down the line.
I don't want them to have to wonder what Phyllis Jenkins was like. I want them to read it from my own voice, read it from my own words.
The things that I dealt with and the things that I loved and what I did, what I didn't do, what I regret not doing.
I want them to hear that from me.
[00:43:26] Speaker A: What do you say to somebody who comes to you and they're.
They're. They're on the right path. They're like, I want to write my story. I want to put it out there, but it doesn't paint me in the best light. I'm afraid for people to find out these things about me. But in order to tell the story, I have to, like, you know, include this. How do you navigate those waters when somebody's very timid about the story they want to tell?
[00:43:50] Speaker C: First of all, I make sure that they're on the other side of that pain, because you can't help anybody if you're still walking through the pain.
So once we make sure you're on the other side of what you've gone through and you are now victorious, then you're almost obligated to tell it so that others that think that they can't move forward can move forward.
It's no longer about you. It's no longer about your story.
I.
I'm going to show this book and I don't know if she's here. Shantae Stevens. This is her book titled the Hunt for Enough and Finding Self Worth Through Forgiveness. In her book, she tells about the things that, that caused her pain.
So much so that she tried to take her life several times.
But guess what?
Although she put it in the book, she is now helping others that have gone through the same thing that have also considered taking their own lives.
She is speaking to other groups and telling her story.
So she's not letting the pain keep her back from helping those who are in the pain right now.
She's pushed past that pain and has turned it into a platform where she is helping others. And that's what it's all about.
It's pushing past the pain. It's no longer about you. You're on the other side of it. You're on the other side of it for a reason.
And so now it's your time to help others shine.
[00:45:41] Speaker A: I imagine it'd still be a pretty emotional journey writing that story, getting it out, because just bringing it all back to the surface, you remember things you didn't remember before, and it just puts you, like, right back in that spot, back in that, you know, trauma space that you were in before. Yeah, but how, how healing is it, though, to be able to just get it out, to get it out and have it out there? Do you find that when you're working with these authors that sometimes they need extra, like, emotional support on that front because they are dealing with traumas while they're writing this?
[00:46:18] Speaker C: Every time, every, every person that has gone through the writer's journey, the Author's Academy have, have, have had to say, I've got to step back for a moment because this is bringing up what I've gone through.
But we have such a supportive group. Matter of fact, they call themselves sister authors.
And so in our group, we are helping that person.
And there are many times when, if they're local, I will meet with them outside of the group. If they're not local, I will meet via zoom with them to help walk through that. But the healing, it. It is a healing process as they're going through it and, and we let them know up front, as you begin to write, there will be some feelings that will Come, that will surface. But remember, you're already on the other side. You're already victorious. So we're not going to let you go backwards. We're going to help you move forward because again, remember that that person sitting in that empty chair, they need what you have to say.
[00:47:35] Speaker B: That is, that is powerful and sometimes if. And we'll dive into that and shortly enough on one of your conference.
But what's the heart behind as we look into the Powerful Journey and you giving back to the people in the community, what's the heart behind Powerful Journey and the writers you support?
[00:47:58] Speaker C: The heart behind it is the gratitude that I get from each of the authors. I see Angela, Angela Hayes here and to get the testimonials from each of the authors saying, thank you, Ms. Phyllis, thank you for helping me to be able to become an author.
Thank you for helping me to overcome what could have held me back.
All of those testimonials, Andres, that I get, that's what fuels me to keep going.
That's what lets me know that I'm doing what God has placed me here to do.
[00:48:46] Speaker B: Can you tell us briefly about the Writing Academy, introduce that and where our audience can find more information?
[00:48:55] Speaker C: Absolutely, I can and I will.
The Writer's Journey is our beginning group, our beginners group. Our writers are in there and we are helping them from starting to finish with their manuscripts. We meet via Zoom because the ladies are across the nation who are joining us. So we meet on Zoom every Monday night and we have one Monday night is a teaching night. The following Monday night is our writer's sanctuary where they come prepared to write. We go off screen for about 30 minutes, so, and they are writing during that time and then we come back together and they read what they've written and we are cheering them on as they are writing.
Now. The Authors Academy is a group where it's open once a year and by invitation only.
It's those women and a few men who have taken their manuscripts and they are now ready to move forward fast with having it published into a book. And from there they are invited to stand on the Powerful Journey Women's conference stage, take their stories to the stage, launch their book sales at the conference, and from there they just soar and move forward with their platforms.
Oh, you asked how can they learn more about it? You can go to my website, phyllisjenkins.com P H Y L L I S J-E-N K-I-N S.com and you can click on there to sign up for the Newsletter which is free. You'll get a weekly dose of inspiration, encouragement, strategies t to begin writing, but you'll also find information where you can join the writer's journey. And I believe Heather has already posted it. The links in the.
The.
In the different platforms where all you have to do is click on it and come and join.
[00:51:22] Speaker B: Absolutely. We'll have. We'll have all that in place. Can you share a brief story of.
Of during that event where one of the authors is sharing their story that has impacted the audience? Someone in the areas. Can you walk us through one of those stories? One of those moments?
[00:51:43] Speaker C: I am. But I want to first start with one that has really touched my heart this year.
This is a children's book, and it was written by Mala.
And we are having a fire drill.
I am in my office, and we are having a fire drill. Let me make sure it's for real. I am so sorry. Hold on.
[00:52:11] Speaker B: It's just a video. Doing this live, you never know.
[00:52:13] Speaker C: This is live, y'.
[00:52:14] Speaker A: All.
[00:52:14] Speaker C: This is.
[00:52:15] Speaker D: This is live.
[00:52:16] Speaker B: Hold on.
[00:52:17] Speaker D: While you're doing that, let me make some comments.
You know, going Back to what Ms. Phyllis is saying about authors and their pain is really using their pain as a platform and which helps release, you know, that pain. Because a lot of times when we're in pain and we're isolated, that's when danger comes.
But now you have it when the pain authors have it out, and it really, really helps them.
And also, on my closing point, what I was thinking, too, it would be good if writing. When Ms. Phyllis mentioned about writing a journal and maybe sitting down today, and for those that are listening today or whatever day you listen to it, writing a letter to your older self, a letter to your.
Your maybe a year older, two years older self, and just write down your goals and your dreams and how you're working through to accomplish that. So that. And maybe mail it to yourself or put it in a journal or something so that a year from now, you can look at it and say, okay, I accomplished this, and I accomplished that, and I accomplished that. And I think that would be a good start to.
To really getting.
Working on our dreams and our goals and working on ourselves.
[00:53:57] Speaker B: Absolutely.
And, Glenna, that reminds me of a scenario with Coach Ross about a week or two ago where we're walking up a hill and we are just walking, and next thing you know, it turns into a mountain. And halfway through, we run my class, an older gentleman, and it's myself 20 years from now, and I'm asking him the questions on, you know, did I achieve my goals? What happened? How did that come along? And he's diving into all the details, into what my reason why.
And I learned that the reason I think I'm doing my business today, I was just at the surface level, you know, and started telling me much deeper level on why I'm doing what I'm doing.
And it's a great way to look at things because you realize, are you doing the activities to accomplish those things? Right. And telling yourself the story of where you are today, what you've been through, to keep reminding you to push forward and keep telling that story to yourself and for others down the road. So a great way to.
[00:55:06] Speaker D: Yes, it is.
[00:55:07] Speaker B: Appreciating those moments. Right?
[00:55:09] Speaker D: Exactly. You know, and coach always says, don't tell me. Why not? Why not? Show me. Tell me how to, you know, no excuses.
Yeah, but how to. How can I do it? How can I achieve that? How can I move on to the next level? Another thing that I like to do at the end of the day, and I do videos so I can add it to my YouTube channel.
I videotape. I document my day at the end of the day.
Document my day. So when.
When Ms. Phyllis mentioned something about writing, at the end of the day, what your wins are, What. What did you accomplish?
So I will start adding those to my videos, you know, because at the end of the day, a lot of times we want to beat ourselves up about the things that we did not get to do, but how about the things that we did do?
And those are small wins.
[00:56:13] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:56:14] Speaker C: They are. They are. I want to jump back in here. My apologies. They're testing, so that's why you're hearing it. So I'm grateful that I didn't have to leave the building.
Before I left, I was telling you about this children's book, and if you can see the back of it, that is Mala Aziz.
When I say, don't take your story to the grave, Mala. When Mala came to the office academy, she had been diagnosed with cancer, and she wanted to get her book completed.
Mala got her book completed on Amazon.
It's in other countries.
And two months after her book was published, she passed.
So that, again, goes along with what I'm always saying. Don't take your stories to the grave. So now children have her book here, and it's in different languages, different countries, and she's gone. But her work will still touch lives.
And that's what it's all about.
[00:57:35] Speaker B: Thank you. That is, there's not much I could say about that. Right there's so impactful what you've been preaching. Not taking your story to the grave comes through in that scenario. And sometimes we just got to do it, you know, And I'm so thankful that you have this platform for people to be able to share their stories, be able to learn more about themselves in the process and, and allow others to learn from them and use that. So I'm so thankful that you are here and that you have this platform in place for people to be able to share this story.
We need it more than we realize it.
So before we wrap this up, I know we set up a whole hour for the show, but we can go over it if that's okay with you.
I wanted to, if anyone has any questions on the audience that they can place it on the chat so that we can relate that back to you before we wrap this on.
But before we get there, what's next for Powerful Journey? Any upcoming stories or events that we should be on the lookout for?
[00:58:50] Speaker C: Absolutely. We have. And. And mark your calendars for this. Our next Powerful Journey women's conference is Saturday, April 25, 2026. And yes, it will be here before you know it, 2026. So April 25, 2026, you can attend the conference in person as well as virtually.
And again, Heather has put the links where you can register or you can go to my website, reach out to me and get registered as well. We have vendor availability for vendors there. And so if you have a business, you're an entrepreneur, you can get a vendor table as well.
We have our Writer's Journey community that again, if you've been inspired today, then come on over, come into the Writer's Journey, start the journey of writing your book, and you too will stand on stage at the Powerful Journey Women's Conference. And although I say Women's Conference, there are men there every year and there are even men who take their stories to the States.
We, we welcome you to join the Writer's Journey. And I just want to say, Andres, that as I think about what my legacy will be once God brings me home, I want to leave a movement of people who finally say, I do have a story.
My story matters.
And it's important for me to put that story in a book, to preserve it for generations and generations and generations to come.
[01:00:39] Speaker B: That was my next question. You gave me to it because I know you're doing incredible work and I wanted to hear what that legacy is. And you put it right on point.
[01:00:58] Speaker D: I am going to be joining that movement I already have the title to my. My first book, Ms. Fellows, so I'm joining you.
[01:01:07] Speaker B: I will. I look forward to hearing that story. I'm reading about it. It's exciting, exciting stuff.
Did we get any questions in, Heather?
[01:01:19] Speaker A: I don't see any right now.
Just a lot of people singing your praise. Oh, we can't hear you.
[01:01:24] Speaker C: I'm gonna have to leave it. It's a real fire drill. So I'm, I was just told I've got to leave the building, so I'm, I apologize for this, but thank you.
[01:01:37] Speaker B: Right on time.
Appreciate you having you on board.
[01:01:40] Speaker D: Thank you.
[01:01:43] Speaker B: This has been great.
Glenn, I thank you for, for helping us putting this together, for the introduction, for being here.
So much content, so much great work that she's doing, and I'm excited to continue to hear more and, and we'll be there at the next conference. I'm looking forward to it.
[01:02:02] Speaker D: Yes, I'll be there. Thank you so much for all that you do, for getting the word out people's stories that you guys are helping out, getting people's stories out as well. In your real talk.
We, Andreas and Heather, thank you so much.
[01:02:21] Speaker A: The viewers, what areas you work in?
[01:02:25] Speaker D: Oh, I work in the DFW metroplex.
If I can get to that area, I have team members that can get to that area. So I love helping people achieve that goal. Goals and dreams of home ownership and building wealth with real estate.
[01:02:46] Speaker B: Absolutely. And we'll put your information as well on the, on the video descriptions and for those listening, if you can subscribe for more content every Tuesday and Thursday, we are live here. So I look forward to seeing you guys and continue to provide and hearing more stories. That's what, that's what we're all about.
[01:03:06] Speaker D: Yeah.
[01:03:06] Speaker B: Again, thank you for joining us. This has been wonderful, very touching, and I can't wait to see where we at during the conference. And like she said at the beginning, you know where we're going to be at in one year from now. So I'm excited for, for the episode today and I'm excited for what's ahead. So thank you all for joining. And Feliz, thank you again for, for being part of this and providing us so many touching stories and knowledge.
[01:03:37] Speaker D: Thank you so much.
[01:03:39] Speaker A: All right, and that is.
Yep, that's going to be it for us today, guys with Real Talk with Andres and Heather, and we will see you guys on the next one.
