Meet Jakayla L. | Entrepreneur and Business Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jakayla L. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jakayla, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Honestly, I was simply solving a problem each time I started a new business! I think that’s what every great business is founded on… the ability to solve a problem on a large scale. For instance, my skincare line Rheal Natural came about after I personally started having really bad eczema breakouts. I tried using Prescription meds, over the counter products, you name it…. absolutely nothing was working. I was reaching out to facebook groups who had followers experiencing the same issue and was desperately asking if anyone had a solution. Unfortunately, no one did and I couldn’t afford to just sit around and wait. These breakout were so bad that I was literally scratching my skin off! I couldn’t shave because my legs were so inflamed and sensitive. And to make things worst, each breakout left me with horrible scars. I was embarrassed to wear anything that revealed my condition and because of that, my confidence was dwindling by the day. Out of frustration, I took things into my own hands and started formulating my own products. You can imagine how hype I was when they actually worked! Long story shot, all I could think about was the millions of other people who were experiencing the same breakouts and skin problems that I was. In a nutshell, that’s how Rheal Natural was born.

And it’s the same with my coaching business. Most of what I’m now able to teach others, I had absolutely no clue of when I was first getting started. As a young business owners, I stumbled and took major L’s. I realize now that the only thing I was missing back then was INFORMATION. So I became what I was constantly praying for when I first started my business… I became the coach that helps you through sharing valuable information I’ve acquired over 8 years of entrepreneurship. Information that can help you go from $0-6 figures when applied. Information that could change your entire mindset and in turn your entire life. The problem is that a lot of new and existing biz owners start a business without ever truly understanding their full potential and the potential of the industry they’re entering into. So I solve this problem by showing them what’s possible when they utilize resources and tools such as biz. credit, government contracting, and other beneficial strategies for rapid growth.

What should our readers know about your business?
Being an entrepreneur and business coach has in retrospect revealed to me all that I’ve been through to get to where I am today. My husband and I currently own and operate 3 businesses… an online Skincare brand, a cleaning company, and a coaching business. The cleaning company has been in business the longest and is easily the most lucrative generating 6 figures annually by way of government contracting. My “Nxt Step’ coaching business teaches entrepreneurs how to duplicate the process that has allowed us to not only start a business, but also grow that business to where it is today and where it is headed.

What makes me different is that I’ve been in of my customers’ shoes and I can relate on so many different levels. Not only as a coach, but as a partner, a wife, and a mother who has juggled it all. As a coach, I know exactly how my tribe feels when they’re ready to scale but just don’t know how… when they need employees but don’t know where to source them, how to manage payroll, build business credit, market to the government, or secure funding for major contracts. As a mother, I find value in giving you what you need to be successful but not holding your hand every step of the way so you don’t become dependent. I teach you how to position your business on it’s own two feet so that you don’t have to rely on someone else to get the bag. As a wife, I know what it’s like to balance work and personal life… especially when your partner happens to be your husband (and also when that’s not the case). And lastly as a coach, I get it because I was once in your position too. What’s beautiful about coaching is not only do you get to help others get to where you are, but you’re also constantly reminded of how far you’ve come. It’s very humbling and 100% rewarding!

Getting to where I am now in business definitely has not been easy. Most people only share their wins with others, but as a coach, my mentees and those who I have the pleasure to speak with find value in both my wins and my losses. I’m a business coach, but I’m also a human being. Just like most people, when I was first getting started in business I failed repeatedly. But with each loss, I learned a valuable lesson that helped me get to the next level of my career. Now I help others avoid those losses all together while simultaneously teaching the lessons at the same time. It’s literally a win-win.

So far we’ve been able to help 66 businesses start and/or grow their businesses in the past 2 months alone! I’m just super excited for where we’re headed in business and I’m excited to create more informative content, course, and meet more business owners in the next few months.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh that’s an easy one! So if you know me in real life you know that I absolutely love the water. I’m from a coastal town called Beaufort SC and it’s literally just a bunch of barrier islands connected by bridges. There’s water everywhere we go so the first thing we have to do is hit the beach for sure. We’d have to beach hop to Hunting Island State Park which is my hometown beach, then Coligny Beach which is on Hilton Head Island. Next we’d go to Folly Beach, Isles of Palms, and then Edisto Beach in that order. That’s a different beach for every day of the week.

I also love nature so we’d probably spend most of our time outdoors. We’d have to get on the boat and cruise through the Beaufort River one day. If you come during summer, you’ll catch a party or two on the sandbars. Downtown Beaufort has good eats and you can dock your boat in walking distances from the restaurants. We’d grab icecream from Yoyo’s, a veggie wrap or crab cake sandwich from Lowcountry Produce Market and Cafe, and a lavender cupcake from Herban Market. Herban Market definitely collects too much of my money but there food is 100% worth it. They have vegan options and everything is centered around wellness. You can grab fresh juices, smoothies, desserts, breakfast lunch and dinner. Red Rooster is another cute little restaurant that has a shrimp and grits meal that is crazy good and definitely worth trying in my opinion.

There’s honestly so many great eats in Beaufort but nothing beats a fresh lowcountry boil in a locals backyard. If you can’t get it cooked at the house, a restaurant named Dockside is the next best option. The cornbread and seafood is omg mouth watering just thinking about it.

Outside of Restuarants, Beaufort is full of History. If you visit, you have to stop by Penn Center on St. Helena Island and make. a quick 45 minute trip to Charleston to learn more above the TransAtlnatic Slave trade. Almost half of all enslaved africans arrived to America via the Ports of Charleston and Gullah History still runs strong to this day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband is definitely that person! His entrepreneur spirit is really what inspired me to follow my dreams with no limitations. We met while I was in college studying to be an engineer and he could clearly see that my interest was not on becoming an engineer. I was so distracted by fear and the possibility of failure that I barely ever thought about the idea of pursuing my passions. I didn’t know anything about running a business, but with his support I eventually withdrew from college and started my own business. I was a full time entrepreneur! That was 8+ years ago and I haven’t looked back or second guessed that decision once.

Website: rhealnatural.com officialjakayla.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialjakayla | https://www.instagram.com/rhealnatural

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jakaylaleathers

Image Credits
Focus Photography