Meet Lady J | Speaker | BounceBackologist | Author | Community Servant Leader

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

Hi Lady, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am from Indianapolis, IN. My background and upbringing was rough emotionally and mentally. While I did learn a lot of life lessons and was taught about God by way of my grandmother, I endured a lot of verbal and sexual abuse as a child in addition to being abandoned by both parents… and a host of other traumatic experiences. These experiences led to a host of issues in my life as a child, teen, and young adult, but by the grace of God, I made it to where I am today. The moments of being exposed to drugs at the age of 4, growing up in domestic violence, being raped and molested, homeless, addicted to opioids, and surviving multiple attempts of suicide have helped not only shape me into the woman and community servant leader I am today, but it equipped me with the necessary tools and wisdom to help others completely heal and overcome from their past trauma and hardships in order to be happy, healthy, and successful both personally and professionally.

I am a living, breathing example of God’s love because even in all of that, He still had his hands on me and though it hurt, was uncomfortable, didn’t feel good, it was necessary. Had I not gone through it and endured it, I would not have acquired the tools and qualifications to help others I encounter that are experiencing it right now. I didn’t ask for the assignment, but I embrace it now because I understand it. Instead of asking “Why me?”… I now say… “Why not me?”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Though I have founded multiple companies that all serve a different purpose and a different group of people, the ones I’d like to focus on for this particular interview are Life Support Company LLC and BounceBackology LLC. Life Support used to carry my stellar mentoring and counseling program that was founded in 2015. Recently, after recovering from a ruptured brain aneurysm, it was rebranded and moved under the BounceBackology brand. Life Support is the brand in which I book speaking engagements for topics on empowerment, personal development, and business. It also is the brand that houses my published books and the Business Bangers division. From business development to operations, to providing you with a host of business services that include but are not limited to branding & marketing, custom contracts and other documents, to legal filings, licensing, 501c3 filing, trademarking, and more, Business Bangers will help you start, grow, or fix your business. From Business Bangers Help Shops to Business Bangers Coaching, to Business Check-Ups, sessions, we can teach you how to win in life and business with a detailed walk-through on “HOW TO” from business A to Z. Youth and adult services are available for career-oriented individuals, established and aspiring entrepreneurs.

In addition to being an online apparel and shoe store that provides bad-ass confidence you can wear and acts as a daily reminder of how far you’ve come, who you are, and what you possess, it also provides interactive group sessions and support that teaches others how to bounce back from trauma and hardship in order to live a healthy, happy, and successful life as you win personally and professionally… for youth, adults, and families. The program has 5 PHASES in addition to weekly/bi-weekly group support discussions and will officially re-launch in 2024.

My journey was not easy at all. My personal life interfered with my professional life because when we are broken and when we are mentally and emotionally unstable, it affects every area of our lives. Determination, consistency, and resilience allowed me to arrive where I am today. How did I overcome the challenges? The first thing I did was sought help and guidance to deal with my personal trauma so I could enter into a season of healing in order to make sound decisions concerning my life and business. Starting with self is key. I used the lessons I learned and the tools I acquired in every challenging situation that came my way and for the things I still encounter which allows me to bounce back from anything. Because I have become somewhat of a master at bouncing back from the seemingly impossible, I know how to keep my resilience on repeat. Each time I fell whether personally or professionally, I got back up and either went back to the drawing board or picked up where I left off and kept trying so I could continue to move forward and upward.

I am most proud of my ability to always give 100% or do nothing at all because I do not believe in half-stepping when it comes to anything and it was the way I was raised. This has blessed me with the insight and influence and the ability to connect with young people and those who are broken or just need a little help and grace. Though I have been recognized and honored with awards and the like, the greatest reward is watching those I serve heal, grow, and flourish and then I get to hear about how well they are doing in life and business and that is what it’s all about.

Two of the most important lessons I have learned along the way are…
1. Your identity is not tied to an individual or circumstance. You are not what happened to you or who did it to you. Those were events that took place in your life that involved other people and even though it didn’t feel good to you, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t good for you. What I mean by that is… it either came to teach you a lesson, be a blessing, and/or equip you with what you needed to pass on to the one you will encounter that will need help concerning the same thing or things you experienced.

2. I am still possible! No matter how bad it was, no matter how far gone I was mentally, emotionally, physically, etc., no matter how much I lost, or how many mistakes I made… even after all of that, I was still possible. My dreams were still possible. Everything I desired to be and all I ever wanted was and is still possible. The same is true for everyone else. The questions one needs to ask themselves are… How bad do you want it, Are you willing to fight for it, and Can you win?

When it comes to my story, I want people to know that it is a blueprint on how to literally bounce back and win from rock bottom to a misstep. No matter what has transpired and what one’s background is, healing, success, happiness, and dreams are all still attainable.

When it comes to my brands (Life Support and BounceBackology), I want people to know I teach others how to bounce back from seemingly impossible circumstances and how to build a life and business that is positioned to be sustainable and win.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting the area, I would take them to see the Dr. MLK museum, take them to Papadeaux and Old Lady Gang to eat, and then we’d go to whatever fashion show or award show that is happening for that week… preferably The Spin Awards or The Gospel Choice Music Awards.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my Shoutout to my late grandmother, Vernita Holmes, and my godmother, Tanya Northcross. When I felt like I didn’t belong and felt unwanted and unloved, they stepped into the role of “Mama” and also made up for the absence of my father and supported everything I did, rooted for me and loved me unconditionally.

My God-orchestrated family deserves recognition as well because in my brokenness and at my lowest points in life, they never gave up on me. They poured into me, encouraged me, corrected me, and supported me.

Website: www.ladyj.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyj.co

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lady-j-brand

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PRIMERIB.J or https://www.facebook.com/LadyJbrand

Other: www.businessbangerscenters.com