Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon Speaks About Her New Book "No One Is Self-Made"

Short N Sweet Ent

Photo Credit: Coach_taybx

New Book Alert! Every month there are new books that we can add to our reading list. From horror to fantasy, to novels to self-help books, there is something for all of us that will grab our attention. Educator, social activist, and author Dr. Lakeysha “Key” Hallmon has cracked the code on personal growth and success with her new book “No One Is Self-Made”. We sat with her in an intimate interview as she outlined her journey and how her book can help readers worldwide.       

How did you get the idea to write your own book and what is the motivation behind “No One Is Self-Made”?

The motivation behind “No One Is Self-Made” is that I really want us to go back to being in community, building community, and building villages. I believe that is the way we will prosper and survive anything. The motivation came – it was divine timing. I started to get this message behind creating a village and all the words started coming to me and I was like oh, I’m writing a book about this and it has been so timely. I can’t tell you Shauntay how many people have said to me, I need this book right now.

That is amazing! You spoke so much about “community” and that’s so important in this society and culture that we live in. How would you specifically define “community”?

Yes, good question. Community to me is intentional. Community is action-oriented. Community is reflective. Community is safe. Community requires you to grow. Community is a safe place to fall. Community is a place where you can absolutely be yourself and that is comprised of many people who decided to choose each other time and time again.

I love that. I see that you created a Mantra, “Support is a verb” and I love the idea that it is being discussed as an action word. What does support look like for you in your life?

It’s the way that my friends show up for me. It’s the way I show up for my friends. It’s the way that small business owners create a community within themselves where they are not just thinking about their own business but they are thinking about somebody else’s business. Support is a verb. It shows up in a way that I love black businesses. It’s the way that I spend money on black businesses. It’s the way that I show up at community events. “Support is a verb” is all about living a life of action. If we love something our actions should follow and I always say that you can tell how much a person loves by how much they are willing to do.

Definitely, on social media support is that like, follow, subscribe, or all of the above. You don’t necessarily have to go out and do the biggest grand gesture but saying good job, this was good, or you look good sis today, to me that’s what support means.

That’s your Mantra but do you specifically have a Mantra song when you’re feeling good and you’re feeling great and in the mirror getting ready to head out. What would be your Mantra song?

Listen anything by Whitney Houston. I love Jay-Z’s song, First Song. I love that song. I love that album. Of course Smile by Kirk Franklin. Yeah, it gets me going. It really raises my vibration and I am ready for the day.

Yes, so she gave us a Mantra playlist of what she needs to get ready and I love that. We always have to feel to look good to be good.

You are an entrepreneur and the people see the glitz, glam, and everything that comes with it. Everyone wants to become an entrepreneur, which is awesome but what are some pros and cons of being an entrepreneur?

Let’s start with the cons. The cons come with not being ready to have a mindset shift. You have to have a completely different mindset shift when you decide to lead a company, where you eventually you will lead people. It takes so much discipline to willingly sit and willingly learn to refine. That’s not necessarily a con but it’s just something that I want to share with people that if you want to be an entrepreneur, you have to be a student then to be a student you have to be a leader and sometimes it’s required to do both in the same day. The pros of course is that you get to go after your dreams and if you are a great leader you have the ability to create a work environment where people feel seen, loved, valued, and actually love coming to work and enjoy the work that they do.

That is one of my greatest honors of having companies and being able to have work environments where it’s actually very loving and thoughtful. Another pro is that when you are a pillar in community you are also a safe place for community. I look at how much is going on now, people need places where they can go and feel safe. My business “Village Retail”, that is located in city market in Atlanta, I can’t tell you but when people walk in they are just like “y’all I am here” and that is the environment and vision that I wanted. I wanted them to say this feels like home to me and that’s a pro that keeps on pro-ing. Another pro is if you decide to be an entrepreneur that’s also a leader in community, then you have a responsibility and people will listen to you. You also have the opportunity to be civically engaged to be much more than a business owner but a pillar and a leader in your community. Telling people, hey who ever you vote for – make sure you go vote. Make sure you are showing up for the city council meetings and things like that. This is who I am as an entrepreneur.

Probably the only other con because I want to make sure I give one is making sure that our operations are not tight. Sometimes we go and scale too fast. We want to do too much and want to be to much. “Grow incrementally” and perfect one thing before you add another thing. I think that’s one of the mis-steps entrepreneurs make.        

Lastly, I always end with, If you can title this chapter of your life what would you call it and why?

I am totally in my Michelle Obama “Becoming”. I feel it. I feel that I’m in a heightened sense of awareness. I’m vibrating very very high and I know this is my “Becoming” season.

Congratulations on everything and we wish you so much success. Where can everyone find you and get the book.

You can find me and get the book at drkeyhallmon.com You all are going to love “No One Is Self-Made”

You heard it first and thank you for speaking with Short N Sweet.  

Written By Shauntay Hallett

Until Next Post... Coach Tay