Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

American Business Stars

News

An Exclusive Interview with Yolanda K. Churchwell

Yolanda K Churchwell

It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story? How did you get to where you are today? Thank you for having me! My journey has been a mix of success, struggle, and ultimately growth. Several years ago, I opened a retail store specializing in hard-to-find sizes, and I was fortunate to experience instant success. My merchandise was in high demand, and I not only had a brick-and-mortar store but also an online presence. I was booked solid with personal shopping orders, and my clients came from three different states. The business was thriving, and I quickly became the go-to for dresswear in my area.

But like many entrepreneurs, I faced challenges that weren’t immediately visible from the outside. Despite the external success, I was drowning in paperwork, behind on tax returns, and overwhelmed by inventory management. The very business I loved became a source of frustration. I was burning out, and my life took a personal toll too. I was going through a difficult divorce, living under the strain of a toxic work environment, and isolated from my support system.

I closed the brick and mortar and asked myself the hard question: why did my bank account say I was succeeding, but the overwhelm and frustration I lived with said I was failing? That’s when I realized my business was missing the same thing I provided to my customers: a solid foundation. I needed a ‘girdle’ for my business to hold everything in place and create the structure that would allow the success I had on the outside to reflect on the inside.

With this new understanding, I started to reimagine my work and the services I could offer. What I love to do now is work with business owners, particularly women, to help them create the systems and strategies they need to scale without the overwhelm.

Through this journey, I found my purpose and my spiritual gift—encouragement—and it’s become my mission to help others build successful, sustainable businesses. I believe that your business can only grow as much as you do personally, and I’ve found peace and purpose in guiding other business owners from failure to flourishing.

I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way? The challenges I’ve faced have been both personal and professional, and each one has shaped me into the person I am today. On the business side, one of my biggest challenges was managing growth without the right systems in place. My retail store was thriving, but I was overwhelmed by the constant demand. My passion for helping clients was being overshadowed by the mounting paperwork, late tax returns, and inventory issues. Despite the financial success I was experiencing, I was constantly feeling behind, apologizing to customers for delayed deliveries, and battling with burnout.

The biggest challenge I’ve faced in my journey to success, however, has been letting go of limiting beliefs, whether they were imposed by others or self-induced. Some of my peers told me I talked differently or did too much. I didn’t understand it at the time, but now I realize I’ve been set apart for a higher purpose. For years, I struggled with self-doubt and felt unworthy of respect or love, which made it hard to show up as my true self.

Once I embraced that I am uniquely made for greatness, everything shifted—my confidence, my conversations, and the results I was able to create. Through prayer and seeking God’s guidance, I learned to accept my differences and trust in His plan. This change in mindset has been essential to both my personal and business growth.

But it was during these moments of struggle that I learned a vital lesson: success is not just about the external wins. It’s about creating the right foundation, both personally and professionally. I had to shift from being reactive to being proactive. I had to let go of my fear of failure and trust that the right systems would allow my business to thrive without sacrificing my well-being. It took a lot of introspection, prayer, and rethinking my approach to business, but ultimately, these challenges led me to discover my true purpose and passion for helping others scale their businesses effectively without the overwhelm.

Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition? I specialize in helping organizations streamline their operations and optimize their efficiency, empowering both small businesses and large corporations to scale effectively without compromising their internal systems. As a Fractional COO, my approach focuses on creating scalable systems that enhance operational efficiency, streamline knowledge transfer, and ultimately promote sustainable growth.

What sets me apart is my unique ability to work with CEOs and corporate teams to ensure that the right people are doing the right tasks in the right way. Whether I’m supporting a CEO looking to reclaim their time and focus on high-level strategy, or working with a corporation to implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and improve internal systems, my goal is to create a culture of operational excellence that aligns with business growth.

I’ve developed proprietary methodologies that help organizations improve processes, reduce inefficiencies, and ensure seamless knowledge transfer, even during challenges like turnover or mergers. My work has resulted in reduced training costs, shorter learning curves, and improved productivity for many businesses, large and small.

What truly sets me apart is my integrated approach, combining business operations expertise with a focus on leadership and development. Whether it’s a CEO seeking to shift from an operator to a visionary role or a corporation navigating complex internal changes, I provide the tools, systems, and strategies needed for long-term success.

What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life? My best piece of advice is simple yet powerful: ‘Start with a plan, but be flexible enough to adapt as you grow.’

Success isn’t a straight line—it’s a journey full of twists, turns, and unexpected opportunities. Many people get caught up in the idea that everything needs to be perfectly planned or executed right away, but true success comes when you are open to learning from your experiences and adjusting along the way.

When you take the time to build a solid foundation, create clear goals, and implement systems that support your growth, you’re setting yourself up for sustainable success. However, you also need to recognize that challenges will arise. The key is to stay focused on your long-term vision, but allow yourself the flexibility to pivot when necessary. And be gracious with yourself, realizing the progress that you’ve made and celebrating your growth.

Remember, growth is often uncomfortable. But the discomfort is where the transformation happens. So don’t be afraid to take the leap, embrace change, and trust the process.

Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you? Success, to me, is about disrupting the status quo. There’s a well-known statistic that 8 out of 10 businesses fail between years 2 and 5, and I’m determined to increase the number of businesses that sustain long-term. For me, success is helping my clients create customized STRATEGY + SOPs + SYSTEMS that streamline their operations, maximize profits, and ultimately turn their dreams into reality.

Every time one of my clients succeeds, I feel a deep sense of happiness and accomplishment. It’s a reminder that I’m using the gift God placed inside me to make a difference—not just in my own life but in the lives of others as well. Being able to help others overcome obstacles and achieve their goals is not only a blessing to them but to me as well.

What’s next for you? Looking ahead, I have three major goals for 2025, all of which will help me reach my target of assisting at least 100 CEOs each year. First, I’m excited to launch my membership model, providing business owners with the tools, templates, and strategies they need to scale effectively without the overwhelm. This will be a powerful way to reach and support more entrepreneurs on their journey to success.

Second, I’m focused on working with more corporations to ensure they have the right people doing the right tasks in the right way. My corporate offer includes helping organizations with knowledge transfer, creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and streamlining task assignments. These efforts are essential for workforce retention and improving work processes to ensure operational efficiency and long-term success.

Finally, I’m thrilled to be writing my first solo book. This book will offer actionable strategies to help business leaders build sustainable operational systems, retain top talent, and successfully transition from managing day-to-day tasks to leading with a visionary approach.

These goals will allow me to continue empowering business leaders, both individuals and organizations, and ensure that they have the foundations they need for lasting success.

Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more? You can connect with me on a variety of platforms. I make it easy to find me by using vanity URLs. Whether you’re on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram, I’ve got you covered:

As the System SolutionistR, I’m always excited to engage with people who are ready to take their business operations to the next level!

 

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Business

Dirc Zahlmann, born in Munster, Germany in 1976, is a renowned entrepreneur and sales trainer who has made a significant impact in the business...

Business

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ramdas Yawson. It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details...

Music

Amateurs and professionals are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to create new, original music. Users of the social media app TikTok are using AI...

News

Today we’d like to introduce you to D’Andre J. Lacy. It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some...

© 2023 American Business Stars - All Rights Reserved.