Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Hollis.
Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was growing up in a small town call Staunton, VA. I went to schools where the majority were Caucasians. I would see them walking like Marcia on the Brady Bunch, hair moving, shaking, flowing through the wind. In my mind, I thought why my hair doesn’t do that. So I would get my Mommy’s hair nets, tie them to my hair and proceed to walk like my friends. Not knowing or understanding that nothing was wrong with my hair, just like nothing was wrong with their hair. IT WAS JUST DIFFERENT.
Then one summer, my Daddy’s twin came in From Ohio and her hair was straight and bouncy. I proceeded to ask her what she had done to her hair. My Aunt Josephine told me I got a relaxer. I was so confused but not confused enough to stay out of the Beauty Supply Store. I went to Beauty Supply Store and got myself a jar of relaxer. I went home and relaxed my hair but she forgot to tell me about the burning part. My hair was straight and yes, I was Cute on the outside but on the inside, as a different story, the relaxer straightens my hair but not my heart. So I had to deal with my heart posture first. Once my heart posture was in the proper position, my self-confidence rose to the occasion.
I was a hairdresser for 30 years. I loved it! And during the course of that, I had two little girls whose hair I regularly did, and I noticed that they hated their hair. They would slouch in the seat, and they looked so sad. Most women are happy and excited when they get their hair done, but not these little girls. I could see that their feelings affected their self-esteem and their attitude. When I asked them what was wrong, they [finally] confided in me: they wanted hair like their friends – straight or loosely curled, not the tight. I then decided I must do something about this. I went home and began the journey of writing “My Hair and Me.”
I thought I was meeting a lady to publish my book, but God had another plan. I later became a Certified Life Coach after speaking with Lynita Blackwell (the publisher of my first book). Sometimes God allows others to see what is inside you when you don’t.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have learned that going after your dreams and goals will cause the road to be rocky sometimes. The bumps allow you to grow. The bumps will cause your growth in the areas that you need in order to excel in your business. I believe that if some things would come easy, one may take it for granted.
The area that I struggle with is time. I am a wife, Mother, Duchess (AKA Grandma), sister, auntie, cousin, Leader at my Church, work full time at the hospital, Life Coach, published author of two books and businesses inside of me waiting to be birthed out.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Through the Generation Z Hairpowerment, which empowers our young girls to love every inch of themselves – from the tips of their toes to the roots of their hair – every curly, straight, coily, braided, and everything in between and under creation! Generation Z Hair Empowerment was birthed through my published book “Me and My Hair”. An inspirational and motivational speaker, Lisa loves talking to Generation Z (girls ages 7 to 18) on how to embrace their individuality and grow to be self-assured young ladies.
Giving them the ability to always know that you, no matter what your hair is like, your beautification starts from the inside and floods outwardly to the outside. All this on the outside can be superficial, but how you really feel about yourself is found on the inside of you. The part you struggle with when you are alone. The part of you that you struggle with when you are around people that make you feel uncomfortable to remember: I have been in Administration in the medical field for the past ten years. My love for people is found in everything that I do. My co-workers have adopted one of my favorite sayings, “It is nice just to be nice.”
Being a Life Coach I also, offer great services for people whom may find themselves stuck at their crossroad in offering strategies to find out: 1. What do you really want? 2. What do you really want it? 3. When do you want to have it? 4. What does it look like to you?
How do you think about happiness?
Family time makes me happy. I lost my parents four months and 26 days apart, so that has impacted the perception that I have for my family. The true value of family time is priceless.
Contact Info:
- Email: lmph1966@icloud.com
- Website: www.LisaMHollis.com
- Instagram: Author Lisa Hollis
- Facebook: Author Lisa Hollis
- Youtube: Lisa Marie
