Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Venable.
Victoria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Honestly, the best way to describe what got me here is “I fell from the sky”! Life was awesome! I did everything my father had taught me to do career-wise and everything my mother taught me in prayer. By 25, I owned my own property, had a phenomenal career in intelligence and was serving the community. As a single mother that had her daughter at the age of 15, I was successful at destroying the stigma that it would hold me back. Then life happened. My mother had passed a few years early, my mortgage was behind and I was playing with the forbearance options, relationships were horrible and I lose my job. At one point, I was without work, homeless and pushing my babygirl through college. I literally fell from the sky and hit the ground but I refused to let my daughter ever feel that.
I’ve never been a quitter but I definitely felt like life had quit on me. The very next day, I walked into an office at my church and started messing around with graphic design. Then a friend asked me to help her with starting her business and I started researching how to build businesses. I wasn’t the best but I saw it was an opportunity for me to “get up,” Eventually, I started working with other single mothers. I had already had a passion for helping other women not have to bare the same burdens I did alone. When I had my home, I would bring them in and let mother’s stay with their children while they rebuilt. There were times I’d have coaching sessions with people who I coached beyond what I was even capable of doing.
The passion turned into several entities, It started with F.L.A.M.E.S (Fierce Ladies Achieving Ministry and Entrepreneurial Success) which gathered women nationally who were leaders in ministry and business. Next, “Girl, Get Up,” which is a forum and platform for women to come together and network, enjoy life, build each other spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially by way of gatherings and resources in the absence of judgment and jealousy. We cover expenses, utilities, housing and more within the community. We’re normal people, with problems and purpose. We get up! Those two, along with our marketing services, business development, personal ministries and businesses of my family, make up Venable Enterprises.
My low place was my launching pad. I lose everything so that God could show me what it felt like to fall so I could help others navigate their way up. I lose everything but I’m up. I’m married, an entrepreneur, hold a full-time career in community service and ministry, have a successful daughter graduating from college with her own business and most importantly, I’m helping others to miss some of the ditches I fell in. #AndWereUp
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! I’ve lost loved ones, pushed through as a single parent, been homeless, unemployed, second-guessed myself, been looked over and more. One of the hardest things is having the support from strangers and lack it within your circle. It’s a thin line between getting up and giving up and sometimes you’re having to walk it alone. You have to be strong for others when you feel like you’re breaking. I had a focus! I wanted to be the mom that mine was. Many times I got up was only because I knew I had another life to live for.
Please tell us about Venable Enterprises.
We help people build their lives. Whether we are building businesses, creating marketing campaigns, hosting empowerment events, conducting individual coaching sessions or providing products through our clothing line, we’re extending hands to help others us. What sets us apart is that we care! We care about every individual. We’ve been blessed with people who sow, generate income and support us so we return it with genuine services to ensure with one’s personal motivation and dedication that their visions manifest.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
This will sound strange but one of my favorite memories from childhood, I actually got in trouble for. In my neighborhood at that time, there was a small wooded area with a lake through it that you could cross through to get to an adjoining neighborhood. My father had told me repeatedly not to walk through it but of course, we would do it anyway because it was quick, fun and nobody wanted to be the one who looked too scared to walk through. Well, one day, my friends and I went through and it started to rain. Everyone took off running but I fell in the water. By the time I got out, everyone was gone. I could hear some voices of some guys walking through and I got so nervous. I ran as fast as I could and when I got to the exit, my dad was standing right there! He looked so scared, upset and yet relieved. He helped me out, hugged me and then started fussing. However, that moment showed me how much love he had and how safe I was. My dad has always found a way to be right where I needed him to be in life no matter what and I treasure that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.venableenterprises.com
- Phone: 2028307006
- Email: admin@venableenterprises.com
- Instagram: @iamvictoriavenable
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LadyVVenable
Image Credit:
Cash Captures Photography
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