Kristi Woolfolk, pen name K. Fatimah Woolfolk, is a media entrepreneur and transformational life coach from Lexington, Kentucky currently residing in the Washington D.C. metro area. She is a divorced mother of six. She enjoys outdoor adventures and exercise, writing, playing the violin, international travel, creating abstract & experimental art, astronomy and is currently trying to develop a green thumb.
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I was a dreamer, but I didn’t stop there. I learned early on to take the initiative and make a way out of no way. I understood that I did not have to wait for anyone to move towards following my dreams. I was accustomed to working with people in support of their projects and I learned a lot and appreciated those opportunities, however, my intention with founding Woolfolk Productions was to begin to highlight my own work. My goal is to feature original projects that are meant to entertain, but more importantly focusing on inspiring and empowering humanity.
I knew staying pro-active was crucial to accomplishing anything. This meant taking classes, going to workshops, joining organizations, researching on my own and basically just staying aware of the resources available to me that I could take advantage of as they related to my goals.
Tell us about your business.
Woolfolk Productions supports and acts as a platform for sharing a conglomerate of original media and entertainment related projects. The mission is not only to entertain, but to also inspire and empower. Although we have been doing work since 2009, the company officially started in 2013.
Our goal to inspire and empower has recently birthed Mother Empowerment LLC. This is where I am using my voice as a transformational Life Coach and as an inspirational author for mothers. Mothers include ladies that are parenting or acting as parents as a result of; given or giving birth, adoption, foster care or even as a community mentor or godmother.
I see this to be a very important endeavor since I can personally relate. Women just have to learn or relearn how to value and honor themselves. We commonly give out so much of ourselves that we forget that there is absolutely nothing wrong with investing in our own well-being. If we don’t rush to this, we cannot reap the benefits of raising our children or even our success in our careers. Our mental, physical and spiritual health will only deplenish.
I have incorporated a life coaching program that not only enables my clients to be empowered, it also holds them responsible and reminds them to commend their efforts to do better for themselves. This in turn sets a spiral effect that also benefits their families and close associates as a whole.
I believe in working hard, but it is just as important to play hard and enjoy life while you have the opportunity to do so. So the life coaching program includes fun activities and events where we dance so you are “Dancing Into Your Purpose”.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
Immediate Results Commitment
- $600 for 3 months
- $1,200 for 6 months
- Smaller packages can be offered
Incentives Include
- Intro Evaluation verbal + written
- Solution Calendar Action Plan
- S.A.L.S.A. 5 step resource to help you Dance Into Your Purpose
- Up to 2 hours per/week of coaching
- 24-hour emergency access to coach
- Outro evaluation for results and maintenance
- Lifetime VIP Membership
- Invites to private events and empowerment retreats
And for $40.00 you can pre-order my books:
MOTHERS Super Sheroes, Warriors & Goddesses Beyond Worthy of Peace, Love & Happiness
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
- AA in Marketing Management & Sales and Travel/Tourism – Sullivan University
- BA in Communications TV/Film Production (still pursuing) – Howard University
- TESOL Certification – Northern Virginia Community College
- CPC Certification and mentorship via a ICF approved Institute
Where is your business based?
Based in Maryland and primarily catering to the The Washington D.C. metro area (DMV) which includes DC, Maryland and Virginia. I am available globally and will travel based on agreed accommodations.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
Because I have more than one business, I will attempt to generalize my replies here.
First, I’m a firm believer in doing research. Specifically, demographical research.
I did my homework on everything possible relating to my company goals, including being aware of local and national businesses offering similar services. If I was really curious I looked globally. Google is one commonly used resource, but we should keep in mind to refer to the most current data to compare results. Also, just because you googled it, does not mean it is 100% accurate. Try your best to verify.
A good resource that helps location independent businesses is The Small Business Administration, they can be found in almost every city in the United States. They helped me gain more certainty of what I wanted to do, what services I wanted to provide and not provide. It also aided me with narrowing down my target audience. I think one of the reasons many businesses fail is due to their lack of research.
For example, I can reflect on how often I’ve driven down this one particular road in my city. Along this road are at least two different types of car dealerships. Dealership A has remained there consistently throughout the years. The other dealerships, collectively I’ll just label them B competitors, have come and gone it seems year after year, after year. Now I don’t know A’s numbers in sales, whether they are struggling or not, stock info, employee turn-around rate, if they are a chain or not, but I see they are doing something right. Their B competitors have not lasted. I’ve often wondered did all of these B’s forget to do their research?
No doubt if I observe or learn that B’s repeat competitors don’t last (i.e. they are unsuccessful in that location) I would never waste my time or money positioning my business there. There is a flip side to this though. Now if I discovered that dealership A wasn’t offering a service or product revealed to be in high demand by their clients and consumers within surrounding areas, I may have a strong chance to move in, introduce the service being missed and run dealership A out of business. My point here is to do your research. It may not give you a 100% guarantee for your success, but it will help increase your chances of experiencing it.
Next, I started preparing the necessary documents to make my business valid and began creating an online presence.
I applied online for my EIN and received it literally within minutes. If you have more than one business, you can use the same EIN. Visit the IRS.gov website for more details and to apply.
Then I focused on my capital.
I chose not to take out an immediate bank loan so I was very realistic on staying within my budget.
Preparing for organization and marketing followed.
I included everything I would need for marketing my business. From business cards, flyers and brochures to even templates for what I would need for my employees; applications, company rules & regulations, training information and more. The internet makes being an entrepreneur that much easier. If you aren’t quite ready to spend money on building a website, you can create a free website for yourself via sites like WIX.COM. You can even use Instagram and Facebook like many do in place of a website.
Finally, I learned about online platforms that aid with marketing campaigns to assist businesses in gaining sales/clients.
I took advantage of marketing through LivingSocial and Groupon. You have to know what their requirements are. Since some of the terms in their contracts have changed throughout the years, you must inquire and make sure of the percentages they get and when and how you will get paid. What they aren’t likely to share is that you can negotiate the terms of the portion they earn from your sales.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Being actively involved within the community, locally and nationally. I like to think of this as a step beyond networking. Finding current events, organizations and causes to participate in and join as a member or support as a volunteer or philanthropist.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Unfortunately, finding a reliable team with great work ethic and/or a similar vision. Making time for my own personal nourishment and just the fact that I am starting over after a divorce.
How did you overcome these challenges?
- Expanding my awareness and opening myself up to other resources and ideas.
- Using temp services.
- Hiring a management task force team is on my to-do list once I am ready.
Overcoming challenges is an ongoing process for continued growth. It may require a balance of both changing your inner circle and branching out to new ones. I realize more than ever that I still must position myself around progressives who either support and/or share a similar vision. They are established in where I hope to be one day or mutually we directly or indirectly inspire and motivate each other along the way.
Personal nourishment is key, especially as a mother with a big family. Time management is also key. Although I like to be spontaneous, when it comes to business or important matters in general, I am on a schedule. What I see as my priorities have naturally transformed from habits into my daily routines.
Preparation is a huge part of time management and it helps to set your mind and spirit in the direction you want to be going. Writing your goals down is a large part of this. Also, training our minds for success with positive affirmation is huge to our advancement on any level whether it be physical, spiritual, or financial. You have to get to a point where you are thinking, speaking and processing life differently from most. The idea of understanding and seriously believing that your challenges are only temporary is a powerful tool. This is what I believe and live by. It doesn’t mean it is easy to accept and see when you are in the midst of challenges, but it helps ease and comfort your mind and reel you back to reality.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
Prayer and meditation. If simplified, just making room for plain old quiet time with myself and to seek guidance from the Creator. I think as humans, we often have to re-learn how to listen to our body and mind. I find this crucial to being able to better recognize and follow my intuition, especially when it comes to making important decisions. It is also a necessity so we can be sure we are working to honor our personal needs.
I discovered the beauty in this luxury even as a young child. I would go off to secluded, wooded terrain in my neighborhood and just reflect on life. Sometimes I’d gaze into the deep, bright stars in the sky and question their existence. Wonder what else was out there. Today, I understand that I was actually acting out a form of meditation. I found it very peaceful and soothing.
I am also a fond supporter of retreat. If I can’t make it to travel to my ideal private island getaway, I will settle for a clean, quiet and comfortable hotel room in a nearby city.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I look at my competition as being more of counterparts. When the value and quality of a person’s life and life in general diminishes at the rate we are seeing today, it is detrimental that we work as a team to reverse it.
I do feel I possess some effective qualities that make me a natural at being a life coach: patient, open-minded, a natural ability to read people. Also my miraculous experiences from national and international world travel and having my own testimony as a woman and a mother help me relate to people. Life experiences like being in a relationship with a professional athlete and getting a taste of living the glamorous life, to being in a polygamous relationship as the fourth wife to a public figure, to even being homeless at one point, but overcoming.
My experiences make it that much easier for me to relate to people in general. I think that once you have a clear understanding that perfection is a myth and that before we are anything else ‘we’ are all only human, you learn that we just don’t have a place to judge anyone. I will remain a student of life, but that does not mean I can not help others along my journey.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
So many, but there the two that stand out are:
“Do what makes you happy.” A gentle yet fierce message my late mother often encouraged. She only had three kids. Now as a mother of six imagine how I take that to heart. Also, “Make a way out of no way”.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
If you are passionate about your business, especially if it is attached to a great cause, never give up. There may be times when you may need to fall back and restructure things or even pause your efforts due to timing. This should be done with the intention to come back greater and better prepared for success. I also suggest you have mentors. I have amazing mentors in nearly every area related to my goals; this includes TV/Film production and Life Coaching.
Also, I’ve appreciated understanding that you are never too young, too old or too overwhelmed in your trials that you cannot redirect yourself and have a break through. Basically it is never too late to reinvent yourself and “Dance Into Your Purpose” whether that means changing careers, going back to college, starting a new family after divorce, or changing your entire appearance for a new look. I did this recently. I chopped off my hair, went natural and colored it platinum! Have fun and know that the sky really is not the limit!
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
There are one hundred plus tools to use to our advantage especially since I use Skype and FaceTime for services. However as a Life Coach working to effectively accommodate my sisters, I still find enormous value in the human connection. Meeting with people face to face rules over all else.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
“The Book of Positive Quotations” and “Girl Make Your Money Grow” are books that I resonate with.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I have pulled out my college books focusing on: Personal and Communication Effectiveness. I am also working to collaborate more with medical professionals, institutions and organizations in support of women.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
As a Life Coach, I hope to have helped benefit the lives of at least 50 women by this September. I am tailoring special individual packages for them like no other known to date.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @motherempowerment, @empresswoolfolk
Twitter @woolfolkprod
Facebook www.facebook.com/motherempowerment
Facebook www.facebook.com/woolfolkempire
Website www.woolfolkproductions.com, Dance Into Your Purpose
Email MsLifeCoach@motherempowerment.com
Hashtags #MotherEmpowerment #DancingIntoYourPurpose #MothersWhoRock