Accelerator Spotlight: Stephanie Talia
Product-based business owners seem to struggle with storytelling more than service-based business owners.... Often, we find the business owner hiding behind the products... not really comoing forward to share the story of how the products have impacted people's lives!
Stephanie Talia's story is a reminder that everybody has a story -- and sharing that story can be helpful to other people.... even if you are sharing a product as part of your relief-package!!
As you'll read in this month's Accelerator Spotlight -- Stephanie is using her story to help other people who suffer from skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and other debilitating skin outbreaks.
Stephanie first got into the LIGHTbeamers world when she attended one of our Storytelling Symposium's in Dallas, TX. She's been involved in several of our group coaching programs and is now a member of our Visibility Accelerator, where she continues to hone her craft around storytelling so she can reach more people -- sharing her message of H.O.P.E.
She's a committed and loyal member of our Lightbeamers Community, where you can often find her using our Storytelling Monday prompt's and sharing a great story!
I think you'll love getting to know Stephanie better -- as we have here at LIGHTbeamers. We love her quirky sense of humor (she's always laughing!) and her fun stories about her dogs! We love her sweet spirit and supportive nature. She's a big cheerleader to our community and can often be found rooting for others!
Let's get to know Stephanie a little better in this spotlight interview:
APRIL: Let's start with a little introduction. Tell everyone a bit more about you & share a piece of your journey.
STEPHANIE: I grew up thinking and believing I had sensitive skin. My skin would always let me know if it took exception to a product or smell. It would go to war with itself. It would become angry red, itchy, completely uncomfortable.
In eighth grade, I woke up one morning with my skin on fire, red, inflamed, itchy and angry mainly on the trunk of my body, arms and legs. My body was approx. 60% covered in hell fire. My Mom took me to the doctors that day to get checked out. I was diagnosed with psoriasis. I was in the middle of a huge flare up. We asked the doctor lots of questions especially how long would it take for this to go away. The doctors response was swift and direct. He said this is not curable. It will need to run its course. I could have flare ups for the rest of my life whenever and wherever. We left the doctors office (in tears) and with a tube of 90+% tar based cream that was to be applied on the affected areas until it went away.
That night I put the tar cream on my body. The smell was horrid, something I will never forget! The cream was a thick and looked like a dirty coffee color. I cried every night for two weeks as I applied the stinky cream to my body. It didn’t even heal my skin. It smothered the psoriasis until it went away. To this day, I cannot drive through a road construction zone where they are putting black top down without memories flooding my mind. The smell of it is an instant flash back/reminder to those evenings and that moment in time.
Over the years there have been many cycles of psoriasis flares. Some involved the dreaded tar cream, some required steroid cream to calm and relieve my skin. Each flare up would be the roller coaster of being uncomfortable, embarrassed, depressed and ridiculously self-conscious. Then the unsolicited questions or comments from people asking “what is wrong with you” or “what is wrong with your skin” or being told “you have leprosy.” Every major life event that was over the top stressful like surviving a divorce, two cancer scares and a career change brought new and unique psoriasis flares. I would either hide or try to cover it up while it ran its course. My body has gotten very creative over the years in how psoriasis presents itself as well as where it decides to show itself on my body during a flare.
The last major flare (approx. 17 years ago), I decided I did not want to use tar based cream or steroid creams to address the skin discomfort. I was done with the horrid smell of tar and steroid creams are not good for prolonged periods of use. They actually thin the skin.
My quest for natural and non toxic solutions began and has never stopped. It all started with a Dead Sea Mud bar. A gentlemen who suffered with psoriasis for 25 years left a raving review about how it helped take his red angry skin to light pink in three days after continued use. I figured if he got that kind of relief, surely I could get some. I tried the mud bar. It worked well for me and my skin. Then I tried several more products. My skin kept improving. I continued to try and search for solutions I could use. Psoriasis is more than skin deep and for me it was not one product but several that has enabled me to love the skin I am in.
Fast forward to today. Psoriasis is my super power and I am thriving. I give people H.O.P.E.... I Help Open Peoples Eyes to natural, transformational solutions that I have personally vetted that help with inflammation of the skin and body. I help educate and advocate for not only myself but others who suffer due to their skin issues. Water, mud, minerals, salt and botanicals are my go to’s for skin and body relief.
My name is Stephanie Talia. I am the owner of Stephanie’s Mindful Solutions and I love what I do. I love helping people get relief with natural solutions and live their best lives. For those who are tired, want to quit and stop suffering...never give up. There is HOPE! Keep searching for and trying new products or reach out to me. I would love to listen to your story and share the solutions that I have personally vetted, use and that have worked for me. I didn’t give up. I found relief and others can too so that they can love the skin they are in.
APRIL: How has 'storytelling' influenced you and/or your business?
STEPHANIE: It has made me realize I need to share my story. I do have a lot to say. Someone like me, suffering through psoriasis flares, desperate for relief wants to be seen and heard and find relief. My story may resonate with them and they don't have to waste anymore time trying products/solutions that over promise and under deliver. I have vetted natural solutions that worked for me and can work for them. Time and money savings...finally relief so they can live their best lives.
APRIL: What does being a LIGHTbeamer mean to you?
STEPHANIE: Everyone has a story and it needs to be shared. You could be the light and HOPE that is needed for an issue, topic or just a lifeline for someone in that moment needing to be seen and heard.
APRIL: What have you learned or discovered the most about storytelling and your story?
STEPHANIE: I am a work in progress and just starting to crack open and become more vulnerable. Vulnerability is out of my comfort level and difficult for me but I am working on it. Sharing some deeply stuffed, long forgotten or painful memories with others is actually liberating and healing.
APRIL: What's been the hardest part about learning how to share your story?
STEPHANIE: What to share and how to share it as well as not being too long or share every detail. =)
APRIL: What is one piece of advice you'd give to another woman about using her voice and sharing her story?
STEPHANIE: JUST DO IT! It doesn't have to be perfect but your people are waiting for you. They want and need to hear you and your story. You could be the light or lifeline for someone who is at their end, wants to give up or in. Then they hear and see your story, they relate and realize they are not alone and then their perspective and life changes/shifts.
APRIL: What do you love most about your work?
STEPHANIE: I love what I do! Nothing gives me greater satisfaction, pleasure or happiness than helping someone calm their skin/get relief from psoriasis/eczema/rosacea. When you don't have to worry about your skin, your life completely changes. You can be present and appreciate everything around you. You don't have to hide your skin, be depressed, embarrassed and not scratch/itch or answer ridiculous questions or field crazy comments. I have been known to get teary-eyed when I get feedback from customers that they have finally found relief.
I know...I have lived it and would have mortgaged my house during a flare up for some relief before I found the natural solutions that have worked for me and keep my skin in check.
APRIL: What are you busy creating now?
STEPHANIE: I'm currently enrolled in April's The Story Lab (Beta Program), so I'm working on crafting several versions of my story to connect, share and help others get relief and know they are not alone.
Once I have my story refined, I would like to do a relaunch of my business, sharing my story, natural transformational solutions, getting those suffering relief, growing customer base as well as growing my team. Team growth is important to me so we can help people get relief on a larger scale.
APRIL: How do you relax after a busy week?
STEPHANIE: I love down time, getting out in nature, hiking or going out to eat lunch or dinner with my husband Dave. I also like to get together with my friends and family, share stories and laugh. I love to laugh and have fun.
Self care is key and so important to keep things in alignment (mind, body, spirit). Some self care I make sure to do after a busy week is dead sea salt soak, dead sea mud mask (in home pampering).
APRIL: What kind of things do you like doing outside of work?
STEPHANIE: I love spending time with my dogs (low riders two mini dachshunds), spending time with my husband Dave, time with family and friends. I love gathering around food and drink sharing stories, laughing and connecting.
I also love traveling, adventure, outdoors - hiking, visiting new places I have not been before or planning new places to travel to.
APRIL: How have you benefited the most by being a member of our VIP Membership, The Visibility Accelerator?
STEPHANIE: Visibility is key as well as how, when and what you share in your story. I love the community, support and trainings we receive. Also learning from others, learning what they have tried and did/did not work and what and how I can implement or apply that in my business.
The Special Guests April brings in share wonderful golden nuggets/wisdom that can be used or applied in your own business. Those are really great.
APRIL: List all of your pertinent channels for us to share such as website, social media handles, podcast, blog, etc.
STEPHANIE:
https://stephaniesmindfulsolutions.com/
Instagram: @stephaniesmindfulsolutions
Facebook: Stephanie's Mindful Solutions
Stephanie is a member of our VIP Community, The Visibility Accelerator -- where we help women get their stories and voices heard through monthly coaching calls, ongoing visibility trainings, and weekly story prompts that help them never run out of ways to tell their story.
If you'd like to join our amazing community and grow your business or platform, click here: www.lightbeamers.com/visibility-accelerator
