In 2012, Keisha Rivers Shorty’s life and business were in a state of transition. She’d relocated to the Carolinas and had a growing business helping others write business plans, file for 501(c)(3) status, and apply for grants. She was also helping her mom recover from knee surgery. Time was tight, so she ignored several nagging health issues that she attributed to stress and insomnia. She had started exploring her options for bringing on employees, but she acted too late.
Things came to a head when Keisha was rushed to the emergency room with hemorrhaging. She ended up with three major surgeries, an infection that required a fourteen‑day hospital stay, and a six-month recovery. She could not serve clients, and business shut down. No money came in, and her savings evaporated from the medical bills.
Keisha could not look at a computer screen, so she started writing in a journal about what she really wanted to do. Since business was essentially shut down, she had an opportunity to reinvent herself and her business. She started looking at ways to assist others in finding their passion and fueling their purpose. The expanded business includes speaking, training, consulting, strategic development sessions, and retreats. Her clients include the US Naval Consolidated BRIG, and she brought on contract employees to help her.
Keisha stresses the need for automated systems, diversified streams of income, and a crisis management plan. Her main advice to other business owners: “Be flexible with your business and yourself. And pay close attention to body, mind, and spirit with scheduled breaks to recharge and refuel.”
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