“The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.” – Oprah Winfrey
Dr. Shekina Farr, Ed. D has thrived throughout her career as a Coach, Author, Advocate, Teacher, Publisher and Entrepreneur. Her work to uplift women and girls is unmatched and her brands continue to expand. She is the Editor- in -Chief of Formidable Woman Magazine and her Formidable Woman Brand continues to excel and meet the mark. Let’s check in…
What has been your proudest accomplishment – personal or business – since your 2014 feature? Wow, so much has happened since 2014. My proudest accomplishment has been launching my beauty and skincare line, Formidable Woman® Beauty and Formidable Man Skincare. So many have been blessed with increased confidence from improved self-awareness and self-image. I also love that my children have been a part of my journey, to see it from its genesis.
What has been the hardest lesson learned and how did it affect change in your journey? Everyone can’t go with you. The superhero syndrome is real, but it can derail the goals you have set for yourself. I was wanting to save everyone despite their unwillingness to be saved. Now, I just let go.
How have you managed to stay connected with other women or your ideal client? By providing relevant content that speaks to their needs and values. Most of my content centers around confidence, competence, and clarity.
How did your business endure during the pandemic? Any major pivots in how you do business? Interestingly, parts of my business thrived through the pandemic and others did not. Being online was helpful. We used to offer in-person training with Formidable Coaching Institute but we made the pivot to the ZOOM platform, and it has stuck. This has been very convenient for our clientele.
Has who you are at your core grown or stayed the same? At my core, I’ve always been the same. I value quality relationships and inspire women to be confident, competent, and clear.
What is your secret to staying relevant? Authenticity. I am 100% Shekina. I don’t try to be anyone else and I am clear about my purpose and vision. I believe it attracts your tribe.
What does your self-care routine look like? Sunday tends to be my go-to-self-care-day-of-the-week! I try not to schedule any business on this day because all of my other days require me to work on one thing or another. I am big on facials, soaks, teas, mani-pedis, and reading time. While I read nightly, I enjoy binge-reading when I can. My favorite meals include shrimp tacos and sushi.
Has there been any life event/news headline etc. that changed you? I am recently divorced. It has changed my life in major ways, but I am also experiencing growth in areas I didn’t know I needed to grow. One of those areas is compassion. I now feel more compassion for others going through life changes that may impact their confidence.
Read Dr. Farr’s first CWM interview here
What does success look like to you now? Success for me now is living life in a way that equips others with the tools to be confident and to pass the torch to build others. I’m heavy on confidence because the lack of it keeps many out of the rooms they were designed to be in.
Tell us about your most popular/successful endeavor/product/service based purely on customer response/sales. Based on popularity and sales, Formidable Woman® Vitamin C Serum and Duo Highlight Concealer Stick are our most popular products.
How important has having a strong support circle been in your journey? There is no way I would have grown this much since our last interview without the support of strong friends and family. It takes a village to raise a child and to raise a vision.
Whose opinion matters the most to you? My Dad would always shoot it to me straight, and to this day, although he is gone, his words play in my mind when I am facing challenges or at crossroads. The other day I asked myself what would Dad do or advise me?” Then there’s my Mom. My Mom always has this profound insight into my life and my affairs. Sometimes I will make a mountain out of a molehill and she will be my voice of reason. A prayer warrior, she reminds me to trust myself and to make decisions based on my vision.
Think back to a time when you felt your life was in “shambles”. How would the woman you are now handle that same situation differently? I have honestly never had my whole life in its entirety in shambles. It’s always been one area of my life that has been in shambles. Just one area at a time. However, in the past, I would sum up everything as “my whole life is in shambles”. So, I would say that I now handle things by expecting the dip. Seth Godin wrote a book about The Dip, where he described how the problem with most of us who experience a measure of success is that we don’t anticipate the dip. I now know that no path is linear and that there will be twists and turns—and that’s okay.
Who or what pours into you to help you achieve your own wellness goals, maintain your joy, and pour back into others? My small circle of friends, mom, and sister completely keep me grounded but also inspire, encourage and celebrate me. The other day I was having lunch with a friend who noticed and remarked that I used to have a lightness to step and I was heavier and moving more slowly. I thanked her for that honesty because I trust her and know she has my best interests at heart. I then decided to get back to my wellness goals—eating healthier and seeing a counselor. I had been ignoring things that were bothering me because I was “busy”. Ignoring the things that bring me joy is no longer tolerated.
Has your hopes for your legacy expanded since your first feature OR are you more focused on “manifesting and living in your now” versus what you leave behind? My hopes for my legacy have expanded in a major way. Since my last feature, I am focused on investing my time, energy, and resources into my family, the Farr’s Best Family, via kinship and friendship in order to create an impactful culture of inclusion for our community and one that advances economic growth and creates generational wealth. Together, we are doing so through economic collaboration, philanthropic community service, and the development of a sustainable system of entrepreneurial and enterprising growth. Our overall focus is to progress our community economically, educationally, politically, professionally, socially, and spiritually. It’s time to go back and get our people!
How do you want people to feel when you walk into a room? I want people to feel they have had an encounter with greatness but I also want them to feel permission to be great, to be formidable. I believe and share often that we often look for the fruit on our branches (the shiny things that others see and praise) as proof of our impact. But just being the tree (just being who you are) is also FRUIT!
What would you say is your passion? What motivates you to keep going in order to align your life with that passion? Confidence building. There are defining moments in your life that, if you’re not paying attention, will go over your head. SO…My platform is my life.
For YEARS I struggled with confidence. I questioned my abilities. I went along to get along even when things didn’t feel right or sit well with my spirit. I played nice and acquiesced to people I had no business connecting to. I yo-yo’d with my weight. I accepted roles and jobs that didn’t tap into my light. I downplayed my gifts to make others comfortable. I apologized for the wrongs made by others.
Defining moments I had to open my eyes to.
I WISH the man who wrapped his hands around my throat and choked me out would try that today. I WISH the boss who told me I would NEVER be promoted would utter those words across a table with me today. I WISH the company that swept my sexual harassment claims under the rug would try that today.
That Shekina had to unbecome™️.
Listen.
I share all this to say, I understand my audience because I was my audience. And I am keenly aware of the significance of having a forerunner circle back and say, “Queen, I’ve been there. I feel you. Let’s get you back on track. Because your tribe is waiting for you.”
I am called to the woman who looks good on paper but she hasn’t fully accepted her greatness.
To this end I create, build, and breathe life into products and services that make women more “confident, competent and clear™️”.
Tell us about a time you made yourself proud. I made myself proud when I left a career that no longer served me. It helped me to leave other situations that were not right for me. I believe you have to get clear to be alignment. Anytime I am clear and in alignment, I am my best self and proud of myself.
How do you make time for the things/people and places that are most important to you? I wasn’t always good at this, but I have been intentional about scheduling time for things and people who are important to me. Walks, lunch, and quality time with my children and making calls to check in with those I love. I would like to vacation more since my move but that will come! I am trusting the process.
How do you nurture your gifts? My gifts are best nurtured by rest and reading. When I rest, I am more creative and ideas and innovation abounds. When I am tired, I notice I am uninspired. Reading also is important as I constantly gain new perspectives and alternative ways of looking at the same phenomenon or challenge. This is key in my industry. I would also add that keeping people around me who love and celebrate me goes a long way in nurturing my gifts. In these environments, I feel free to be me. And being me is just what my gift needs.
What’s next for you? I am designing curriculum and infrastructure for women with Formidable Woman® and for black families with Farr’s Best®. I am excited about all God is doing through me and us!
Want to connect with Dr. Farr? Find out more about her and her endeavors at:
@ShekinaFarr
@FormidableWoman
@FormidableCoachingInstitute
@FarrsBest
Websites:
After reading this interview I am inspired even more to operate in my greatness while being confident, competent & clear! Keep inspiring women everywhere Dr. Farr!