Growth Mindset Miracle: Ademola Odewade x Shannon Michelle on Wealth, AI in Business & Resilience

0:00 Not believing that you are are these other people, not believing you are these other things. Just remembering that you, you are who you are and that's all that matters. When you have trauma happen to you, just keep going back into your heart and your soul and remembering who you are, even though you feel like you're in a bit of a chaos or you're in the darkest, deepest moments that you can feel, that's OK too. That's growth.

0:29 Feel it, be it, and then let it go. It's OK to let it go. Like feel dark and deep because you will. And I have, and I've had to learn how to get through that day and then sometimes just go to bed and wake up the next day and see how that day felt and doing that where you're just trying to achieve the best that you are today. And that's it.

0:51 That's to me how anybody can get through whatever they're going through. Welcome to the Kingdoms podcast, where growth mindset meets leadership and business insights. Get insights from top entrepreneurs, professionals and thought leaders. Visit kingdomspodcast.com. Fuel your mind Your next breakthrough starts here. Looking for expert legal support you can trust? At Grayfield Solicitors, we simplify complex legal issues for both businesses and private clients across Essex and beyond. From pensions and insolvency law to construction, conveyancing and commercial litigation, our experienced team is here to help.

1:30 With clear, practical advice and a commitment to results, we put your Peace of Mind first every step of the way. We're proud sponsors of The Kingdoms podcast, championing voices that enlighten the world on growth mindset, leadership, and business insights for entrepreneurs. Visit grayfieldsolicitors.com today to book your free consultation. We alive ladies and gentlemen, you once again welcome to the King James podcast and today I've got with me a very, very, very special guest fighting out of Los Angeles, United States of America.

2:07 Make welcome, Shannon, the step into your miracle author Bishop. How are you, Shannon Mitchell? I live. Wow, are you pumped for this one? Because I just gave you a Bruce buffer introduction you give. Beautiful introduction. Thank you. You're welcome, You're welcome. You're thinking, oh, who is Shannon Michel now is you're a fighter.

2:37 You know, it's just gonna be. I'm a lot of things. There's a lot of layers to this individual, but yes, I am. I'm just right now, again, I stay super present and I love who I am and what I have to share and give and whatever that sequence is, I love being in it. And this morning, it's you and I. Oh wow, absolutely, absolutely.

2:58 You've got a lot to share. You're not a fighter, you know, in the cage and the Octagon and the rink, or you are a fighter in life. And that is why you are the prestigious author of Step Into Your Miracle. But before we step into our miracle, let us step into the troubled waters first. Of course, you know, would I say probably the disasters are what lead to the miracles, right?

3:33 So for those people who are just meeting you for the first time, I'm not meeting you for the first time. So I am privileged. Those people meeting you for the first time, how would you describe the journey that brought you to where you are today? It's it's been many layers, but I'll start with approximately 3 years ago, I was in a very severe motorcycle accident which changed my life. I was broken like you name it.

4:02 I mean, some are obvious in so many pieces, brain mostly. And and I, I sat and I was, and these are things I was told too, because I had traumatic brain injury and they kept me in a coma for a few months and they had to put all my parts and pieces back together. And I was in the hospital for three months total. And then I came home and at the back end, I was just relearning everything because I didn't even know like at the beginning phases, who my daughter was, what I, what I, where I was physically like I kept thinking I was in a different state. I kept waking up and thinking I was in a different state. And you know, and it took a long time to kind of come back to who I am and who I became post all

4:49 of that because I became a very different person, but still very similar to what I call the Shannon Michelle one and the Shannon Michelle 2. And it's. A seasonal movie. Yes, it is. And then I don't, I mean there's layers of it that we can get into however you'd like to. Definitely. You take the lead, you know, and of course, that's why we have to step into the miracle. You know, you start from the disaster, yes, and leading to the miracle.

5:21 But I'd like to speak about how much I relate to your experience in life. You know, there are always turning points in life for great people like yourself and myself. By extension, I very much understand what it means to be in a life threatening accident as well. We've had this conversation and for me, I'm, I'm grateful it, it did not take, but I don't know, it took a lot for me, but maybe not as much as it could possibly be because even till today, I still feel the feel the pains, you know, muscular, muscular.

6:03 Is it, what do you call it? Musculoskeletal? You know, pains, you know, in the back and it's, it's not funny, you know, when you leave a pains, but sometimes in life, pains actually trigger you to pursue your purpose in life. And when you pursue your purpose, you can attain power. And with power, you can make impact.

6:26 So for me, it made me see life differently. It made me more grateful about life. It made me more resilient. It made me, you know, more willing to chase my purpose and my passion, 'cause, you know, life is a privilege. It's not a right. And if you do not chase your passion, if you don't chase your purpose, you won't be able to make impact in life, right?

7:00 So for me, that's, you know what I'll just say simply, but it's not about me today. It's about you. And you know your extraordinary story. You know what? When you think about the first slogan of this podcast, it was sharing the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. And you fit perfectly into that line.

7:24 Thank you I. Thank you for coming today. I have a lot of gratitude as well for for for every every minute of every day that I am now alive. And I love that I can see the world in such a different from different views or a different view completely than I did before, Where it's like to have gratitude for the littlest things, which are the most important, you know, is to me the most empowering thing that any person can gain.

8:00 And if it is so simple sometimes, but every moment, every moment is staying present and just taking in what is being shown and spoken through you and to you. And sometimes we get lost in the mess of everything else. And it's very easy to get convoluted in your life and not see yourself. And I think the most important thing that I hope to share is like, how can you get through and to see your true self, you know to.

8:34 See your true self, you know, So somebody on this podcast once said adversity introduces a man to himself. Yes, it can. I can't. I think layers in life show us, lead us, guide us, teach us, and sometimes we need to be more broken than others to really wake up. At least that's how I feel. I, I think that we go through, as you just said, the trials and tribulations of things for growth, for love, for understanding. And when you can see trauma in that way, that's a beautiful place to sit when bad things happen and you don't take it personally and you don't think that it was supposed to happen to you, but you actually take, take in what you're being taught and then grow even bigger.

9:29 I mean, that's, that's empowering. Yeah, you talk about growth and I'm grateful you're talking about growth because why do we look into the Moto or the subtitle of this podcast right now, July 2025? It is growth mindset, leadership and business insights, right? Good mindset is at the core. That's a foundation of what this podcast is built on. And I'm grateful that you are highlighting it and you are putting it out there in, you know, the limelight, that it deserves the spotlight in it and letting people know that it is essential for you to have a growth mindset, for you to have self discovery, self fulfilment and self actualization. And I appreciate you very much for that. You know, they say sticks and

10:37 stones may break my bones, but words won't harm me, right? But I'd like for you to talk to that. You know, when you're broken as a person, but your soul, your spirit is not broken. I think that is the real resilience. Yeah. People just use the word resilient, right? But it takes a lot to be resilient.

11:01 Yes, it does. Sometimes it's even hard to see yourself as resilient because like it, just like, yes, I am and yes, I will continue to be and yes, I will continue to feel like I'm not because it's a mix of all of it and it's OK to be resilient, feel resilient and also feel broken. Like all of it, all of it gives you power, you know, it's all insightful channels to how you can be the best you you can be.

11:35 And to me, the resilience in my life has been leaps and bounds bigger than most. Between my motorcycle accident, being in a traumatic brain injury that I remember being mid state. And that's the only thing that I can remember is literally almost like being held in between life and death and being surrounded by angels and, and that being what saved me to come back in a way for my daughter.

12:05 And then I came back and came back so broken. And I, I feel like I knew what I was having to come back into before I even made. I don't know if it'd be called the decision to come back, but I do think that there was a moment where I was in between and I could see a better place than where my body SAT. And that that's the resilience of coming back into something that's so broken that you're able to move through it and be in it and learn from it and not let it break you spiritually, You know, so like I was, I was given the gift of, of, of, of seeing all of me.

12:48 Not the parts that I can remember, not the parts I want to be, but the the full me. You know, it literally reminds me of when they say giving up the ghost, right? And a lot of people never understand it in their lifetime what it means to be in between. It's very hard to even verbalise. It's hard.

13:13 And I think like people experience it in different ways. For me, I probably haven't said this before, but yeah, in that accident, I know there was like 30 seconds of my life that I cannot account for. But what I remember is I felt like I was going into a dark hole, right? I felt like just crumbling into that hole and I did not like and I'm like, no, I can't go there, man.

13:43 Like I will. I will stop on lions, period. The lions are behind me. And I know I just, you know, the fact that consciousness, right. And it was scary. But me, I'm, I'm not the type of person to be scared, you know, on any, any given day, yeah, I was just relaxed. And next thing I saw people come in or like, oh, it's a guy still alive. Is he still alive?

14:10 And then, you know, they were jacking the doors open. And then so I was trapped with the seat belt. And I looked at my hands, blood dripping, got my body blood. Then the blood was what brought me to reality. Like, hey man, what's going on here? This is not heaven yet. What is good on here? Yeah, everybody has their own beliefs of, you know, of, you know, the the heaven and hell version and there's all kinds of different ways that we can express that.

14:41 But you had a moment where you woke, where you re woke up. Right. Yeah. Yeah. And I just heard the people shout, hey, thank God. Thank God that like I was hearing different voices. I won't like sort of guy who was trying to even steal from me. I I don't want to use curse words, but May God, May God, May God bless him like.

15:03 No, no, no. But I love that. You're the guy was whispering. He was whispering into my ears. Do you have any valuables in the car? And then I'm like, he wouldn't have valuables. When I tell you I do you think I'm stupid? I may be vulnerable, but I'm not. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not stupid, but well.

15:25 Thanks for sharing that. I just, I love it when I can experience somebody else's experiences through their words, through their mouth. And you know, you sharing that story with me is like there are all these connections and all these moments of being exactly who you are and sharing who you are that are so important and this moment right now.

15:48 I was like, I didn't know that. That's really good to know, but you also. That is why, that's why I always say this, that I'm the most authentic person walking the surface of the earth, hence I'm an endangered species. You guys need to protect me. Number one, most authentic. I guess Michelle is probably like number #99 on the rankings.

16:11 You need to work harder to come up to my level. Guy, are you're talking about me, Michelle. Shannon. Michelle. OK, I got lost for a second. Yeah. You're night tonight, you know, But take heart, take so listen the fact that you're more than 7 billion people. Yes, I'm going to I'm going to pay honour to this moment and I appreciation and gratitude for you sharing your your experience with me. I'm giving you the ranking.

16:40 I think you're the top 100 in the world. And you know, I love about this moment. I love that you're sharing that and I have no idea what that means and I really don't care. I just don't. I'm serious, I'm honest, like. OK, OK. That is going to that is going to bump you up the rankings because you what? Happened my honesty.

17:07 Honesty Honesty is a mature. It is. A Honesty is key to authenticity. It is. It is. It is. It is, you know. Some. People enjoy it and some people don't, you know? Yes, absolutely, you know, it. It makes you annoying to people that let's let's not lie. Yes, it it makes you annoying to people, but it also makes you like highly, highly appreciated by people, especially when they really need to hear the truth and when they need you know that unbiased, you know, opinion or judgement or discretion.

17:43 Now, people will always be trying to achieve because they know that what they see is what they get. You know, no fluff you you're real, right? And look how. That feels to my realness is. Well, why are you consistently real? You know, it makes you dependable and reliable. Yes, yes, we keep talking about stepping to your miracle.

18:10 Let's step into your miracle. You know it's deeply evocating, right? But what does that word miracle personally mean to you? I am a blessing. I am I am a connection that is here to share with others. And I feel like I've been blessed in ways that there are no words that could explain it. And miracle is a word that people can connect with. I am a miracle.

18:35 And the fact that I'm sitting here even having this conversation with you right now is a miracle. And everyday even post all of the obvious chaos miracles that happened, I still everyday feel surrounded by such greatness and wonder that I'm I'm still sitting here going like, oh, oh, OK, I'll have more. And that to me is a miracle to just keep accepting all the goodness and to keep giving all of what I have to share. I.

19:13 Yeah, you know the idea that popped in my head right now. Tell me, OK, I'm about to give you a middle name, right. So you are a miracle. Where I come from in Nigeria, in Yoruba language, miracle is called Iyano. Iyano. That's a yeah, that's a your my word for miracle. And I see right here our audience are not going to be able to see it because this this the studio camera I have my middle name is CMA.

19:44 That's AI O you are Shannon Michelle, but you don't have that middle name. So I'm going to give you Yano. So you're going to be SIM that SIM. I like it. Let's write it in. You're going to have you're going to have to text me that so or e-mail me. That's why I remember. Absolutely. You know in in the post, in the post interview e-mail, I'm going to add it to it.

20:06 Just your new name, Yanu. That is miracle. I add it to your LinkedIn, yes. I will add it to my LinkedIn as well. Absolutely. I can I add it where I can to remember. And I, I that's the other thing as I keep understanding that each of these moments are empowering and wonderful. And I don't know what I'm going to remember about any of this other than now there's going to be this, you know, version I can go back and look at and relearn what I said.

20:34 And we know even within my book, like I have to keep looking at it, listening to it and reading it to remember what I said in my own book. So there's part of me that is found a way to not forget things that are important. That moment that you just shared with me, that was inspiring for me. I can't wait to see it.

20:56 I can't wait to to add it to my, my, what do you call that lineage? You know, whatever. I don't even know the word you do, you'd use to put it in there. But I I like that. That was inspiring to give to me. I you're welcome. I always try to give people hope and I feel blessed, you know, to be that messenger of hope because hope is basically the substance of life.

21:23 Even the Bible says faith is the substance of things, you know, says is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So hope is actually very, very important. Let's think about what life would be without hope. Oh absolutely it would. A lot of people live life without hope and that is always so sad to me when they can't, when they can't find places within either themselves or their environments where they can see something better and bigger, less painful, more inspiring. Again, you can put lots of words around it, but many people sit in doubt and not in help.

22:03 And that makes me sad because I can't imagine. I can't imagine having wake up, woken up and not heard the birds and only felt the pain. You know, is that could have been what I would have done and that would not have been pretty physically, mentally, spiritually, you name it. It's important to have that hope that you're talking about.

22:23 And I'm, I'm again a big believer in faith and being present and aware. You know, I. Want to talk about your book, right? Step it into your miracle. What? What really inspired you to try to document your experience despite the fact that you couldn't even, you know, put it together, you know, articulate it, you know, in a way that you could remember in detail or there must have been some inspiration, some thought process.

23:07 And of course, like that motivation, the the the proverbial, would I say straw that broke the camel's back. Yes, it started when I was in the nursing hospital and I was so frustrated with waking up and then being told, I already told you that, but don't you know where you are? I remember being held. Somebody came and held my phone to me and I was like, they're like, do you remember that?

23:33 I'm like, no. And they're like, that's your phone. You know, there's pictures on here. And I had in the moments where I was relearning my whole life and I knew that the only way that I could kind of keep track of things were speaking into my phone because both of my wrists were broken. Only my left hand worked, but I was a right-hander.

23:53 There were so many layers of having to try to remember who I was. And with that was me speaking into my phone like to, to like core, like remembering to tell the nurse I ate and then the nurse saying, but you didn't eat today and that's why you have the feeding tube. And I said, but I did, I had breakfast.

24:12 And she goes, that was yesterday. And there were these moments where I had to keep again, giving myself the patience to relearn and relearn and relearn. And that came with speaking into my phone. And that worked. And then one day I woke up again just from this kind of screaming voice, Finish your book, finish your book. And I was like, I remember shaking, shaking my head and waking up dream state or, or spiritually and being told that. And I'm like, but I can't even read yet. I don't even read again yet.

24:49 And how am I supposed to write a book called one of my best friends? And she's like, well, there's something called the ghostwriter. And have you looked at your phone, Shannon? I'm like, no, she's like, there's like 300 notes in your phone day by day of your journey. And she didn't say it that way, but you know, she's like, it's documented in there. Why don't you take hold?

25:09 On just. Speaking into my phone and so you know that the coming to the point where I realised I was going to be capable of at least expressing myself even though I couldn't do certain things that I used to run. I ran my own company previous to my accident. That's the other back end of all this is I was a very motivated and very successful interior designer on the level that a lot of people again, wouldn't understand.

25:39 But I had my own company, I had employees, we had gone through even the COVID stuff where everything was, you know, had to be brought home and blah, blah, blah. But and I have a daughter, a single mom, you name it. I'm kind of a badass even before this all happened. And so when I woke up, I was kind of like, no, I don't know what a phone is, but I used to, you know, I used to run a company. And it was that again, Ying and Ying of trying to find myself again, but also giving myself the freedom to be new and to be a new me.

26:13 And that's again, what sits here today is not there's the elements of Shannon, Michelle one, but I am now a different person and I love her. And she's self acceptance. Self acceptance. Yeah, daily self acceptance again, being present. You cannot love yourself without accepting yourself. Yeah, and also being kind to yourself, you know, that's a big part of being human and and being able to succeed in whichever way that you want to as again, as a mother, as a boss, as a, as a broken person.

26:55 You know, I've been a lot of things and I have a lot to share about the trials and tribulations of what I've been through. And then this is what's on the back end. I'm grateful. Attitude is good attitude, but you know, talking about breaking through the pain, you, you definitely have been through a lot of pain and pain is not something that is.

27:23 But I say interesting at all. But yeah, unfortunately life has its way of just, you know, bringing pains our way. And different people experience pain in different ways. That's just true. And you've actually spoken about the emotional wounds, the generational trauma, right? But what were some pivotal moments that pushed you to face your own healing journey 'cause it is when I say a conscious decision to get on that path, you know.

28:01 I can tell you the main thing, the main word is to be vulnerable. I was such a badass before that. I thought vulnerability was fragile and I did not show it to myself very often. I did not know how to be cared for as well as I could care for others. And I, I think that was one of my biggest breakthroughs was that vulnerability is so empowering and to be broken in, you know, again, the physical ways, but also the mental ways and the spiritual ways. It's just, it breaks you open to build more. And the vulnerability part was something that I just, I couldn't, I couldn't deal with previously. And I understand why.

28:45 And now I see so clearly, again, big picture, what it all can mean if you allow yourself to be fully everything, broken, vulnerable, loving, kind, committed, successful. We could do it. And there's so many layers to it. But to see all of that in yourself is so it's so important. Vulnerable question. Sometimes.

29:13 I yes, yes, it does, you know, but you know, being vulnerable is such a very hard thing to do, especially if you're a person with an elevated ego. So it's a function of you versus your ego. How did you deal with that? I I would never let my ego play or win. I had to keep reminding myself that the brain, which is the ego which thinks it knows more than others and or can understand things better than others, that has to be shut down.

29:49 You don't know more than others. You can't be more than others. You are who you are and that's huge. And that's where I found I would have to tell myself. And it was, let me restate that it was a little bit of the moments where I would try to, I would remember who I was and I was only trying to get back to where I was.

30:09 And when I realised that I needed to give up on regaining what I had, but just being I am that alone again gave me power to reboot and reframe my brain and my body. There was a there was a huge moment that happened and it's in my book as well, But I didn't want it to originally be in there because I didn't think it was important.

30:35 But my daughter was like, no, is I got breast cancer after all of that. And, and so I went through all of that mental and physical trauma from my body and the brokenness in my brain. And about a year and a half later, you know, they're doing the tests and they're like, and I was like, no, no, no, I was, I was like, I laughed when they told me that's because I've been through so much trauma.

31:00 I thought cancer. And I had to learn that just because you've been through as much as you've been through it doesn't make you unbreakable. You still have to be in the realisation that you're not better than anything, you're not bigger or you haven't been through more than anything. And that moment was one of the largest shifts was like, I've got to stop worrying about fixing my brain, my body, and I've got to worry about cancer. Not then that took over and I was like hysterically crying and overwhelmed again that I would have to go through what this No. So again, it taught me though, because you think you've been through enough.

31:43 And if you think you have, then you haven't. Keep understanding that your vulnerability and your existence is just staying present and and taking in the good and the bad and not not thinking that you've been through too much because you can think that too, you know? It's, it's a, it's a lot to take in.

32:04 It just reminds me of something that we, we say back home, Nigeria, they say Walhalla. No, they finish. Do you know what Walhalla is? Walhalla is problems. OK. I said it's speech and English Walhalla. No, they finish. Meaning problems don't ever finish. Once you get to know one, life doesn't ever give you breaks.

32:26 I mean, that's part of the ego too. And if you allow the ego to be in control of your existence, you think you've got control, then that's bullshit because we don't control anything. We exist, we do the best we can and then shit. And I don't sometimes cuss words. I hope you don't mind. Feel free, unfiltered. And I think I love the Nigerian spirit a lot. You know, I love the Nigerian spirit. Nigerians tell you no matter what you're going through in life, just try.

32:57 Try to enjoy yourself first, try to eat and every I love every other thing is secondary. Yeah, it is that. Shout out to my Nigerian people. This all flag I. Love it. I love it. I wait. I I can't wait to have them in the Los Angeles for the Olympics. I'm telling you, when you see that flag, I treat my people nice. And of course, a shout out to the United States of America, American Independence Day today, July, for love and respect to that country, the land of the free and the home of the brave. And I very much love the American dream. You know, anybody can be anything as long as you put in the work.

33:37 You know, it's aligned to my philosophy. Conceive, believe, strive to thrive and achieve. Think that's pretty much American dream. And of course, Speaking of America, America is a country that is actually beautiful. On the foundation of faith, I say in God we trust, right? Aha. So, Speaking of faith, how did your faith shape and evolve during these darkest moments? That's a great question.

34:08 That is a great question. I think what I gained within my beliefs and my faith in my through my recovery is that we are, we are all one. There is a universal oneness that we need to recognise and share and know that what affects me effects you and what I gain, you gain. And to know that we, we, again, everything is connected in a way. And my faith is that to, to, to know that when I look at in the individual, no matter in what format it is because there's been so many over the last three years for me, I feel a connection to everything and everybody. And that is where my faith lies in supporting and helping as much as I can.

35:13 Because the more I do that, the more I can get have to give. And I just want to give and give and give. And I have to remember to have faith in myself, to have faith in others. Faith in yourself and faith in others you know that essentially also includes giving people grace because you know there are people.

35:36 That's my daughter's name, by the way. Whoa, what a coincidence. But not giving people your daughter anyways? No, no, no. No, I, I The word is. The word has a lot of value in all kinds of ways for me, but my daughter is. Is a top. Notch in my lives. She's a she's a explosion of grace. Wow, an explosion of grace. I think Gracie in is a Hebrew.

36:08 Nice charisk. She is. She's a blend. She's a blend of all graduated from college. I'm very. Proud of her. That is Grace. I I am proud of her. I think I, I've seen something on social media was a yesterday or earlier today. There's there is a your sea fighter called Dustin Povier is retiring soon. I think ESPN asked him what's what's your advice to to younger fighters this generation And he said something, go to college. That's interesting, yeah.

36:43 I always say this, education is important. Yeah, he did. He did. He did. He's educated. Education is the best legacy. Guys take education very seriously. If you're educated, you may not be very rich or you will never be very poor. So how about that? I be honest with you, I agree. Obviously, my daughter just graduated from college.

37:06 It was a goal of her dad's in mind for her to have that achievement. I personally did not go to college. I built a business from the age of 22 with such faith in myself, in the chaos I come from that I just wanted to get out. I just wanted to be different. And I also didn't think I was very smart previously, You know, the, the, the numbers game, the AB CS, whatever.

37:38 I personally didn't think I was very smart and I'm brilliant. But it's whatever ways that we find ourselves within. Again, our life is education sometimes comes from the home base of, you know, your parents and your environment. And sometimes it needs to be shown that the world is bigger than that. And college is a place that you can see all of that as well. And I just think that for people who can can grow from within and and learn and college is one of the routes that people can do that with.

38:15 And some people it's, it's on fire for, for me, it made me feel stupid because I didn't think I did very well. So I, I bowed out like half, I was like into my first or second semester and I'm like, I, I was in college, but I was like, I thought I wasn't smart enough to do this. So just believe in yourself a little more than what the numbers tell you sometimes as well.

38:38 All learn differently. So it's it's, it's, it's a balance. I think, yeah, it is a balance, right? And of course, you know, so some of the greatest, you know, companies, businesses in the world have actually abused by college dropouts. Your neck of the woods, you, you know, the stories, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and I love those guys, even Mark Zuckerberg college dropouts. But these are smart kids.

39:04 This are smart guys. So if you know a smart person, right, and you think you because you want to drop out of college, I will be successful. I wish you good luck. Yes, and again, we all, I guess that's the open door too, is know that you will find your way. And for each of us, it's different for and and big picture. Some of it's obvious like these are ABC's that work and get you certain places in a certain way.

39:30 And and there's there's that has worked as well. And but just again, keep listening here. I think that that gets that'll tell you everything. Let your heart tell you that you're. I always say, you know, speaking from my heart is the best place to be. I I do from here, but sometimes this is a little more ego when I speak from here, It's not.

39:59 It's just truth. A fine blend of logic and emotions is actually very, very good for optimising your decision making. But I guess you, you'd agree with me that there's a place of pushing yourself to, to extremes to your to, to extend beyond the limits that you previously thought, you know, of yourself. And I think that's one thing I appreciate about the educational system.

40:32 I look at myself, for example, a lot of people see me today and see, oh, you are a chartered accountant. You have a first degree in economics, you have a master's in business administration. And they're like, oh, you're a numbers guy, You're good at numbers. But what they don't know is that I was very poor at numbers growing up. I'm an ADHD person, right?

40:58 Or I had to discipline myself, push myself to the limits, right. And you know, sit down and say, OK, there are these numbers work in principles. If I apply myself, I can get to understand these things. Of course. Yeah, had a good degree, worked in the B core accounting firms, you know, cooking numbers for a living. But, and I even taught these things, you know, I, I taught some of the great accountants that we're seeing working in, you know, big institutions today from my country. But nobody knows that when you look back, I failed mathematics twice at what you call the O level. That is when you're done with secondary school or maybe high school, you guys call it.

41:53 You have to write an exam before you get into university. I failed mathematics twice. They say the third time is a charm. Yeah, I got it right the third time. Well, and you? What does that tell you? Well, you had the just then, and you had the, Yeah, the resilience. Yeah, just found the inside. That.

42:16 Yes, you can beat this. And I, I mean, I did that my whole life. I, I came from again, a very similar poor family moved all over like how many different places I lived in my childhood because we, we could only stay in a place for a year and then couldn't pay the rent and move on. Like layers and layers of chaos is what I grew up in as well. I mean, our chaos here in the States, different but similar, you know, but it was about, you know, being. Able It's a different level of chaos. It is it is a different level of chaos, but it is still chaos for the individual, especially the child within and the child within you.

42:55 We, we go through these moments so that we can find our strength and our resilience and we can decide to take the next step and to again, that step into your miracle moment was like baby steps. That's the only way I can get back one step at a time. And I was able to do that a little bit every day, each day. And that's what I was able to come back. You know, a lot of people wear masks to cope. Most OK, I'll correct myself, But a lot of people let us just see, a lot of people that we know walk in the surface of the Earth are actually very, very fake. Especially in Los Angeles, we've got a lot of that here. I mean, we've got all of it, but we it's just on. It's on.

43:54 Lost those steroids? Yes, very good. Yes. You know what helped you to start reclaiming your authentic self? Great question again. I think that moment again when I said that I had to stop comparing myself to the old me and just being OK with the new me is when I was able to see the broken person was going to be OK.

44:28 This broken person was going to be different but was going to be able to not just survive but thrive again because I was a thriver. And I when I could see that within myself and I didn't question who I was anymore. And again, to get past the obvious things when I get up and look in the mirror every day, I would have to find comfort in my newness and and this, you know, again, the value of where I'm at now. It took a long time because I had to have so many posts. All of that, what I explained to you, post surgeries to fix things.

45:04 It took a long time to find this person again. And I would just wake up again every morning. What's today? OK, this is who I am today. This is a new. Day. And and staying present is the only thing that helped me survive and and find myself again. Stay present, Shannon. Don't look at the past. Don't look at the future. Just here, just here and right now, that's all you get. Because tomorrow or yesterday isn't worth anything. It's only worth today to me.

45:40 That value allowed me to come back. You know what I say, you are a work of art. Actually, when you look at heart, it's been pieced together, it is great to behold. And of course, the intrinsic value is greater than the extrinsic value. You know, I tell people when you peek, you know, a piece of currency, let me see the currency in my country, this is a £20 note, right? And of course I take this £20 note, I drop it on the ground, I step in it.

46:14 Even if I decide to maybe twist it and maybe turn a bit, what is it? It is still a £20 note. It doesn't change the value to a £5 note, £20 will always be greater than 5 LB so no matter what happens you know on the external. The trists and turns. It doesn't. The core is the core, right? The core is the core. Yeah, you are somebody that has been able to exemplify that little illustration, that narrative I just gave. And love and respect to you.

46:59 Love and respect to you. You're. Filling my heart with joy right now. You are. You're welcome. I mean it. You know, I'm, I'm just privileged to, to, to be able to do that. And of course I'm grateful for, for that privilege. You know, I always say that I'm just really grateful and overwhelmed with gratitude being able to connect with the greatest of minds, you know, across the world in my time while I'm alive. People really don't get this right. The value that technology has given us to be able to connect with the most brilliant minds across the world. And for me not just to Only Connect with them to also project these voices like speaks philosopher and of course a lady in your end of the woods.

47:59 You know, she conferred upon me the title. She said you are a modern day business philosopher. And I've taken it. I'm and I'm running with it, you know, a modern day business philosopher. That's you know who I am, That's what I am and that is what I'm operating as. You know, I love that. I remember, thank you. I remember growing up, you know, beating the ancient philosophers.

48:23 And I remember as a young child I used to think, well, how wish I could have, you know, a conversation with some of these bright minds. And now growing up and technology is affording me the opportunity to connect with these bright minds, you know, gross. Back in the day, you would need to take a long trip, you know, just to go speak with a person like yourself.

48:49 And I'm able to just do it connect and via the, the Internet, It's amazing. It's it's quite wild and I think a lot of people don't appreciate it. I brilliant and I agree and I it goes back to even when I was talking about my recovery, the idea that I had a good quality phone next to me allowed me to relearn and reconnect with who I was. And again, that's technology.

49:15 My book came out of technology. Me speaking into it is how I was able to show myself. And this moment is exactly it. It's it's mind blowing in a way like we can't believe, but it's all it's all. Absolutely. You always talk about the old you and the new you. And of course, at some point you said you're not broken, you're buried. Better.

49:42 Buried, that is, you probably had the old you buried and that is why you're able to move on with the new you. So can you speak briefly to that? And it was, it was knowing that or really learning that we are so important with who we are in this moment. And when I let go of the Shannon Michelle one, as we were talking about, it was like, and I still hold on to it.

50:24 I still have moments where I'm like, I do something. I'm like, that's, that's the old me I got. I can't, I got to pull back on that a little bit. I can't be a non giver like I, I that probably isn't there, but I had to, I've had to learn. I still, it's not like it goes away, but I had to teach myself to not be or not put so much importance on who I was and put more importance on who I am.

50:52 And again, I was a very empowering successful. I can see why I wanted to get back to where I was. I mean, I was top level on everything, few few mistakes, but top level and I kept wanting to get back to something that I was and that that wasn't possible. And I had to give myself the freedom to create a better new me. And so when I do say that the Shannon Michelle one versus the Shannon Michelle two, it's like I have to tell myself that not on a daily basis anymore, but for a while it was on a moment to moment basis.

51:27 And now it is even when I'm trying to regain something, it's just knowing that I'm regaining it for this present me, not for the old me and not for that broken me because that one was very broken in its own way as well, emotionally, physically, trauma as a child, blah, blah, blah. And I, and I again, I, it's, it's much better, I would say, if you can let go of the past and let go of the mistakes and let go of the trauma so that you can wake up each morning and try it again and do something new and explore more.

52:08 But if you're trying to hold on to the past that much, it doesn't give you the energy and the time to stay focused on the now. And the now is the learning, the giving, the expressing. Does that make sense? Absolutely. You know if you need to embrace your your reality in order to leave a life that is free of worries, right? It is what it is.

52:36 The new reality is a new reality. But people and not just even people, even entire nations love to bask on, you know, the old glory and the former selves. But the greatest form of deceit is self deceit and the greatest form of delusion is self delusion. You know you need to you need to adjust to current realities and make the best, make the best out of life.

53:08 And you know the person who said when life gives you lemons, make lemonades. The person is not mad. You know, person knew what they were saying, you just try to make the best out of, you know, whatever life gives you. And of course, you know, Speaking of making the best out of what life has given to you, you are doing that.

53:26 You are an example of that. You know, you're a speaker, you're an author, you influence people, you inspire people. But behind, you know, all of the great work that you're doing out there. Sometimes irrational fears that you confront, you know, especially with stepping into the spotlight as a person. Absolutely, absolutely.

53:50 I have I have no idea the new impact that's going to embrace me because it's going to be and has been overwhelming and difficult. And some days I wake up and I'm I'm like really what huh. And then some days I'm not. And each of these moments again, that allow me to share voice, give me the power to give. And that's, that's all I want to do. And even when I was getting ready this morning and I was like, oh, da da, da, da da.

54:32 And I, I still have these moments where it's like, how is that going to feel? What am I going to say? What am I going to remember? I go through all of that because I don't know. And then I have to keep saying, Shannon, you're, you're super fucking smart. Just be present. It's not like you have to remember. You don't have to remember what happened yesterday. You don't have to remember what happened three years ago. What whatever the mess is, you don't have to remember it to be OK.

54:56 You don't have to be a part of it to be the person you are. And again with brain trauma, trying to brain injury, you know, when it slices everything away, it's kind of, it's the most difficult thing I can imagine. But it was kind of a gift as well to find myself again, the full me. So I'm ready for all of it.

55:17 And it's it's going to be overwhelming and it's going to be empowering and I don't know, but I don't really care if I know. Of warm and empowering, right? And Speaking of empowering, I would love for you to empower the audience. So for anybody out there who has actually experienced some sort of deep loss, trauma, betrayal, you know, life changing events, what's your word for them?

55:58 What you were, you know, I would out there that's vulnerable. I would, I mean, the thing that I can share today is what guided me was kindness and self acceptance. And again, not not believing that you are are these other people not believing you? Are these other things just remembering that you, you are who you are and that's all that matters. When you have trauma happen to you, just keep going back into your heart and your soul and remembering who you are. Even though you feel like you're in a bit of a chaos or you're in the darkest, deepest moments that you can feel, that's OK too.

56:50 That's growth. Feel it, be it, and then let it go. It's OK to let it go. Like feel dark and deep because you will. And I have, and I've had to learn how to get through that day and then sometimes just go to bed and wake up the next day and see how that day felt. And doing that where you're just trying to achieve the best that you are today.

57:13 And that's it. That's to me how anybody can get through whatever they're going through. Believing in yourself, understanding that you've got the strength. Believe in yourself. I know my philosophy. Conceive belief and achieve. You know, it's, it's really important to believe. It's the fundamental of everything that would do to succeed as human beings. You cannot succeed if you don't believe in yourself first. Absolutely.

57:47 That's you. Have to believe in yourself. Treasure though, that is the treasure. You are the treasure. I am the treasure. That person that's listening to us is the treasure. Remember, you are the treasure within your life. Let it shine. Let it shine, I love that one. And of course, Speaking of let it shine, I am going to make you shine with five quick fire ground questions as we end this wonderful session. So Are you ready to rumble?

58:20 Yes, always. Number one. Number one. What's 1 daily habit that keeps you grounded? In the morning. One of my friends is gonna like you. Her name on Instagram is Smell the Coffee. And of course she has been on this podcast before. Shout out to Maria Abuaki. I wake up every morning and I just breathe, and then I get up and I make myself a cup of coffee. Oh wow, smell the coffee.

58:47 Yeah #2 favourite quotes or scripture that keeps you going? Stay present. It's my own everyday. Stay present. Stay present. Stay. Do you? Want to know my favourite scripture? Yes. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Philippines, chapter 4, verse 13. Nice, thank. You for sharing that. Yeah, you're welcome #3 A book that changed your life. This is those moments that I get a little sad and overwhelmed because there are some books that speak to me and sometimes are on my night stand and I've been a part of my process and I can't remember the name of them because I know. I know because.

59:38 Because you stay in the present, I guess the best book would be Stay in the Present. Yeah, I know that. I also, it's it's like so many things do speak to me, but the fact that I can't remember each and everything I have had to learn, it's OK not to have remembered. And that is part of my recovery. And so you say that and I literally want to go run and pull.

59:59 I've like, I can turn around. I've got. A bookshelf full of stuff and on my night stand and like I'm a book person and obviously I've now I'm author, an author and I have to be kind to myself that I'm literally visually seeing a book that I can't remember the name of. And that's okay. You you can drop it into a comment section. You can drop it.

1:00:20 You see, very nice to technology. We can always find a way. But, and I'm going to say. That I could bring this because I wanted to show it. It's my book. And the reason, the other reason why is because my daughter drew the cover. Wow. Wow, that gives it more intrinsic and artistic value now. And also my neurologist quoted and he's on the cover.

1:00:45 My neurologist, my brain dude. And I mean like. Guys, guys, go and buy that book right away. If you don't buy it, please don't follow my channel. Yeah. This is what the art, the artist and my daughter, and she isn't and she doesn't consider herself an artist. And when I asked her, I'm like, I understand if you don't want to, but yeah, she drew my cover.

1:01:04 Man, see, that is beautiful. That is very, very beautiful. Looking at the story behind it makes it even more touching. Wow. But I still think you should write a book titled Stay in the Present. What do? You think you just froze for a second, so you're gonna have to say that again. OK, I said. I still think that you should write a book titled Stay in the Present because it's a very strong message so. I agree with that and I think it's empowered me and I should share that in a bigger way.

1:01:42 Thank you. That's great. You know, what I wanted to do next is I wanted to write a kids book version of my book because I felt like there were like these moments and they're so simplified because I was like a child when I was speaking through most of it as I was relearning everything. And I'm like, it would be so great to have a children's book that kind of had these these go TOS. And it's colourful.

1:02:07 Yeah. So that's a good one. We can work on that together. Don't worry, I'll send you the invoice. Let me see. I think #4 is one thing most people get wrong about healing. That's. A So if you could whisper one truth to every woman in the world, what would it be? See yourself clearly. See yourself clearly.

1:02:37 You're beautiful. I'm telling to you. I'm telling to you. Everybody's beautiful in their own way, you know? And they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you know? Yeah. You have to see yourself as beautiful. I. See myself as beautiful again. So yes, eye patch and all. And I love my eye patch.

1:02:58 And I had to get creative with it. They're my new shoes. Ha ha ha ha. Whoa. Yeah, like sometimes when you have a new identity, it's it takes time to to buy into it. I remember I used to have longer hair before, but then when I called each other I was like, wow, sis me is the same person. But now I can't even imagine myself with longer hair any longer. Yeah.

1:03:26 Of course, yeah, new identity. And of course, on the identity, very, very important. Oh, and of course, you know, we've actually come to the end of the show today. A very big thank you to you, Shannon. Michelle, there's some policy, gratitude is good attitude. And when a person shares their time with you, they share their life with you. And of course, we are now forever intertwined and connected by way of today's episode. So from me to you, it's love and respect. A lot of gratitude to you.

1:04:00 I take in all the love and I, I give out and, and share all of my love with you because it's been an amazing moment and an amazing morning and. You're welcome. And of course, to, to our audience, guys don't don't they want, I know at this they want to take some of the love that you just shared with me before, before I could share the love with you guys and share the podcast with your network.

1:04:30 And of course, I will share a little bit of love with you. Yes. Yes, I have so thank you very much guys. I love you guys very much love from me to you guys, love and respect to you guys. I always wish you something in your life. Always believe in yourselves, you know, conceive beliefs, try to thrive and achieve. There is no limit to what you can achieve into your life. And of course, I hope today's episode has been able to educate and inspire you guys.

1:04:58 Your feedback is very important. If you're touched, if you're blessed, please, you know, drop a feedback for us on the comments section. And of course, guys look into the into the show notes. There's a lot of Nuggets in the show notes. Now we now have an affiliate sponsor that is Gamer app. It's a really fantastic presentation tool and of course you could use it for website to sign in. And of course, you know, these guys are partnering with the King guys.

1:05:31 I'm going to be angry if you guys do not buy Shannon's book. Shannon. Shannon is going to take back a love if you guys don't buy her book. I'm giving all my love and my kisses. Oh, shout out, Eddie. Eddie, do you want to give a shout out to anybody? And of course, you know last words to the audience. I I'm, I'm fulfilled with each moment of each day, and I hope all of you are as well and.

1:05:58 From me, I have a shout out to give, a very, very big shout out to grace my God, artist, the artist that doesn't believe she's an artist. Big shout out to you, grace you, you are very, very graceful as your name implies. You know, you know, I, I tell people this in life, anytime you win, stay grateful. And even when you don't stay graceful, so you'll always stay grateful and graceful.

1:06:33 And of course, for me, it says goodbye. And from Shannon Michelle, well, so I come your way soon. Please keep doing the Lord's work. See you soon guys.