Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurinda Andujar.
It’s an honor to speak with you today. Why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. How did you get to where you are today?
My origin story is most likely similar to that of many people today. I started this journey attempting to find my reason for being. I had ups and down. I failed time and time again. I hurt people. I was hurt, and I longed to learn from my mistakes. I was one of much not-so-spectacular fish in a sea of grievers who knew there had to be more and felt compelled to leave this wretched world better than I found it.
No matter how often life knocked me down, I displayed an unrivaled tenacity, which beckoned me to get up and fight. Like others, I wanted to find my voice. I longed to tell my story of how I overcame challenges designed to ruin me.
However, I failed to realize that people were watching my journey and taking notice.
Eventually, I understood that my journey was less about me and more about those who I would one day encounter. I learned to take the experience I gained and use it as content to address issues that plagued society. Shortly after, I understood how to use my newly acquired tools and become a voice for the voiceless.
My newfound niche was educating others on how to turn their pain into purpose. Please understand that this journey is not a one size fits all approach. It is important to remember that purpose looks different for everyone. My purpose is to duplicate leaders.
I’m sure your success has not come easily. What challenges have you had to overcome along the way?
Excuse me if I often chuckle while thinking about the challenges I had to overcome on the road to success. The first was comically painful. When trying to convince people that there is purpose in their pain, you must get comfortable with having your flaws on display. You must be good with the critics scrutinizing your every move while managing your thoughts.
Let’s face it feelings are icky. No one willingly gets up from their bed after a great night of rest and decides, you know what, today I am going to address all my shortcomings. Rarely one wakes up and decides that today, they will look in the mirror and reflect on all of the poor choices they have made in the past. Today is the day I admit that I was the source of my pain, and I dictate how good or bad I allow others to make me feel.
Before addressing the so-called ugly in others, I had to address my emotional ugliness. I learned to manage the motor in my mouth and avoid projecting my experiences onto others. I had to learn to listen objectively and practice clear, concise communication. Everyone thinks they are competent communicators, and I had to learn to receive information from another person’s perspective to make meaningful connections
I had to learn to listen twice as much as I spoke and how to fine-tune my ears to decipher what the person was not verbalizing, to guide them along their journey.
Let’s talk about the work you do. What do you specialize in and why should someone work with you over the competition?
I am a Best-Selling Author, prolific orator, and certified Grief and Recovery specialist displaying a sincere preeminence for helping leaders and growing professionals acculturate the skillsets, inner resilience, and awareness necessary in attaining authentic success. Having spent many years in the realms of consulting and coaching, I help clients submit to the truths of their current disposition while exercising unconventional strategies to enhance their overall success in life.
Simply put, I specialize in the art of people and transparency. I help individuals find their voice. We need more people who help others find their voices. There are so many stories to be told, and so many people need to be encouraged by those stories. I can’t say with confidence that someone should choose me over the competition.
I say this because I am more collaborative than competitive. There are many talented individuals with talents that will fit an individual’s unique needs.
My mantra is simple: Transparency, relatability, and innovative thought processes are the primary ingredients found in veritable leadership development.
What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?
Winston Churchill said it best when he stated, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Many of us give up moments before our breakthrough. We live in such a microwave society, and achieving success requires consistency. To be successful, you must be willing to do what others are unwilling to do. No, I am not saying you should do anything illegal or compromise your integrity.
I’m not advising you to put in 24 hours a day, seven days a week, forsaking everything you know to be successful. What you do need to do is make a plan and adjust as you go. As long as you begin, you are on your way to a better and more productive you.
Continue to invest time in what you want to achieve. There is absolutely nothing wrong with working a 9 to 5. Do what you need to do to meet your basic needs. However, if you have a dream, you must cultivate and nurture that dream. It is imperative to dedicate a portion of your day to the development of your business and goals.
The most important thing that you need is a few trusted advisors with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and talents. Don’t be afraid to learn from people who are different than you.
Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?
Success is being your authentic self in whatever environment you are in. Success is taking each day as it comes and intentionally learning something new. Success is never allowing yourself to get comfortable in a stagnant situation.
Success is failing forward and surrounding yourself with people who attend conferences. Success is doing the work to go from good to great. Success is allowing yourself to rest when your mind and body are tired.
Success is not comparing your achievements and failures to those of others. Success is asking for help when you recognize that you need it. Success looks different for each person, and success will depend on your ability to take each experience for what it is worth; a chance to fight another day.
There have been days that I have accomplished nothing but reading a new book or researching something that I was interested in, and those days have been some of the most impactful days of my life. I took the time to learn a new skill that I could use to help someone else.
What’s next for you?
I am currently working on multiple book projects. The goal is to release approximately five self-development books and journals in 2023. Honestly, 2022 was one of my most trying seasons, yet it taught me a great deal about myself and the grief process. I plan to use those teachable moments to help others while providing them a platform to tell their stories and become first-time authors.
That said, my goal is to partner with more outreach programs and provide much-needed resources to the communities adjacent to where I live. I feel that it is imperative to give back and mentor others. I also plan to do more live events. The virtual space has been such a fantastic connection hub for me. I have met so many brilliant individuals whose mantra is service with intent.
I also plan to use my voice more while helping others find theirs, so if you haven’t heard of the wisdom app, you download it and meet me there. I also plan to share more developmental content on the clubhouse app.
Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?
Connect with Laurinda below:
https://www.instagram.com/i_am_laurinda_andujar
https://www.instagram.com/sheblinked_llc
https://www.instagram.com/heal_the_city_inc
https://twitter.com/passhunsgate
https://www.facebook.com/laurinda.andujar
https://www.facebook.com/ThePasshunatePoet
https://www.facebook.com/HealTheCityInc
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurindaAndujar
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/she-blinked-laurinda-andujar/1129728503
https://www.amazon.com/Laurinda-Andujar
https://www.laurindaandujar.net
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurinda-andujar-6ba12920
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU60L40u0CRVlHKLVtwbfqA
https://www.tiktok.com/@ayeitslala
wisdom.app/candidconvoswithla
https://www.clubhouse.com/@candidconvoswla