THE atmosphere inside the gardens at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel was calming, and internationally acclaimed best-selling author Lisa Nichols was slowly breathing in the fresh pine-scented air.

(Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Looking at her, you would think this woman had never had a problem a day in her life. But you'd be dead wrong. For Nichols, who is in Jamaica to kick off her worldwide 22-city book tour for her latest effort Chicken Soup for the African-American Woman's Soul, has a story to tell.

Hers is a deeply emotional tale of struggle, survival and finding success. She has had to climb mountains, learn to love herself and finally claim the happiness that eluded her for years. Today, the 40-year-old author, entrepreneur, CEO, single mother of one and international motivational speaker wants to use her life as an example for others, particularly women and teenagers. Her first book Chicken Soup For The African-American Soul has touched millions in and outside the United States and she hopes her second book will have a similar impact.

On Thursday afternoon, Nichols was regally dressed in bright earth tones and exotic jewellery. To say that she is thrilled to be launching her book in the Caribbean and moreso, in Jamaica, would be an understatement. It is her first visit to the region but certainly not her last.

"I wanted to launch my book in a wonderful and loving place in the world. I think the most amazing people on the planet have been placed in Jamaica," Nichols said, her eyes brightening.

"The women and the men are amazing and warm and I am loving it. It is my first time in the island but definitely not my last," added the author, who arrived here on Emancipation Day and enjoyed our Independence celebrations and other elements of our vast culture.

"I had such a wonderful time in Negril and Montego Bay. I stayed at Deja Vu in Montego Bay for a couple days before coming to Kingston and Miss Leentine, the house manager, took real good care of me. She told me stories and fed me. I needed that. She reminds me of my grandmother. It was a very emotional experience," Nichols shared, almost in tears.

However, coming to Jamaica was important for her on another level in that she wanted to meet her "brothers and sisters across the waters".
"I came to Jamaica to re-fuel myself and deposit something here. I think I made the right decision in coming here and I can't wait to come back."

Since being in Jamaica, Nichols has appeared on TVJ''s Smile Jamaica, several radio shows and did a special taping of CVM TV's Our Voices, which airs tomorrow.

"I really enjoyed the shows and especially the radio interview with Michael Anthony Cuffe. He has an amazing interview technique and he gives the best hugs," she said laughingly.

The Universal Centre of Truth for Better Living hosted Nichols at 'A Weekend of Empowerment' last week. The author also conducted workshops for adults at the Knutsford Court Hotel, and for teens at the Medallion Hall Hotel yesterday. The events, which served as part of the launch of her international book tour, included inspirational messages followed by book signings and photo ops.

Nichols told SunDay that she wants to move and inspire Jamaicans, given that she herself had moved from struggle to success. She candidly shared her inspirational story of going from a 'C' student (even failing English) to becoming a best-selling author and CEO of a company that has generated over US$2 million in business, while being a single mom to her now 11-year-old son, Jelani - who accompanied her on this trip.

Nichols grew up in the volatile South Central area of Los Angeles, California, having "a lot of family love but not a lot of money. I grew up in an area that had a lot of crime and violence and bad energy. I didn't consider myself beautiful but I had this dream of becoming an international speaker."

According to her, the financial strain was so great that she was kicked out of Linfield University (located in Oregon) in the middle of her second year in 1986. Her family could no longer afford to pay her fees.
"My grades were not impressive so I couldn't qualify for any grants or scholarships. It was such a painful experience that I chose not to go back even if I got the money," she said, lowering her eyes.

She said she also struggled with her image as a black, plus-size female in America and this greatly affected her self-esteem.
"Even while in high school, I was not academically excellent but I was captain of the cheerleading squad, captain of the track team and a very popular girl. But on the inside, I wasn't loving myself; I wasn't loving Lisa."

And like many other teenagers who suffered from low self-esteem, Nichols started contemplating suicide.
"I had to move away from being a suicidal teen by looking for affirmation for my life through other people, particularly men. My journey took years but I have learnt to love myself. That is why I have chosen this type of job to help others, particularly teens, who are encountering similar problems that I had.

"I want to be that touch of inspiration for people. The inspiration I needed when I was going through my darkest hour. My purpose now is to help people and it is the best feeling in the world," Nichols said.
"Today, as a single mother, I intend to inspire women, teens, parents and anyone else who may have doubted their greatness at one point or another. I have truly set my champion free and I intend to inspire others to do the same."

To become a motivational speaker, Nichols said she made herself coachable and drew on the life lessons of greats like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Ghandi, whose message she said was "use love as your weapon".

"I asked people for guidance. I did 16-hour days of designing workshops and training sessions and working to get my name out there. I started saving more and sacrificed. I invested in the business," Nichols said. "From early, I knew this was my passion and I knew I didn't want to live my life without my passion."

Move 10 years forward and Nichols has seen herself rising to a world-class personal coach to major CEOs, entrepreneurs, millionaires, celebrities, business professionals, pastors, and parents in the United States. Her work also landed her a major contract with Chicken Soup For The Soul, and she has been featured as an expert life coach on NBC's hit show, Starting Over.

"In 1996, I started out by speaking for free for three years, then people started paying me to speak. I didn't get discouraged when I heard the no's. I kept going because I knew that eventually people would find the relevance in what I was doing," she shared.

Her advice of self-love and empowerment has touched lives in Kenya, Soweto and Cape Town (South Africa) and over 30 US states. Overall, an estimated 650,000 persons worldwide have heard her speak. Her no-holds-barred messages delivered to audiences of major corporations, empowerment groups, entrepreneurs, educators, churches are felt with powerful energy through her personal testimonies and eye-opening interactive processes.
Nichols continues to be a model of how we all can create our own wealth and overcome huge obstacles.

Meanwhile, one of the areas closest to her heart is her work with teens. She is the CEO of Motivating the Teen Spirit, LLC, which she founded in 2000. The empowerment programme is recognised by many as the most comprehensive empowerment skills programme available today for teen self-development.

"I use my personal life to teach them and get them to open up and after a while magic happens. We have created a safe space for teens. It is amazing to work with teens because once you put them in the right environment, many of them are willing to take responsibility for their actions," Nichols shared.

To date, Motivating the Teen Spirit, which is based in California, has impacted the lives of over 55,000 teens, prevented over 1,650 suicides, reunited thousands of teens with their parents, and influenced more than 850 teen drop-outs to return to school.
"Those suicides were prevented because the youngsters were willing to be honest and I appreaciate their honesty. That way, you can help them," Nichols said.

Her programme is reported to have an over 90 per cent return rate of teens requesting to return to her programmes. Motivating the Teen Spirit provides services to the Educational System and Youth Serving Agencies. She adds to these programmes the Emotional Healthiness component.

Nichols has been honoured for her work and dedication with the 2006 Rising Star award, 2003 Trail Blazers Entrepreneurs award, Lego Land Heart of Learning award, Emotional Literacy award, and having November 20th proclaimed by the Mayor of Henderson Nevada as Motivating the Teen Spirit Day.

"It is so ironic to think that I used to be afraid to love myself and be myself and now when I do so, I get awards," Nichols said jokingly.

She becomes serious again when shesays her present focus is on her new 340-page book, Chicken Soup for the African-American Woman's Soul, which she co-authored with Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.

"The book is a bunch of short stories that remind us of our resilience and all the people who have gone before us. It's also about celebrating the legacy of sisterhood and the journey that women take," Nichols shared.

"In my travels, I've noticed that women are nurturers. We've been raised to be mothers, wives and caregivers and we often do our job at the expense of our own joy. So, this book is a place for women to stop and refill their tanks a bit."

Chicken Soup for the African-American Woman's Soul shares inspiring quotes and stories from legendary women like Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Mary McLeod and from modern-day heroines including Patti Labelle, Halle Berry and Queen Latifah.

She is also working on another book to be titled Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul: The Real Deal on Self-Esteem, and is due out in June of next year. Her other projects include a national series of workshops in the United States, dubbed Ladies Can we Talk?, which will be taped and aired on television during Women's History Month in March of next year.

Nichols' other passions include water sports, dancing, dating, grooving to old school music and horsing around with her son, Jelani.
"He is my motivation and my true inspiration. I remember the scary days when I wondered how I was going to follow my dream and be the best mother, but today we are happier than ever. I never disappointed him. One day he told me that he wants to be like me when he grows up and I still can't get over it," she told SunDay. "The only regret I have in my life is that I doubted myself those years ago."

Nichols leaves the island tomorrow to continue her book tour. The tour will take her to exotic locales including Johannesburg and Soweto in South Africa before she returns to the US. And so, her journey continues.

reidt@jamaicaobserver.com

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