Meet Rhonda McCoy | VISION Board Method Expert | Owner and CEO of Better Begins Within | Clarity, Accountability Life Transformation Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rhonda McCoy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rhonda, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I have always thought that I had to give 100% to my job. In the beginning, pre family this was easy. But as I got older, I realized that if I give them 100% that I will have no time left for myself. Yes, I work hard and get transformations everywhere I go. That’s my brand, to make everything or everyone better than I found it. However, I have learned over the years and especially with COVID, that there has to be a balance. I make sure that each area in my life feels like they are getting 100% without burning myself out. How did I achieve this? I made sure I was one of those areas that I included in my vision. I used the V.I.S.I.O.N. Board Method to ensure that I started off with self-care, and approached my day (both work and personal) with intention. I learned to Re-Write My Story.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I spent over two decades in higher education with most of those years being at the illustrious Paine College in Augusta, GA. I felt it was important to give back to HBCU’s because they are often overlooked. I chose Paine College because they educated my parents who in turn raised me to be the heart centered entrepreneur I am today.

As a professor, I would see many students come in and take class after class not truly knowing what they wanted to do with their life. Often times, this meant spending longer time in college because of late major designations or major changes. Therefore, I spent many of those years providing academic and life coaching to those students. It was a joy to see their eyes light up as they finally figured out their life’s purpose. For a long time, that brought me joy and satisfaction. Although we figured out their life purpose, I knew I wasn’t living in mine. I enjoyed helping people, but I always wanted to own my business since I was 16 and my parents offered the choice of a car or business as my birthday present. Although I knew I wanted a business, I did not want to have the business in Georgia at the time. So, I continued to play small and limit myself as I had taught so many others not to do. Many years later my niece decided to open up Amani Creations to sell her handcrafted jewelry. Again I was reminded, that entrepreneurship ran in our veins. I knew I had to re-write my story and start living my dreams.

I decided to get certified as an aromatherapist to pursue my passion of aromatherapy. It wasn’t always easy. I juggled work, home and eventually a business. Often the business fell to the side. As a certified aromatherapist, I owned and operated Zarin Essentials, a natural company that offers aromatherapy products and services online. I used the power of essential oils to help alleviate home sickness, anxiety and so much more. I always taught the students and my clients to practice self-care.

Self-care is more than the surface stuff we hear about and love: going to the spa and getting that manicure and pedicure, massage, facial etc. Self-care is about addressing the major needs in your life such as regular visits to your physician, getting a good nights sleep, drinking plenty of water and eating in a balanced healthy way, social media detoxing, meditating, being physically active, taking care of your finances, paying your bills on time, creating vision boards and so much more.

In 2016 I started focusing more on self-care and began attending vision board parties and I had lots of fun. I met some really great people, spent some time being creative and building great vision boards. After all, that is what I had read all the celebrities say were vital to their success. But year after year nothing special happened. One vision board sat in my car until it faded. I knew there had to be more to this, so I did some research, and some trial and error and some more research and used my skills as an Instructional Designer to create a plan. I followed this plan, and then it happened. Everything on my board came true. I tried it again the next year and had the same results. That’s when people began to notice and ask how they could achieve these results too and the V.I.S.I.O.N. Board Method was born. Quarterly, I host the V.I.S.I.O.N. Board Method Retreat virtually to teach people how to successfully achieve any goal they have in their life. I have been able to achieve my mission of helping thousands of women improve their lives with self care and establishing their visions.

In my Zarin Essentials business, I found my time on the aromatherapy consultations being dedicated to self care and life coaching so I pivoted and that is how Better Begins Within was started. I invested in myself, received my Life Coach certification, hired a couple of coaches and learned the ins and outs of business, media, coaching and consulting.

I started one on one coaching and consulting with women entrepreneurs, teaching them to access their vision and create a roadmap to reach the success that I had reached. I used my educational background in Psychology and Instructional Design, to create a solid system that is the foundational level of my practice and programs. I provide life support to women who own businesses. Many times, these power women are so busy achieving in their businesses that often their personal life, mental and spiritual health gets neglected. I have helped clients find love, get focused, and increase their belief in their vision so they can increase their generational wealth and leave a legacy for their families.

One of my clients, had a multi seven figure business and was steadily growing. But her children were being raised by someone else and she didn’t have a soul mate. In fact, she stated that she hadn’t been on vacation and did not know how to relax. While she was good at business, she just couldn’t do the personal life well. After working in my program she was able to identify her blockages to self care, and learned to relax. She went on several vacations, and even met a promising guy that she has been dating ever since.

Watching these women soar both personally and professionally, I knew that I had found my true calling.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a Vision Board Expert, I believe in mapping out your journey. I also believe in self-care, taking time to relax and find balance.

First things first, when she arrives on Thursday, we are going to get my best friend settled and catch up.

The next day we will go visit the best vegan spot, Humanitree House, while enjoying the vibe and get a ChicUNPhilly and an Acai Bowl and a cold pressed juice and continue to catch up while swimming in our family pool.

Saturday we will go do some shopping at the Saturday Market, a local spot where local entrepreneurs and farmers sell their goods. Later on that evening, we will go visit a local artist Sunja Dannette as she performs and a local pop up venue.

On Sunday we will catch the Candlelight Jazz Series down on the Riverwalk.

When it slows down on Monday, we would visit the Augusta Canal and go canoeing or kayaking.

Then on Tuesday, we will go to Savannah Rapids to Jetski with Jetski Augusta. After we finish jetskiing, we will get our makeup done by Nikkii B of FacialFX before we visit Phinizy Swamp Nature Park to have a photoshoot with Inga Coleman. I know this doesn’t sound like the prettiest place but it has hiking trails, boardwalk and beautiful spaces to view nature and get some gorgeous pictures.

And since you can’t come to Augusta, Georgia, home of the Masters, without playing golf, Wednesday we will visit the Augusta Municipal Golf Course and play golf. After a round of golf, we will visit the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.

For a treat, we will have a spa day and get Yoni Steams at Gemini Wellness Spa then visit La Bonbonniere who has the most exquisite handmade Belgium chocolates. We will finish our week with a grand dinner at Toaste of Augusta as she prepares to return home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
BECAUSE OF COVID is a book written by a group of young authors under the age of 14 and led by Dionne Edmond-Dunn of My Serenity Retreats. It really made me look at and re-evaluate my life. If this group of children could take a situation like COVID and turn it into action and achieve their dreams of becoming authors then so could I. My business was slow growing and I had been doing a lot of procrasti-learning instead of putting what I knew I should do, into action. It was at that point that I decided to include it in my Vision Board for 2021 and create a plan for success as I moved forward. I followed my V.I.S.I.O,N. Board Method and things started shifting for me.

Authors: Malaysia Itson, Levi McCoy, Kayleigh Byrd, Masai Hernandez, Amiya Itson, Kyle Byrd, Mariah Hernandez, and Laurin McCoy

Website: https://www.betterbeginswithin.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterbeginswithin

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondamccoyatbetterbeginswithin

Twitter: @BeginsBetter

Facebook: @betterbeginswithin

Image Credits
DruDeadly.com Laurin McCoy