Today we’d like to introduce you to Akilah Watts.
Hi Akilah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Music has always been a passion of mine since I was a child. I started off playing the piano, then learned trombone, bass, and later on, guitar. I was a music education major in undergrad at The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. I played trombone in the marching band, affectionately known as The Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South or M4 for short. An experience I will never forget is marching in the first inaugural parade for former president Barack Obama. That whole experience feels so surreal. I remember the preparation for the event with practices occurring at 5 am while it was still cold in Arkansas so we could get a feel for what it would be like in DC. I remember so vividly marching past President Obama as he waved and the excitement I felt in the moment. It was truly incredible. After undergrad, I taught general music K-6 for two years before deciding to go back to school to get my Master’s in music therapy.
For those who may be unfamiliar with music therapy, it is the clinical and evidence-based use of music as a tool to address individualized goals in a therapeutic relationship. As a music therapist, I’ve had the opportunity to utilize my skills outside of the US including Uganda, Kenya, and Thailand. I’ve had the opportunity to work with many populations including children with developmental disabilities, primarily those with autism, behavioral health, and addiction recovery. I am grateful for the skills I obtained from my alma mater, Illinois State University. I still practice music therapy today, but also developed a second passion in finance.
I never would’ve thought that I would end up starting a career in financial services, but here we are. I’ve been in the industry part-time for three years and have learned exuberantly how money works. The premise is financial education no matter your background. Talking about money tends to be stressful and I help ease that stress. I work with people with many different skillsets ranging from healthcare to professional sports and it is fantastic. We work together as a team to help put people in a better position financially. Because of our duplicatable model, anyone can learn this trade and help others learn how money works. I love that throughout the pandemic, my business has continued to grow because we are a hybrid model with both meeting in person and utilizing Zoom. I’ve been expanding my team across the country and have clients in many states throughout the US.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As with anything, there are ups and downs, but it’s all about mindset. Do you allow yourself to wallow in your struggles, or do you recognize them, learn from them, and move on? The goal is always to grow and be better than I was the day before. My father has a poem that talks about us having two natures, where one is foul and the other is blessed. The one that you feed will dominate. I’d much rather go along with the blessed nature. I truly feel blessed because throughout this pandemic, my business has continued to grow. We constantly talk about this being a pandemic proof business and it is absolutely true.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The brand was started over 20 years ago by Jaime and Shawn Villalovos. Revolution Financial Management is a full-service financial firm that focuses on educating clients on financial literacy and helping them plan for the future as far as saving for retirement, getting out of debt, having proper protection (insurances), and building emergency savings. What is so amazing about this company is that because of its duplicatable system, you can both build your business and learn how money works at the same time. I don’t know of many other companies that would allow you to do this. What I most love about this company is the core values of faith, family, and business. Your faith is number one, no matter what you believe, followed by family, then business. It’s very non-corporate. I also love the camaraderie with teammates and how you get recognized for all the good that you do for families. The services we provide are available to everyone no matter one’s financial status. We do our due diligence to help everyone.
What makes you happy?
I feel as if this is a loaded question because there is so much that makes me happy. I suppose if I were to narrow it down to my top two, it would be engaging in meaningful relationships with others and enjoying life experiences. I say engaging in meaningful relationships makes me happy because we are limited in the number of days that we have on this earth. One thing is for certain, and that is death. You might as well enjoy your time on earth while you have it. In 2020, my time with people was limited due to the novel coronavirus and not knowing how to navigate everything because it was so new. In 2021, there was more awareness of how to navigate this thing, being that we have had vaccine developments and safety precautions to remain healthy and have less risk when gathering with others. In 2021, I was able to connect with so many people that I haven’t seen in years, and I have nothing but gratitude. Anytime I know that I am visiting an area where I know where someone lives, I am sure to let them know so I can hopefully connect. I know people in many parts of the US so it is usually really easy for me to call or text them when I’m in their city. I absolutely love being around others. As far as life experiences are concerned, I love exploring the great state of California and all the adventures that it entails. There are so many things to see and do. I refer to myself as the California Adventurer. I also love to travel both domestically and internationally. God created the earth. I might as well get out there and enjoy the majestic beauty He created.
Contact Info:
- Website: financialrevolution.com/akilahwatts
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicwattz/
Image Credits
Lisa Marie Photography
