Rising Stars: Meet Shelley Meche’tte

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelley Meche’tte.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was the product of a single-parent household. I had a very strong mother…who worked in a clothing store called Lerner’s when I was small. She made a living for us, pressing clothes for the mannequins in the store window. She paid for me to go to private school and took public transportation to get us back and forth before buying a used car. Once a month, she would pack me a huge lunch and activities to keep me busy as we waited all day in a large building for her name to be called. Afterward…we would walk hand in hand back to our apartment. Later in life…I learned that our monthly walk was to the welfare building for food stamps. She was my 1st example of love, power and strength. But she was also my example of the “strong black woman” syndrome…and that would end up staying with me for many years in my life…until my breaking point.

I didn’t know at the time, but I had abandonment issues due to an absentee parent. But because I was “strong”…I walked through it. I grew up with people telling me how unattractive I was because of my darker skin tone and coarse hair. But I walked through because I was “strong”. I fell into a verbally and emotionally abusive relationship because I was willing to accept any form of love…false or even toxic. Survived that and continued to walk on without truly acknowledging the psychological effects that traveled through life with me. I was “strong”. I had extremely low self-esteem and never truly saw my value. I had a love-hate relationship with my worth.

While my mother was pouring life into me daily…the world was coming right behind her and snatching it out. I didn’t know what or who to believe.

Then…I became a single mom…and I finally had someone to love; and most importantly…who loved me! My love for my child began to give me the true strength to look at myself and try to uncover the beauty inside. I needed to find ME…in order to raise my child in the best emotional environment. It took many years and I confronted many things. Even lost myself in motherhood when I got married a few years later.

It all came crumbling down when I found myself bawling in the bathroom mirror, frustrated…depressed…lost. But that’s also the day I found ME (again) and decided…I didn’t want to live in emotional anguish anymore. I wanted true happiness, but it was going to be MY responsibility to grab it. I begin to allow the layers to peel off of me and I discovered a woman of passion, creativity, beauty and worth! And this time it was REAL.

I also discovered that I could love motherhood without having to give up parts of me that I loved. I learned how to love ALL parts of me.

It was this discovery…that led me to connect with my fellow mom and let her know that I SEE HER! She is not alone. As moms…we’ve been conditioned to believe that we have to choose. It must me motherhood OR ourselves (goals, dreams, passions, etc). But that’s a lie! They BOTH belong to us…and I was (still am) determined to show moms how to live life beyond motherhood and create life success!

I became a women’s empowHERment speaker and coach…encouraging women to OWN their greatness and live their dreams. In early 2022…I took my passion for women even deeper when I began coaching busy SAHMs; helping them successfully harmonize motherhood and life passions without the interference of mom-guilt, so they can live the life that they dream of.

It’s been a true journey, but I must say…I wouldn’t change it. I’ve had some real battles over the years developing into the woman that I was created to be, but there have also been amazing victories along the way. Now, however…the victories are more frequent!! Plus…I get to help overwhelmed moms discover their passions…unleash their greatness and do it all with confidence! Can’t get any better than that.

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?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth, but it’s the uncertainties…the failures…and even some of the dark times…that have opened my eyes to the truth.

It’s through the experience of abuse…that I learned how to spot an abuser and I was able to pass that knowledge down to my children so that they (hopefully) will never have to experience intimate abuse themselves.

It was through being a single mom that I learned the beauty of protection because that’s what I provided for my child and would not allow just anyone to be in her space.

It was through the heartbreak of having to leave my child at 6am in the morning with daycare workers that I discovered…I wanted to be my own boss so that I could be available in a different way for her.

And it was through the pain of discovering ME…that I am now able to “see” women/moms who feel as I once did; unseen, lost, overlooked, overwhelmed, emotionally frustrated, like a failure and more.

So, yes…many challenges are on the journey to life success and personal discovery. But the journey provides so much more than the challenges that we overcome. It provides an opportunity for passions to be released and purpose to be fulfilled.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Certified Life Purpose & Confidence Coach, Int’l EmpowHERment Speaker, Best-selling Author and Non-profit Director. I help busy SAHMs successfully harmonize motherhood with life passion, without the interference of mom-guilt! I am every woman’s cheerleader! Lol Because I feel that as women, there are already so many pressures that we deal with that when you come into my presence…I just want to cheer you on for a moment and let you take a break.

People think that being a speaker, I am most proud of those accolades. And while I will always celebrate the hard work that I have put in over the years to become America’s #1 EmpowHERment Speaker (speaking it into existence…), what I am most proud of is being able to raise two incredible and amazing women. THEY are my greatest accomplishments.

Understanding my value…taking my dreams from the back of the closet…taking time to build my confidence…these are all things that I am proud of…and that helped me in raising my family.

I’ve been an expert guest on various podcasts…the morning news…featured in countless articles, spoken on many stages, interviewed my actress Taraji P. Henson on her show Peace of Mind and even named one of 2021’s Top 25 Women in Business by Courageous Magazine. Yet, none of these accomplishments compare to the joy that has come with the daily “life” I provide for my children’s well-being.

And I believe that’s what women/moms love about me. I’m authentic. I love my family. I have struggled keeping it all together…and I let you know it. I don’t sugar-coat chaos! True empowerment is not always about the “rah-rah’s” of life. It’s about the dark places that we confront to become better for ourselves.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that there is always something to do in Los Angeles. There’s always someplace to go. So when you want to get out for a little while and have some fun…something is available. But it’s just too overcrowded! Whew. Traffic is horrible. It takes an hour to get to a 10min destination!

Pricing:

• Let’s Chat Intro Call: https://calendly.com/shelleymechette/let-s-chat
• $27: The Balanced Mom Blueprint: https://shelleymechette.gumroad.com/l/BalancedBlueprint
• $597: 6wk Course Master Your Purpose…Master Your Life: https://powherpurposeacademy.thinkific.com

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ShelleyMechette.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelleymechette/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/momswithpurpose