Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda Russell.
Hi Yolanda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
A story is worth a thousand words, right (or is it picture)—I’ll start by painting a picture.
I grew up in a single-parent home. A child of divorce. My father was never an active part of my childhood (nor adulthood).
In his absence I learned to adult quickly.
I learned that children should be seen and not heard.
I learned to keep my inquisitiveness about him and other parts of life to myself; surely never wanting to come off as ungrateful or inconvenient to anyone, especially my mother.
I now realize that wasn’t the role I needed to assume as a child, but it is indeed the one I took on.
I understood the importance of not ‘getting into trouble,’ so I always followed the rules and that which would make my Mom proud.
That looked like following the path— getting good grades, going to college, and getting a ‘real’ job.
I did all of those things and I did them well. I graduated with a degree in biology, only to find myself miserable in my first job.
After three years, I decided to go back to nursing school and in the process I started dating a man in the military.
As I was passing my boards to become an RN, he was being stationed in SATX.
I decided to take a leap and move with him as I also began my nursing career.
I found nursing to both fulfilling and one of the hardest things I’d chosen.
The best hug, yet a kick in the teeth all the same.
Long hours on a chaotic unit of the hospital took its toll on me and that relationship.
We ended up breaking up after three years.
I decided to stay in Texas as a lone wolf to ‘figure out life,’ and my path without familiar influences.
It was in this decision that I began questioning my path and the narratives of society.
I also went from a cardiac unit to working in the ICU.
That decision was almost like a nail in the coffin for me.
I loved nursing, but I could feel my spirit and zest for life diminishing.
Nobody tells you this, but in the ICU — a lot of people die.
I didn’t know how to vocalize this and picked up some awful habits like reckless spending and drinking more often.
Eventually, I met my now ex-fiancé who was the bright light that I didn’t know I needed.
I moved to Austin on a travel nurse assignment and one day in October of 2016, I cracked.
At the height of what I now know to be nursing burnout, the world seemed like it was crumbling around me.
I found myself in the bathroom crying and fed up with the career path and life I’d chosen.
I called my Mom and my then boyfriend (ex-fiancé) and between shallow breaths and tears I said: “I can’t do this anymore.”
In that bathroom, I only meant to take a break from nursing—just a month to recollect and recenter.
Little did I know, that month would turn into six years and me inactivating my license and walking away from nursing.
And I would embark on the path of finding and liberating myself.
When I moved from Maryland in 2012, I decided to use social media to share my life in Texas. Eventually, I started sharing my newfound passion for fitness.
Little did I know, there was a way to monetize this and so I began down the journey of ‘entrepreneurship,’ on the back of a multi-level marketing company (MLM).
I found an immense sense of freedom to be able to attract (and repeal) others based on sharing my story and my journey.
Not everyone got me or the journey and that only fueled me to continue showing up.
I found a great passion in women’s empowerment and encouraging others to take their scary leaps.
I had become this ‘life coach,’ without even trying and was impacting people from all across the world.
I started a podcast and knew it was time for me to ditch the MLM and figure out how I could build something that was truly my own.
I hired a business coach and I started coaching other nurses through their burnout; soon teaching others how to show up and share their lives online as a way to attract potential clients.
Social media and coaching had given me an outlet to share my journey.
I found through both vulnerability and storytelling of my own journey to touch and inspire to take their scary leaps.
I’ve shared the story of leaving nursing and it has encouraged and educated others on their path to leaving their careers to pursue their dreams—no matter what anyone else thinks.
And my most recent story—ending a ‘good’ six-year relationship and engagement because in my heart I felt there was more.
Sharing this journey has shined a light on exactly who it is I’m meant to serve as an empowerment and dating coach—single women struggling with their confidence.
The same inquisitiveness I tucked away as a child, has led me to become a great coach, listener, and question asker.
This genuine curiosity is useful in helping others see themselves and work through their struggles alongside me as their ‘hype woman.’
In my coaching, I help women build trust and confidence in themselves to listen to their hearts and live life on their terms; a life that is real, raw, and free AF!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been smooth.
I’ve found that entrepreneurship shines a light in areas in life you need to work on.
I’ve had a ton of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, judgement from others (and myself), nay-sayers, and mindset blocks come up along this journey.
Growing up without a father has also had an impact on many areas of my life.
I don’t believe anything worthwhile is always meant to be smooth sailing.
It is often in our discomfort and challenge that we grow and learn the real lessons we need.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a former nurse that now ‘nurses’ differently—helping empower others live their truth and create the life they always wanted—no matter what society or others think.
I specialize in helping single women date with confidence. Through this work, we build a solid foundation of mindset and self-love. This confidence bleeds into all other areas of their life and we find there to be a genuine improvement in all aspects of life.
I’m most known for sharing what’s on my mind, pushing the envelope, and sharing that journey boldly on social media.
I believe what sets me apart is my will to be vulnerable and share life’s ups and downs…keeping it REAL!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Probably my grandmother telling me that because I didn’t like to wear dresses that I was like a little boy.
This sounds fairly traumatic looking back, BUT…it was in that moment that knew I was a ‘rebel,’ and somewhat different from others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.unfilteredandtaboo.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/_yolandarussell
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/yolanda.russell
