Hail Mary In Heels - Coach Mikki

Resilience, Faith, And Reinvention - Joan Wakeland S1E7

• Coach Mikki • Season 1 • Episode 7

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Joan Wakeland, whose 84-year journey spans Jamaican roots, a pharmacy career forged against bias, a bold leap to the U.S. with $50 and a six-year-old, and a late-life renaissance packed with books, mentorship, and even marriage at 82. Joan’s story blends resilience, faith, and practical strategy into a playbook for anyone ready to change lanes without losing themselves.

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SPEAKER_00:

Oh bring you in, bringing in. I'm so glad that you're here, and welcome to my huddle. And if this is your first time on our field, we are so glad that you are here, and I'm excited to have you here on Hail Marion Heels. And this is a place where you can come in, be yourself, take in some inspiration and learn and grow. And we are here to lift you up as our team. And if you are new to our team, welcome. Please get comfortable, bring it in because I'm excited to have on our field today, author, speaker, and an amazing person that I've known for so many years, Joan Wakeland. How are you, Joan? Welcome, welcome. How are you? Well, I'm wonderful. Glad that you have me here. I'm happy to be here. Well, I'm glad to have you. And by the way, Joan, I want to wish you a very happy birthday. So happy birthday, Joan. And you have got stories. I mean, for 84 years on this planet, you your journey has been amazing. And I've had the opportunity to read your book, The Run for Freedom. And I know you also have written so many more on this journey. But I I want to ask you because I know that you started, you know, when you first got here, your story was pretty incredible. So let's just go ahead and start right from the beginning.

SPEAKER_02:

Wow. Well, I wanted to let people know that I had a beautiful life in Jamaica. I had great parents, at least they gave me an education. But in that path of educating me, I had teachers who did not really believe in me. They told my parents that I was lazy. And so what they did, they pushed me off to boarding school where I had structure. And that is that was a part of my life that I didn't really like because I'm away from my parents, I'm away from my siblings, and I'm stuck in structure. After going to school, I was told that I couldn't do English properly. So my mother had to get a person to help me with grammar. My science teacher told me I was not going to do well with knowledge, and I left her class and went in somebody else's class. And I told her when I was leaving, Mickey, that she would see my name in the lights. I didn't even know what I was saying. I was about 13. I didn't know what I was saying. But later in life, that lady did come to the pharmacy and give me her prescription. And I said to her, Do you remember me? And she said, No. And I said, I was that little girl that you told would not do anything good in science. And here I am. I failed your prescription today, it's accurate. And I told you my name would be Lex, and here's my pharmacy next. And I thanked her because if she wasn't hard on, I probably would not have been a pharmacist. Because I'd have just dropped biology and dropped chemistry. So sometimes when you get criticisms, it's how you react to them that you can make or break it. Because not everybody can fight back. You have people who just crumble. So that was my early years. After going through pharmacy school, I went out looking jobs. And do you know I couldn't get a job? Why? Not because of the knowledge, but because of my gender. In those days, most of the men that were pharmacists didn't have too many women. And that catapulted me into the world of business. Because if I can't get a job, I went and I told my dad, look, I have this knowledge and I'm going to use it. So I went off into that. I did very well. But again, I'm competing with men on the outside. And I don't know who did it, but there was an Ethereum fire that happened to me just in my 20s, and I had to dismiss that dream that I had because I was drinking. So I came to the United States when I was age 37. I came with limited funds as you know, 50 bucks for me, 50 bucks for my child that was six years old. And a limitless mind and limitless dreams. I decided I'm gonna make it in America. So between age 37 and 72, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry. And there again, it was challenging because at that time women were not carrying the bag as they call it. Men used to carry a detailed bag, and they go in and they speak to the doctors. Not many more dead. So all the time I think of myself as a little barrier because of gender, barrier because of what people expect. So you're navigating like with what people want for you, and so many times they put you in a box, and it is for us to jump from that box, and we need people to help us to get from that. Now after retiring, I got refired, and I decided that I wasn't going to waste my years waiting for death, so I decided to serve, and I served in the capacity that I never tried because of mentors, and when you can find someone who can mentor you, someone who can believe in you, it makes such a big difference.

SPEAKER_03:

So that is my story up to age 70 or two.

SPEAKER_00:

That's pretty amazing. I mean, you've been through a lot and you have always found a way to thrive, even through, like you said, even all the judgment or the the uh what the expectations um and not being able to uh get a job because of your gender, you know, as a pharmacist. You know, you just think of you think about that and you're like, that's just so ridiculous. I mean, when you think about it, and it is, but on the other hand, it it happens, and that's what you know, that's what transpires. And as women, we're like, okay, so now what do we do? You know, we're up against something that is out of our control, and the way you handled it and the way that you perceived it and you took control of it is really inspiring because you didn't allow it to just hold you know hold you back and hold you down, Joan. No, no.

SPEAKER_02:

One of the things that I have in my spirit is uh fighting spirit, and I think that came from my chains. I am from Jamaica, and my tribe is the Maroons. That's where I came from. And the Maroons were fighters. These were the people who fought the British, they went to the mountains, they hounted them with docks, and they still couldn't control them. And eventually they gave them the mountainous part of Jamaica to work for themselves. So they still govern themselves until this day. And I think that as parents, we have to look out for children. My parents did for me when they realized that I wasn't getting anywhere. They sent me out of that environment to something else. We have to take charge of the children, their whole future.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, you're right. And I think as as women and also as leaders, you know, we're going to uh break some glass ceilings, we're gonna break through barriers, and we're we gotta show these kids that you know you're capable of doing things and not allowing things to hold you back based on someone's opinion or or what expectations are. And and you're right, and helping and working with children and making them heard and know that you believe in them. You know, belief is the is one of the most valuable things you can give a child is is teaching them to believe in themselves.

SPEAKER_01:

Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

So you have you have got quite a story because I know that you came over here with with very limited funds, and your son was only six when you came to this country. And um, you have just you know just taken things and thrived. And share a little bit of what happened with that because I know in the past you shared that story with me when you got here about wanting to buy a home. And and to me, that is just like the ultimate uh story to say failure is not an option. I'm gonna do this.

SPEAKER_02:

That actually was on I had that based on my drive, but on my dashboard of the car. Failure was not an option for me. And I remember my father telling me that I should always try to have my own home. I should not be a renter, and and that was the first thing I wanted to be. I wanted to buy a home and alone to a woman the time by herself. No, so I got a man and bought a home. It's amazing what you have to work around the situation that you face. When it's not working for you, you find another way to get it done.

SPEAKER_00:

But on the other hand, is you still were you still had your your faith and your your conviction of what you wanted, and you know, and a lot of the things that you've done. And I know even just you know, moving forward, you have done uh so many things and you've helped so many people and you've mentored so many more uh along the way. I know part of being uh GSFE, I've seen you do so many things and help so many people. And and what would you say that was one of the things that you found is this remain the same through your 20s, 30s, and and even to where you are today based on the person you are that has always kept you going?

SPEAKER_02:

It's God, my belief in God, and He's always provided for me. I think about all that I need versus what I want, and I pray, and sometimes I don't get what I asked for, and you say, Why not? And you should never really question that Almighty, simply because he saves you sometimes from so much what you didn't get, what you asked for, and you didn't get, he probably protected you from something, and you don't think about it that way. I I I I don't want people to believe that I'm trying to convert them. I found him when my back was against the wall in several portions of my life. When my back is against the wall, he sings angels speak to me. They're not with wings, they're on foot. And they help me. And if all the time, when I remember when I didn't have money to buy meals for myself and my child, we would go out and we would get one meal. He would eat first, and I would eat after. And this little guy told somebody it was near Christmas that he wasn't going to get a toy for Christmas because his mother didn't have many. And that woman, Mickey, went out and she asked people for help from me. And that was so humbling because in Jamaica I was the one that was giving people stuff. And here it is. I was getting back. It's like throwing the right over to the water, and it comes back after many, many moments. So I've had very humbling experiences because that year it was 1980. I never forgot it. She gave me$300 and a whole bag of groceries and a bag of toys. And they were all broken toys. It's amazing what people get. If you give good, you get good. If you give trash, you really don't get back anything but trash. But in that bag was one ornament was a little woman, and I took it to the ceramic shop, and we had it painted in gold, and we looked at it all the time and said, That's our mightus. That's our mightus. Yes.

SPEAKER_00:

Wow, yeah, and I I'm a true believer. You know, you you get what you give. You know, my dad always says, what goes around comes around. And I and I truly believe that. I mean, I've always I grew up like that and I've always believed, and I've seen it. And and I wanted to uh go back to what you said about sometimes your prayers aren't answered. I there was a song, I I forget, I think it was Garth Brooks who said, you know, thank God for unanswered prayers. And you're right, and a lot of times that is something that I think we don't understand at the time, but then when it reaches the that pinnacle of your life and you're like, well my gosh, if we had gone this way, this would have never happened, you know, or if this if this is what would have transpired, then this would have occurred. So no, I I think it's all in timing, it's all you know, with with whatever that will is and what we're doing. Um, but I I wanted to, I'd asked you about uh one of a story that you might have had that was an uncomfortable situation, but when I read your story, it came you came out shining. So I want you to be able to share that story with our listeners of that of what had happened when you were put into a situation you weren't prepared for. Oh, my funny, my funny story.

SPEAKER_02:

Yes, one. Actually, I met Marlena Martin and she asked me to come and be a part of the pageant. And I said to her, pageant? I'm 79 years old. I'm not in the pageant. That sounds so comical to me. Anyway, she was persistent, and she came back, and that time I said to her, since she said it was a woman of achievement, it wasn't a beauty pageant. I figured, okay, I'll do it. So I did it. Well, what is funny is that I was not ready for the moment. Just picture this. I am going downstairs to the lobby and picking up a flag that I asked a friend to bring for me. And I didn't think I'd be down there more than five seconds. I wouldn't see anybody except my friend.

SPEAKER_03:

Well, things changed.

SPEAKER_02:

I saw these girls walking, and suddenly somebody says, Oh, there you are. We're looking for you. I'm only with a flag and a little black dress. And she said, You're on next for what it's time for you to sleep with the judges. So wow, creatively, I said to myself, you're in your little black outfit. Just you see this flag as well. They didn't know that I was just there wrapped in in the lobby, and I spoke about the hunger that I that was my platform feeding the hungry. And it worked. I won. I got that public speaking. Like I got that trophy. So, what I was thinking about for people who want to be picture perfect and have everything perfect before they go, no, there's no perfection. Just go and do the best you can and work with what you have. Creatively, your juices will flow when your back is against the wall. Trust me, it happens all the time. You improvise, and nobody realizes that you're back on nerves.

SPEAKER_00:

I love it. I love it. Well, you know, your your confidence and your like you said, you you you you stood up and you took what you had and you still did it. But you know, the what shines flow was we were, huh?

SPEAKER_02:

The Jamaican flag, the lifting all by heaven. It was lifted because I was able to use that, and they were not thinking about me not being ready. They didn't know that. No, you you hide all of that with just what you have, you use it.

SPEAKER_00:

I agree. I think confidence and is uh probably one of the most uh beautiful things we can wear, right? Yes, yeah, yes, yeah, yeah. Well, you have done so much, and I know you have written so many books, but before we go any further, if you would like to connect with Joan, please know if you're watching the uh the YouTube channel, uh her links are down below, so you can connect with Joan Wakeland. Um, you can also find all of her books on Amazon. You can just Google her name and you'll see it. But also, uh, if you're listening to the podcast, please just click on her name. That'll drive you right to her website and also to her books. But Joan, um, tell us about that because I know you you stopped your story at 72, but you have done so much more, even up to today, on your 84th birthday. So, so what have you done since then? What you know, and since that 72 and on.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, that that's dramatic, you know. I had a great mentor, and that's Robbie Moder. She is the JST founder. And Robbie saw in me what I never thought about. Robbie said to me, Joan, write your story. Everybody has a star, I would figure out who wants to hear my story. I'm someone who started all over at 37 because at the time I left Jamaica, I had to leave all that I had and just I I did it because I didn't want anybody to raise my son. And in those days when they robbed your store, you would be either or acid thrown on you at that. Time it was just politically not. And when I left, I felt like Lot and his wife. He left, and Lot decided to stay behind. Well, my husband came with me, and we had so much that we had to tie up, and he said, You stay here and see how you can grow, and I'll stay there and we'll work together. And it didn't happen that way. Things changed. So sometimes you have plans, and when you don't have God within your plan, nothing happens right. You have to put him in a plan, and he has, I think he has a sense of humor because he he says, Oh, you want it this way? I have a plant this way. And this is my way. I'm using you. You are not using me. And so I realized when I started writing, I just gave my story, and I was thinking about all the things that happened to me in business and in life. I would give some life lessons because I have two wonderful grandchildren. And I wanted to leave a legacy for them. And I realized that legacy is not after you die, legacy is what you have right now in your life and who you share your life with. And if you see it and you can fix it, you fix it. So I spent my time helping women, chiefly women, because I realized that we were the ones that I would say downtrodden by the men. And you stay home, do what they want you to do, and they tell you what to do. They didn't want submission. And I think they have it, the submission, they have it wrong. You don't submit to somebody who has nothing to offer. In other words, if I found a man that couldn't buy a cup of coffee, then he's not going to invite me to drink coffee because he doesn't have the money to drink the cup. You can't give from an empty cup. You have to have somebody. Giving of yourself and showing how you can uh get things done. Like, for instance, in one of the books that I had, I write how you can get a car, and when your second car, you shouldn't be looking to get a full loan for that second car. Simply because if you start paying yourself when that car note is done and you put six on, then you will accrue more money to buy your next car. So you shouldn't have to go with a big loan again. I also show how you can get your home and how you can pay that mortgage doll without having to pay 30 years. I am all into self-help because somebody helps me. When I came to America, I didn't know how to balance a checkbook because somebody did it for me. So now I know how to balance a checkbook. Now I'll show people how to balance that checkbook. So that's and I enjoy doing that. I find that I am writing more now on a devotional and inspirational because I want to lift up spirits that are in the pit. I really want to help them to rise and not just see the glass half empty but half full.

SPEAKER_00:

And I know you've had an opportunity to work with quite a few people. I know you traveled a lot and you've seen a lot, Joan. And do you find that uh a lot of the people that you or the even the women that you have had an opportunity to mentor? Do you find it's pretty much the same situation? Because I know you've traveled all over the world. And do you find that that as a as a whole or as a group that there's one particular thing that that's missing when it comes to women having courage or or deciding to do something or or just even make a change?

SPEAKER_02:

I think people procrastinate a bit and they want a lot without working for it. Nothing drops from heaven like manner right now. You got to put in the work if you want something. And that is even in the area of self-worth. Know your value, you know, know your worth. And that's something that I had to do. I had to work on myself. It's it's self-searching, and you have to find a way how you can improve on yourself. And the only way you can do that is to find someone who can lift you up and not stay with negative friends all the time. You can't arise with negative friends because they somebody have to feed you.

SPEAKER_00:

You're right, you're right. Who you surround yourself with is what's going to happen. That's how you're going to perceive things. So, uh, Joan, you have been amazing. I have been so happy to have you here and be our guests and be on our field. So I'm going to give you the last two minutes to share anything that we haven't had a chance to cover or something you would like to offer to our to our listeners.

SPEAKER_03:

We need to change.

SPEAKER_02:

Actually, I have a book that I wrote and I'm going to show it to you.

SPEAKER_03:

You gotta shift. You gotta shift. If you want good, you've got to shift.

SPEAKER_02:

You've got to change. So this check on yourself first and then do the change.

SPEAKER_00:

I love it. I love it. And you've got a couple other books. I mean, go ahead and and let's just share those while you've got them. I know you've got them next to your to your uh computer. So, what's some of the other ones that you have? Because you I know you have done an abundance of work to help people. And I know the run for freedom was your first one, because that's the one that I have, and the other ones I'm I'm gonna have to get.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay, this is one that I have, and that was the power of networking, and that was a compilation of all the GSP people, and my first book that Robin Martha told me that I should write, and that's a build on Amazon. I was a medical international, also now I've shifted and become unstoppable. And this is a devotional stepping stone, and then I have another one that's called Whispers in the Shift. And it's these the stepping stones and whispers in the shift, actually they have a place where you can reflect. So I'm giving you the idea. This says this chapter is the comfort zone trap where everybody says they don't want to move out. So I talk about the comfort zone, then I give you some affirmations how you can change from that zone. That's what it's about. My my little favorite right now is unstoppable because these are parals, and I explain the parables, and you can do that as your own self-help. You don't have to read and just put it away. You can keep it every day, you can do whatever you want to do and journal in it and see how you improve. But the last one that I have that is coming, it's called navigating change. And that is so appropriate because the world is in chaos right now. Not America alone, the world is in chaos, and we've got to change, and we've got to start loving each other. I think that's the key. Love.

SPEAKER_01:

I found mine at age 82. I forgot to tell you that. I got married at age 82.

SPEAKER_00:

Who would have thought of that? I know, I think that's amazing. I know, and you've been married for what, two years now, right? Two years? Oh my gosh. Well, yeah, that is that is awesome. And you and I know you had a chance to share, and it's just like this man has just been so much fun, and and I can see the love and the happiness on your face because I've known you for a long time, John, and you look really happy. I'm in the autumn of my life.

SPEAKER_02:

It's beautiful, it's beautiful, and I'm going crazy. People, I I I love to write, so I'm still going to have more books coming, and I I want to try to translate them in Spanish. I I want to do that because it's not only thinking about expansion to get your book expansion, it's the message that I want to have people have. And I have Spanish friends, and they're telling me, well, I don't read in English, uh, you know, so I'm gonna have some translating. And I wanted to let you know that little young boy of six years old, and I came here, is now in his 50s, and he has given me two great-grandchildren. So I live for the children now, and I would love to be able to share some of what made me successful with them. And at this age, they're not able to appreciate that, and that is really why I started doing good writings. And I wanted to let them know that nothing happens without God. You have to keep him in your equation, you gotta keep him in your equation. Some people want to call him other things, that's fine. There's other things that you can call him, but you must be spiritually connected because the creator keeps you happy, nobody else.

SPEAKER_00:

I love it. Thank you so much, Joan, for being with us. I really do appreciate you, and and I I love what you're doing. And I'm definitely going to make sure that all your links are down below. So if you are watching, please remember to connect. All the links will be down below if you'd like to reach out with Joan. And also if you listen to the podcast, just click on our name and that'll take you right there, too. So uh thank you so much for being with us today. Um I want to thank each and every one of you for being here and sharing, remember, keep bringing your comments, your questions, and your suggestions uh along with being true and authentic to yourself and getting out there and taking the words of wisdom that Joan had an opportunity to share with you and implement it. Make that part of your playbook in your life. So I want to thank all of you and always remember start strong and finish strong and dominate everything in between. And Joan, I'm gonna let you break the huddle.

SPEAKER_02:

One word.