Walk with Brenda

Who is Brenda Allen?

I AM Brenda Allen, a loving wise woman, humble spiritual teacher/mentor, soon to become a bestselling author, already a compassionate, powerful coach-the best in my craft.

Who I AM and what I do touches the lives and souls of people who are in alignment with God’s grace and favor.

As people and their lives are changed with my service to them, the world is changed, one heart, one soul, one mind….on purpose.

Brenda Allen is the author of Rise Above, releasing in 2018! She is also a speaker, mentor, coach, and leader in the personal development industry and the founder of the Facebook group, the Rise Above Movement.

She has inspired thousands of people around the world by sharing her strategies on how to overcome adversity and achieve success in all areas of life. Her inspirational messages are shared by thousands.

Brenda hails a multi-talented background and holds a colorful resume of degrees and work experience including Radio-Television host, magazine contributor/sales executive and modeling and fashion show moderating. She nets 40+ years in volunteer and fundraising efforts, leads in local civic work and acclaims 25 years as a commercial construction owner/operator as well as a commercial property investor. She has led in the direct sales industry with both fashion and jewelry.

Although Brenda has achieved great success in past endeavors, she made a major life decision to leave the construction industry through a divorce in 2016. Brenda felt she could create a compelling future through a  coaching/mentoring practice and she has achieved that as well!

Her “why” is a desire to inspire and contribute to others though teaching, speaking, writing, coaching and mentoring. Through the catharsis and healing of writing Rise Above, Brenda has transformed her life, evolved and risen to her highest self!

The awakening and re-conditioning she has experienced became her chance to rewrite her future to fulfill her spiritual need to add immeasurable value to others lives through contribution and a continuum of her personal development journey.

Brenda Allen presents a multi-talented background of expertise to the Zensations board. She submits a colorful resume of degrees and work experience including radio-television, magazine contributor and sales, and modeling and fashion show moderating. She nets 40+ years in volunteer and fundraising efforts, leads in local civic work and acclaims 25 years as a commercial construction owner/operator as well as a commercial property investor. She has led in the direct sales industry with both fashion and jewelry.

Currently, Brenda is in the process of self-publishing her first inspirational book titled, Rise Above, which will release early 2018, and will be available on Amazon. Her second book, titled, “ A Bump in the Road”,focusing on the life and trials of her late son, Mickey Allen, will release in late 2018, also on Amazon.

Along with her continued self development journey, Brenda is receiving coaching and training in many fields of endeavor under the direction of Tony Robbins, Robbins-Madaness Training, Roger Love, Rory Carruthers, JT Foxx, Dr. Nido Qubein, Damien Elston, Jason Gilbert, Carlos Siqueira, Wyatt McCain and Glenn Dietzel, Carolyn Rim and Crystal Davis. She follows a long list of life mentors/authors and influential speakers including Jack Canfield, John Maxwell, Deepak Chopra, Mary Morrissey, Oprah Winfrey, Les Brown, Brendan Burchard, Evan Klaussen and the late Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, Og Mandino, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Napoleon Hill.

In business, Brenda has also partnered with Richard Tan of Success Resources, to promote “New Tycoon”, a Mobile Seminar Platform, globally. New Tycoon is a company created by Success Resources, to allow more people around the world the opportunity to “learn and earn” from its life changing education. Success Resources has been the #1 seminar company since 1992, and has changed billions of lives globally through seminars and workshops with speakers such as Tony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki, Sir Richard Branson, Les Brown, Jay Abraham and T. Harv Eker.

ZM: Why have you chosen Mentoring in Personal Development as your path today?

BA: Although I have achieved great success in the direct sales industry, real estate and construction…a major life decision to leave all of those businesses through a divorce, forced me to assess my life’s true purpose and look to the future with an open mind. Through an intensive self discovery process, I acknowledge that my past doesn’t define me, and that I could dump all the emotional baggage and still create a compelling future. Through intense personal development I gained clarity about my life’s purpose…my why…why I was placed on this earth. That “why” is a desire to inspire and contribute to others through teaching, speaking, writing, coaching and mentoring.  When I embraced the opportunity to rise above my adversities, challenges and negative experiences, I knew “only I” held the key to unlock my future dreams which by the way….holds limitless opportunities.    I readily disclose that I was trapped in an incongruent life of pain from my past, having spent decades allowing and tolerating domestic abuse. Not to mention, the tumultuous trial of surviving cancer, losing both my parents and oldest son to cancer as well. I happily report today through the teachings of Tony Robbins that “suffering is optional”…always, despite the challenge or circumstance. Through the catharsis and healing of writing my first book, I transformed, evolved and rose to my highest inner self. This awakening and re-conditioning became my chance to rewrite my future and fulfill my spiritual need to add immeasurable value to my life and other lives in the process through contribution and personal development practices.

ZM: Who is your mentor?

BA: I have several who resonate with me.  I owe appreciation and a deep sense of gratitude to Tony Robbins and his organization. They deserve recognition at the top of my list…as I received my training under the direction of the Robbins-Madanes team. A coach/mentor never stops learning themselves to reach and maintain a mastery level of growth. Therefore, I am honored to be currently coached by one of the best, Master Strategic Coach, Wyatt McCain, of Beverly Hills.

Many great thought leaders and masters have influenced me along this exciting new journey. Most of those were mentioned earlier in this article…it’s difficult to exclude any of the great masters of personal development.

Speaking of masters, I am fortunate to be currently associated and mentored by Internationally renowned High Performance Consultants and Mentors, Coach Carlos Siqueira and Glenn Dietzel, founders of the Expert Advisor Alliance.

ZM: What is your goal for the future?

BA:  To publish my first two books of inspiration, Rise Above and A Bump in the Road. And also to always strive to grow and serve others, especially women who have also survived domestic abuse, through my mentoring practice, books, courses, programs and speaking events. Because of my love for my two young grandchildren, I desire to give them all my devotion, knowledge and Hard Knocks experience. With that love for them and their future in this fallen world, I envision a strategic plan to incorporate personal development programs in elementary schools across this country with like minded entrepreneurs. I feel Zensations Kids could be the first group to experience such an impactful foundation.

ZM: What positive imprint do you want to leave on others?

BA: To leave a legacy in the coaching business as an older female coach/Mentor who never gave up on her dreams of adding value to others lives. I am grateful to God for all my trials, adversities and challenges…I feel chosen. My dark valleys gave light, joy and abundance to my mountain tops! It’s all about the journey…not the destination.

ZM: What ignites your passion?

BA: My son, Matt, and my two grandchildren, Kailee and Kaiden Prewett. They are my soul’s inspiration in this life.

And also, working with Zensations co-founders, Sal Tassone and Vaiva Tuckuviene, to develop Zensations Kids Foundation to carry our message of inspiration and philanthropy.

ZM: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

BA: Traveling, training and speaking with my Mentoring practice, writing more books and inspiring millions to follow their passion and ‘why’ to live a life of joy, peace, abundance and prosperity….and meeting my soulmate to share my gifts of love and devotion.

My journey as a Mtn Home resident began in the fall of 2005 with a decision to open a satellite office for my construction business-and to make Mtn Home my primary home.

However, my first lake home here was a weekend and summer retreat spot for my family beginning in 1985.

Moving to Mtn Home always seemed like a distant plan somewhere closer to my retirement years.

The move here permanently in 2005 just felt right at the time-and I definitely have no regrets today-as I found a community of loving people who have loved me in return.

Having spent the past 40+ years as a volunteer in every city I lived, Blytheville, Jonesboro and Mtn Home has truly enriched my life.

I’ve built lifelong friendships with people who also have a heartfelt need for contribution to church and community.

As a young wife and mother of two sons, in the mid 1970s, I worked as an x-ray technologist for a local clinic of 6 physicians, then later for the hospital in Blytheville. I also taught Awanas and vacation bible school in Blytheville as well as volunteering for my sons’ private school fundraising efforts.

In 1982, I was honored to join Blytheville Junior Auxiliary, a benevolent group of women with a mission to meet the needs of children, youth and families throughout Mississippi County by way of projects and events.

I loved physical fitness as a young woman, teaching a calisthenics class at the local YMCA and co- founded the Delta Road Runners Club in Blytheville in 1980.

My acquisition of a family farm facilitated my move to Jonesboro in the early 1980s

There I met 44 new girlfriends immediately through Jonesboro Junior Auxiliary and met my lifelong friend, Dana Goldsmith. That friendship taught me what true friendship was supposed to look like. Today we can hardly keep up with each other with our busy lives with family and grandchildren. Dana possesses the key quality of a true friendship and that’s loyalty….and she loves me at all times. We can spend weeks or months without speaking, and in an instant, it’s like we never missed a beat.

The move to Jonesboro opened new doors of opportunity for career but also held some of the darker and rocky days of my life journey.

Jonesboro Junior Auxiliary allowed me to volunteer, meet and learn to love the Jonesboro community-and also to build new and lasting relationships.

Significant life trials began in Jonesboro less than a year after the move there…a divorce in 1985 from the father of my two sons shifted me into a major life transition that caused me a great deal of pain.

But there were also blessings sprinkled along my path to be grateful for…I landed an exciting new job in my field of radiology for Methodist Hospital as the special procedures technologist. This job was indeed a blessing, as I needed the flexibility as a young single, working Mom. Especially when my oldest son, Mickey was diagnosed with cancer at 11 years old. This first cancer journey for Mickey lasted 18 months and 3000 miles. Oh Happy Day, Mickey survived and so did Matt and I. This was my first real brush with death of a loved one and a reason to keep myself always on the path to my personal development….and through my child’s eyes.

Jonesboro was a fabulous yet tumultuous 11 year journey.

I returned to college as a non-traditional student at age 34. Just six weeks into my classes at ASU, Mickey was diagnosed witj Stage IIB Hodgkins Lymphoma. I was forced then to quit college….a tough decision for me to swallow .I spent the next 18 months driving to and from St Jude in Memphis…my new normal life. So I returned to ASU in August( just 6 months after Mickeys diagnosis) to pursue a degree in Radio-Television.

I worked part time as a single mom, traveled to St Jude, sometimes daily, but remained active in Jonesboro Junior Auxiliary, Central Baptist Church and my sons’ schools.

That 18 months was a challenge!! I maintained a 3.81 GPA, then leaping into 21 hours my final semester, and graduating in only 7 semesters with a BS in Radio-Tv and a minor in Sociology. The experience of interning at the local tv station, KAIT-Channel 8 in Jonesboro was intriguing and exciting! Writing television script and creating tv packages came naturally for me…Oh happy day, I found my next passion!

I was offered a job in television my first semester at ASU. I co-hosted a weekly program on Paragould cable tv for 3 ½ years.  With this job came the opportunity of public speaking and covering live events..and also meeting politicians and celebrities along the way. My first political interview was with the upcoming president, Bill Clinton.

I worked my tv job on Thursdays and Fridays and my Metlife insurance job on weekdays as well.

On a small scale of course, My tv job was glamourous and fun-but never lucrative-Metlife was my primary job which allowed me to earn a not too shabby $70,000/year in 1992.

Selling is also a passion and comes natural for me-but insurance gets you as much praise and recognition as a car salesman ( no offense to the trade)  Insurance, life and death, is something people don’t want to discuss or invest in.  Although I disliked that job, I loved the income, the relationships I created, and the ability to have flexible hours with lots of freedom. Just about the time, I completed testing for my Series 6 and 63 to sell stocks and bonds, I switched life career gears again.

The insurance business led me to meet a husband of 24 years ago. After 3 careers already, one in medicine, one in tv, one insurance, I jumped into the commercial construction business with a spouse and blended family and built a company that brought me here to Mtn Home.

With a degree in communications, I landed a very part time job for Simply Beautiful Med Spa as Lisa Chism’s marketing director….a good fit for me since I spent a lot of time (and $$ haha) at Simply Beautiful.

The jewelry business stole me away though in 2007, when signed on as a direct sales representative for Silpada Designs Jewelry, a leading jewelry company in the US. I climbed the ladder quickly, selling $30,000 for the company in my first 90 days, promoting to Star Leader in a short 6 months, achieving $350,000 in sales in 2013. I remained in the top 1% of the company in sales for 9 consecutive years, earning titles, trips and recognition of achievements.

These last 25 years, I also co-owned and managed a construction company, invested in real estate and commercial rental property, and worked part time as a decorator consultant for construction clients, worked for a designer clothing company and skincare company, volunteered for a list of community and civic organizations, and raised 3 sons.

Making Mtn Home my primary home, allowed me this opportunity to again follow my love and life’s purpose of helping others.

I became active right way in MH Business and Professional Women, Ozark Regional Arts Council, and later joined MH Rotary Club and also Lions Club.

MHBPW women have become like sisters and lifelong friends.  Working alongside these ladies has been deeply rewarding as I’ve been blessed with passionate and authentic relationships with these women.

I served as President of Ozark Regional Arts Council and served on the board for several years. My favorite memory of that tenure was when I had the pleasure of acting as director of a 22 member cast play, Sundown for Dollar, which drew a sellout crowd. As a board member of ORAC, I helped to raise over $100,000 for the Vada Sheid Building. After the completion, I was involved in facilitating the first artist’s receptions held in the ORAC room at the Sheid on a monthly basis.

I joined the team of Marvelous Magazine in 2010 as a sales executive and occasional contributor. In 2012, I served as fashion show coordinator and moderator for our first fundraiser, Runway for Charity,at the Sheid, raising nearly $7000 for Hospice of the Ozarks.

As some in this community may remember, I wrote my first article for Marvelous in the winter of 2010 about my role as my oldest son’s caregiver. Mickey was in his final 4 journey of a cancer battle and I chose to leave a great many local commitments here as well as work to wear that caregiver hat for the final 2 years of his life. Mickey was a paraplegic and that condition required my undivided attention.

One year into that role, I faced my own brush with death and some of the darkest hours of my life. In August, 2012, I became gravely ill and underwent emergency surgery to remove two colon cancer tumors with an anastomosis to follow. I was down for about 3-4 weeks, began a 9 month chemotherapy regimen, and put my caregiver hat back on until Mickeys death in 2013.

I am deeply grateful to not only my church family and friends in Blytheville, but also my loyal, loving and selfless friends in this city of MH.

Some of you can may recall some of the trials I faced through those tough years, and so many of you stepped up for me…you allowed me to rise above my adversities by sharing your attention, dedication and support.

I chose to move in with my son in Blytheville in 2011, to care for him as long as I needed to.

I loved working for Marvelous, but this job too was on hold until I could return to Mtn Home.

 When I returned in 2013, I resumed my sales work for Marvelous but was also able to contribute in other ways.   I helped out with every Marvelous Girls Night Out Events at the club over the years and also supported and participated in Gifts for Girlfriends and several Marvelous Mini events.

It’s no surprise, I have a passion for fashion….I spent hours of free time modeling for several boutiques and stores in Jonesboro for various organizations and fundraising events the entire 11 years I lived there.

I also sold a high line of clothing from New York City from 2007 to 2013, developing a clientele of women from Mountain Home to Blytheville and Jonesboro, AR.

With that passion for fashion, I worked occasionally for Ashley Hunter at Posh boutique and have attended the apparel market for the store. On occasion.   Ashley is close friend as well as her family, who I consider “My modern family”

Ashley and I co-hosted a fundraiser fashion show for the Schliemann Center in 2006.  I loved the opportunity to facilitate AND moderate. That began my past 14 years of experience facilitating and moderating fashion shows in Mtn Home for Posh, for Marvelous, for BPW, for First Christian Church and the Carti Spring Fling Event.  I served on the Carti Spring Fling event committee in its finale year, 2015.

I serve actively in MH Lions club since 2012, and held the office of Membership Committee chairman for 2 terms…and recently received the prestigious “President’s Award” from Lions International in 2017 for my vision to grow this local club’s membership to one of the largest in the state and district.

In the spring of 2016, I joined the Baxter Regional Medical Center staff of Volunteers, giving quality time exclusively to Peitz Cancer Support House. My primary focus has been the spring Women’s Cancer Retreat, and working alongside the director, Melissa Hudson. I have also helped with the Pink Out and the Pink for Peitz Rodeo.

After spending 24 years in the construction business, I chose to leave the company in the spring of 2016. It was then I began to pursue a career in the personal development world. I hired my own coaches to teach me the craft.

I received the title of Board Certified Coach with the Robbins-Madaness team. Most recently, I graduated from the Lucrative Coaching Academy 4 Rebels and will be coaching and mentoring within that academy in late January, 2019, working alongside the amazing creator and coach of the academy,John T. Strasser.

I have also engaged in course training with some of the greatest authors, motivational speakers and thought leaders and their teams, including Jack Canfield, John Maxwell and Mary Morrissey.

In the spring of 2017, I was invited to join the board of Zensations Magazine in Los Angeles, California, as Contributor, Promoter and Sales Executive. My first articles of contribution were just published in September 2017. I am grateful to the co-founders of Zensations for giving me this opportunity to be read in a global marketplace.

As a writer, I am proud to author my first book, Rise Above, which is scheduled to launch in December, 2019 on Amazon. The book is a powerful self discovery and personal development journal with a compilation of my life experiences and stories.

Rise Above will be a practical guidebook for creating a fulfilling life in the face of adversity. I offer a companion workbook with comprehensive skill-building exercises to help one heal and grow. My methods will show the reader how changing your relationship with the past can open paths to a new future.

If you like actionable steps, transformative resources and candid suggestions from someone with first-hand experience, then you’ll love my inspirational system for personal growth.

My second book is already in the making….A Bump in the Road…Life with the Miracle Man, Mickey Allen.

My long term goals are to continue to write, speak, host retreats, teach, coach and mentor women who are also domestic abuse survivors. I plan to launch my first personal development course webinar, just prior to the book launch.

I feel I can help others by providing uplifting, inspirational and motivational guidance to help people get unstuck….rise above any trial…..find their purpose or passion…and fulfill all their dreams and goals.

My lifetime goal is to bring value to all the lives around me…whether it be for a moment or a lifetime or just a season.