On January 18th, 2015 my life changed in a way I never expected. I jumped on the back of the Yamaha R1 like I had so many times before. We left the traffic light and gained speed quickly when I saw the SUV going for the U-turn. I began hitting the driver of the bike screaming, but he didn’t stop — I closed my eyes and tucked into the driver’s back. The last thing I heard was metal crunching before everything went black.
I woke up a week later in the hospital. I was in disbelief. I have a spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. It took me two years to accept what had happened to me. Two months after I had accepted life as a wheelchair user I began regaining sensation and movement, changing my life once again.
4 years after my injury and I am the healthiest I’ve ever been, confident as ever, and truly happy and in love with myself inside and out. When we embrace what we have, focusing on the positives in our lives, the negative situations become more scarce. The motto I live by is Stay Grateful, Stay Humble, and Stay Hungry. Each day I express 7–10 items what I’m grateful, humble, and hungry for. When you see everything you have and everything that is coming your way, gratitude fuels your high vibe. As you accomplish your goals, beginning the life you want, it’s important to stay humble. Remember where you started and where you came from, regardless of race, financial security, gender, or age you are not superior to anyone else. And last but not least stay hungry for life and everything it has to offer.
What is your entrepreneur story? How did you come about building your business?
I saw an opportunity to produce motivational content targeting not only the wheelchair community but the able-bodied community. There are countless persons with disabilities using social media to promote themselves or their cause, but very few are attempting uplift, inspire, and coach. My goal is to show the world that we can use our disabilities, obstacles, problems, etc. to live the life we want.
What is your business model — how were you able to grow so fast?
I have been using the power of social media and word of mouth. I printed business cards with my photo on the front and my contact information on the back. Any time I have an interaction with someone I give them a card, encouraging them to view my page for daily motivation and positivity.
Can you give me an overview of who you are, what is your educational or overall background? What are some of your achievements?
I am an individual with big goals. I really began working on my motivational speaking career this year in addition to building a coaching program to accompany it. I am the director Of Wheel With Me Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to building a transitional community for spinal cord injury survivors. I returned to college in early 2019. I have found passion in turning my obstacle into an opportunity and showing everyone they can do the same. My goal is to show people how to achieve the life they want to live before a life-changing event. In addition to speaking, coaching, school, and running the non-profit, I also have earned a spot at the 2019 US Wheelchair Curling Trials. I compete July 5/6 for a place on Team USA.
What have you learned through your experiences as an entrepreneur that can be used by aspiring business individuals?
I have learned to embrace failure. The more you fail the closer you get to success. Failure is simply weeding out what doesn’t work. You also must learn patience. This is something I struggle with and must put continuous work into. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is consistency. In every aspect of your life — self-care, your work, your education, personal relationships; to maintain these things you must maintain consistency.
What makes your business so unique and successful? What have you learned through your journey as an entrepreneur?
What makes my business unique is the genuine motive behind it. The good, the bad, the ugly, I embrace every ounce of it, sharing it with others. The most important thing I’ve learned is working to serve others. When you work to serve others it makes everything you do more purposeful. As a society, we are meant to help one another, just as Matthew 22:39 says, “Love thy neighbor as thyself”.
What skills and attributes make you as successful as you are?
Your attitude towards life is what makes or breaks you. Regular self-care keeps you functioning at your highest potential. Recognizing there is a positive in your negative; a lesson to be learned also helps to propel you on the right track.
Why is online business, marketing, etc important?
We live in a technology-driven age. A large percentage of your views and business will come through social media. The more you know about it, algorithm, post times, hashtags to use, style, etc. the more engagement you get on your platform often leading to job opportunities. The Internet is an undervalued marking tool.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jesistracham
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesistracham
Twitter: witter.com/jesistracham
Blog: www.jesistracham.com
Wheel With Me Foundation:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wheelwithme
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wheelwithme/