Redefining Success: La’Vista Jones on Empowerment and Entrepreneurship
Welcome to the Rise Urban Nation podcast blog, where host Taryell Simmons explores inspiring journeys of visionary leaders and entrepreneurs. In this episode, we are joined by La'Vista Jones, a certified coach, author, and host of the Boss Talk podcast. Join us as we explore how to break free from toxic hustle culture, establish firm boundaries, and utilize automation as your primary business partner.
La'Vista recounts her transition from a demanding corporate vice presidency to entrepreneurship after suffering a severe stress-induced panic attack.
The tragic loss of an overworked friend inspired the writing of her book, The Boss Shift.
Realizing that scheduling 6:00 AM sales calls was replicating toxic corporate patterns prompted an overhaul of her daily calendar.
Integrating personal love languages into client workflows provides consistent words of affirmation upon completing coaching packages.
Advocating that automation should always serve as an entrepreneur's very first team hire to protect personal energy and time.
Corporate Burnout Recovery: Transitioning away from round-the-clock corporate demands by prioritizing personal health and mental well-being.
Rejecting Hustle Culture: Dismantling the glorification of overwork and exhaustion, particularly the societal pressures placed on women of color.
Systematizing Self-Care: Designing business systems that intentionally nourish the owner through automated feedback loops and positive affirmations.
Leveraging Smart Automation: Utilizing CRM platforms like Dubsado to automate repetitive administrative tasks and streamline client onboarding and offboarding.
Power of Community: Recognizing that business vision is not a solitary effort and seeking vital support through coaches, mentors, and peers.
Establish strict calendar boundaries by restricting client calls to designated productive hours that align with your energy.
Incorporate personal joy and emotional nourishment directly into daily business operations and client feedback loops.
Deploy CRM automation early in business development to handle repetitive administrative tasks and prevent burnout.
Build a reliable support system of mentors, coaches, and peers rather than attempting to manage every responsibility alone.
La'Vista Jones is a certified coach, author of The Boss Shift, and the host of the Boss Talk podcast. As the founder of 31 Marketplace, she empowers emerging CEOs to build profitable enterprises while maintaining health and self-care. Connect with her on social media @LaVistaJones or visit her website at https://lavistajones.com.
Taryell: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to another episode of the Rise Urban Nation podcast where we explore journeys of inspiring entrepreneurs. Today we are joined by La'Vista Jones, a certified coach, author, and host of the Boss Talk podcast. How are you doing?
La'Vista Jones: I am doing great, how are you?
Taryell: I am doing pretty good. You are joining us from Arizona. What is the housing market looking like out there?
La'Vista Jones: You can probably get a little something more here than in California for sure. Our housing market is fast-moving right now. Prices are high and available homes are low, so if something comes on the market and someone likes it, you have to snatch it up before it is gone.
Taryell: It sounds like a hot commodity market. I could not wait for this episode because we will talk about how to leverage systems and automation as teammates in your business, why women entrepreneurs need to share their voices, and how to practice self-care while running a business. Can you share your journey from corporate professional to entrepreneur?
La'Vista Jones: When I talk about my former corporate life, I describe that relationship as complicated. I loved the work I was doing in corporate; in fact, my role as an assistant vice president was created just for me. The other side of that was that I had terrible boundaries around work and rest. I would pull all-nighters as a normal workday, traveling across both coasts in the same week without sleeping, eating properly, resting, or exercising. I did this for seven straight years because I thought I would rest later once I reached a certain title or accolade.
La'Vista Jones: I ignored the warning signs my body gave me: headaches, high blood pressure, and crying after basic feedback from my boss. One day on the 202 heading to work, I had a full panic attack with my palms sweating and heart racing. I called my husband and a local psychologist, who placed me on short-term disability for work stress. During those six weeks in therapy, I realized I could not engage with work the same way. Seeing entrepreneur friends working the same exhausting hustle hours, sending emails at 3:00 AM, inspired me to resign, launch my own business, and intervene to help them break that cycle.
Taryell: What was your mindset during that transition? You could have moved to another corporate role with less stress, but entrepreneurship without parameters can lead to the exact same lifestyle. What made entrepreneurship the right path?
La'Vista Jones: I always knew I wanted to work for myself. In corporate culture, working around the clock was an unspoken rule to get ahead. As one person in a massive bank, I could not change such a huge establishment. Working with emerging CEOs allows me to make a much bigger impact by showing women how to run businesses and raise families without sacrificing their health, modeling that balance for their children and teams.
Taryell: Do you feel there is extra pressure on women, especially women of color, in executive positions that causes them to neglect self-care?
La'Vista Jones: Absolutely. Women are conditioned from childhood to over-function, and women of color are taught they must work twice as hard as their male counterparts just to be seen. Furthermore, we see our matriarchs constantly putting themselves last for their families without resting, leading us to believe exhaustion is required for success. There has to be a better way.
Taryell: What inspired you to write The Boss Shift and start 31 Marketplace?
La'Vista Jones: The book originated from a manifesto I wrote after seeing a social media post celebrating early morning exhaustion and hustle culture, which made me realize we need to break up with busyness. The direct catalyst happened when I attended the funeral of a friend who was an entrepreneur and chronic people-pleaser. While unwell on vacation in Las Vegas, someone in Phoenix asked for her help; she could not say no, drove back, and suffered a massive stroke in the desert. After multiple strokes, she passed away. At her funeral, people praised her selflessness, but her inability to prioritize her health cost her life. Right then, I told my editor it was time to write The Boss Shift because health is too high a price to pay for success.
Taryell: As a burnout survivor, what major challenges did you face in your career, and how did you overcome them?
La'Vista Jones: I initially fell back into old habits, like scheduling sales calls at 6:00 AM because that was my corporate routine. I realized I was recreating the exact exhaustion that harmed me before. I changed my calendar immediately: no client calls before 9:00 AM, allowing time for coffee, quiet reflection, and preparation. I also instituted a boundary ritual using a work candle on my desk; when the candle is lit, I am working, and when I blow it out at the end of the day, work is completely finished.
Taryell: What role did self-care play in your journey into entrepreneurship?
La'Vista Jones: I intentionally design business systems to nurture me rather than deplete me. Drawing from Dr. Gary Chapman's The 5 Love Languages, my primary language is words of affirmation. I surround my workspace with inspiring words and built an automated testimonial collection process into my business. Whenever a client engagement concludes, the system automatically requests feedback, delivering uplifting words that energize me without manual effort.
Taryell: How do you set up and automate that workflow?
La'Vista Jones: We use a CRM called Dubsado. We map out high-level process flows with if-then logic based on client milestones. After a call, the system automatically sends a follow-up email; upon completing the final coaching session, it automatically sends an offboarding feedback form. Mapping the client journey and using tools to automate repetitive administrative tasks prevents burnout and eliminates operational inefficiency.
Taryell: Why do you believe it is essential for women entrepreneurs to share their voices?
La'Vista Jones: Growing up, I was taught children should be seen and not heard, which made me feel my voice did not matter. Sharing our stories, knowledge, and vulnerability gives permission to other women navigating similar challenges to speak up and heal. Your voice has the power to change lives.
Taryell: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially in balancing work and life?
La'Vista Jones: Vision is not a solo gig. The name 31 Marketplace honors the Proverbs 31 woman, who managed great responsibilities with the help of maidservants. Build a community, get mentors, hire coaches, and take off the superhero cape. Protect your core genius—the activities that generate revenue—and let automation and team support handle the rest. Automation should be your very first teammate.
Taryell: Where can listeners connect with you and learn more about your work?
La'Vista Jones: You can find me across social media @LaVistaJones and on my website at https://lavistajones.com.
Taryell: That is it for today's episode. Thank you to our lovely guest, La'Vista, for joining us, and thank you to our listeners for tuning in.
La'Vista Jones: Thanks for having me.
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