Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Jones.
Hi Pamela, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Yes, I escaped Mexico in February of 2000. I was married to misogynistic / prejudiced man who was a cult member and lived amongst cartel territory. I came to America with my nine children and a five dollar bill. With no more than a fifth grade education, but with a determination to save my children from the lifestyle they would’ve inherited if I had stayed. I’m the second child to my mother‘s 13 children and I started raising my siblings when I was seven years old, I was taught from my father that I existed for one , purpose, and one purpose only… and that was to be my soon to be husband‘s handmaiden and help meat. A church teaching. (Taught by the men, of course) I was married off at 15 made to be perpetually pregnant after nine babies, 17 pregnancies and 18 years of marriage one day I awoke and realized that if I didn’t escape, that I would have five little me’s (my 5 daughters) and four of my ex-husband (my 4 sons) that scared me. So I escaped the place that kept me captive, it kept me small, quiet and submissive. I came to America with the goal to survive. I had no idea what an American dream meant. In fact at that time I didn’t know who the president of the United States was. I didn’t understand anything about America I was taught that I was dumb and because I was a woman I was not to be educated. So the first thing I started to do was educate myself, I started reading. I read the back of boxes, receipts, labels, I read signs etc but my favorite task of the day was going to the mailbox and receiving all this mail, which I learned later was junk mail, all these ads and pieces of paper addressed to ‘Pamela Jones’ made me feel connected, made me feel like I belonged in this unknown place, at that time I really believe that people were thinking of me and wanted me to have these deals or wanted me to know that they had something I could possibly use,It become the highlight of my day. As time went on I learned that it was junk mail. fast-forward I made my way to Minnesota in the year 2001 and I started passing out flyers on mailboxes, advertising that I could do Housecleaning I pass out 200 flyers, I got my first client. with my 2 1/2 year old baby strapped to my back (unbeknownst to my clients) I was off cleaning. I was so extremely excited that I was making money and could feed my children. I started this plan every month, I’d sit down with pen & paper, I’d write up a plan for the month, we’re going to make enough money (because writhing was not a sin now that i had escaped) to pay my car payment and by the end of that first month I had the money for the car payment, insurance and a little bit of coffee money. The next month I would sit back down make the plan, car payment, insurance, phone bill, and a little coffee money too. I kept going until I eventually could do no more cleaning on my own. I came up with another plan to go to school right when my daughters got out of class, pick them up and take them with me to clean the last home. As time would have it, I started hiring my first hires and in 2015 my accountant informed me that I had become a millionaire!! I kind of smiled. I thought wow I have $1 million Dollars and I have $1 million dollars of bills. I kept growing, kept pushing forward. I had achieved the American dream… not knowing what that was at that point. fast-forward to today I’m a local Business owner and very successful. I employee over 45 people. A few of them are my children. I’ve taken several courses, educated myself, on entrepreneurships, leadership, accounting , business etiquette,. (at times I learned best in the school of hard knocks ) lol! All my children are married. I have 31 grandchildren and have now written my memoir, showcasing the journey from abuse, neglect and brainwashing to believing in myself, falling in love with myself and truly becoming an outspoken woman, advocating for other women, encouraging them that they too have a voice, and a dream. they can do or live anything they put their mind and heart to. helping/encouraging them to find their purposes is one of my favorite parts/rewards of sharing my story. My favorite pass time is going on walks and enjoying nature, or sharing my story with my grandchildren, reminding them where they’ve come from, and that they too, can do hard things if they put their heart and mine towards it. Not a day goes by that I don’t sit down with my cup of coffee reminisce my story, back when I lived in the cult, they took everything from me. My essential needs water, food shelter, my family, friends, education, and so much more, but they could not take my imagination, and in my wildest imagination, I could not have imagined the life that I live today. I feel so grateful for all that I’ve learned on this journey. I never knew back in February 2000 that this little soft spoken, handmaiden, fifth grade education, full of fear, brainwashed, brutalized, humiliated woman would be able to be the person that I am today. I don’t take for granted the opportunities that this life has to offer me/us, and every chance I get, I love reminding women just how special they/we are, how beautiful they/we are, and that they too have a purpose. I hope that through my story others will be inspired, no matter how hard the circumstance might appear. That they too, can do those things that they feel they’ve always wanted to do. My favorite people are my grandchildren. They’re little bits & piece’s of their parent’s and big reminders of how far we’ve come, how much love is in our family,But Mostly that freedom is something we all deserve. It starts in our mind, heart and eventually will show in our actions. Because we are the example of our courage, our strength and our will to change the world, even if it’s just one kind word at a time. Xo
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
no it has not been a smooth road. The biggest challenge was reprogramming myself. reprogramming all the faults ideas. I grew up with, and finding my way to discovering myself. I was never fearful of my failures. I was fearful of my strength,because I had spent so much time believing I brought no value to the world (except being a mother) that when I learned that I truly had brought great value to the world, i was very smart and also a very intelligent woman. It was hard to believe at first. There were little things that were hard like ordering a burger when I first came to America, because I was so afraid of my own voice. I was taught that women were to be silent and seen, but not heard. So my journey to success using my voice was one of the first hardships I had to overcome. Had someone told me back then that I would become a public speaker sharing my story I would’ve never believed it! because I couldn’t even order a side of fries with my burger. (It took about 8 times driving up to the drive-through trying to speak my order I would eventually get out of line and go home. I’d say not today Pamela maybe tomorrow)lol
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Yes, so I own a maid service Exclusive Services by MyGirls where we specialize In Housecleaning, handyman service and organization. I started the company back in 2000 It’s a family owned business and we have been in business for 25 years. The thing that I’m the most proud of are my employees. I take such pride in taking good care of them. We’ve created a community Where we’re not only working together, but we take care of each other. I learned a long time ago by taking really good care of my employee’s, they take really good care of my clients, who take really good care of me , so I can take really good care of my employees. :-)and so on and so forth Also, I’m an author and a speaker I love sharing my story of success in hopes to encourage and motivate other women/mothers to do the same if they so desire
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Yes, know you’re worth and don’t underestimate what you bring to the table. And if there’s something you don’t know, learn it, never give up on your initial dream. Don’t cut corners. Don’t play it small/safe… but mostly listen to your heart, if something tells you, with in you this is not right, or it would be better if you did it this way…. don’t second-guess those inklings… They’re usually right on. mostly be kind to yourself. You’re doing the best you can today, tomorrow will take care of it’s self, also a different version of you may show up tomorrow! .;-]
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.exclusiveservicesbymygirls.com
- Instagram: pamela_speaks
- Facebook: pamela speaks
- Linkedin: Pamela Speaks
- Youtube: wicked confessions uncensored
