Allow us to introduce you to Priscilla Baldwin, Founder of Life Care Companions of Northwest Florida LLC.
S+S Magazine: Priscilla, tell us a little bit about you and your business.
Priscilla: My name is Priscilla Baldwin, I love to spend time with family and friends, to laugh, traveling, nature and shopping. My company is Life Care Companions of Northwest Florida LLC our clients are individual’s living with disabilities either physical or intellectually, we also provide elderly care for those individuals who have memory related disorders or dementia.
S+S Magazine: What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur?
Priscilla: At the time, I was a divorced mother of six working a full-time job I became interested in buying a franchise, but the price was too high, but I started the beginning process, and I was doing the leg work, so I decided to do it on my own. It was high and lows and learning to figure it out being that I had never did this before. It was in this process that I found that I was born to do this it started out as homemaker and companion working with teachers who had elderly parents and they had to do teacher-parent conferences after school so I was hired to assist in the home.
S+S Magazine: Let’s talk about your work. Where did the concept of your business come from? What does your work aim to say or present to your audience?
Priscilla: As I look back over my life this came as a little girl when I preferred to be with my elder’s vs my peers, I enjoyed the times that I spent with them learning new things that I didn’t know and being poured into with stories and wisdom. I also spent time with individuals that were not socially accepted at the time due to their being intellectually challenged which I loved. My works aim to say is that EVERYONE is SOMEBODY meet people where they are, not where you think they should be. This makes the process so much easier you get to meet someone on their own terms and if you aren’t careful, you may Learn something new and exciting.
S+S Magazine: Sometimes success is slow or doesn’t come so easily. Did you experience or have to overcome any challenges or barriers?
Priscilla: Success is slow and doesn’t come easily, I have had to overcome some barriers such as having a client sign a contract with me and agree to the rate of pay and turn around a week later and try to renegotiate the contract and compare my credential to another company in my small town. We each are registered with the Secretary of State (Florida). There are many barriers from being a woman to being a woman of color and people not wanting to pay you what they pay other individuals.
S+S Magazine: At Soigne’+Swank Magazine, we make it our business to highlight and promote positive, uplifting, and meaningful examples of black excellence. What does black excellence mean to you?
Priscilla: Black Excellence means to show up in your business, community and in the lives of others whether it’s for our youth, young family just starting out words of wisdom when needed goes a long way. If we can show up for each other in a meaningful way and key word “meaningful” that’s the greatest gift, we can give of ourselves with no strings attached. My daddy taught me growing up that your word is your bond and that you were as good as your word. So, let’s make our word “Excellence”.
S+S Magazine: What advice would you give your younger self or an aspiring business owner with hopes of pursuing their passions?
Priscilla: I would say to my younger self that it’s not easy, but you can do anything that you set your mind to your stubborn like that, lol. Slow and steady wins the race and you don’t have anything to prove your work speaks volumes because it’s done from the heart.
S+S Magazine: What’s next for you and how/where can others connect with you?
Priscilla: What’s next is our new service that I will personally be teaching “Brain change”, “Normal aging” and Not normal aging and other dementia related disorder. This is affiliation with Teepa Snow the leading Dementia expert. Our website is www.lifecarecompanions_nwfl.com
Lynnecia S. Eley is Founder & Managing Editor of Soigne’ + Swank Magazine. She is a career-driven entrepreneur, wife, and mother. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, she is an award-winning University Assistant Dean and Adjunct Professor committed to excellence, dedication, and caring for others. Known as the Confidence Doula, Lynnecia is a best-selling author and coach, a founder of Two Queens Media and Black & Ivy League, Inc. You can learn more about Lynnecia and her platforms at www.shecaninspire.com.
