Hi!
I'm Jai Cornell.
I was a Hawaiian-Puerto Rican girl in the projects in Hawaii. It wasn’t an easy life but if we had a roof over our heads and a family, I didn’t think we were a rotten lot. I had women who raised me, strong, independent women — mother, aunt, and grandmothers — that went to great lengths to care for and defend us. My mother was always there for my sister and me, and we were taught to survive, to treat others respectfully, to prioritize others. But then I also grew up not to put my head down, not to speak up, to do what I was told to do.
I was a people-pleaser who said “yes” to everyone else and no one to me. I was docile, never questioned, never fought for what I believed I ought to or should have. In my heart of hearts, I was just “a nobody” in the projects, a few not good enough for my life. I was only thinking of what I thought was possible for someone like me.
We had so many secrets in our family, the kind that make you sick. But I was the oldest child and I had to be robust. When life beat me down, when failure was a setback I couldn’t recover from, I did what I felt was right. I stayed silent. I obeyed. I was trying to blend in.
All of that stopped at 16 when I was 16. It was abandoned in the sugarcane plantations: dropped and forgotten. My life was on the line that day. My friend saved me. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. His death in 2016 was unbearable but he was the life force in my heart. I told myself that I would carry his name into a life of purpose, one in which I would no longer whisper.
My husband and I have been married for nearly 20 years, and from the beginning, he embraced my children as his own without hesitation. Together, we raised our two children, watched them get married, and are now cherishing the joys of being grandparents. My family has always been my why—the reason I kept moving forward, worked harder, and dreamed bigger. I am determined to leave a lasting legacy for them and future generations, showing them that no matter where you come from, you have the power to become anything you want to be.
I have a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, a bunch of professional certifications and I’m working on a PhD.
However, I wanted more and the promise I held on to, I pumped over $200,000 into coaching, courses, and training. But despite all those qualifications, I discovered that all the experience and accomplishment in the world is no good if I am not lifting others up.
However, I got sick of “gurus” who amounted to nothing more than gimcrack and huge fees. I wanted to give people (and I especially wanted to make sure they — those of us who had been overlooked or silenced — an “actual chance” to tell our stories, create brands, and realise our potential without breaking the bank). My team took 5 years to become one that I entrust with all my heart, who has my purpose, who aligns with my company and who shares my mission to do the right thing for my legacy, believe in my mission, and our clients we serve.
Now, I’m a professional coach, speaker, writer, facilitator and publisher. With my “Permission to Flourish” anthology series, I allow anyone (beginners, seasoned writers, and professional writers) to write their story confidently. Every story counts, every voice is a good one and every person has the ability to transform lives.
I’ve had a very long, difficult, and learning road from being a “nobody” to becoming an assistive force for other people. But it turns out, all my wringing, fizzles and whispers were part of the journey. I’m in this job today because I *know people’. I know it is possible to share our story to be healed, to learn and to be heard. if I can change one lives even a single time, all the work, the money, the challenges, all the sacrifices, it was worth it.
Let me give you the *Permission to Flourish*— the freedom to come out of the dark, be real, and be authentic with the world. Your voice matters. Your story is a gift. And you are worthy of being heard.
Invite me
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Email me
info@jdmwow.com
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