1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,100 On today's episode of attention ALVA would be speaking with a Navy veteran successful entrepreneur and published author stay tuned 2 00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:09,100 You won't want to miss this episode 3 00:00:20,460 --> 00:00:25,680 Hello everyone, thanks for tuning into attention ALVA the podcast for the American Latino Veterans Association 4 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,360 We're so excited to have you join us today 5 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:33,960 I'm your host Danny Vargas chairman and CEO of ALVA in addition to these podcasts where you get to hear from inspiring guests 6 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:40,280 We also have a webinar series where you learn great information on really important topics and keep an eye out for our future events 7 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:45,360 By visiting our website alvavets.org and our social media channels @Alva vets 8 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:51,560 We really want to thank our sponsors for these podcasts and webinars JP Morgan chase PMI Wells Fargo 9 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:58,400 AT&T T-mobile and Accenture I ask you to please like share comment and subscribe to these videos 10 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,600 It really helps a lot and we really appreciate your support 11 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:09,400 I'm pleased to introduce our special guest for today. Jean Ibañez-Payneand I'll read her bio briefly. Thank you, Jean for joining us 12 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,600 Born in the United States. Jean Ibañez-Payne was raised in Colombia 13 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:19,280 Gene returned to the United States to finish high school and enlisting United States Navy in 14 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,360 1992 serving as a yeoman from 15 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:28,760 until 1996 in 96 she began her 20 plus year career of experience and workforce training 16 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,640 communications marketing diversity program management and risk management 17 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:40,320 Jean's passion has always been helping people work better together and increasing awareness and efforts around diversity and inclusion 18 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:46,120 This passion motivated her to start TI verbatim consultant TI VC in 19 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:47,840 2014 20 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,820 Jean took a huge leap of faith with the support of her husband and started TI VC 21 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,040 TI VCS mission is to help people work better together 22 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,800 Which has quickly become a successful business in the corporate and government 23 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,560 Environments and has earned the trust of customers across the country 24 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:10,760 Jean is an international coaching Federation certified coach certified diversity executive with certification in lean six sigma 25 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,320 change management and emotional intelligence 26 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:19,960 She's a member of multiple nonprofit boards and holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and a master of business administration 27 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:26,680 One of Jean's biggest accomplishment was authoring the top seller called reclaim your worth 28 00:02:26,920 --> 00:02:32,400 Which details her life story of abuse empowerment and building a life on her terms 29 00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:37,320 Jean's also the recipient of the 2022 Alva Veterans Entrepreneur Award 30 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,800 Jean, thanks so very much for joining us today 31 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,800 Thank you, Danny for having me. Oh, it's my pleasure and you know 32 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:45,800 we're so proud of everything that you've done and 33 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:50,760 Everything that you've accomplished and the role model that you've become to so many across the country 34 00:02:51,640 --> 00:02:58,840 Only take a few minutes to first start by talking about your upbringing your your journey prior to joining the Navy 35 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:07,560 So I was born here in the u.s. To immigrant parents and I returned to Colombia when I was two years old 36 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,400 And left when I when I was 15 due to the political 37 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:18,120 And economic instability in Colombia, I like to tell people that I I grew up 38 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,760 riding donkeys to school 39 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,080 and being attacked by roosters 40 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:24,840 and 41 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,040 I had a I loved growing up in the farm 42 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:32,520 And I have my parents and three brothers 43 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,440 What part of Colombia? Just say they uh 44 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,080 They will estado case cordoba 45 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,200 Uh cerca, uh monteria in 46 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,560 A 47 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,200 Campo 48 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:58,360 And I know you had it was a challenging upbringing as a child, uh, but uh, colombia is one of my favorite countries 49 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,360 I love Colombia 50 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:04,760 And the food, uh, it's spectacular. What was your favorite dish growing up? 51 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:07,800 Oh my gosh 52 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:10,680 Fried plantains 53 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:13,640 Uh 54 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,640 Homemade cheese 55 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:18,120 And sweat which is 56 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,920 Patacon 57 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:22,520 See, oh my um, so my father 58 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:27,080 He is 80 years old and he still manages 59 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,120 our farm and we grew up 60 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:31,960 literally 61 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,280 waking up at five o'clock in the morning 62 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:35,960 to 63 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:37,240 milking the cows 64 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:38,840 selling the milk 65 00:04:38,840 --> 00:04:40,840 making cheese 66 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,600 At home to eat and then me walking to school 67 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,080 From the farm to the nearest town 68 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:48,440 Wow 69 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,520 And and when you came back to the united states what part of the united states did you come back to? 70 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,520 What brought me to the united states what what part of the us what part 71 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,880 So I went to um 72 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,440 I lived in la 73 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,600 And then I literally 74 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,040 Went to three different high schools. I lived with 75 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,680 Three different relatives 76 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,680 And then I joined the navy 77 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:14,680 Awesome 78 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,480 So let's talk about your time in the navy. Uh, so 79 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,040 Did you have any experience in the navy? 80 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:25,560 The navy, uh, so did you join the navy in in california is where you enlisted? 81 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,020 No, I I enlisted in harrisburg, pennsylvania 82 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:34,360 Okay, I graduated from high school and um, I needed money for college 83 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:39,480 And then I just decided to join the navy which was quite interesting because 84 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,200 English was my second language 85 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:47,480 And my asvab scores were too low. I took the test the first time 86 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:52,840 Then I took it again and it was they were too low and I was held back actually in uh 87 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,240 in boot camp 88 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:59,000 To receive more development classes for english 89 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,560 I went into boot camp in june 90 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,960 And I left in november and it's typically supposed to be six weeks 91 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:13,880 Where was boot camp let's talk about your boot camp it was in orlando florida, okay. Yes 92 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:20,200 And that must have been a culture shock. I know my boot my basic training was a culture shock for me coming from new york city 93 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,400 Going to san antonio texas for basic training was a culture shock 94 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,480 It was really a culture shock danie 95 00:06:28,840 --> 00:06:30,200 Coming from 96 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,120 what my family 97 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,120 because the culture 98 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:40,060 My father my mother didn't believe that a woman belonging the military. So I definitely did not have their approval 99 00:06:40,060 --> 00:06:45,740 And it was it was a culture shock because I didn't speak english, so it was very difficult 100 00:06:46,460 --> 00:06:47,980 and also 101 00:06:47,980 --> 00:06:52,620 Growing up in my household my mom was a very strong woman 102 00:06:53,420 --> 00:06:55,020 and um 103 00:06:55,020 --> 00:06:57,020 I picked up some of her 104 00:06:57,980 --> 00:07:02,220 Some of her things and um, I guess I was a little bit outspoken 105 00:07:02,940 --> 00:07:08,220 And so that was one of the culture shocks that I had was getting in trouble for speaking my mind 106 00:07:08,220 --> 00:07:09,740 in boot camp 107 00:07:09,740 --> 00:07:11,740 I hear you. I know what you mean 108 00:07:12,060 --> 00:07:16,940 And and thank goodness you you remain an outspoken person. So we're grateful for that 109 00:07:17,180 --> 00:07:20,540 So let's talk about your navy career. You're in for four years. I think it 110 00:07:21,500 --> 00:07:24,140 Yes, I was so I joined in 111 00:07:25,260 --> 00:07:26,140 92 112 00:07:26,140 --> 00:07:29,020 In ice I was a yeoman in the military 113 00:07:29,660 --> 00:07:33,260 Which was similar to being an administrative assistant 114 00:07:33,260 --> 00:07:37,660 And I did um, I served in uh, naval station puget sound 115 00:07:38,380 --> 00:07:40,720 In seattle just has been decommissioned 116 00:07:41,340 --> 00:07:46,860 And from there I moved to uh naval station everett, which is near the seattle base 117 00:07:47,340 --> 00:07:50,140 And I went on to spend some time in whidbey island 118 00:07:50,860 --> 00:07:55,980 In washington and then I deployed to dio garcia for six months. Wow 119 00:07:57,020 --> 00:07:59,020 Yes, and how was that? 120 00:07:59,020 --> 00:08:04,860 I couldn't believe that it was an appointment. I mean dio garcia is a little island in the middle of the indian ocean 121 00:08:05,420 --> 00:08:07,420 Just beautiful beautiful beautiful 122 00:08:08,140 --> 00:08:13,340 But I was ready to come home after six months. It gets a little bit small after you're there for six months 123 00:08:13,340 --> 00:08:15,340 But it was it was a great experience 124 00:08:16,060 --> 00:08:18,300 That's awesome. And I assume you learned a lot 125 00:08:18,860 --> 00:08:22,940 So we can talk about that, but I know it wasn't easy. I know you experienced some some personal 126 00:08:22,940 --> 00:08:28,380 hardships as well. Yes. Yes, it was um 127 00:08:29,500 --> 00:08:34,700 You know, i'm very conflicted actually when people asked me about my military experience 128 00:08:35,260 --> 00:08:36,460 especially 129 00:08:36,460 --> 00:08:41,900 Especially moms who have their daughters joining the military or who want to join the military? 130 00:08:42,780 --> 00:08:44,220 I um 131 00:08:44,220 --> 00:08:46,220 I was the recipient of 132 00:08:46,220 --> 00:08:53,180 Numerous experiences of military sex or trauma literally for four and a half years. Um, so definitely kind of uh, 133 00:08:54,780 --> 00:08:56,780 Stamped me for life 134 00:08:57,820 --> 00:08:59,820 And it's something that I 135 00:09:00,300 --> 00:09:02,300 Navigate through every day 136 00:09:03,740 --> 00:09:10,060 I'm on behalf of all of us who served and all all of us. Uh, i'm really happy to be here 137 00:09:10,060 --> 00:09:15,900 Uh to go through but I know as a human being uh having known you for a while. I know that 138 00:09:16,460 --> 00:09:21,420 The strength and perseverance that you have as an individual is something very very admirable. So 139 00:09:21,980 --> 00:09:24,380 You know, I applaud you for that strength and that resilience 140 00:09:25,020 --> 00:09:28,940 And I applaud you for having shared that not only with this audience 141 00:09:28,940 --> 00:09:30,940 But also in the book that you shared with me 142 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:37,500 And I'm very happy to be here with you and I'm very happy to be here with you and I'm very happy to be here with you 143 00:09:37,500 --> 00:09:39,260 uh, while in the military 144 00:09:39,260 --> 00:09:41,420 итnatantly 145 00:09:41,420 --> 00:09:44,220 Keeping you guys Huh? 146 00:09:45,420 --> 00:09:46,620 Softly 147 00:09:46,620 --> 00:09:52,240 But anything family 148 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,200 ifies 149 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,200 This book I would like to I'm�wite 150 00:09:58,660 --> 00:10:00,060 To it 151 00:10:00,060 --> 00:10:03,560 And give an important thing, which is the value of theная 152 00:10:04,220 --> 00:10:06,180 Rr 153 00:10:06,180 --> 00:10:07,960 to navigate life after that service. 154 00:10:08,740 --> 00:10:15,620 Certainly, certainly Danny, uh, often we think that military sex with 155 00:10:15,620 --> 00:10:17,340 trauma is isolated just to women. 156 00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:23,260 It is not for men and five women. 157 00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:28,100 Daily are sexually assaulted in the military. 158 00:10:29,020 --> 00:10:34,740 Very few choose to come forward and raise their hands and say, this happened to me. 159 00:10:34,740 --> 00:10:35,460 So you're right. 160 00:10:35,500 --> 00:10:45,740 It's something that there needs to be a, um, this little light ship into that epidemic. 161 00:10:46,780 --> 00:10:47,300 That's right. 162 00:10:47,300 --> 00:10:52,340 And we need to make sure that, um, military personnel in the chain of command is prepared 163 00:10:52,340 --> 00:10:56,500 to be able to deal with that because for too long, there have been too many incidents 164 00:10:56,500 --> 00:10:59,460 that were swept under the rug and not addressed fully. 165 00:10:59,940 --> 00:11:03,940 So I think this is, this is important that we continue to shed light, but also 166 00:11:03,940 --> 00:11:09,540 continue to call for action and changes, uh, and how we address that and how we deal 167 00:11:09,540 --> 00:11:10,340 with that in the military. 168 00:11:11,540 --> 00:11:18,420 And that's what I am hoping my book will do is to create awareness for change. 169 00:11:19,380 --> 00:11:19,940 Absolutely. 170 00:11:19,940 --> 00:11:20,420 Hear hear. 171 00:11:21,140 --> 00:11:24,260 Well, we're going to get to the book in a, in a, in a minute, but I did want to 172 00:11:24,260 --> 00:11:26,820 talk about your career after the military. 173 00:11:26,820 --> 00:11:31,620 Uh, I know we met for the first time, uh, when you're in one of your corporate roles, 174 00:11:31,620 --> 00:11:37,140 uh, years ago. So take us on that path after you got out of the Navy and, and went into 175 00:11:37,140 --> 00:11:40,980 your, your corporate life and then starting your own business, which is huge. 176 00:11:41,220 --> 00:11:42,660 So let's talk about that for a few minutes. 177 00:11:44,980 --> 00:11:48,900 Yes, I had quite an interesting career after the military. 178 00:11:50,180 --> 00:11:55,780 I spent 15 years in the corporate environment and I always tell the story that, uh, the 179 00:11:55,780 --> 00:12:03,460 first job that I had coming out of the military, I was let go because I did not know how to 180 00:12:03,460 --> 00:12:04,180 use Excel. 181 00:12:05,620 --> 00:12:13,940 And, uh, and then after that, I, uh, I went to spend a lot of time in the energy industry. 182 00:12:15,380 --> 00:12:19,380 Working for electric utilities as an energy marketer. 183 00:12:19,380 --> 00:12:25,460 And, um, that was another male dominated environment. 184 00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:32,820 Uh, and, um, but I had a passion to, for diversity, inclusion and helping people work 185 00:12:32,820 --> 00:12:33,620 better together. 186 00:12:34,260 --> 00:12:40,020 So back in 2014, I decided just to take a leap of faith overnight. 187 00:12:41,140 --> 00:12:48,500 And I literally came home, I was making six failures and I came home and I told my husband 188 00:12:48,500 --> 00:12:56,340 after having spent so many, so much time resources and wanting a child, I was commuting 75 189 00:12:56,340 --> 00:12:57,060 miles each way. 190 00:12:57,780 --> 00:13:03,540 And I just, I just decided overnight that I, that is not something that I wanted to do. 191 00:13:04,820 --> 00:13:10,580 And, um, I literally just said, I am going to start my own business. 192 00:13:10,580 --> 00:13:16,820 And, uh, I married to a military guy who was a mission commander. 193 00:13:16,820 --> 00:13:23,220 His very, he plans everything and, uh, he almost had a heart attack. 194 00:13:23,700 --> 00:13:25,060 I said, well, don't worry about it. 195 00:13:25,140 --> 00:13:27,220 I'm not going, I'm not going to quit ESC. 196 00:13:27,220 --> 00:13:28,100 I'm going to go part time. 197 00:13:28,900 --> 00:13:33,140 And, uh, within two or three days of going part time, decided to go part time or a week, 198 00:13:33,700 --> 00:13:37,300 I quit and, uh, and I started my own business. 199 00:13:37,300 --> 00:13:43,940 I'm going to start my own business, cashed 401ks, sold our dream home, moved to another state. 200 00:13:44,820 --> 00:13:46,580 And, uh, I had never looked back. 201 00:13:47,220 --> 00:13:49,380 It has been the best experience and the best thing I did. 202 00:13:50,900 --> 00:13:55,540 So TI Verbatim Consulting, TI VC, tell us about that company that you started. 203 00:13:56,660 --> 00:14:04,740 My passion has always been, um, human capital optimization, which for me, it was all about 204 00:14:04,740 --> 00:14:10,980 helping people work better together based on what I lived in the military and also in 205 00:14:10,980 --> 00:14:17,940 the corporate environment, because sexual harassment also happens very much in the corporate 206 00:14:17,940 --> 00:14:18,420 environment. 207 00:14:18,980 --> 00:14:24,820 I decided to focus on creating a company where we help people work better together by focusing 208 00:14:24,820 --> 00:14:25,540 in the culture. 209 00:14:26,180 --> 00:14:32,980 So our company, we go into organizations to, to assess the state of the culture, qualitative, 210 00:14:32,980 --> 00:14:40,180 quantitative analysis, and we have created a tool actually software for us to do the 211 00:14:40,180 --> 00:14:41,140 cultural assessments. 212 00:14:42,260 --> 00:14:44,020 So that's kind of what we're doing today. 213 00:14:44,020 --> 00:14:46,340 And like I said, Danny, I had never looked back. 214 00:14:47,380 --> 00:14:52,660 I'm a firm believer that, uh, we always walk around and talk about plan B. 215 00:14:52,660 --> 00:14:58,340 And for me, I said, when you are fully committed to plan A, there's no such a thing as plan B. 216 00:14:58,340 --> 00:15:03,380 What's the, what's the, uh, what types of customers do you have at TI VC? 217 00:15:04,020 --> 00:15:07,540 We have different, we have government and we have corporate environments. 218 00:15:08,020 --> 00:15:14,580 We actually not long ago did a cultural assessment for the U S mint, which I'm many people familiar 219 00:15:14,580 --> 00:15:14,820 with. 220 00:15:15,460 --> 00:15:18,340 And so those are just one of our customers. 221 00:15:18,340 --> 00:15:21,140 And then we also serve the corporate, um, environment. 222 00:15:21,780 --> 00:15:24,820 And for those who care about these things, particularly on the government contracting 223 00:15:24,820 --> 00:15:29,380 side, do you had your eight, a certification, your woman owned certification, veteran owned 224 00:15:29,380 --> 00:15:29,940 small business. 225 00:15:29,940 --> 00:15:33,140 So, so those are all things that folks can look to. 226 00:15:33,140 --> 00:15:37,540 And if they're looking to do business with the IVC, what's the, what's the website for 227 00:15:37,540 --> 00:15:44,740 TIBC or website is www.TI verbatim.com TI verbatim.com. 228 00:15:45,780 --> 00:15:51,380 Uh, so if you want to be able to reach gene and do business with a TI VC, that's the website. 229 00:15:51,380 --> 00:15:54,660 Um, so, you know, you've been so successful in business. 230 00:15:54,660 --> 00:16:00,740 You've been so successful in your, your corporate, uh, life, but you always had sort of that, 231 00:16:01,620 --> 00:16:06,020 that struggle that you had to deal with in terms of some of the trauma that you experience. 232 00:16:06,580 --> 00:16:10,500 And I know in speaking with you that you wanted to make sure that you had it, not really an 233 00:16:10,500 --> 00:16:17,220 outlet to be able to, uh, have that catharsis of being able to let that out, but also to 234 00:16:17,220 --> 00:16:21,220 help others, which led you to be able to do business with the, the, the, the, the, the 235 00:16:21,220 --> 00:16:25,620 RAM for the first, the, the, the first year, but then everybody keeps coming back on the 236 00:16:25,620 --> 00:16:30,420 electronics or some of your subscribe, share your columns, you know, just to pan the video. 237 00:16:30,420 --> 00:16:35,300 You justowanie contigo book, go ahead and put it up to the public responses and you just 238 00:16:35,300 --> 00:16:36,900 let people hear it. 239 00:16:36,900 --> 00:16:38,180 harder to understand. 240 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:40,340 Let's get to the book. 241 00:16:40,340 --> 00:16:47,580 my military sexual trauma for four and a half years. I left the Navy and I know this happens 242 00:16:47,580 --> 00:16:52,540 to a lot of veterans with trauma. And it's not just military sexual trauma because they're 243 00:16:52,540 --> 00:17:01,780 all other kinds of trauma. We're suffering silence. We have too much, we're afraid or 244 00:17:01,780 --> 00:17:07,900 do we have too much pride to raise our hands and say, I need help. That happened to me 245 00:17:07,900 --> 00:17:14,980 for 20 years, Danny. I literally suffered for 20 years and many people would say, oh, 246 00:17:14,980 --> 00:17:20,860 you're so successful. You have everything. Look how you carry yourself. But I was suffering 247 00:17:20,860 --> 00:17:29,180 in silence, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation. And I was too afraid of people not believing 248 00:17:29,180 --> 00:17:36,300 me, like nobody believed me in the military. So that was 20 years of that. And I decided 249 00:17:36,300 --> 00:17:43,420 to get help. And again, I'm talking to the veterans is we raise our hands sometimes to 250 00:17:43,420 --> 00:17:49,220 get help, but we outsource our treatment to people, letting them tell us what to do. Or 251 00:17:49,220 --> 00:17:53,500 we go to the psychiatrist, we go to the psychologist, but then we don't do the part and we don't 252 00:17:53,500 --> 00:17:59,300 use the tools that they're telling us to use. I was doing that until 2000, until December 253 00:17:59,300 --> 00:18:06,460 of 2022, where I decided enough is enough. I have to do something. I got to put a stake 254 00:18:06,460 --> 00:18:17,620 in the ground and I need to get better. And that was kind of when I decided to stop outsourcing 255 00:18:17,620 --> 00:18:27,860 my my worth in my recovery and took ownership of it. 256 00:18:27,860 --> 00:18:31,540 So tell us about the book. What's what's included in the book? 257 00:18:31,540 --> 00:18:37,980 So my entire journey is included in the book. From the time I was five years old, because 258 00:18:37,980 --> 00:18:44,260 I also had trauma when I was growing up to the military, to what I did. And in January 259 00:18:44,260 --> 00:18:50,620 of this year, I felt that after two years of recovering my of reclaiming my worth, I 260 00:18:50,620 --> 00:18:59,580 was ready to write my book. I wrote 50,000 words in four weeks, 35,000 in one week, writing 261 00:18:59,580 --> 00:19:06,740 12 to 14 hours a day. So you can tell that I was ready to reclaim my worth and get better. 262 00:19:06,740 --> 00:19:12,660 And I decided to write the book because I want to tell my story. But I want those people 263 00:19:12,660 --> 00:19:18,180 who have gone through trauma, who may be going through it, is that they're loved, they're 264 00:19:18,180 --> 00:19:24,020 appreciated, and they are not alone. And that it's time to raise your hands and say, I need 265 00:19:24,020 --> 00:19:31,420 help. Or stop, you can't do this anymore. 266 00:19:31,420 --> 00:19:35,940 What's been the reaction so far to the book? That's that's been out for how long now? 267 00:19:35,940 --> 00:19:44,900 It has been out for four weeks. It was a top seller in Amazon. The first week that it was 268 00:19:44,900 --> 00:19:54,500 released, close to 300 books have left my hands. And it has been humbling. It has been 269 00:19:54,500 --> 00:20:02,460 it has been overwhelming in a great way. I have women and men sending me messages or 270 00:20:02,460 --> 00:20:09,500 telling me, Jean, I resonate with this. Yes, I get it. It has been it has been just an 271 00:20:09,500 --> 00:20:17,820 amazing, amazing experience. And I feel that we are own where I'm on to something. I think 272 00:20:17,820 --> 00:20:26,820 this is going to be it's going to be big for those people who need to reclaim their worth. 273 00:20:26,820 --> 00:20:33,300 Well, Jean, you have done a remarkable job of being able to share your story, to be able 274 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:38,940 to be compassionate to others who are going through it, to give them a sense of ownership 275 00:20:38,940 --> 00:20:44,220 and empowerment. And I applaud you for everything that you've done. I applaud you for being 276 00:20:44,220 --> 00:20:51,180 the leader that you are and the strong individual that you are. And it's been on Amazon for 277 00:20:51,180 --> 00:20:59,100 four weeks, right? Amazon, yes. And it's a top seller. And did you ever think that you 278 00:20:59,100 --> 00:21:09,100 could be a published author with a top selling book? No, I was I was I was too focused on 279 00:21:09,100 --> 00:21:16,780 being afraid. I was too focused on being embarrassed. I couldn't imagine being so vulnerable to 280 00:21:16,780 --> 00:21:22,540 tell my story because people will read my book. I'm very transparent, very transparent 281 00:21:22,540 --> 00:21:31,020 with details. And it definitely take a it took a lot of courage for me to do. But also 282 00:21:31,020 --> 00:21:39,980 the support that I have received from my son, my husband, my family in Colombia. It has 283 00:21:39,980 --> 00:21:45,660 been phenomenal. I could not do it without them. So I didn't think I never imagined 284 00:21:45,660 --> 00:21:50,620 that I would write it. But let me tell you, I am so proud of myself for taking the step 285 00:21:50,620 --> 00:21:57,180 and telling my stories so I can help others. We're all very proud of you, Jean. And we're 286 00:21:57,180 --> 00:22:02,620 all supporting you and we're all behind you. And I really thank you for for your courage 287 00:22:02,620 --> 00:22:10,300 and your transparency and your focus on helping others at the same time. Last question for 288 00:22:10,300 --> 00:22:17,300 you, Jean. Yes. Working people buy the book. So you can go to Amazon.com, reclaim your 289 00:22:17,300 --> 00:22:24,380 worth, or you can go to my website, which is reclaim your worth now.com. You can order 290 00:22:24,380 --> 00:22:31,260 a a signed copy. That's fantastic. Jean, I'm so proud of you. Thank you so very much for 291 00:22:31,260 --> 00:22:36,660 joining us. Thank you, Danny. You know what, and I appreciate you being one of my cheerleaders 292 00:22:36,660 --> 00:22:42,260 throughout this journey. So thank you. Always my friend. Thank you so much. And to all of 293 00:22:42,260 --> 00:22:45,780 you on behalf of the American Latino Veterans Association. Thank you all for joining us 294 00:22:45,780 --> 00:22:50,540 today. We hope you enjoy the content. Please join us for future webinars and podcasts. 295 00:22:50,540 --> 00:22:53,780 Please keep an eye out for information on our upcoming events by visiting our website 296 00:22:53,780 --> 00:23:00,220 alvavets.org. I will tell you we have our annual DC event coming up on November 6th. 297 00:23:00,220 --> 00:23:04,380 Afternoon sessions would include information on transitioning from the military to civilian 298 00:23:04,380 --> 00:23:10,700 careers, financial literacy, accessing veteran benefits and a job matchmaking session as 299 00:23:10,700 --> 00:23:16,080 well. You can go to alvavets.org to get more information on that. Thank you once again 300 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,940 to Jean for being our special guest today. And thank you once again to our sponsors for 301 00:23:19,940 --> 00:23:26,640 these podcasts and webinars, JP Morgan, Chase, PMI Wells Fargo, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Accenture. 302 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:31,220 Thank you all again for joining us. And as always, be safe, aim high and thrive. Thanks 303 00:23:31,220 --> 00:23:44,740 very much. We'll see you next time.