Episode 303: Living Your Purpose Out Loud: Lateshia Pearson on Confidence, Vulnerability & Being Real
Living Your Purpose Out Loud: Lateshia Pearson on Confidence, Vulnerability, and Being Real
When Lateshia Pearson talks about finding her purpose, she doesn't give you a five-step plan or a pretty framework. She describes something way deeper—this unexplainable feeling where something bigger just takes over your entire life.
"It becomes bigger than you. I could do this and not get paid a dime for the rest of my life and it feels amazing. It feels like I belong."
Listen, this woman is a serial entrepreneur, reality TV personality, and founder of Women Brunch and Empower Me Sis. Her take on purpose? It's not just about passion. It's about belonging. And it's about moving forward even when the path isn't clear, the validation isn't there, and—oh yeah—the cameras are rolling.
In episode 303 of the Game On Girlfriend® podcast, we're getting into what it really looks like to build multiple businesses without a blueprint. Lateshia opens up about navigating health challenges in the public eye and why authenticity beats perfection every single time—especially for women of color who need to see that bigger possibilities actually exist.
New here? Game On Girlfriend® podcast is for women entrepreneurs who want to build profitable, purpose-driven businesses without losing themselves in the process. Every week, I bring you real conversations with women doing business differently—because cookie-cutter strategies don't work for everyone.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Here's the thing: sometimes the ideas that change your entire life give you exactly one week to make them happen.
That's what went down when Lateshia attended a networking event in another state. She saw something she'd never experienced before—women genuinely asking each other, "How can I help you?" and "How can you help me?"
Her immediate reaction? "We need this in Mississippi."
Her friend asked what she wanted to do. Honestly? Lateshia didn't have some detailed business plan. She called a venue, asked her friend to handle decorations, and boom—Mingling Over Mimosas business brunch was born. She created the whole thing in one week.
Get this—she had zero idea if one person would show up. Over 100 women lined up to get in.
"I moved in that moment. I moved in that frequency. I moved in that energy. I believed in myself. I believed in God. After that, I got messages: 'When is the next one? When is the next one?' And I said, God, give me a name. What am I going to call this thing? It was Women Brunch Mississippi. It's been uphill since then."
That one event? It became a whole movement. It opened doors to speaking gigs, multiple business platforms, and eventually a storyline on the Oprah Winfrey Network's Belle Collective reality show.
Talk about following your gut.
When Intuition Keeps Knocking on Your Door
Lateshia has a really clear method for knowing when to act on an idea. She pays attention to what keeps showing up.
"When something is really on you heavy, when it's gnawing at you in that moment, move on it because the energy is trying—the energy is there," she explains.
Then she asks this powerful question: "Have you ever had something where you're like, oh my god, it's just like this urge and why does it keep coming back? Why does it keep circling back?"
That's the universe—that's God—telling you to move on this RIGHT NOW. Don't just sit there thinking about it. Move in it. Allow the frequency to flow.
Building an Unconventional Portfolio Career
This approach has created the most unconventional portfolio career. From licensed bail bondsman to freelance paralegal to founder of multiple platforms—Lateshia absolutely does not believe in staying in your lane.
"I'm a creator and a visionary. I'm not one of those people like, okay, that didn't work, all right, that was it, I'm done. I'm going to keep evolving. If you're moving in purpose and you're moving in good intentions and your intentions are to help and inspire someone else, everything's going to work out for you."
She's tried making fruit arrangements. She ripped jeans one time and sold them on Facebook. She brought lookalike characters to birthday parties. Did every venture stick? Nope. But each one taught her something valuable about herself and her purpose.
The lesson? Evolution is part of the deal. Growth means trying new things, even when they don't all work out.
The One Hour Rule for When Life Feels Terrible
Even someone as confident as Lateshia experiences doubt, fear, and those "why is this happening to me" moments. Her method for moving through them? It's brilliant.
"Have your moment. Cry it out. Hate the world. Eat chocolate. I don't care. Do that. You got an hour to do that," she tells her mentees. "Have a whole pity party where life just hates you. But then after that hour, you got to fix it. You got to get it together."
"Your feelings are valid—whether positive, negative, or indecisive. But after acknowledging why you feel that way, you need to figure out how to get back on track."
Look, a lot of people experience fear. Even worse? They're so afraid of experiencing fear that they talk themselves out of taking action. Lateshia sees this clearly: "Purpose is walking alone. Purpose is being confident in yourself and believing in yourself and in your vision."
Practical Tools for Moving Through Doubt
When doubt shows up (because it will), Lateshia goes back to her why. She literally talks to herself in the mirror—and answers herself. Yes, really. She also keeps affirmations posted where she can see them. She reminds herself who she is and how many lives her work is impacting.
"I'm a servant first before I'm anything," she says. "That in itself is a reminder to figure this out, get out your head, and move in it."
Here's what actually helps her when she's feeling stuck:
- Meditation throughout the day (not just once in the morning)
- Throwing herself into a creative project
- Starting something brand new or revamping something old
- Remembering who she's serving and why it matters
- Surrounding herself with people who can pray for her when she can't pray for herself
Vulnerability on Reality Television (With Cameras Everywhere)
Managing personal challenges is hard enough. Doing it while cameras document your entire life for public consumption? That's a whole different level of courage.
Lateshia has navigated PCOS diagnosis, breast health scares, and business ups and downs—all on the Oprah Winfrey Network's Belle Collective, which is heading into its sixth season.
"A lot of times I look at it, I'm like, oh my goodness, get your life together," she laughs about watching episodes back. "But it's just—I don't know—it is what it is, right?"
Why Authenticity Beats Perfection Every Time
Her entire approach to reality TV centers on authenticity. "Showing up as your authentic self is the best way to inspire and to encourage and to just really give hope to others," she explains.
Growing up in Pilar Hatch, Mississippi—a town of maybe 1,500 people—she didn't see tons of examples of business owners or success beyond her immediate community. Now she views her platform completely differently. It's an opportunity to show women, particularly women of color in small towns, that way bigger possibilities exist.
"There are other women or little girls who sit in small towns who may think that they can't do it. They can't get out. They're only what they see around them and they're so much bigger. The world is so much bigger."
She wants people to see that she's a powerhouse who refused to give up. That fame didn't change who she is as a person. That you can have it all and still be a servant and a genuinely kind person.
Not everyone will vibe with her message, though. And she's totally okay with that.
"I'm not going to be everybody's cup of tea, and that's okay because I don't want everybody sipping from me anyway. There's a hundred more people out there that I'm inspiring and motivating. That's what it's all about for me."
The Practice of Actually Being Present
Success comes with its own set of challenges. For Lateshia, one of the biggest? Learning to actually sit in the moment instead of immediately jumping to the next thing.
"A big flaw of mine, I will say, is that I got to start sitting in the moment," she admits. "I'll be so focused on trying to make sure that people have what they need—are you okay? Do you need something else? Did you get everything that you need?—to where I hadn't just sat there and been like, oh god, let me just savor this moment."
The Phone Under the Couch Strategy (Yes, Really)
This lesson extends big time to her relationship with her 10-year-old son, Joshua. A therapist gave her some unusual advice: put your phone under the couch.
For someone whose phone is literally how she makes her money and manages multiple businesses? This seemed impossible. She did it anyway.
Now every single night after Joshua finishes homework and gets ready for bed, the phone goes under the couch. This way she can be completely present with him.
"He's 10. He'll be 16. He's already like, 'Okay ma, I really don't want to watch a movie. I want to play Roblox.' Before I know it, I'm like, no, you're going to sit here with me. Put your phone under the couch too."
She's learned something critical: your kid's automatic "yes" when they ask for your time will eventually stop. "There comes a point when they stop asking," she reminds other parent entrepreneurs.
Can we talk about how real that is?
A Day in the Life (The Real Version)
Her typical day when she's not traveling? She makes breakfast for Joshua and takes him to school. Then she dives into work—interviews and calls, managing her bail bonds business, working on paralegal projects for her attorney clients, or planning her 2026 brunch tour. She's also trying to hit 10,000 steps daily.
When Joshua gets out of school, boom—full mommy mode. Homework. Dinner. Bedtime routine.
After he's asleep, the phone comes out from under the couch for any last emails before bed. She aims to be in bed by 10 PM to keep everything flowing smoothly.
The Power of Your Circle (AKA Your Praying Friends)
Lateshia is super clear about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Specifically? Those who can lift you up when you absolutely cannot lift yourself up.
"It's very important to have that circle of women who can understand and uplift you and pray for you when you can't or you don't even want to pray for yourself," she says. "We got to have them praying friends. We got to have friends that say, 'Girl, you got this. Let's figure it out. There's too much on you.'"
She acknowledges that being vulnerable feels weird when you're the person others come to for help. "How are you going to be really vulnerable and weak to people that you help?" she asks.
That's exactly why creating safe spaces matters so much. Her platforms—Women Brunch, Empower Me Sis—exist partly because she needed those spaces herself.
"We have to come together and lay hands, all the hands. We got to have that circle of women who can understand and uplift you."
How She Actually Moves Through Difficult Moments
When it comes to processing tough stuff, Lateshia throws herself into work. "I'm a creator. I'm a visionary. I like creating new ideas. I like doing new things, new projects, and I love doing challenging things," she explains.
She'll immediately redirect her energy into creating something else, finishing a project, or revamping something she started. A lot of her work is inspirational and forward-moving, which naturally helps her revive herself when she needs it most.
Pretty genius, right?
What's Coming Next
Lateshia has another project brewing that she's not quite ready to spill the beans on. "It's premature right now," she teases. "But I am excited about this on another type of level."
Meanwhile, Belle Collective's new season premieres October 3rd, and her 2026 brunch tour is in the works.
Beyond any specific project though, Lateshia stays committed to her core purpose: serving as representation for women—not just in Mississippi, but everywhere. She's helping them create businesses and inspiring them to become the absolute best versions of themselves.
"Everything that I go through is for a reason—to inspire other people. I'm a magnet and I feel and I do know that I attract everything to me that's needed in the right time. Whatever is meant to happen in that moment of my life, I trust it and I just flow in frequency."
Key Takeaways from This Conversation
Whether you're building your first business or navigating your fifth pivot, Lateshia's wisdom offers real guidance for staying authentic while actually growing.
On Finding Your Purpose
Purpose isn't something you logic your way into. It's a feeling of belonging, of something bigger taking over. When you're truly operating in purpose, you could do it without getting paid and it would still feel right.
On Moving Through Fear
Fear of not getting back up matters way more than fear of failure. Give yourself total permission to feel your feelings—literally set a timer for one hour if you need to—then acknowledge what you're feeling and get back to work.
On Trusting Your Intuition
When an idea keeps circling back, that's your cue to move. The energy is already there. The frequency is present. Stop overthinking and start taking action.
On Showing Up Authentically
Not everyone will be your cup of tea. That's perfectly fine. Show up as yourself anyway. Someone out there needs to see your authentic journey.
On Building Real Community
Surround yourself with people who can pray for you when you literally can't pray for yourself. Your five closest friends? They matter more than you think.
On Actually Being Present
Success means nothing if you're not present for the people and moments that actually matter. Sometimes that means putting your phone under the couch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Living Your Purpose
How do you know if you've found your purpose?
According to Lateshia, purpose isn't something you figure out intellectually. It's a feeling of belonging where something bigger takes over. When you're operating in purpose, you could do it without getting paid and it would still feel right. You just know.
What do you do when fear stops you from taking action?
Lateshia recommends the "one hour rule"—give yourself exactly one hour to feel all your feelings, have your pity party, and acknowledge the fear. Then get back to work. Fear of not getting back up should be bigger than fear of failing.
How do you stay authentic while building a public brand?
Show up as yourself, even in the messy moments. Not everyone will connect with you, and that's okay. Lateshia says, "I'm not going to be everybody's cup of tea, and that's okay because I don't want everybody sipping from me anyway."
How can busy entrepreneurs be more present with family?
Try the "phone under the couch" strategy. Put your phone away during dedicated family time—even if your phone is how you make money. Your kids won't always ask for your time, so be present while they still want you around.
About Lateshia Pearson
Lateshia Pearson is changing the mindset of individuals across the globe.
Lateshia is the founder of Women Brunch, a platform for female entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The CEO of Lateshia Pearson Enterprise, Inc., a luxury marketing and branding company, and the founder of Empower Me Sis, which is a mentorship program for women.
Lateshia is a savvy businesswoman and has gained major acclaim and public notoriety as a force of empowerment, inspiration, and encouragement for others to start a business, practice self-care, and become the best version of themselves. Lateshia is also a TV Personality on the Oprah Winfrey Network - Belle Collective. "I am humbly grateful to have the opportunity and a platform that will allow me to inspire others."
Through Lateshia’s one-on-one coaching, empowerment sessions, and her life-changing events, she’s able to get others to move outside of their comfort zone and believe in themselves by helping them to envision themselves at their highest level of success.
New to Game On Girlfriend?
Game On Girlfriend® podcast is a podcast and community for women entrepreneurs who refuse to choose between success and staying true to themselves. I'm Sarah Walton, and each episode features real conversations with women building businesses on their own terms.
We talk about the messy middle of entrepreneurship—the fears, the pivots, the moments of doubt, and yes, the breakthroughs. If you're over hustle culture and ready for a more sustainable approach to business, welcome. You're in the right place.
Join the Conversation
What hit home for you from Lateshia's story? Are you giving yourself permission to actually feel your feelings before pushing forward? Have you been ignoring an idea that keeps circling back?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below or tag us on social @gameongirlfriend. I genuinely want to hear from you.
About Sarah Walton
Sarah Walton is a business coach, podcast host, and mentor who helps women entrepreneurs build businesses they love. She's the creator of the Abundance Academy, Effortless Sales, and the Game On Girlfriend® podcast. Sarah's mission is to put more money in the hands of more women while teaching authentic, heart-centered business strategies.
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