Are you feeling stuck in a wilderness season, unsure of your next move, or afraid to pivot? Whether you are navigating a career transition, facing financial uncertainty, or simply trying to rediscover your voice, this episode of No Boxes, Just Verses is the inspiration you need. We go beyond the resume to explore how to turn rock bottom into a launchpad for reinvention. Join us as we explore the incredible journey of a Hollywood icon who taught herself to code during a personal low point and emerged as a tech leader.

Malinda Williams is an acclaimed actress, producer, and cultural icon whose work has profoundly shaped film and television. Best known for her breakthrough role as Tracy "Bird" Van Adams in Showtime’s groundbreaking series Soul Food, she has also starred in hits like The Wood, Idlewild, and Daddy’s Little Girls. Beyond Hollywood, Malinda is a tech visionary who taught herself to code and founded the Arise and Shine Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to wellness, empowerment, and creative entrepreneurship for underserved communities.

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Key Takeaways:

• Embrace the Wilderness Season: Malinda opens up about her time in the wilderness—a period of financial struggle and personal difficulty. She shares how she reframed this time not as a setback, but as a period of accelerated growth where she learned that if you want to see something different, you have to be something different.

• The Power of Self-Taught Reinvention: Discover the incredible story of how Malinda, facing a changing industry and personal debt, picked up a book called HTML for Dummies and taught herself to code. Learn how being an autodidact (self-taught learner) allowed her to pivot from acting to building websites and eventually launching a tech non-profit.

• Trust Your Intuition and Go: From moving to Los Angeles with only two weeks' notice to accepting the role of Bird in Soul Food after initially declining it three times, Malinda discusses the importance of listening to divine downloads and being radically obedient when your spirit says "go".

• Drop the "Bag Lady" Mentality: Inspired by Erykah Badu’s "Bag Lady," Malinda explains why you must let go of past hurts and grudges. She teaches that carrying emotional baggage slows you down, causing you to miss your bus—and your blessings.

• Know Your Worth in Negotiations: Hear the powerful story of how Malinda negotiated a salary double what she expected by leaning on her faith and learning to believe for more, even when the initial offer was a lowball.

Are you ready to drop your bags and code your own future? This episode is a masterclass in resilience and faith. If you were moved by Malinda’s story, consider supporting her mission to bring tech education to women and HBCUs by donating to the Arise and Shine Foundation at asforwomen.org 

Don't forget to subscribe to No Boxes, Just Verses for more inspiring journeys that go beyond the bio! Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: No Boxes Just Verses by Thane Kreiner (Suno)

How to Reinvent Yourself and Build a Life You Love: Lessons from Malinda Williams

Have you ever felt stuck? Maybe you are doing okay, but you feel like there is something more out there for you. Or maybe you are going through a really hard time, and you don't know how to get out of it. Life is full of twists and turns. Sometimes, the path you are on just stops working.

This article is for anyone who feels like they are in a wilderness season. That means you might feel lost, broke, or confused about your next step. It is also for dreamers who want to learn a new skill or start a new chapter. We are going to look at some amazing lessons from actress and tech entrepreneur Malinda Williams. She went from starring in big TV shows to teaching herself how to code when she hit a rough patch. Her story proves that you can always learn new things and come back stronger than ever.

Step 1: Find Your Own Voice

Growing up, we all listen to our parents and teachers. They tell us what to do, what to wear, and how to act. This is normal. But there comes a time when you have to figure out who you are. You might hear a song or read a book that makes you think, "Wait a minute, is that true?" This is your moment of discovery. You have to ask yourself who you are outside of your family. It might feel a little rebellious, like you are fighting against the rules, but it is actually the first step to becoming a leader. You have to know what you stand for before you can stand for anything.

Key Takeaways:

• Question things: Don't just accept everything you are told. It is okay to be curious about history and the world.

• Find your place: Ask yourself, "Who am I in this world?".

• Be confident: Trust that you have your own mind and your own opinions.

• Don't be a brat: You can find your voice without being mean or disrespectful. Just go find your purpose.

Step 2: Take a Leap of Faith (Even if You Are Scared)

Staying comfortable is safe, but it can also make you feel stuck. Sometimes, the fear of staying in the same place is scarier than the fear of the unknown. You might need to move to a new city or try a new job. It is okay if you don't have a perfect plan. You can even trick yourself a little bit to make it easier. Tell yourself, "I will just try this for two months." This takes the pressure off. If it doesn't work, you can always go back. But usually, once you take that leap, you won't want to go back.

Key Takeaways:

• Fear of stuck vs. Fear of new: Move when the fear of staying the same becomes bigger than the fear of leaving.

• Set a time limit: Tell yourself it is temporary (like a 2-month trial) to make the big move less scary.

• Pack light: You don't need to bring everything. Just bring what matters.

• Trust the pull: If you feel destiny pulling you, go for it. Your path is waiting for you.

Step 3: Listen to Your Intuition

Have you ever had a gut feeling? A little voice inside that says "Go" or "Don't do that"? That is your intuition. It is like a built-in GPS for your life. Sometimes we ignore it because we are scared or we think we know better. We might say "No" to an opportunity because we think we should be doing something else, like fixing a relationship or staying close to home. But if signs keep popping up—like random people asking you about that opportunity—you need to pay attention. When you finally listen and say "Yes," amazing things can happen. You might find that the opportunity was exactly what you needed to heal and grow.

Key Takeaways:

• Watch for signs: If three different people tell you the same thing, pay attention.

• Ask for guidance: It is okay to ask, "What am I supposed to do?" and wait for an answer.

• Obey the voice: When you hear "Go," don't argue. Just go.

• Healing is hiding: Sometimes the work you are resisting is actually the thing that will help you heal.

Step 4: Drop the Heavy Baggage

Imagine trying to run a race while carrying five heavy suitcases. You would be slow, tired, and you might miss the bus. Life is the same way. We carry "bags" of old hurts, grudges, and bad memories. We think about who wronged us and why life is unfair. But holding onto that stuff only hurts you. It weighs you down. You have to learn to forgive and let it go. When you put the bags down, you can move faster. You become lighter and more open to new blessings.

Key Takeaways:

• Travel light: You can't move forward quickly if you are carrying old anger.

• See people as teachers: Everyone who comes into your life is there to teach you something, even if it is a hard lesson.

• Forgive freely: Don't hold grudges. It frees you, not them.

• Be open: When you let go of the past, you make room for new, beautiful experiences.

Step 5: Learn New Skills in the Wilderness

Everyone hits a low point. You might be out of money, out of work, or going through a breakup. Malinda calls this the "wilderness season." It feels lonely, but it is actually a time for growth. When you are in this spot, don't just sit there. Learn something! Go to a bookstore or watch a tutorial. If you want your life to look different, you have to be different. You might pick up a book on coding or learn a new trade. Even if you start with nothing, learning a new skill gives you power. It prepares you for the future before the future even arrives.

Key Takeaways:

• Be different: To see change, you have to change your actions.

• Use what you have: You don't need a lot of money to learn. A simple book or free resource can start a whole new career.

• Tinker and build: Don't just read about it; try to build something yourself.

• Spot trends: Learning new skills helps you see where the world is going so you can warn and help others.

Step 6: Believe for More (and Ask for It!)

When you are ready to get back in the game, you need to know your worth. This can be tricky, especially if you have been struggling financially. You might feel desperate and want to take whatever you can get. But you have to be honest with yourself about what you believe you deserve. If you ask for a huge amount but deep down you don't believe you will get it, it might not work. Start by being honest. Ask for what you need to be secure. Sometimes, the universe (or God) knows what you need even better than you do and will surprise you with double what you expected.

Key Takeaways:

• Be honest: Admit what you truly believe is possible for you right now.

• Set a baseline: Know exactly how much money you need to be okay and set that as your goal.

• Trust the process: Even if an offer starts low, stand your ground on what you believe for.

• Expect surprises: Sometimes you get exactly what you asked for, even if it comes in a way you didn't expect (like two paychecks instead of one!).

Reinventing yourself is a journey. It starts with finding your voice and ends with helping others climb up behind you. Malinda Williams didn't just learn to code for herself; she used it to start a foundation to help other women and students.

Remember these big ideas:

1. Don't stay stuck. If you are unhappy, make a move.

2. Learn constantly. Even when things are bad, your brain is your best tool.

3. Give back. When you make it to the top, send the elevator back down for someone else.

You have the power to change your life story, one chapter at a time. Are you ready to write your next page?