#37: Don’t Let the Disability Fool You with Domo Jones

You can have your down days, but you can't give up because you have to find at least something to, to remind you of the reason of your why. That makes sense because people are reliant. People rely on you.

Hey, Coach, my name is Lindsey and I'm here to help heart-centered women like you build the money-making coaching business of their dreams. I've been coaching since 2019 and this pod is about It's about using your gifts to build a life and business you're 100% obsessed with. I went from working 50+ hours a week as a first grade teacher to building a sustainable business that replaced my job salary and gave me back 30+ hours a week of my time. Tune in to join the ride and learn from other Coaches and experts along the way.

Hello everyone.

Welcome back to the Aligned Coach Podcast. I have Dominique Jones here today. I'm so excited.

We're together again.

Today's interview, Dominique is wearing these beautiful green vibrant earrings, and it is like total vibes today. And I know that our conversation is going to be just as vibey. So welcome on, Dominique.

Thank you for coming.

What up?

Hey y'all, how are you?

Well, I mean, y'all can't like respond back, but what up though? Yes, what up? How are you?

I love it. I love it. I wish that like they could interact with us.

That would make it so much better. I know, right? Yo, that would be so dope. That would Let's, let's, let's make that going.

Like, why not?

I actually saw Spotify has this thing now called Green Room or no, maybe I'm making that up. It's something, it's like a live podcasting thing where like you and me would be like interviewing and podcasting and people could like chat with us while we were recording.

Yo, that, that's so much fun.

Yeah, we should do it, right?

Like we should, we should do another one and like test it out and like have people come and interact with us.

Listen, right? So then we could really say that we actually did it and we know how it works.

Boom, boom.

All right.

All right.

So we're going to put it on the calendar.

I love it. All right, Dominique. So thank you for coming on today. Tell us, tell our community a little bit about what it is that you do.

Who are you?

Where are you from?

Give us the lowdown, girlfriend.

Yes, ma'am. Okay. So, um, I am, my legal name is Dominique, but nobody ever knows how to say it. So I just go by Domo. Keep it straight to the point, boom pow. I am 32, I'm from California, and it's already hot out here. It's only 10 o'clock and it's hot already. I'm in Georgia. Right, I am disabled. I have a brain tumor. I've been diagnosed with a brain tumor at 9, so I've had— I was deaf in my right ear for a little bit. I was partially blind. My right side stopped growing for a while, um, and I had 2 brain surgeries. I've had radiation for 5 weeks, 5 days a week, and I did 187 chemo treatments over a 6-year span. So, um, yeah, with all that being said, that kind of turned into, um, me writing, um, my books. So my first book, um, is called Damaged But Not Dead, and that is pretty much the story of my life. It's not like a sad, oh, well, today I had it. No, no, it's literally like how I'm talking right now. And it's just the journey of my life through my eyes. And my second book is called Self-Talk, But You Can Eavesdrop Too. And those are just pretty much like a stipulation of about 100 quotes that I kind of came up with during the 6-year span of chemotherapy that kind of helped me, helped me like keep going, help me push, because to be honest, they really didn't know how long I was going to be doing chemotherapy. It was just like an indefinite thing. So the indefinite turned into 6 years, 187 chemo treatments. So I kind of needed some kind of mental stability to keep me going. So, um, yeah, I wrote it down and then I was like, yo, let's turn that into a book. Like, I feel like these quotes are kind of dope and they're not just about, um, medical issues. They're about things that people deal with, just, just reminders, affirmations, um, confirmations. So did that. Then, um, I don't know what the push was, but then I started a business. So That kind of like really came out of nowhere. When I was 26, I had to use a walker. Now, if y'all see me, I got green dreads, I got a pink nose, I mean, I got a green nose ring, like I'm bright, right? So I'm 26 and y'all talking about I gotta use a walker? Yeah, no, we not about to use no drive, no, right? So what I did was, because I had to use it, I decided to make it my own. So I started decorating my walker. Like every, every like 2 months it was some different color, some different print. And because of that, I kept getting stopped. And it was like people were kind of confused, one, and like surprised that they've never seen ever a walker that's that's any other color than silver. And then mine wasn't just like spray paint. I had like flowers and rose petals and smiles and, you know, all that. So it was definitely like a game changer, right? So that turned into a business because people, you know, kept getting attracted to my walker. So then With that, I had another push and I started my second business and that's called Salve, S-A-L-V-E. And the salve means an ointment for healing. And I have a tattoo on my hand that says healed because all the stuff I go through, like I'm still alive. So I feel like I'm healed. So I have a saying that I've always said since I was younger. Don't let the disability fool you. And I've always said that because people are so surprised that I'm still able to do things and I have a disability. Like, I drove myself when I was doing chemotherapy. I didn't lose my hair when I was doing chemotherapy. I didn't lose— like, I didn't look sick. So it was like little things like that. I was like, yo, don't let it fool you, bro. Like, I'm probably more healthier than you. Like, don't let it fool you. So that's literally, it's an online store and that's literally on everything that I sell. So I don't know why I didn't stop there, but I didn't stop there.

More to do, right? Right, more to do, right?

So with that, after I kind of did the interviews, like with my books and stuff, I started getting feedback about how, you know, positive and just affirmative I am regarding who I am with a disability, like living with a disability, and the confidence that I have breaking the stigma beyond my condition, right? So with that, I was like, yo, let's, let's, let's be a life coach. Like, that'll be dope. I don't want to just be a regular, like a general life coach. Like I want to be in a category that's specific for me that I can talk about, that I know. I don't want to just know off paper. Like I want people to know, um, what I'm talking about is from experience. Right. So I delved into, I got like the general certificate of becoming a life coach, but I got, I went even further, um, regarding like the disability confidence. Life Coach. So, um, that is— got certified, all that jazz. And, um, yeah, I ain't doing nothing else. Listen, that's it.

That's it for now.

For now. Right. Tomorrow, don't ask me.

Don't ask me tomorrow.

It may change by the time we go on our green room interview.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Wow.

What a journey, Domo. Like, I am just so astounded by that because This isn't— I mean, also your story is unique because you've dealt with this since you were a child, right? Since before, like, teenage years, you know?

Yeah, I dealt with it during high school. I know what it looks like to be a freshman in high school and having to go second semester. My, my first day was second semester and I had a neck brace and a roller backpack. Like, that wasn't in. That was, that was not dope. Like, I was not dope. People was looking at me like, girl, put your backpack on.

Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Look at you though. Like, damn, look at you. I love it, girl. That's so cool. So where do you feel— I mean, your work isn't done yet. Your work is not done. There will be something else. Like, I just feel like I just I can feel your energy just radiating from you and just like this light that you have to pour into the world because there are people out there that don't have that confidence within their disability or within themselves, right? And I can feel that you have this energy that is just radiating into the world and people have to hear this.

I appreciate that for real. Like, I definitely do. I wasn't like this always. Well, I don't want to say that. I was always confident, but I was always confident with knowing myself. I wasn't always confident with people seeing me confident, if that makes sense.

Yeah, that does make sense.

I never, I never viewed, um, the way I always had, like, that, that kind of, um, insecurity of how people viewed me.

Yeah.

But I know how I viewed myself. Um, but it wasn't until people started telling me like, yo, you're like really confident. Like you can actually like talk.

They were like, you're kind of dope, right?

Like, like you actually kind of like, you kind of dope. Like your words are kind of like sticking, bro.

Yes. I love it. We're going to definitely have to get the links to your books and your store and put it in the podcast notes. So everyone listening, those are going to be in there. What kind of products do you have? What kind of stuff? Like shirts or is it like—

Man, I have like everything. I have shirts, shoes, jackets, tank tops, sweats, dresses. My mom actually just got like a little summer dress. Um, backpacks. I have, um, the crossover bags for us ladies. Like I have men, women, and kids. And I have pillows. I have— she has pillows. I have like every— everything that you can think of, um, I have. And it's my logo— my model, I'm sorry— on, on it all. Because you ain't really—

you don't even got to say nothing.

You just walk in and you put on— and you have a nice shirt, they'd be like, okay, I see how you're rolling. I see how you're rolling.

Yeah, yeah, I love that. That's so cool. Okay, so tell me. All right, so tell me, you're like going through chemo, you're like having all this radiation done, you're like writing your quotes every day. Can you, can you share some like on that, on that journey? And was it like, okay, these are like, you know, I've kind of went through the crappy part and now I'm going to share my light? Or was it like, you know what, I'm going to make the best of this. Like, let me start writing this stuff down and share it. What did that process look like for you?

Yeah, okay, so, um, like I said earlier, like, I'm a vibrant, bright person, and, um, I just kind of felt like the very first— I'll never forget the very first day I went to chemo, and it was so, like, sad, and everybody was so, like, depressed, and, like, and I'm over here, I'm walking in with a bright flower dress on like turquoise earrings, fully like, fully have bracelets, backpack, like, hey y'all, hey. And they're like sweats on. And I was like, oh snap.

Oh, so it was like this?

Yes. Like, I was like, oh, it's all quiet. And I'm coming in here like, good morning. Hey y'all.

Hey.

I was like, no ma'am. What's happening? Who? Wow.

Tone it down.

So I didn't want to tone it down because that's not me. And I had the mindset of the condition is not you, you're just a part of the condition, right? So, so the condition don't make me, I make the condition. And so that was the mindset. Now, if I'm honest, there were, you know, we have our, we have our, our natural moments to where we ain't strong all the time. And so I'm an affirm— I'm a word person. I love words. I love affirmations, reminders, because my physical is not 100. I feel like my mindset has to be. So one, one gotta be, one gotta be strong. They both can't be weak. Right. So that's what kind of made me get into the flow of like, like just words and reminders. And affirmations. I'm a Christian personally, so lyrics to music for the times that I really could not speak, I couldn't get out the bed, I couldn't talk, I would just have, you know, like lyrics playing, music playing. I, during chemo, during literally, I was 16, it was the day after my 16th birthday I started radiation, right? So literally the day after. So everybody's like happy, happy, joy, joy, and I'm over here thinking like, bro, I gotta get about 4 o'clock in the morning and do and get bolted down, get my face bolted down to a metal table. But, um, I remember like I was going through, I was going through radiation, and at that time it was like CDs are out, right? So there was this Christian rap group called Remedy, and I was like, yo, nurse, put that in the doggone CD player and play that joint loud. I don't care who is here. I don't care. Like, while I'm, while I'm in this room, play that loud. And so it, it became like a thing to where all the nurses knew when they heard the song, they knew that I was in there.

Oh my gosh. I did not get that. I have like tears coming to my eyes.

Don't cry.

Don't cry. I just think it's so beautiful. Like, you must have impacted those— the lives of the nurses and the doctors and stuff, like, more than you even realize. Because, you know, like, first of all, we think about the medical system and what it is that you're walking into. Like, people are like literally hanging on to dear life in those rooms. And then it's like death in there though. Like, it's freaking cold. It's cold, it's fluorescent light, there's no windows, like, everything's sterile. The walls are blank. And if you're you, and you're like, what up, what up, y'all? And then, so like, can you just imagine the impact that you had on the nurses and the doctors and even other patients that were there with you?

Man, I'm like super grateful. I'm so grateful. Everyone, um, when I started chemotherapy, because I did for 6 years, so when I started chemotherapy, um, I'm a music person, so I, although, you know, I'll be having my music in my head playing, I'll be singing it out loud and not really noticing that I was like singing it out loud. And it would just kind of shift the room, like the fragrance of the room, right? Because it was so sad. And like you said, sterile walls, just everyone is like monotone, sweats. No, we about to get some color. We about to get some life in here. Like, you're not dead.

Because your energy is everything, you know, like everything about it. That's why, like, it's so— oh my goodness, we could totally get into this, but we're not. But like, just, it's almost like you're set up to die, like you're set up to follow this path of just like, you know, and it's like, but why? Why? Whenever our energy and our frequency and our thoughts and our beliefs have so much power over the way that you handle that, you know, because I'm not Like, I would never be insensitive and say, oh, well, like, you know, having a tumor or having— like, I've heard people say this, and this is why I say it. Yeah. Oh, it's a manifestation of a thought or something like— well, I don't think that that's always the truth. Like, I don't think— right. I think that something's like out of our control. Right. But what about the power that your thoughts do have over that? You know, like, your life could have taken a totally different turn Or you could be in a totally different place if you did not wear the bright earrings and if you didn't pimp out your walker and you didn't—

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Do that music, you know? So it's just, you are like a walking testament to say that this is the power that your thoughts and your beliefs and your mindset have over the trajectory of your life.

I definitely appreciate that. And if I'm honest, like the reality is, if I didn't go through anything, like literally anything that I went through, I wouldn't have books. I wouldn't even be talking to you. I wouldn't have businesses. I wouldn't even be a confidence coach. I wouldn't even be able to talk about anything because what experience do I have? You ain't gonna listen to me for what? You ain't talking about nothing because you ain't been through nothing. So I even had to change my mindset on that. Like what you're going through is not really for you. So it's, don't take it personal. You, you, you're, you're going through this for somebody else. You just have the strength to actually deal with it. So I literally had to, um, had to change. It's like you said, it's a mindset thing. It really is. But it takes time to get there. It took time for me to get where I am right now.

Yeah.

Overnight.

It was not overnight.

It was not.

Tell us like maybe, maybe one of the quotes or something like you have in your book. Can you like remember one?

Yes, I got you. Okay. So one that, um, One that I just really love. It's just like super dope. Like it kind of fits me. It's confidence looks good on you. Get it in every color.

And that's so fitting to you too, like with your vibrant hair and earrings and stuff. Right.

And I, and I say that because, um, my confidence is not your confidence and your confidence is not someone else's. But whatever that is. Like for me, I'm like, I dress very modest for my age, right? Like you're not gonna see no thigh, like you barely see my arm, like that's just how I'm, but I'm colorful. Now another person, they can, they got shapes, so it can pad, you can wear heels, you can do whatever, but that whatever confidence that you have, rock that joint, 'cause can't nobody rock it like you.

Oh my God, I love it. I like have chills right now. I love it.

I cannot rock the hairstyle that you have right now. Like, you can't.

Really?

No, I can't even wear blonde. Like, they'll be like, what is wrong with you? Like, girl, if you don't know hair color, what are you doing?

Well, I can never rock green, so. We've got that thing going. I think that's so good. Like, you have your own unique sauce, so wear it in every flavor. Wear it in every color.

Period. Every, every. Side eye.

Do you have that quote on like a, on something? Like on one of your products?

You know what, actually that quote is like the quote for my disability comp, like my coaching. So that, you know what, you know what, you just, you just said something. See, now you got me doing something else. I think I want to make that like a shirt or—

That would be so cute as a shirt. Yeah.

Yes. See, you got, see, I said I wasn't going to do nothing else. Look, now you got my juices flowing.

There you go. There you go. No, that's— I love that. So good. So, okay. So, so tell me if you could tell anyone that's dealing, you know, because everyone's struggle looks different, like what would you tell them? Whether it's a disability, whether it's building a business or it's working through family stuff, you know, what would you tell them? What type of insightful wisdom would you drop on them?

Yeah, I would definitely tell them, um, your experiences are not for you, so remember that before you want to give up. Like, someone is literally, like, relying on you, on you to make it another day. So to be like, if we're, if we're, like, going in, like, the, the natural, like, pressure, that's, like, pressure. Like, say you're a mom and you can't, you, like, you can't stop. Why?

Because that's not an option, right?

It's not an option. Why? Because your child is reliant on you. That's, that's just it. And that's forever. So even though I'm not a parent, I have that mindset to where like, bro, you can't get— you can have your down days, but you can't give up because you have to find at least something to, to remind you of the reason of your why. That makes sense. Because people are reliant. People rely on you. I, I personally, I probably would have given up mentally, like my mindset-wise. I probably would have given up on the day of my sweet 16 birthday. Yeah, I probably would have, because just knowing you're 16, bro, and you have everybody else living their life, all that stuff, and you got to be bolted down to a table of radiation. And not only that, I couldn't even be by a microwave. I had to walk outside with my face covered because my face would peel from the radiation. So that's all at 16. But at the end of the day, my mindset changed. Like, yo, if you didn't go through that, where would you be at now? Like, you wouldn't be able to accomplish or do anything. Nobody would believe you, period. Anybody gonna listen to that?

Like, you wouldn't have any type of credibility to speak. Place.

None at all. I would have no type of credibility. Everybody looking at me like, girl, you an amateur going somewhere.

Yeah. What do you know? Right. Yeah.

People nowadays, they don't want to know what you know. They want to know what you've been through.

Yeah. Straight up.

That's the real—

like, your story has so much power to it. I mean, I went through, and I've talked about on the podcast before, for anyone listening, y'all are like, Lindsay, please don't tell us your story again. But just like, tell me, cute, simple. Like, I grew up in a really unstable home, and, you know, like, my parents dealt with addiction and domestic violence, and like, I didn't even live with my parents like half of my childhood. Like, it's— I seriously broke a cycle of addiction and my family. Like, I was the first person to graduate high school. I was the first person to go to college. Graduate college. Yeah. Like where I'm sitting at right now, I shouldn't be here. Statistically, I should not be here. And that is the place that I speak from. Like, that is, that is the truth that I know without a doubt, 100%, right? If I can do it, like you can do it too.

Period. That's it. That's it.

That's why I coach my clients so damn hard because I'm like, if I can do it, you can do it. Like, don't give me that.

There's no excuse, right?

Yeah, that's it. And just like, like, we, we all got our own things and we have to remember, like, that's our superpower. Like, that's our truth. Like, connect, share the hell out of it, you know?

Yeah, because if we're like, if we really think about it, I, I've been through a lot. Now, I don't know if I'd be able to be as strong as you dealing with your situation.

I know your story and I'm like At 16, all I cared about was like, what was I going to do this weekend?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

What boy am I texting? You know, that's what I was thinking at 16.

Yeah, yeah.

So two totally different struggles, you know?

Right, that's so true, that's so true. And, and that is your superpower, like just the fact that you were able to deal with it and you're still here. That alone. That alone gives me so much confidence. Like, girl, can't nobody tell me nothing.

Yeah. Yeah. We were talking, I did a workshop yesterday and I was talking about the I game, right? So, so many of us start out, we're playing the I game. Oh, I don't, I don't feel confident on camera. I am scared to tell people what I do. I am scared to sell. I don't want to be— girl, you better get over yourself. You got to get over playing the I game. Right?

Right.

Like you said, Domo, like, think about all the people out there waiting to hear that story, right? All people out there. Oh my gosh, guys, it's ringing right now.

Are you serious?

Okay.

I just declined that. Sorry.

It's all good. That's my jam though. That's a song.

Okay. That's a song.

But yeah, it comes back to what you said.

Somebody out there is waiting to hear from you. They're waiting to hear your story.

They're sitting—

oh my God. Okay.

Sorry. This is my husband. Yeah.

I'm connected to my husband's iCloud and I don't know how to unconnect from it. So like I just declined his phone call again.

So, but yes. Okay. So this has been so good, Domo. We're going to put all the links that everyone needs to go shop your stuff. We're going to be waiting on that new product though to drop soon of the Confidence Looks Good on You line. Um, waiting on that product launch.

So for sure, for sure. Like now, now, now I'm on it. Now I'm on it. I'm about to be on it. So if you see it, then you know you were the motivation.

I love it. I'll take 5% royalties. I'm just kidding.

Okay, right, right. Let it be known since we talking.

Wow. Okay, so where can people connect with you? Where can they find you? Where can they come soak up some of your light and goodness.

Yeah, definitely. So I do have a website, um, www.thedomojones.info. Um, that's where like everything is on one site, one page. Um, you can also find me on IG, Smile with Sneakers, like you're smiling with sneakers because I always wear sneakers. And, um, that's kind of like, that's my personal page. I'm not that type to where You can't follow me on personal, personal, for what? What we doing that for?

Yeah.

And that's kind of like the life of who I am. I'm talking about like the real life struggles of being disabled, the real life struggles that I really deal with. And just like who I am. I'm on Facebook, Domo Jones. Yeah. Holla at me when you see me on the street.

Yes, I'mma holla at you in the internet streets.

For sure.

I love it. I love it. Okay, y'all. Go connect with Domo. I am so glad that you came on today. Just like brightened up my whole day. And yeah, we appreciate you and thank you everyone for listening. Thank y'all for tuning in. Y'all go connect with Domo, go say hello and go snag some of her awesome products and go get her books. We all need that.

Yes, thank you for the opportunity. I definitely don't take it lightly at all.

Yes, absolutely. All right, bye everyone. See you in the next episode.

Bye y'all. Love you.