Name Your Next Decade: Our 2019 Year in Review and How We're Changing the Game

Greetings Beloved,

I pray your Holiday season was a blessed one. As we come to the close of 2019 and the end of another decade, I wanted to share with you some of our highlights from this year.

If, by chance, you happen to be new to FeleciaKillings, let me introduce myself. I am Felecia Killings, the Founder and CEO of this great work. Since 2011, I've helped new and aspiring authors launch their business and ministry around their authorship. Today, my clients have grown into amazing writerpreneurs, speakers, and spiritual leaders who are changing the world using their stories.

In 2016, I launched my signature course, LiyahAmore University, a 6-month training program that walks my clients from A-Z of Christian Writerpreneurship. During this training, I worked with them to craft a book based on the vision and mission YahWeh delivered to them. Not only have my clients created and published their books, but they have become thriving podcast hosts, online coaches, and virtual ministers.

That was three years ago, and since then, I've continued to empower thousands of authors through the multiple lessons found on Our Blog.

In 2019, a shift occurred in FeleciaKillings. On social media -- Facebook and Twitter, for example -- my platform grew exponentially among the conservative political sphere. This dramatic shift altered the way I envisioned this virtual ministry and placed my name before leaders in Washington D.C. Such increase was followed by a number of business alterations, which I want to share with you in this post. And what I discovered was that YahWeh was taking this work (and our Beloveds) to a new level.

So, join me for a few moments as I share our 2019 year in review. By the end of the post, I will discuss the direction we're headed and why we are looking forward to this next decade (and not just the new year). 

Accomplishment #1: We Reached Our 6-Figure Goal

Back in 2016, I set a goal of generating $100,000 through my freelance writing business. I wanted to master this, because I witnessed other freelancers accomplish this goal. (Many bloggers discuss their income reports as a way to encourage other writers about the possibilities.)

Now, when I initially made this goal, I wanted to generate this income in one year. The problem was I never knew how to do it. Entrepreneurship was something new to me; and the idea of working from home seemed far-fetched. So, making $100,000 within a 12-month period truly stretched my faith. Nevertheless, I set the goal and went to work on reaching it.

The first three years of the business were the infant ones. I spent thousands of hours learning this side of the workforce. I studied online domination and tested best practices until I perfected a system that continues to work for me today. As I learned, I began sharing these strategies with my tiny audience and few clients; and as a result, my income increased. I garnered new prospects. Businesses outsourced their writing assignments to me. And before long, I began generating income that helped me reach my goal.

But obtaining this goal didn't happen as quickly as I wanted. In fact, it took me three years to generate $100,000 as a freelancer and writing coach. I know most "full-time" writers will have you believe that we sit on the beach, easily making tens of thousands each week by only investing 10 hours of work.

​But that's not my story. I went into this venture with long-term goals on my mind. That meant I needed to study how the experts were growing in their ventures and building loyal audiences.

So, while I could have used shady strategies to swindle people out of their money (online marketing scams), I took the road less traveled and gradually built my economic empire over time. 

And I made it! My income stream included:

1. ​Writing contracts from entrepreneurs and small businesses
2. Writing coach clients (who enrolled in LiyahAmore University)
3. A part-time teaching assignment at a career college
4. And supplemental income to help care for my daughter

From 2016-2019, I worked approximately 70-85 hours a week, and that's no exaggeration. Most of my time was spent on learning the online space, crafting my content marketing materials, designing my online school, and fulfilling the contracts. In addition, I homeschooled my daughter in between my breaks. I did all this during the infant stage, which made way for the doors of opportunity I have today.

Accomplishment #2: A Massive Rebrand, a Necessary Name Change, and the Expansion of LiyahAmore University

Some of my Beloveds have been with me since 2016, back when my website was LiyahAmore Publishing. Around 2018, I took that website down and rebranded a new one under my name, because I noticed my online influence increasing.

LiyahAmore Publishing focused exclusively on book publishing and freelance writing; but as I became more involved with conservative politics, I realized my current brand did not reflect this new shift.

So, in early 2019, I redesigned everything to reflect this shift: the name, the website, the brand colors, even the content.

I brought cohesion to my online influence by making the written and spoken word the bedrock to all our services and products. Today, not only do I train new and aspiring Christian Authors to be writerpreneurs, but I also work with rising Conservative leaders, showing them how to use their stories to connect with voters.

Such training is found in our online coaching program, LiyahAmore University; and since launching it in 2016, we continue to enlarge our territory.

Up until now, From A-Z of Christian Writerpreneurship was the primary training solution in our school. For the clients who wanted to launch their new book, I coached them for 6 months, using the resources found in our 500-page manual.

But in 2020, we will add three new Majors to our University based on where our Beloveds are in this journey:
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1. The Holy Ghost and You: Helping God's Daughters Turn Their Scandalous Stories into a Ministry of Deliverance
2. Scale for Profit: Helping Today's Writerpreneurs Position Their Business or Ministry for the Millions
3. The Write Conservative: Helping Rising Conservative Leaders Impact and Influence the World Using Their Stories​

​These new Majors have been added to LiyahAmore University because I saw another gap in the Christian publishing market. While I had successfully helped my clients create and launch their new books, many of them struggled to take their works to the next level.

Add to it, the Holy Spirit revealed that many women are hiding their gifts from the world because they fear people discovering their stories. Rather than walking in their calling, they suppress the gift and find themselves dissatisfied with their lives.

As I continued learning more about these gaps, I crafted new empowering lessons to fill the void. And now we have more specialized training for women who are at different places in their writing ministry.

So, let's say you're a published author, Beloved. You've sold 50 books, but sales have decreased after your initial launch. You want to learn how to create a sales system that generates enough buzz for your book on a consistent basis. What do you do?

Enroll in LiyahAmore University, and major in the Scale for Profit training. During these six months, I will teach you about online positioning and aggressive marketing.

Or let's say you have been generating good sales with your books; but your audience is asking for a coaching program where they can engage in more of your training. What do you do?

Enroll in LiyahAmore University, and major in The Holy Ghost and You training. This specialized training teaches you how to build a virtual ministry and to create an online coaching program that will generate steady revenue each month.

Or let's say you're thinking about sharing your political ideas online. You want to create a movement that mobilizes people to get active locally or nationally. What do you do?

Enroll in LiyahAmore University, and major in The Write Conservative training. For 6 months, I will teach you how to use your story as the launching pad for a movement, where you can reach voters via the virtual space.

In each case, I will work with you to craft a book that fits within your specified mission. And all the lessons I deliver to you are based on best practices. Not to mention, I've steadily implemented them through FeleciaKillings since 2016, and will deliver the blueprint for your success.

Again, this expansion is the direct result of the increase I witnessed within 12 months; and I couldn't be happier with the results.

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Unexpected Accomplishment #3: Celebrities Know My Name and My Movement Reached Millions

In 2018-2019, I launched two conservative movements that focused on black empower and conservative outreach: The Fifteen 20 Rise and Conscious Black Conservatism. (Books available at Our Bookstore). As I shared earlier, my voice in conservative politics catapulted my platform faster than I could imagine. This, of course, drew massive attention from other black conservative influencers; and it even captured the attention of celebrities involved in the political sphere. 

​As I continued sharing more content, especially on Twitter, my reach hit well into the millions. (And this was organic reach...no paid ads.) I had crossed over into a new territory where politicians and influencers engaged in conversations that directly affected the general public.

Unexpected Accomplishment #4: My Story Drops and My 2nd Memoir is Released

My rise in the conservative political discourse came with its challenges and disappointments. The political space is volatile when you stand firm on principles over politics. Many of you watched as thousands of people smeared my name on Facebook and Twitter whenever I called out the racism on the Right; other "leaders" smeared my name because I posed a threat to their weak and offensive narrative. The basis for their smear was my wildly publicized criminal case, which none of them took the proper time to fully research.

So, on November 19, 2019, I announced my official breakaway from the general conservative movement, and broke my 10-year silence regarding my case. 

​The result: crickets from all the critics.

The second my announcement went live on Twitter, the entire smear went dead silent. Not a single person expected my story to come out, and not a single hater bothered to apologize to me for their lies.

I must say: delivering the story was bitter-sweet. For years, I held tightly to it, because my story gave me fire. Each time someone ran with their smear, a new lesson would drop in my spirit. But now that the story had been published, I felt like a part of me had left, the part I had kept hidden for so long.

Weeks afterwards, I took the plunge and finished my second memoir, To My Beloveds, which will be released January 1, 2020. (The first memoir is called Fear, Faith, and Patience: My Fight for Justice.) After consulting with the Holy Spirit, He shared that releasing my story at this time will open more doors for me to speak and empower. For ten years, He had prepared me for this moment, and now it's here. The impact I made on the smaller level (social media) will pale in comparison to the national platform I will have at the federal level (mainstream media).

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Goodbye California. Hello Atlanta, GA.

As my social media influence continued to grow, a new door opened for me. Back in mid-2018, I met Love, who is a successful ghostwriter in Atlanta, GA. After flying me out to visit him and the city, I knew moving to the South was my next opportunity. Of course, I didn't come to this decision easily. California has always been my home. It's all I know. But unbeknownst to me, my source of income had dried up in the Sunshine State.

Recently, California passed a law that literally fired all freelance writers and editors. Now, I had not heard about the law (AB5) until much later in 2019; but I felt the effects of it when suddenly businesses stopped hiring my writing services. Any independent contractor who worked out of California was subject to the law, which meant businesses in other states refused to hire us to avoid the regulations.

​Financially, 2019 hit me hard. I barely made it. Although I had a little to care for me and Amore (my daughter), it simply was not enough. You can see why Atlanta became more and more appealing to me. So, I took the step of faith (just as I did when I moved to Sacramento back in 2015), and flew me and my daughter across the country.

​The transition was extremely difficult, especially because the South has strange weather and bugs the size of my hand. In terms of business, to succeed in Atlanta, you need connections; and I simply did not have the right ones in place who could help me make moves. Eventually, I made adjustments, and now I have a better plan of action that will ensure my success. But this transition was tough. Nevertheless, Atlanta is our home now; and we won't return to California for another 10 years.

Unexpected Accomplishment #5: KillingsVille Joined the Ranks

Over the last three years, I was able to build my online business and virtual ministry because I changed the way I lived. I adopted minimalism and a communal living lifestyle, which drastically reduced my cost of living. In doing so, I was able to homeschool my daughter full-time, which was such a priority to me. I accomplished all this as a single mother, without the aid and support of family or friends.

Communal living was such an empowering moment for me. I lived among other families and single mothers; we built a community; we empowered one another; and our children became close friends. We lived in the newer houses in Elk Grove, CA, which was such a blessing to me.

In my case, communal living consisted of me renting a room and private bathroom. I had access to the main living spaces. My rent was about the same cost as a one-bedroom apartment (at the time), but I didn't have the responsibilities of other major bills such as utilities, wifi, water, etc. For one flat rate, I received everything I needed and more. Plus, there were no hangups regarding my credit score. (I stopped using credit years ago.) This was such a smooth transaction, and one I desperately needed at the time; and after having such an empowering experience, I wanted to add this service to FeleciaKillings, of course with a premium flare not found in any communal quarters.

​Thus, the launch of KillingsVille. In congruence with our online University, we are creating a communal living services that allows our scholars to live among each other as they work on building their economic empires. Think of KillingsVille in the same way you envision college students living in dorms. 

Instead of the "dorm life," we have a business-community life, where women live in beautiful 4-bedroom townhomes in Atlanta's most affluent areas. This communal arrangement is also ideal for young women who want an alternative to traditional college living. For a young adult who desires to build a creative business, she can become a member of KillingsVille and establish a powerful network that will help her thrive.

I couldn't be more excited about this next project. And our first set of communal living quarters will be in Sandy Springs, Georgia, north of Atlanta. Our goal is to work with 20 women in 2020, placing them in 5 communal homes.

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Lessons Learned from 2019

As with any year, it's important to highlight the lessons learned along the journey. And here are my lessons to you:
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1. Be willing to change when expansion is presented to you. Increase did not manifest as I envisioned. In fact, I received more than what I thought imaginable. But as my influence grew, I also needed to make changes. This included rebranding my business and virtual ministry; adding new services that fit with my new audiences; accepting the call to move to another state. When you're ready to grow, at times it will happen when you least expect it. But you must be willing to change when the expansion is presented to you.
2. Be willing to invest in your training to help you reach your goals. During the last three years, my training was intense. While I couldn't afford to purchase online courses that other experts developed, I spent thousands of hours scouring the Internet for the right lessons. What I couldn't pay for with cash I had to pay for with my time. (Of course, this worked well because it helped me develop LiyahAmore University; and it positioned me as an expert in the Christian self-publishing industry.) As you seek to reach your goals, understand you must invest in your training. Either you can exchange your  time (in years, not months) to learn how to master all the principles and strategies involved in online business or virtual ministry; or you can exchange your dollar to get faster results in months. Whatever the case, sowing into your own work will yield profound results.
3. Be willing to try new ventures that help generate more wealth. Back in 2016, I assumed I would only sell my online university and a few books through my business. But over time, I learned to monetize my story and experience to create new lifestyles for women like me. This included adding the communal living feature and my conservative consultation services. Over the next 10 years, these four elements (my books, online school, communal living services, and conservative consultation training) will be the streams of income for FeleciaKillings.
4. Be willing to cut services and products out of your business when they no longer benefit you, the business, or your audience. When I first began my business, I started as a freelance writer and editor. But as my influence grew, I realized I could no longer provide such services to small businesses and entrepreneurs. In fact, even for my clients who enroll in the school, I must outsource the editing services to another freelancer, because I don't have the time to give to this service anymore. As you grow in your own venture, you will find yourself making the necessary adjustment as well. It's impossible to do everything on your own once increase manifests; so it's important to cut certain responsibilities (or outsource them) to make room for new opportunities.
5. Be willing to attract new audiences. My initial entrance into online business specifically targeted Christian Authors. To this day, this is one of my primary audiences; but over the last couple of years, a new conservative audience has flooded my platform. As you experience your own growth, you may find that your message or products begin to attract new people. Be OK with that! With careful skill (and the right training), you can merge both audiences so they come to support one another in your tribe.
6. Do not expect increase until you have positioned your business or ministry for it. This is a new teaching I've added to LiyahAmore University via our Scale for Profit Major. When I first asked the Holy Spirit to expand my platform (while generating more income), the growth happened unexpectedly. The problem, however, was that my system of operation was not complete, therefore incapable of managing the growth. In other words, as more people began following my social media platforms, I had no method for bringing them into our Beloved Tribe, where I could communicate with them daily while presenting my products and services seamlessly. So, I actually put a halt to my social media engagement, went back to the drawing board, and created the system via the rebranding. Once I put that operation in motion, I went back to my social media engagement, and used those platforms to draw people into the Tribe. In the next coming years, as I hit mainstream media with my content and empowerment, people will flood FeleciaKillings and instantly be brought into what businesses call the sales funnel. My point: I had to position my business and ministry for the millions before I could expect increase; and so should you. If you have no method for managing the growth, the numbers will overwhelm you and the people will eventually leave.
7. Do not fear geographical changes. If where you are is not delivering the kind of results you envision, it's time to move. Quite often, we fear such change because we enjoy comforts. But if you know that your idea will flourish in another region, make the move. All that I have right now cannot grow in California, literally. So, the move to Atlanta is perfect. In like manner, ask yourself if your current location is ripe for your vision. If not, ask the Holy Spirit for new direction. He may want to send your business or ministry around the world.
8. Do not neglect the power of networking. One reason my influence reached the heights of Washington D.C. is because of the network I built on Twitter and Facebook. This network consists of political influencers, politicians, millionaires, and more. Each time we shared each other's content, our voices grew louder; and this is what caused our movements to take off quickly. In your sphere of influence, you have a network. Leverage it. But don't become comfortable at that level. Start seeking out experts in your industry or in your business's zone of influence, and make the connections. 
9. Do not fear launching your new ventures, no matter how scandalous your story is. Let's face it: our story will never be more scandalous than Yeshua's; and you'll probably never experience the kind of scandalous story I encountered. But look at how we've used our stories to bring deliverance to others. Beloved, do not fear that idea you have just because your story isn't squeaky clean. Learn to take all your hard experiences, and turn them into a ministry that empowers others. Yes, you will meet online haters. Yes, online people will show their ignorance. But it doesn't matter, because thousands more will receive your gift. I am a living witness to this.
10. ​Finally, do not compare your progress to other writerpreneurs, and do not despise your small beginnings. When I first began this journey, I had not process for success. But now that I've seen how strategies and systems work, I can confidently ask for increase, knowing how to manage the millions well. I choose not to compare my journey to another entrepreneur's pathway, because that expert does not have the same experience as I do. So, don't do that to yourself either. 

A New Decade is Upon Us

Around November 2019, I began thinking about new aspirations for FeleciaKillings. I realized it was time to create our 12-month goals; but after considering the lessons I learned from the previous three years, I decided to do something differently.

Rather than focusing on what could be done in one year, I thought about all I wanted to accomplish in this next decade. From 2020-2029, I have the following goals:

1. Hire a full-time executive team to manage FeleciaKillings and our future conscious conservative network.
2. Hire 100 junior writing coaches who serve in our Career Counseling Center within LiyahAmore University.
3. Create 500 communal living quarters in Atlanta, GA that will serve 2,000 women.
4. Enroll 25,000 women in LiyahAmore University.
5. Work behind-the-scenes to create (and rebrand) the new Republican Party at the federal level.

As you can see, such aspirations cannot be reached in 12 months; but in ten years, it can be done. So, I want to challenge you, Beloved, to think about your next decade, not just the next year.

For some of you, your journey into writerpreneurship is just beginning. For others, you're in the infant stage. For some of you, your book has been published but you want to take things higher. For others, you want to engage in this black conservative renaissance that's sweeping the nation.

Whatever position you're in, consider setting new goals based on the next 10 years. Ask yourself:

1. ​What do you want to accomplish between 2020-2029?
2. What are you willing to sacrifice to manifest your vast vision? (Months of direct coaching? Years of independent training?)
3. Are you willing to endure the mockery and shame that comes from investing in your vision?
4. How great do you want to be in the world?
5. Will you remain true to your convictions and your dependence on the Holy Spirit as you increase?

Are You Ready for More?

I know most people want more. I know most people dream of increase. But only a few will be willing to do what's necessary to position themselves for increase. At FeleciaKillings, we have reached our goal of empowering millions of people; and we will only increase each year.

But what about you? What about the vision you have? How will you manifest it? Do you know the steps to take, the process to create, and the system that streamlines your progress? Do you know how to write and publish your story? Do you know how to market it effectively? Do you know how to employ best practices for optimal growth?

If not, I invite you to join us inside LiyahAmore University. Our 6-month training will give you the boost you need to build, launch, and scale your new business or ministry around your authorship. I will work with you personally to help you create and manage your vision; and 6 months from now, you will be exactly where you desire.

So, make the choice that so many others have done. Get your training and be great!

​And as always, Beloved, let's grow together!