Today we’d like to introduce you to Cherise C. Irons.
Hi Cherise C., we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Have you ever felt like everything was beginning to make sense in your life? Then Suddenly! In 2015, my life was on the upward trajectory, I was celebrating a milestone birthday, excited for the opportunity to be mentored for Principalship, and my only son was heading to college. The years of sacrifice and hard work in my professional and personal life was finally paying off. The celebrating came to a halt when I experienced a negative interaction with the school leader that was to be my supervisor and mentor. The incident was reported and as a result, it was decided we would continue working together. For six months, I worked in a toxic environment which increased my stress and triggered my hemiplegic migraine. My migraine that had been in remission for five years returned with a vengeance. The migraine forced me into early retirement, multiple surgeries, doctors’ appointments, and the gift of the John Maxwell Team.
In January 2016, I joined the John Maxwell team in chronic pain, feeling hopeless, disappointed, hurt, and I wanted nothing to do with schools or leadership. My plan was to rebuild faith in myself, people, and to grow personally. As I immersed myself in the content and listened to training calls, I immediately recognized that I could build a business and help people on my own terms. I later formed Irons Group LLC, to honor the memory of my father and my desire to develop one servant leader at a time. I believe that servant leadership is the highest quality of a leader and that as Irons Sharpens Iron So One Person Sharpens Another. Today, my hemiplegic migraine is in remission and I am grateful because they are so unpredictable. As a person with migraine, I have had to learn how to navigate daily life and build a business with an unpredictable neurological disease.
Additionally, in 2019, I earned 2nd place in the American Migraine Foundation Short Film contest for my documentary “Victory Over Pain”, and was also featured along with my doctor Teshamae Monteith on WPLG channel 10 in collaboration with the University of Miami Health Department of Neurology for the tremendous success of my migraine treatment. As a result, Ivanhoe news interviewed me along with Dr. Monteith for an additional feature about the treatments success. The story was aired last summer in various news markets across the U.S.
As I shared earlier, my migraines are in remission and my journey to total healing and restoration continues.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey has absolutely not been without struggle. My pastor likes to say, “Super Cherise is dead”. I am in total agreement with this because that woman was doing too much and often gave herself the leftovers. If anyone ever asked, Cherise what is your leadership style? The answer is: “I know how to lead in, through and with pain toward my purpose. Why? one of my favorite scripture verses says: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (James 1: 2-3). This is followed by my favorite quote from Napoleon Hill which says, “Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.” This scripture and quote are significant in my journey because I value faith, perseverance and grit. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without my belief in God, lots of prayer, perseverance, praise, an unwillingness to quit, and walking in my purpose.
The struggles in my life have often centered around my physical health. They have included hemiplegic migraine, bilateral occipital neuralgia, multiple surgeries, daily chronic pain, memory and concentration challenges from migraine, panic attacks, anxiety, and being deemed totally and permanently disabled. In addition to physical pain, I have experienced racism, observing my son struggle with potentially losing his mother, career loss, financial loss, moving away from family and friends, facing lack of compassion and understanding for people suffering with migraine, and continued stigma and judgment for people with migraine. Though it hasn’t been easy, I have had victory over pain and will continue to thrive daily.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Irons Group LLC is a leadership and personal development organization that helps female school leaders find themselves authentically, develop their purpose, leverage their strengths, and sharpen their skills through perseverance, passion and teamwork. We also help C Suite executives looking to grow themselves and their team.
What you should know? We believe that:
- “servant leadership is the highest quality of a leader.” Cherise Irons
- Proverbs 27:17 Irons Sharpens Iron So One Person Sharpens Another!
- “Everything Rises and Falls on Leadership.” John Maxwell
What do I do?
I am the “Iron Sharpening Master Coach” helping leaders to connect and grow themselves first before anyone else. One of my favorite John Maxwell quotes is, “To grow yourself, you have to know yourself.” The reality is growing and getting sharpened is an inside out job. I love to remind the “Irons Sharpening Community” that, “Heart work is Hard work “and Healing work.” The better you are at leading yourself the more impact and significance you will experience as a leader. We want “Irons Sharpeners” to lead, launch, and leap into their destiny! The truth is you won’t always LOVE me for it. Question is: Do you think you’re worth it! Irons Sharpening is designed to stretch, smooth out the rough edges, and allow you to find all your unique gifts, enhance any areas of strengths and transform your life.
What do I specialize in?
As the “Irons Sharpening Master Coach” I specialize in challenging the limits you have in your thinking about yourself and you will be sharper than you were before. Our sessions will require you to go deep into your heart because sharpening is designed to smooth out rough edges and burn away those things that no longer serve you or your organization. This will create space for us to inspire and empower YOU to discover your purpose, find yourself authentically, leverage your strengths, and sharpen your skills through perseverance, passion, and teamwork. We also support your desire to acquire time freedom, dream again, create personal development plans, maximize your growth through collaborative team building, strategic thinking partnerships, increasing revenue in your organization, and improve your culture through equitable practices etc.
I am known for being “the connector” and the Host of the Living Today Show which was a radio show on 105.7 the Fan in Baltimore MD. The show currently airs on Facebook every Friday night at 8p.m. on the Irons Group LLC page. The segment is called Friday Night Highlights and each week we highlight a servant leader in the community. I also lead the Iron Sharpening Elite Millionaire Mastermind Group. This is a Mastermind Group that I started in May of 2020 as we navigated the pandemic. The group is for highly gifted and talented women who are looking to lead, launch, and leap into their destiny with accountability. I am proud to say that the women in the group are doing remarkable things in their businesses. For example, a book has been published, a music album launched, a building purchased, and new clients acquired in the group, etc. My goal is to launch a new group in the Fall and support more amazing women. In addition, I have the honor of facilitating with a colleague a Mastermind Group for the Coral Springs chapter of the American Business Women Association (ABWA) in Florida. This Mastermind is for my ABWA sisters in the chapter. The feedback has been positive from the participants. The women in this group are experiencing success in health, trying new technology, re-inventing their businesses, and challenging themselves with new opportunities. Finally, I love being in partnership with clients as they work through the “Irons Sharpening” growth process.
I want your readers to know that my brand is focused on servant leadership and “Irons Sharpening Iron. My desire is to develop strong servant leaders who will identify and share their gifts with the world NOW and leave a legacy for future generations. I am also a person of value who sees value in others and is willing to serve in any way I can. Finally, Did you know there is someone waiting on you to use your time, talent, treasure, and words to add value to them? How will you use each of these to help your community?
Offerings and Services
- I offer 15 minute Phone conversation: “Are we the Right Fit?
- Discovery Consults
- Mastermind Groups on Personal Growth, Developing Your Leadership, Communication, Change Your World etc.
- Lunch and Learns on Influence, Putting your Dreams to The Test etc.
- Behavior Assessment to determine personality style of team: DISC
- Group and Individual Coaching can be provided
- Invite/Referral Only Coaching Groups: Iron Sharpening Elite Millionaire Mastermind (10 seats) etc.
- Equitable Practices training.
- Strategic Planning & Team Building
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
- The Bible
- 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
- The Book of Forgiving Bishop Desmond Tutu
- Ego is the Enemy Ryan Holliday
- The John Maxwell Leadership Podcast
- Dr. Caroline Leaf: Cleaning Up the Mental Mess (Podcast)
- As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
Apps
- Migraine Buddy
- Over
- Neurocycle (formerly the Switch App)
- Audible (listen to ton of books)
- Elevate
- Otter
- Streamyard
Contact Info:
Email: cirons@ironsgroupllc.com
Website: ironsgroupllc.com
Instagram: @msironssharpens
Facebook: com/ironsgroupllc
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCblkBfDR6PsF9mlXKCr4cBQ
Image Credits
Dora Birk Photography, Irons Sharpening Elite Millionaire Mastermind created by Desiree Foster Collins
