Meet Jesi Stracham | Mindset Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jesi Stracham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jesi, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
After becoming a paraplegic from the chest down, I realized living in fear would not let me learn how regain my autonomy as a human.

I have a spinal cord injury. Once the spinal cord is damaged it doesn’t just heal. Although I was solely focused on walking again post injury, I had to learn the basics like how to get dressed again or how to get out of bed without use of my core and lower body.

I was scared of falling out of my wheelchair because I couldn’t get myself back up, limiting me from transferring independently, which limited me from doing simple things like going to the bathroom or showering.

Was the risk of falling worth the reward of independence?

I used to use a board to help get from one place to the next, but this didn’t help when it came to getting my body from the floor back into my wheelchair so becoming proficient at transfers was a must.

It took me 2 years, a lot of falls, and even more tears but I finally learned the floor transfer after practicing again and again.

When I overcame my fear and started taking risks, I began to gain more confidence. Once I gained that confidence I gained more independence.

I then realized this could translate in other areas of my life. I stopped worrying about “failure” or “rejection” focusing solely on growth.

I began speaking my mind. I let that man know I was getting feelings for him, even when he didn’t feel them back.

I asked that donor for money to help my non-profit put on a summer camp.

I proposed creating a job position for me to that company.

I asked to be paid a certain amount of money.

I applied for that sponsorship.

I auditioned for that role.

Did everything workout? NO. BUT I BECAME MORE CONFIDENT IN MY ASK!

A closed mouth doesn’t get fed. I knew if I wanted to live my dreams I had to take some risks.

When you take risks you’re allowing yourself the opportunity to learn. When you learn you are able to apply that new knowledge to your life, growing from the place you currently are.

Getting paralyzed taught me there is no such thing as a mistake, just lessons. When you become a student of those lessons, risk taking becomes less overwhelming.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

In 2016-2017 I had a friend who was developing the yelp of accessibility, iAccess Life. I was very interested in creating a fitness app for wheelchair users as there was nothing on the market. My friend said it would take a lot of capital and that was something I just didn’t have. Discouraged I opted to start a Facebook group instead. With that Wheel With Me Fitness was born. I didn’t do much with the group until I became a nutrition coach in late 2020.

Late 2021 an app developer reached out to me. He had done some research and there was currently no fitness app for wheelchair users in the App Store and he wanted me to be the one to launch it. So we did. During this time I also went back to work full-time, not allowing me to focus on the app like I wanted to.

In 2022 I rebroke my spinal fusion allowing me to quit my job. Around this time another wheelchair using fitness trainer and I began negotiations on collaborating. For so long she wanted a fitness app, and I didn’t have the capacity to give the app the full attention it needed so I proposed to her that we collaborate our two efforts, splitting it all 50/50, to bring a better product to the community.

She agreed and Wheel With Me Adapt Fit was born. Collaboration allowed me to have the bandwidth for more while progressing business in the right direction. It freed me from stressing over the parts of the business I was neglecting and allowed me to get back to the growth.

For years I didn’t even start my business because I allowed someone else’s experience to define my capabilities in a similar space. Had I searched for an app developer things may have been different. Don’t allow someone else’s experience to defend yours without doing some research on your own.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m not the best for this. I don’t go out often and if I do it’s to get my nails done, go to the gym, or hit a sauna.
I travel for work so when I’m home, I’m home.

(Unless it’s a fit with friends weekend (local inclusive fitness event I help with) or wheel with me foundation meet up weekend (meetup for wheelchair users).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my struggle, my spinal cord injury. Thank you for showing me just how powerful I am by making me uncomfortable. You taught me how to be strong at my weakest.

It took me getting paralyzed to realize my power. I hope you the reader can find the same potential in your struggle.

Website: Www.jesistracham.com

Instagram: Www.instagram.com/jesistracham

Linkedin: Www.linkedin.com/jesistracham

Twitter: Www.twitter.com/jesistracham

Facebook: Www.facebook.com/jesistracham

Youtube: Www.youtube.com/jesistracham

Other: Www.wheelwithmefoundation.org Www.wheelwithmeadaptfit.com

Image Credits
Mean Bean Media