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SHE WENT FROM FOOD STAMPS TO UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR

ONE SINGLE MOM'S ASTONISHING COMEBACK STORY

Author

Stoy Hall, CFP®
April 30, 2025

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NEW EPISODE ALERT: Discover the Secret Underground Networks for Minority Entrepreneurs

The NEW No BS Wealth episode just dropped! Prepare for a raw, emotional journey as single mom Anika Jackson reveals how she rebuilt her life after divorce left her on food stamps.

This is more than just an inspiring story—it's packed with actionable steps for anyone facing financial hardship.

FROM WALMART REJECTION TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM

Imagine standing at a grocery checkout, your card declined, watching as a store manager pays for your family's food out of pity. For Anika Jackson, this rock-bottom moment became her turning point:

"I had gone to the Walmart grocery store... my card was declined. The store manager felt called to help me and she said, pick out what you need for you and your baby."

Today, Anika is a university professor at USC, podcast curriculum creator, business coach, and MBA candidate specializing in AI—all while raising her daughter as a single mom.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FOR MINORITY ENTREPRENEURS

Anika shares something rarely discussed: hidden networks helping minority business owners succeed:

"It's kind of this underground new age Underground Railroad... There's more power in numbers and in us all working together and figuring out how to navigate that together."

These connections have helped countless entrepreneurs access funding and opportunities typically unavailable to them.

THE KEY TO TRUE WEALTH: PEOPLE FIRST

There's a critical choice every entrepreneur must make, as Stoy explains:

"There are only two different types of people in business... Those that care about money and those that care about people first."

Anika's success came from choosing people over profit—a decision that eventually brought both financial rewards and personal fulfillment.

THREE IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS

Even if you're struggling financially, Anika recommends:

  1. Allow yourself small rewards: "Always make sure to take a little bit of money for me."

  2. Invest while paying down debt: "I'm putting at least something because I know that's money I'm not gonna touch."

  3. Reject scarcity thinking: "Make sure you're setting aside a little bit for you so that you can have some peace and joy still while you're rebuilding."

Listen to the full episode now to discover how Anika went from food stamps to success, and learn practical steps to rebuild your financial life.

Connect with Anika: