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It’s okay to be interrupted
(3-minute read) Okay, so it’s March 2020, my aunt passed away (not COVID-19 related), the pandemic hits the U.S. and we are ordered to shelter in place, my job issues a work-from-home (WFH) mandate for the foreseeable future, just as I was talking about career growth with my manager. I had no idea—like many of you—that two years later we would still be dealing with the effects of COVID-19…unexcepted deaths, illness, weight gain, anxiety, etc. My life had been interrupted. I got used to staying in the house day and night. It was all I wanted to do, even after the at-home mandate was lifted. I was used to going…
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Positive/Negative: what are you consuming?
(2-minute read) Okay, this is a working title but you get the point… I had a thought recently about how negativity spreads like wildfire while positive people doing positive things takes so long to catch a spark. Why does degrading content get the most shares, likes, and laughing emojis but stories about people doing good for themselves or their communities garner no more than a few seconds of our attention and hardly any engagement? Consider the number of positive images/content of Black men graduating from higher education institutions vs. Black men walking down prison walkways. Or weigh the number of times the media broadcasts women partnering to form LLCs against…
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How to take amazing photos using your iPhone
DIY photoshoot tips for content creators So, you’re scrolling down your TL double-tapping amazing photos and videos from your favorite content creators and brands and wishing you could afford hours-long photoshoots or fancy equipment. Well, stop wishing because you can absolutely create beautiful, high-quality, imagery. Whether you’re a content creator, influencer, small business, or entrepreneur creating great quality content could mean the difference between boosting engagement, increasing sales, gaining endorsements, and establishing your reputation…or not achieving anything of those benefits. Taking your photos If you have a smartphone, you’re halfway to achieving beautiful photos. I have an iPhone 11 so I’ll be advising based on that perspective. Here are a…
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How to stand out in a job interview
(3-minute read) 6 things that will differentiate you as a top candidate Great news! I recently landed a new position within my company and I want to share a few interview tips I’ve learned over the years that – I believe – have helped me secure this, and previous, roles. Listen, I get nervous just like anyone else going into an interview room but I’ve been fortunate to receive feedback from interviewers that has helped me differentiate myself as a valuable asset. Be authentic. I cannot stress this enough! As a personal brand ambassador, you all know how highly I rate the importance of being yourself. Even if you and…
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It’s half-time and you can still win the game
Yup, you guessed it, it’s that time of year again…half time! Everyone’s favorite part of the game. A time to take a breath, recharge, restrategize, reset expectations, and reenergize for the next half. I’m not even a football fanatic and you have to admit the analogy is pretty spot on. But seriously, it’s July—we are in the second half of 2021—and it’s time to do all those things. Reflect on the first half of this year, take inventory of your missteps, remember what worked, and get ready to get back out there and win the game. BTW, what is your game plan for the rest of 2021? Let me know…
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Chase Impact, Not Dollars
“Chase impact, not dollars” is something my boyfriend said to me a few months ago and it has stuck with me ever since. How many of us are ruled by the all-mighty-dollar as the ultimate prize at the end of this rat race? But then you look back over your life wondering what you have to really show for your time on this earth. Can you say you have left a legacy for the next generation and their generation? Look at Cicely Tyson or Chadwick Boseman. Yes, they were celebrities with wealth but the reason people remember them is not because they had x-amount of properties or this many dope…
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Normalize the Journey: Navigating Uncertainty and the Unknown
2020 has been a year unlike any we’ve ever seen. Talk about change, uncertainty, and fear of the unknown! Whew! But can we please normalize the journey? Navigating through this year, and its aftermath will be a process. A journey is an act of traveling from one place to another. It’s the in-between that matters! So, can we make it okay for ourselves and others to take as much time as is required to process and figure it out? Keep in mind as you read this post, there is no one way forward, there is a way forward. And it’s yours. The journey is personal and individual. It will look…
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4 Things I Learned When Launching My T-Shirt Brand
Hi guys! So, yesterday I did a thing. I believed in myself long enough to stay the course (as my mom would say) and cross the finish line. I finally launched my t-shirt brand MDGTs! I’ve been wanting to create t-shirts for YEARS but the first time I started creating designs, and wrote my business plan, was back in 2015. The reason you haven’t heard of a bustling business is because I let the fear of success, insecurity in my gift, and the overwhelm of a well-saturated market stop me. So, this has been a long time coming! You know I write about personal brand and leveling up with practical…
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The Creative in Crisis
My words today are for all the creative professionals out there: the writers, the painters, the sculptors, the drawing artists, the graphic designers, the illustrators, the web developers, the marketers, the PR experts, the musicians, the singers, the photographers, the social media influencers, the bloggers…yes, YOU! For many of us, myself included, COVID-19 has zapped our mental peace, hijacked our daily routines, and left us with more questions than solutions. One of my friends posted recently [thank you Michelle!] saying something to the effect of, “no creative should be bored during this time [of COVID-19]“. Gone are the excuses of not having enough time in the day or lacking inspiration.…
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How to Stay Fit-Focused Through the Holidays
Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, and Christmas and New Year’s are on the horizon. For some of us, this time of year brings an abundance of indulgence and over-indulgence. Food is everywhere, from cozy kitchens to office breakrooms. Time off consists of lounging on the couch and kicking back with family and friends…usually involving more food! There is a reason why gym memberships skyrocket on January 2nd! We basically give ourselves permission to “enjoy” November 1st through January 1st, and face the consequences later. But you have goals, and they do not include doing double work to make up for a month, or two, off. So, how do you…
