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Showing posts from 2021

BOSS Spotlight Feature: Cassandra Hill

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Cassandra Hill is a Holistic Wellness Influencer, Life Coach, Best-Selling Author, and Speaker. After overcoming systemic lupus with a regimen she developed; Cassandra birthed Holistic Living Consulting. Her mission is to transform the health and well-being of black women.  What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? Initially, when I started Holistic Living Consulting the biggest hurdle, I faced was lack of capital. Watching business trends, I noticed the decline of in-person shopping and e-commerce becoming increasingly popular. Therefore, I decided to make Holistic Living Consulting a virtual wellness company from day one. This was a challenge competing with so many other companies in the online space without having sufficient revenue for marketing and advertising.  What inspired you to break into your industry? After being diagnosed with systemic lupus my life trajectory shifted. Health care professionals recommended a tr

Why Wait for Happiness? by Yvette Gavin

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Most of us believe in happiness or at least in the theory of its overflowing joy and ever-filling peace in our lives. If we’re not experiencing happiness in the present, we like to think that it’s waiting on us somewhere in the future. If we could just make it to retirement or into the new year, happiness will meet us there. If we could land a higher paying job, if we had a better boss, if we could drop the weight, or if we were married; happiness would be possible.   For too many people, happiness is possible … if only. In one of my recent Career Masterminds, a participant said, “I can’t be happy when I’m working for a jerk.” That statement alone got me thinking about the countless times I’ve heard others align their level of happiness with current circumstances. Why do we allow our circumstances to determine our happiness as if our lives were mathematical if/ then equation? It was Anne Frank who said, “We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet

The Business Growth Mindset: What It Is and How It Makes Small Businesses Big by Pam Perry

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  Pam Perry  is a PR Coach and publicist for major brands like AARP and professional speakers. She's the publisher of Speakers Magazine. In order for your business to grow and reach its full potential, you need to adopt a growth mindset. Your mindset has a profound impact on the direction of your business and whether it will grow or stagnate. Businesses encounter many challenges as they scale. By repeatedly facing challenges and learning from them, you change and evolve. This is why the growth mindset is such an important factor to business success. Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset The growth mindset is different from the fixed mindset. Most of us believe things are the way they are, and they don’t change over time. This is a way of thinking that believes we’re born with talent and intelligence, and we do what we can with them. The growth mindset says that talent and intelligence are just the starting point. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not these qualities but perseverance

Bold, Beautiful, and Balanced by Rev. Jacqui Hood Martin, PhD

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  For some, it is the end. Others just the beginning. The year 2021 is wrapping up! And as you begin to start a new chapter in your life one where you are more in control, more in charge, and in command, kudos for staying true yourself! Our lives often go off track and we fly off the rails because we are missing in action in our own lives. Becoming balanced is about ownership, and remaining in the driver's seat, even when you need to take a backseat. It’s learning to recognize that you can delegate some things on your journey, but you can’t delegate what is assigned to you and only you. Responsibility and accountability are staples in leading and living a balanced life. As you move forward from your newfound place of assurance, peace, and calm, don’t open the door to complacency. Stand boldly at the threshold of your life and monitor who comes, goes, and stays. Be cautious about giving others permission to dictate to you what you know is contrary to everything you believe. The jour

Brand Essence by Felicia Shakespeare

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Branding identification of a product is the understanding of how it directly relates in terms of focus with an emphasis on sales and marketing . The best business leaders consider these methods to be critical components for them to capitalize when promoting products and services. In most instances, how well this plan is implemented determines if a single product will ever make its way into the hands of the general public. A great marketing campaign that signifies one’s brand is most crucial to the success of its business growth. The paramount reason for being branded is to gain an acknowledged level of success (as success is defined by the strategy implementation within the strategic plan).  Personal Brand Defined Let’s start right now with the aspect of what it means to be a personal brand . Personal branding is when an individual, instead of a business or entity, is the focus of the brand. A personal brand, in its true essence, is the way one represents himself or herself in and to

BOSS Spotlight Feature: Bernice Jackson

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  Bernice Jackson , is a Graphic & Technical Designer, Project Manager, Writer and Entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Founder of Rise of Dark Dawn Graphic Design Company.  She has an out of box, creative storytelling, and critical thinking personality. Even this introvert can switch gears to work a crowd.    What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? A few obstacles I had to face were, not having a support system and help from the very people I gave all of me too.   Also, people saying they were leery of adding their credit card into a none established company system.  I was discouraged, but not willing to give up. I had to figure out how I was going to establish myself and my company in the market place. What inspired you to break into your industry? It was accidental for me. My business was actually a partnership with my daughter who is an artist. I found myself becoming more involved in the business and tapping into cre

Why Retire When You Can Re-fire?! by Pam Perry

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  Is it time for a career change? Are you feeling a certain way about your retirement? Do you feel an urge to level up or get out? Hey, I get it! I’ve had many career pivots in my 35+ years in the communications industry, and I can tell you that making a change is work -- and it is worth it. If what you want to do is really different from what you’ve been doing for the past 10, 20, or 30 years, then this episode is for you, whether you want to add to your body of work or throw it all away. Listen in here: https://media.blubrry.com/get_out_there_get_known/content.blubrry.com/get_out_there_get_known/E57-Why-Retire-When-You-Can-Re-fire.mp3 and learn: My 5 top tips for introducing the new you, true stories of women whose pivots have been a huge success, the keys to leveraging your existing body of work, where to start with re-energizing your personal brand, why you’ll want to “go digital content crazy,” how social media makes this easier now than it’s ever been … and more! “Podcasting is

Emerging by Faith by Rev. Jacquie Hood Martin, PhD

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  Rev. Jacquie Hood Martin, PhD, inspires people to action with her matter-of-fact teaching and leadership style, helping people to set priorities that lead to smart, sound, decision-making. She is the owner of a boutique Life Management Firm, J. Hood & Associates a professional development 501(c)3 public charity. Learn more at jhoodandassociates.org . Daily we are growing together as we determine how to singular emerge from our pandemic encounter. It is up to you and you alone to find our space, determine your level of comfortability, and walk into your new life. As sons and daughters of faith, we learn to lean and depend on God to show us the way we need to go to grow ourselves as believers. Often the challenge seems overwhelming, and we become paralyzed by fear and the unfamiliar. As we move forward through the last days of 2021, a little bit of angst gives us flashbacks of the uncertainty that literally plagued the start of 2020. Let me encourage you amid your near panic attac

Brand Reference by Felicia Shakespeare

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  Brand or branding seems to be a part of so many different conversations these days. When I hear the word brand I initially think of so many different things nowadays and how this word is being used so frequently in our daily lives in talks. Whether watching television for fun or for insight or on social media following some favorite topics or people, we can actually start a tally to count how often this word comes up and is being used in discussions. Whether referring to a business or an individual, the term brand can have a variety of meanings within each and every situation. There’s no way to come to the full potential of a brand without knowing strategically your part in your personal development or journey. The scope or range of brand reference can fall from one game to another. For example, there are celebrities in every sector who have in their own right risen up to be undeniably the best in their craft, but equally can be the brand profile of the everyday person. What’s meant

Three Tips to Overcome Fear: Moving from fear to fruition by Yvette Gavin

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What frightens you the most when it comes to living out your dreams? The fear of excruciating pain didn’t plague me as I considered the possibility of the Novocaine wearing off before my dentist completed my tooth extraction. Frantically he said, I can’t get the tooth to move, and I can’t give you any more Novocaine. I quickly responded in a silent prayer asking for the tooth to be removed without me feeling pain, and for this answered prayer I vowed to start the ministry and business that I’ve known for years I was purposed to lead. At that very moment, my dentist said, “I got it!” My prayer was answered. I should have been elated, but I wasn’t. Immediately, the fear of starting a business and failing as a business owner consumed me. The fear of leaving the comfort of a high-paying job to start something new with an uncertain financial future plagued me. I wasn’t alone either. Based on research from a goal-based social network, Linkagoal, about 31 percent of adults are afraid of fa

Brand Refresher 101 by Felicia Shakespeare

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Felicia Shakespeare is a nationally nominated bestselling award Author, Business Podcast Host, Educator, and Entrepreneur. The name of her award-nominated book is You Are Your Brand: Building from the Inside Out. Felicia is the Founder of A Purpose Driven Woman LLC (APDW).  She shows female entrepreneurs & career professionals how to be successful in business and in life. Her key way of doing so is helping them build their brand by first connecting to their purpose. Her theory is “without a purpose, what’s the point?” In addition to curating the APDW  Podcast, Felicia has curated and hosted her own conference with a reach in Chicago | Atlanta | London. She was nominated for and became the winner of the Global Woman 2020 Inspirational Award.  I think it’s important to understand what a personal brand really is. When we look back on the historical definition of a “brand,” a personal brand or branding is the aspect of marking an individual in a particular kind of way to be known for

4 Tips for Overcoming Burnout by Yvette Gavin

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Yvette Gavin is the television talk show host of Faith at Work, the Chief Learning Officer of Yvette Gavin Consulting, and a philanthropist who is dedicated to helping others create a fulfilled and prosperous life. Yvette holds a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Oral Roberts University and several professional certifications. She is the recipient of numerous leadership awards including the State of Georgia Governor’s Award for Outstanding Leadership and the Leadership Excellence Award from the Georgia National Guard Chaplaincy Core. Yvette is a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoys traveling and entertaining family and friends over great food and conversations. How many times lately have you felt too busy to eat, too busy to sleep or too busy to connect with people who are important to you? If you’re feeling tired, spread too thin or just not your usually bright-minded self, you might be experiencing burnout. Burnout is the exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or mo

BOSS Spotlight Feature: Porsha Green

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Porsha Green , the CEO of Purpose PR Agency LLC has committed 25+ years of excellence to the public relations industry. With a diverse group of clients ranging from authors to political leaders, Green’s expertise shines through in her signature strategy. Her passion for the industry along with her exceptional marketing and brand management skills are the essence of what separates Purpose PR Agency from the competition.  1. What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of   starting your business or career?  In the beginning process of starting my business, a major obstacle I faced was starting this journey still operating in an employee mindset. I spent way to o  much time working  i n my business as hired help. I should have studied and operated from a CEO and business owner ’ s mindset.  As an Owner, your focus should be to strategize, build and work on the structure of your business. Making sure your financial structure is in place correctly. Learning everything n