Traumatic brain injury. A week ago today I swerved my bike to avoid toppling over a car. The car’s driver swung out in front of me to get a parking space, it would seem. Only, she didn’t have enough room to pull all the way in. The butt of the car was sticking out. I swerved to avoid hitting the car. I used my hand to tap the back of the lady’s car. I tell myself I did this for several reasons: to let her know I was there or to balance myself. Both reasons are valid. The emotion behind those reasons was anger. What the driver did was dangerous and could have cost me my life, all for the sake of a small sliver of a parking space. Putting my … [Read more...]
Would you marry my husband?
December 10, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Point: Zig when everybody else Zags. Would you marry my husband? Do what it takes to get what you want, especially when the stakes are high. That’s what my stylist did when her husband landed in hot water. Here’s what happened: I used to get my hair braided all of the time. It was convenient and it looked awesome. In fact, to allay any hair-related problems when I was in Spain, I made sure I had fresh braids before I went over there. People used to stop me in the street to comment on my braids. Some of them even touched my braids without even asking. That wasn’t so cool, but that’s Spain - a whole other story. My braids looked good … [Read more...]
You Think You Own Your Business? You don’t
September 17, 2015 by 4 Comments
The story: My dad was an entrepreneur and he had a hard time getting funding. He bootstrapped it and refused loans. He went to my uncle for cash to start the business. My uncle turned him down. So he started anyway. First exterior painting. Then interior painting. He was on a roll. Then there was an oops that threw a wrench in the works of everything he was working for. An unplanned occurrence. Something he wanted but didn’t know was in his near future. My mother was pregnant with me. I was an oops. Little did I know this simple, seemingly innocuous fact would be the start of a life in which I impacted 20,000 small business owners just … [Read more...]
Memoir Excerpt: Promotion, please.
February 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Real talk: In the not-so-distant past I wanted desperately to be acknowledged for my talents and given the chance to show what I could do, if only someone would "put me in, coach!" Alas I stayed on the sidelines while others, who I mentored or helped, passed me by on the career ladder. I was resentful, angry, disappointed and downright confused. I asked myself, "Can they see me? Don't you see my skills, my talent, my passion?" To this day I'm a bit perplexed but something happened recently that gives it all meaning. Shining the LightDuring prayer I felt in my heart that God wanted all of those things from me.He wants to be promoted … [Read more...]
Speak Up and Find Your Content Marketing Voice
December 9, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I'm from the hood and I don't hide it. There's no shame in it. One of the things I love about growing up where and when I did, is that quality hip-hop reigned the airwaves. Quality Hip Hop = Embracing who you are. Telling people who you are. And bragging about it. You can borrow this mentality if you want to - it's one of the best ways to market your business. You don't have to be from the 'hood to tell your story. As long as you're authentic and focused directly on your people - you will be absolutely fine. Here's why: When you integrate your story into your marketing, you attract people who are right for your brand. You also repel … [Read more...]
Mind Your Ts and Cues
December 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I may not know everything. But what I do know, I know very well. I've boiled down effective communication into three essential steps. First: Tell the Truth: Be up front about what you can and can't do. Tell who your audience is and who your audience is not. Give your people a heads-up when changes will effect how you serve them. Get Your Tone Right: Whenever I would step out of line, my sister would tell me, "You betta get your mind right, girl." It's the same thing with the tone of your communications. Even if you're telling the truth, if you say it in a way that's mean, uncaring, or nonchalant, your audience feels that. They won't … [Read more...]
Philly to Miami: My Dream and My Story Revealed
November 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Corporate America is just like the streets. There are gangs (cliques), alliances, back-room deals, bullies, and worst of all, snitches. When I got that lesson, I had peace of mind; enough peace to make tough decisions and leave places that didn't serve my agenda. That's just what I did when I designed my future when I was in high school. My first high school was like the movie, "Lean on Me" with Morgan Freeman. Fights every day. Teachers aides who were a bit too friendly with students. Every guy I knew carried a gun to school. Both my best friends got pregnant freshman year. I knew I just had to get up out of there. I got transferred … [Read more...]
Courage
October 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment
There really is no excuse. Technology makes the space for procrastinating smaller and smaller. Things are so easy now to create, execute, and distribute. It's so easy with technology. But it's hard being vulnerable enough to tell your story, to be authentic, and to launch new and innovative things. Courage. There's no app for that. … [Read more...]
Content Quick Tip: Put It All Up Front
April 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Be sure to say it up front. Here’s an example of what I mean: The Daily Mail in the UK does this with much success and now I’ve noticed several other media organizations have followed suit and done the same thing. For instance, that crazy #MyNYPD scandal from a few days ago, many of the news outlets that provided commentary for the story interspersed the tweets throughout the articles. You can do that as well. It’s super important to do. Check out the video I recorded on the subject. I know this is a lot of information. That’s why I’ve set up a couple of focused sessions for you to put your content marketing on auto-pilot and to simplify … [Read more...]
Content Marketing Crisis Management: Your Perfect 2-Point Strategy
April 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment
When you’re hit with negative reviews online, make like this Brazilian soccer player. Opposing fans made a racist gesture and threw a banana at Daniel Alves’s feet. A few things other players have done in similar situations: leave the field in protest (not good) give the item to the referee (okay) shout at the crowd (worst) Instead, Alves picked up the banana, peeled it and ate it before returning to his duties on the field. Perfect response! With that gesture he said, “Call me what you want. I actually was kind of hungry. Thanks!” or “I could not care less you just called me a primordial being.” You can do the exact same thing when … [Read more...]