I began to hear this voice early in life. I wondered what more there was to life. You just go to school then work? Is life just going to school and getting a job? Is getting a job, my only option? The voice grew strong and loud during the college years. The time and space lead me to learn about and research women like Madam CJ Walker, said to be the first self made female millionaire who built a hair business and product empire in the late 1800s. I started to hear some of the answers to the questions I had been asking. I started to learn this powerful part of me.
Growing up along and with hip hop, no surprise that such a voice emerged. I bared witness to examples of how to get your voice heard, grow the voice and add the voice to wanted and unwanted circles. I also took notice of how leaders like Russell Simmons and P. Diddy built on top of hip hop, with clothing lines and various products and services.
(The voice speaks) I build on ideas and mental capacities to bring them to life. I build with community to touch and positively impact as many people as able. I inhale partnerships and bringing people together. I am rooted in intellectual curiosity, creativity, courage and compassion. I stem from the parts of me that are student and teacher that continue to strive for growth, inspiration and challenges. I read and write about current and anticipated community issues. In this present day & age, I am aware that teamwork, community building, and offering & seeking solutions are essential to being heard successfully.
I am thankful for the cracks in my voice pursuing risks and the desire to stretch myself and others. I attract opportunities to sing, dance and even move choirs. It does not work without intuition and what appears in front of me. It does not work without good and meaningful feelings. The result has been participation in never done before projects, pilots, and programs.
I surrender to the drive and ambition of working through purpose, passion and possibilities. I surrender to the sounds of what sometimes feels and appears to be magic. I surrender to the natural solutions that present themselves. I surrender to engaging in dialogue vs. debate. I surrender to opening up the conversation to all that would like to speak and listen. I surrender to the unknown and imagination.
I hear the voices of others with similar intentions; we carry the same tune sometimes. We exchange verses and build new songs. We spread the lyrics around and ask if they truly are a reflection of more than just one experience. The communities of voices transform and grow into businesses, unique partnerships and innovative programming and ways to make life better. Have you ever heard such a voice? Are you willing and open to listening?
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Lessons of Leadership
The current US President Barack Obama has definitely changed the way many look at leadership. I don’t think I have ever heard of so many children and young people that know who the President is and even have thoughts of becoming the President one day. Lessons from Presidential leadership can be applied to your life, work and who you are. Presidents, certainly work under pressure, make hard decisions and develop relationships that impact the entire world.
Have you looked at your leadership? How do you problem solve? Build community? How do you lead and manage? What is your favorite part about leadership? How do you handle power? Who do you learn from to better your leadership?
I look at my leadership all the time. I believe there is a difference between leadership and management. I believe in power with as opposed to power over. What are your leadership traits and strengths? What do you believe in? Leadership is largely rooted in values and beliefs you live by. I believe in leading with heart and courage which I am thrilled is discussed in books like Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee and the Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes & Barry Posner.
Winston Churchill reminds us, “To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often.” I believe he was referring to the growth process. As change is constant in all lives, I think it is important to look at your leadership from time to time. Growing and evolving is apart of the human experience and as the process takes place, your values and beliefs need to be updated to stay aligned with your true self. The most difficult part is to let go and unlearn old ways that no longer serve us and others anymore. Staying relevant allows us to apply new ways to tackle challenges and decisions. It invites us to learn new things and allow growth to take place.
The image of leadership that our society amplifies is one of Presidency, one of visual, take charge leadership. It is a picture of a very masculine, one sized leadership that fits all. Everyone is a leader and leads in their own way. There are loud and quiet leaders, leaders who lead from the front and back. Which one are you? Discover for yourself the leader that you are and embrace it. Be sure to examine your leadership and challenge yourself to expand on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. As the well known philosopher Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Have you looked at your leadership? How do you problem solve? Build community? How do you lead and manage? What is your favorite part about leadership? How do you handle power? Who do you learn from to better your leadership?
I look at my leadership all the time. I believe there is a difference between leadership and management. I believe in power with as opposed to power over. What are your leadership traits and strengths? What do you believe in? Leadership is largely rooted in values and beliefs you live by. I believe in leading with heart and courage which I am thrilled is discussed in books like Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee and the Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes & Barry Posner.
Winston Churchill reminds us, “To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often.” I believe he was referring to the growth process. As change is constant in all lives, I think it is important to look at your leadership from time to time. Growing and evolving is apart of the human experience and as the process takes place, your values and beliefs need to be updated to stay aligned with your true self. The most difficult part is to let go and unlearn old ways that no longer serve us and others anymore. Staying relevant allows us to apply new ways to tackle challenges and decisions. It invites us to learn new things and allow growth to take place.
The image of leadership that our society amplifies is one of Presidency, one of visual, take charge leadership. It is a picture of a very masculine, one sized leadership that fits all. Everyone is a leader and leads in their own way. There are loud and quiet leaders, leaders who lead from the front and back. Which one are you? Discover for yourself the leader that you are and embrace it. Be sure to examine your leadership and challenge yourself to expand on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. As the well known philosopher Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Love is everywhere
Love, dove, glove- what is that romantic love feeling? Are poems, chocolate and roses the only thing that comes to mind when you think of love. Love is at the center of everything and you can find it anywhere. Yet, how often do you speak of love? Think of it? Act on it?
Just like the monthly themed celebrations, holidays are just a beginning point that should go beyond what others may or may not honor. I am not sure of the meaning and background of Valentine’s Day anymore. I see it as another Love day. My hope is that everyday is love day and certainly anytime is the time to celebrate and honor love.
Folks usually do something special for their romantic partner on Valentine’s Day. It gives everyone the excuse to get as emotional and excited about their romantic love as they want. Why do we need an excuse to behave in this manner? Why is it that the expression of love and demonstration of love is associated with being weak and uncool? After all, we all are human and have feelings, fact?
I hear of love mostly in the context of romantic relationships. Parents, how often do you say and express love explicitly to your children? Children, how often do you say and express love explicitly to your parent(s)? Same goes from sibling to sibling, friend to friend, another family member to another family member? How do you show love at work? How do you show love of self? That is where love really begins.
Love is everywhere. You love what you do; it helps to have love for those you work with. Why do we only speak of love interests and feelings for our romantic partner? Why not acknowledge love everywhere? You find love in hobbies. You find love in who you are. You find love in feelings and doing your best. You find love in miracles, the unlikely and the likely. Love is in the smallest of things, moments and places and in the biggest of things, moments and places. Where are your favorite places you uncover love? Connect with love?
What is love? was the most googled question in 2012. For me, love is that natural indescribable good, positive feeling that expands from the heart. Whenever you allow the heart to connect beautiful feelings flood in. Being present in the moment enables the possibility. Allowing your heart to open and expand, not only do you feel love, other good feelings will be experienced like compassion, peace and joy. I wish you all love, on Love day and everyday. Carry in your heart and bring it to all the places and all the people you come in contact with. Love is contagious and someone needs to be the instigator. What if that instigator is you?
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Celebrate yourself
As we move through February, Black History Month, let us be reminded to celebrate ourselves. Avoid waiting until your month, to celebrate yourself and see yourself in the world. Every month has a theme to raise awareness and to drive inclusion. Celebrate yourself by being who you truly are every single day.
We still need the black history month, and other months that recognize and uplift stories that otherwise would not be told. Diversity and inclusion are significant to a well rounded and productive future. After all these years of Februaries and other months, there are still stories that I hear for the first time. There continues to be stories that I am proud of and that inspire me. A month may not be enough and it is a start. Imagine those who do not embrace diversity, at least they may have to put up with it and maybe they just might learn something.
Stories, our stories, different stories should not be contained to a month. Black History Month is still necessary and relevant otherwise there are folks who would go unrecognized, not celebrated and overlooked. I believe in these monthly themed celebrations. The intention is to practice inclusion and educate. Everyone should have the opportunity to tell their story, no matter where they come from. Everyone should have the opportunity to be celebrated and recognized as well.
Recognition is something for everyone to learn and embrace. Studies have shown that employee recognition is linked to positive performance and retention. It is about being accepted, being seen as true and valid. There are certainly a number of months that I can relate to and I also do not wait until these months to know who I am and celebrate. At times, these months make it easier to secure that I am included and recognized.
As the United States continues to diversify, these months should be natural practices not just a set aside celebration. How can we recognize ourselves, regularly? How can we celebrate different cultures and different stories? How can we make diversity a natural part of everyone’s life? How can we embrace the invisible as visible, somehow?
Celebrate all of you. It should not only be about celebrating accomplishments and positive feedback. We need our shadow side and mistakes to be celebrated because they teach us and allow us to grow. How can we embrace our shadow side fully so that we celebrate everything about ourselves not only the things we like?
Celebrate yourself by treating yourself with kindness and compassion. Forgive yourself when you need to. Honor yourself and honor your history. When you celebrate yourself, you celebrate those who have come before you. I am thankful for Black History month because remembering who you are is priceless.
We still need the black history month, and other months that recognize and uplift stories that otherwise would not be told. Diversity and inclusion are significant to a well rounded and productive future. After all these years of Februaries and other months, there are still stories that I hear for the first time. There continues to be stories that I am proud of and that inspire me. A month may not be enough and it is a start. Imagine those who do not embrace diversity, at least they may have to put up with it and maybe they just might learn something.
Stories, our stories, different stories should not be contained to a month. Black History Month is still necessary and relevant otherwise there are folks who would go unrecognized, not celebrated and overlooked. I believe in these monthly themed celebrations. The intention is to practice inclusion and educate. Everyone should have the opportunity to tell their story, no matter where they come from. Everyone should have the opportunity to be celebrated and recognized as well.
Recognition is something for everyone to learn and embrace. Studies have shown that employee recognition is linked to positive performance and retention. It is about being accepted, being seen as true and valid. There are certainly a number of months that I can relate to and I also do not wait until these months to know who I am and celebrate. At times, these months make it easier to secure that I am included and recognized.
As the United States continues to diversify, these months should be natural practices not just a set aside celebration. How can we recognize ourselves, regularly? How can we celebrate different cultures and different stories? How can we make diversity a natural part of everyone’s life? How can we embrace the invisible as visible, somehow?
Celebrate all of you. It should not only be about celebrating accomplishments and positive feedback. We need our shadow side and mistakes to be celebrated because they teach us and allow us to grow. How can we embrace our shadow side fully so that we celebrate everything about ourselves not only the things we like?
Celebrate yourself by treating yourself with kindness and compassion. Forgive yourself when you need to. Honor yourself and honor your history. When you celebrate yourself, you celebrate those who have come before you. I am thankful for Black History month because remembering who you are is priceless.
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