For me, one of those moments happened earlier this month at the Financial Opportunity Center® (FOC) National Convening held right here in Chicago. The theme of the conference was Strength in Community: Together We Rise, and from the very first session, I felt the truth of those words. This convening felt especially meaningful as it marked twenty years of the FOC model, a celebration of growth, learning, and community impact. This theme of growth and renewal has been a thread through much of my work, both in writing and in practice; exploring how purpose evolves through every new season of leadership.

The FOC model has always been about more than financial empowerment. It is about transformation that ripples through families, neighborhoods, and entire communities. For nearly two decades, I have been deeply connected to this work, helping to strengthen and expand the model while witnessing its profound impact on people and communities. Being part of this convening felt like both a celebration and a full-circle moment.

Leading and Learning in Community

My conference duties began with leading a coaching practicum for a group of 24 participants. Coaching is not just something I do; it is a core part of how I live my purpose. Being able to train and guide others in the principles of coaching, especially in the context of supervision and leadership, always reminds me of why I began this work in the first place. It also reminded me of the many conversations I have shared here about how leadership and personal growth begin with listening both to ourselves and to others. Training others in coaching also reminds me how powerful it is to pause, listen, and help people unlock their own insight. Coaching is not simply about asking powerful questions or setting goals. It is about creating space for people to hear themselves, recognize their strengths, and reconnect to their own wisdom and capacity for growth.

I had the honor of participating in the opening plenary, Celebrating our Legacy, Charting our Future: Two Decades of Opportunity and Community Transformation. Sitting alongside other distinguished panelists, we reflected on the history of the FOC model, shared pivotal moments, and lifted up the stories of transformation that remind us why this work matters. We spoke about the evolution of the model and the lessons learned along the way. What struck me most was how consistently individual empowerment has created community impact. When one person builds financial stability, it strengthens families. When families stabilize, entire communities thrive.

A Moment I Will Never Forget

At the end of our portion of the panel, something unexpected happened. The CEO of one of our longtime community partners, Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC), who was also on the plenary with me, paused to thank me for my years of work with the model and the support I have provided along the way. To my complete surprise, the room rose to a standing ovation. Then, as if that was not enough, I was presented with a welded plaque that one of JARC’s instructors had created. The beauty of it, the weight of it, and the symbolism behind it left me completely overwhelmed. In that moment, I could not hold back the tears.

I am not often caught off guard in professional settings, but this recognition touched me deeply. It was not just about the plaque. It was about being seen and having my contributions acknowledged by people I admire and respect. It was about the reminder that the seeds we plant quietly, year after year, do take root, and sometimes they bloom in ways we could never imagine.

Another highlight of the convening was the keynote address by Mia Birdsong. She spoke powerfully about the connections that sustain us and the truth that our communities will show up for us when we need them most. Her words resonated deeply as I reflected on the spirit of this 20-year celebration. Purpose may be what drives us forward, but community is what carries us when we need reminding of why we started. The convening’s theme, Together We Rise, came alive in that moment and throughout the week, reminding me that while individual effort matters, it is the collective strength of community that makes transformation possible.

Legacy, Leadership, and Gratitude

I sometimes get asked how I have stayed at LISC for so long. For those who do not know, it has been 18 years, and I have many reasons. But in my top five are my colleagues and our partners. The images above and below this section reflect some of them. They represent people who have not only shared this journey with me but have shaped it. These relationships and shared milestones bring to mind what I expressed in From Pen to Purpose: A Year of Personal Growth Through Blogging, about how reflection helps us honor where we have been and embrace what lies ahead. Also in my top five is the impact itself, the real, tangible change that this work creates. The 20-year anniversary of the FOC model reflects that impact. It is a celebration of what happens when people, organizations, and communities commit to working together over time to create opportunity. Although I have passed the torch of leading the local FOC network to my very capable colleague, Sarai Garza, I am grateful to continue learning from her and to remain connected to the work. Watching her leadership and the new energy she brings to this space has been both inspiring and affirming. Leadership is not about holding on. It is about building capacity, mentoring others and creating space for new voices to shine.

Learning from Leadership

When I reflect on my own professional growth, I am reminded of the supervisors I have had during my time at LISC. Each one has taught me something invaluable about strategy, leadership, and big-picture thinking, and about the value of relationships that strengthen both people and purpose. I am deeply grateful for the leadership and guidance of Ricki Lowitz, Kevin Jordan, Susana Vasquez, Seung Kim and Meghan Harte, whose support and insight have shaped my journey in meaningful ways. Their mentorship has shaped not only my professional path but also how I show up as a coach, leader, and colleague. I have learned that leadership is both learned and shared, and that we grow by both guiding and being guided.

Honoring Legacy and Looking Ahead

The closing plenary of the convening honored the partners who have helped build and strengthen the FOC network over the years, recognizing partners who have left a lasting legacy, catalyzed change, innovated on the model, mentored others, and led the way for the FOC network. It was an opportunity to pause, celebrate, and honor the many people and organizations that have helped shape the last twenty years of impact. I was especially proud to recognize JARC for their lasting legacy and unwavering commitment to this work. Their leadership and innovation have made a real difference for the communities they serve.

Looking ahead, I am both reflective and hopeful. This convening reminded me that sustaining impact requires both continuity and renewal, honoring what has been built while making space for what is emerging. The legacy of the FOC model is not only about the past 20 years. It is also about the next 20, and how we continue to rise together through purpose, partnership, and possibility.

A Personal Note of Gratitude

I will carry the memory of that standing ovation and plaque with me for a long time. Not as a trophy, but as a reminder. A reminder that purpose is not something we live out alone. It is something that grows within us and through us, and then takes root in the lives of others. It is something that flourishes when it is held in community. For me, this convening was more than a professional milestone. It was a deeply personal reminder of why I launched Mission ENSPIRE in the first place: to create space for women, nonprofits, and faith leaders to rediscover purpose, overcome doubt, and walk fully in their potential.

Closing Reflection

As I look back on my journey, the experiences, the people, and the milestones, I am reminded that purpose is not static. It grows through connection, collaboration, and commitment. I am proud of the role I have played, grateful for those who have walked alongside me, and excited to see how this work continues to evolve in the years ahead. Because in the end, that is what true strength in community looks like. It is the ability to honor where we have been, celebrate who we have become, and keep building toward what is possible together.

As you reflect on your own journey, what moments have reminded you of your purpose? Who has helped you rise along the way?

If this reflection resonated with you, you may also enjoy Chapter 48: Embracing Growth, Gratitude, and New Possibilities, where I share lessons from another season of renewal and gratitude.

The Power of Vision

Great accomplishments begin with great clarity. Vision is the spark that lights the path to our goals, giving us direction and focus. Without it, we risk wandering through our days without a sense of purpose or fulfillment. When I launched this blog early in 2023, it wasn’t just about creating content—it was about connecting with you, my readers, and sharing tools to inspire both personal and professional growth. That vision of helping others achieve their goals kept me motivated even when balancing a full-time job with my entrepreneurial ambitions felt overwhelming. What drives me is knowing that every post, every interaction with you, contributes to a larger vision of empowerment and growth for you my readers. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but taking time to clarify your vision can help guide you when the road gets tough. A vision gives you purpose, even when the path is unclear.

Tips for creating your vision:

1. Write it down: Spend time journaling about your dreams for 2025. What do you want to achieve? What will be the most fulfilling for you? This act of writing solidifies your commitment to the future.
2. Visualize daily: Create a vision board or use digital tools to keep your goals visible. Visualizing your success every day reminds you why your vision is worth pursuing. For me, creating visual reminders has been a powerful tool to keep my focus sharp.
3. Align with values: Your vision should reflect your core values. For example, my business is rooted in helping women prioritize their growth. When your goals align with what matters most to you, it’s easier to stay committed.

When you anchor your goals in a clear vision, it’s like having a North Star guiding you through each decision and challenge.

Preparing for Change

If there’s one constant in life, it’s change. And as uncomfortable as it can sometimes feel, embracing change is essential for growth. Whether it’s new career opportunities or unexpected setbacks, change is the gateway to transformation. Looking at 2024, I’ve been humbled by some of the opportunities that came my way—like the chance to facilitate training at the National FOC Convening in Mesa and learn from an incredible network of leaders in the field. I also had the unexpected thrill of riding in a driverless car, which seemed like a metaphor for how we can learn to embrace the future, even when it feels unfamiliar. This experience taught me that adaptability isn’t just about responding to external circumstances—it’s also about cultivating an openness to new possibilities. Reflecting on my own journey, I realized that change often comes disguised as discomfort. In the moments when I felt uncertain—whether about my business, my goals, or my own abilities—were often the moments when the most growth happened.

Strategies to build resilience and embrace change:

• Set micro-goals: Instead of tackling massive changes all at once, break them into smaller, manageable steps. Small wins build momentum and confidence.
• Reflect and adjust: Regularly check in on your progress. Ask yourself: What’s working? What isn’t? In 2024, I had to adjust my approach to podcasting and focus on the areas where I could give my best effort. Don’t be afraid to pivot.
• Practice gratitude: Focusing on what you have instead of what you lack can shift your mindset. When challenges arise, embrace them as opportunities for growth and learning.

By preparing for change and staying flexible, we allow ourselves to grow in unexpected ways, even when the road ahead isn’t perfectly clear.

Taking Intentional Action

A vision is only as powerful as the action it inspires. The most successful goals are those that are rooted in intentional action—where each step we take aligns with our values and aspirations. For me, intentional action often means breaking down my big ideas into manageable tasks. Whether it’s launching a new product or hosting workshops, I’ve learned that progress isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment—it’s about taking that first imperfect step and building momentum from there.

In my own journey, I’ve found that tools like my Monthly Planning Journal have been essential for staying organized and focused on my long-term goals. When I first launched the Momentum Mastermind Set—a business tool bundle to help people prioritize their goals and track their success—it was a leap of faith, but the planning I put into it made the leap easier to manage.

Tools to support intentional action:

• Plan with purpose: Use journals or planners to map out your monthly objectives and track progress. I’ve used my own tools to break down larger projects into weekly and daily action steps.
• Set accountability measures: In 2024, I leaned heavily on peers and mentors to keep me grounded and focused on my entrepreneurial growth. Having a trusted support network has been crucial.
• Celebrate small wins: Progress, no matter how small, deserves recognition. This mindset has been crucial in maintaining momentum, even during setbacks.

Action, no matter how small, creates momentum. When you commit to showing up consistently, you’ll be amazed at the progress you can make.

Embracing Community and Support

No journey is meant to be traveled alone. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in 2024 is the importance of community and the power of shared growth and support. Over the past year, I’ve experienced firsthand the power of connections—whether it’s reconnecting with my classmates at my high school reunion, meeting colleagues at the LISC Midwest Office Retreat, or attending the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference. These connections have given me new perspectives, support, and inspiration, making my journey feel less isolated and much more collaborative.

Ways to foster connections in 2025:

• Attend events: Join workshops or conferences that align with your interests. For example, my participation in the Voices of Color Summit has been both a humbling and energizing experience.
• Seek mentorship: Learning from those further along the path can fast-track your growth. Mentors have been invaluable in helping me refine my goals.
• Be a resource: Building community starts with offering your own support and expertise. By serving others, you create a foundation of mutual respect and collaboration.

Community fuels growth, offering strength and perspective when we need it most. It’s about knowing that you don’t have to do everything on your own.

Conclusion: A Bold Call to Action

2025 is a blank canvas, brimming with possibility. The way you choose to fill it is entirely up to you. Let this be the year you dream bigger, embrace change with courage, and take intentional steps toward your vision. The future isn’t something to wait for—it’s something to create.

As this is my final post of the year, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for being part of this journey with me. 2024 has been a year of growth, and I’m excited to see what 2025 holds for all of us. I’ll be back with my first post of the year in mid-January, where we’ll dive into new strategies and insights to start the year strong.

So, I’ll leave you with this: What is one bold action you will take to prepare for 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s hold each other accountable for making 2025 our best year yet.

Posting this on December 5 feels like a fitting moment to pause and look back. The time between my birthday and the year’s end often inspires both gratitude for the journey so far and anticipation for what’s to come. Chapter 47 was filled with milestones, challenges, and moments of connection that reminded me of the power of community, resilience, and self-investment.

As I move forward, I want to share some of the most transformative experiences of the past year—insights that continue to influence my journey and my commitment to personal and collective growth.

Balancing Identities: Professional vs. Entrepreneurial Self

Navigating my dual identities as a nonprofit leader and the founder of Mission ENSPIRE has been both rewarding and challenging. Often, the line between my professional career and entrepreneurial journey blurs, each role contributing to my broader purpose of inspiring and empowering others.

In nonprofit spaces, I bring the structured leadership skills that have guided my career. Yet, as an entrepreneur, I lean into creativity and innovation, which refresh my approach in ways I carry back to the nonprofit sector. Through these roles, I continue to learn that while the paths may be different, the end goal remains the same: to create positive impact and encourage others to invest in their growth.

This dual identity was also explored in conversations I had as a guest on the Trailblazin’ Bosses Podcast with Veranda Adkins and in my interviews with CanvasRebel and Bold Journey. These opportunities allowed me to share my career insights and discuss how I’ve balanced strengths, tackled challenges, and found purpose in unexpected ways.

Through it all, my faith has been my anchor, reminding me that both my nonprofit leadership and entrepreneurial journey are part of a greater purpose. It has guided me to approach challenges as learning and growth opportunities and to view each role as a way to serve and uplift others.

Community Connections: The Power of Shared Histories and Collective Wisdom

The joy of reconnecting with my past was clear at my high school reunion this year, where over 300 alumni gathered in Atlanta to celebrate our shared history. It was energizing to see familiar faces, some of whom I hadn’t encountered in 30 years. As someone who attended Piney Woods School, a historically Black boarding school, this all-class reunion was particularly special, bringing together not just my fellow class of 1994 but alumni from various years. Reuniting with familiar faces was an unexpected and meaningful gift with a special milestone marking 30 years since graduation. The energy of the event was infectious, filled with laughter and shared memories, and it deepened my appreciation for the connections that have shaped who I am today.

In addition to the reunion, I participated in a three-day gathering of leadership team members from our Midwest Local Offices at LISC. This event was an incredible opportunity to learn from one another and engage with colleagues from the Cincinnati office, who generously took us on a tour of their work. Hearing firsthand from local partners about the impact of our initiatives reinforced the importance of community and collaboration in achieving meaningful change.

At this year’s Voices of Color Summit, I had the honor of sharing my “ENSPIRE Truth,” a deeply personal reflection on overcoming self-doubt and embracing purpose: “The biggest obstacle between you and your dreams isn’t lack of knowledge, resources, or opportunity—though these are real challenges we face as people of color. The biggest obstacle is often that voice inside telling you ‘not yet,’ ‘not enough,’ or ‘not you.’… You already have everything within you to start. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be purposeful. And remember—you don’t have to do it alone.”

From attending the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference to connecting with colleagues at LISC gatherings, I saw firsthand how the bonds we build with others help carry us through challenges and inspire us to dream bigger. These experiences reaffirmed that we thrive when we invest in our communities and allow ourselves to learn from the collective strength of those around us.

A Year of Firsts: Stepping into New Horizons

In Chapter 47, I embraced several “firsts” that symbolized my commitment to growth and stepping outside of my comfort zone.

Right after I turned 47 last year, I was given the chance to represent my organization for the first time as a speaker at Serita Love’s annual Success Junkie Summit. The talk, entitled “Entrepreneurial Leadership: Scoring Success with a Legendary Mindset,” felt monumental. I remember how Serita, my Brand Strategist, casually informed me I’d be speaking, and I thought, “Wait, I don’t think I agreed to this!” My identity as a facilitator and trainer made me hesitant; I didn’t see myself as a speaker. However, this experience taught me that I could step into that role with practice and support. The positive feedback I’ve received since has helped me embrace my abilities and recognize that I’m not just a facilitator; I’m also a capable speaker.

Taking on new challenges—like speaking for the first time at the Success Junkie Summit—required more than just preparation; it demanded faith. Faith that I was equipped for the task, faith in the people who supported me, and faith in the greater purpose that my work serves. This belief gave me the courage to step into the unknown and trust in the potential for growth ahead.

My time at the National FOC Convening in Mesa stands out as a highlight, where I had the opportunity to train others in using coaching within their supervision—skills that deepen my work in both nonprofit and entrepreneurial spaces. In an unexpected twist, I also experienced my first ride in a driverless car! This thrilling moment reminded me of the power of letting go and trusting in the unknown, a feeling that has fueled my entrepreneurial journey with Mission ENSPIRE. Just as I trusted the technology guiding me, I’m learning to embrace the unpredictable turns that come with pursuing growth and transformation.

Looking Ahead: Intentionality and Purpose

As I reflect on my journey and look ahead to the milestones of Chapter 48, my faith remains my compass. It reminds me to lead with gratitude, approach each day with purpose, and trust that every step—no matter how uncertain—is part of a divine plan. My faith also guides my commitment to using the gifts I’ve been given to uplift others and create meaningful impact.

Entering Chapter 48, I recognize that this milestone offers a unique opportunity to pause and assess the broader vision for my life and work. This isn’t just about setting goals; it’s about defining the legacy I want to create and the impact I hope to leave behind. Over the next two years, as I approach Chapter 50, I aim to lean into intentionality—aligning my decisions with my values and purpose.

For Mission ENSPIRE, this means dedicating time to refining my offerings and building stronger connections with the women, nonprofit professionals, and faith-based organizations that I aim to serve. It’s not enough to maintain the status quo; I want to expand my capacity to support others in transforming their lives. This includes exploring new workshops, creating additional resources, and seeking collaborative opportunities to amplify my reach.

Personally, I’m prioritizing self-care and reflection as essential parts of this journey. I’ve realized that stepping back to recharge isn’t a luxury but a necessity, especially as I balance the demands of professional and entrepreneurial life. The retreat I’m planning to attend will not only be a time to strategize but also a chance to reconnect with the “why” behind my work—reminding myself of the passion and purpose that fuel everything I do.

This chapter isn’t just about personal growth; it’s about showing up for others in more meaningful ways. Whether through mentoring, volunteering, or leading, I want to continue planting seeds of courage and confidence in others, just as mentors and supporters have done for me.

Conclusion: Gratitude and an Invitation to Reflect

In reflecting on Chapter 47, I am most grateful for the grace and guidance that have carried me through. My faith has been a constant reminder that even in challenges, there is a greater purpose at work. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the experiences, relationships, and growth that happened in my life. Each “first,” each challenge, each opportunity, and each moment of connection contributed to a narrative of resilience, joy, and transformation. These lessons remind me that every step—whether smooth or rocky—is a step forward, shaping the person I’m becoming.

As I move forward, I’m leaning on my faith to help me continue growing, learning, and serving. I’m carrying these lessons with me: the courage to embrace new roles, the wisdom to trust the journey, and the gratitude for every person who has walked alongside me. Growth is never a solitary journey; it’s cultivated in community, and for that, I am deeply thankful.

Now, I’d love to hear from you. In the spirit of reflection and shared growth, consider these questions:

• What community connections have been a source of strength for you?
• What lessons from your past year have shaped your growth?
• How do you plan to embrace the next chapter of your journey with intentionality and purpose?

Let’s inspire and encourage one another as we move forward. Together, we have the power to create transformative change—not just for ourselves, but for the communities we serve.

I look forward to hearing your insights and celebrating the paths we’re on together.

I made “gratitude” the theme of my November blog posts, but really, gratitude is something I hold throughout the year, and I’m continuing to feel that grateful spirit as I look back on some of my proudest accomplishments–and biggest challenges–of 2023.  In fact, over two weeks later, I’m still coasting on the overwhelming rush of excitement, relief, and gratitude that I experienced when I learned about my student loan forgiveness.  Honestly, I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve re-read that letter from MOHELA in the days since I received it. Sometimes it doesn’t feel real still, and I have to keep reminding myself it is!

But as much as that life-changing news was a major highlight of my year, when I took a pause to think back on 2023, I realized it was one of only many highlights, many events and moments that took me out of my comfort zone, pushed me to think differently, taught me new things, and encouraged and energized me to continue pursuing my goals, the first highlight being: I launched this blog!  As I was strategizing how to grow my business, share knowledge, and reach my existing audience along with new audiences, starting a blog had been a goal of mine, and in early 2023 I committed to making it happen. I launched Flourishing Fiercely with a goal of posting at least once a week. As it turned out, that didn’t always happen–I missed a few weeks here and there–but that’s OK too! It’s great to set ambitious goals, but also important to give ourselves grace and honor those times when we may need to take a pause.

And what better way to tackle one of my goals than by…writing about goals!  Readers who’ve been with me since the beginning earlier this year may remember that I kicked off by talking about how to get started with goal-setting, keeping up motivation, finding ways to keep yourself accountable, and sticking with the new habits that you might make in service of your goals.  Of course, as a trained coach, you know I also couldn’t help incorporating lots of content throughout those posts about how important SMART goals are! Actually, my blog goal gave me a perfect example of a SMART goal: Launch a blog on my Mission ENSPIRE website in Spring 2023 (Specific and Timebound) and commit to posting weekly (Measurable, and mostly Attainable other than my few missed weeks) as a way of sharing my knowledge and deepening engagement with Mission ENSPIRE clients, prospective clients, and other interested readers (Relevant).

I’d also set a goal for myself of using 2023 as a year to level up my business, connect more intentionally to the entrepreneur community, promote my business and its services, and help inspire others on their own entrepreneurial journeys. I joined my first accelerator for my business (the Launch and Profit Accelerator) and one of the tasks I created was my “I help statement” to guide Mission ENSPIRE’s direction and work: “I help professional women prioritize themselves so they can lead impactful lives without sacrificing their own personal growth.” I launched one of Mission ENSPIRE’s first products: the Momentum Mastermind Set, a personal planning journal, business goal journal, and e-book bundle designed to help you track your notes, appointments, ideas, goals, successes, challenges and more — while teaching you how to make every moment count.

I’ll admit, the “connect and inspire” part of taking my business to the next level came the most naturally to me; the “promote” part perhaps a bit less so.  Throughout my career, I’ve always served in roles that involved building community, creating partnerships, bringing people and organizations together. As I discovered coaching and facilitation, that helped me put myself out there more, but still largely in roles where I’m listening, asking probing questions, helping my audience draw out insights. In those practices, my clients and my training or discussion participants are at the center (intentionally so), not me.  

But 2023 was the year that I realized that part of growing my business meant talking more about myself and my services–and that that’s not a bad thing, especially if I can also be an example to other aspiring entrepreneurs the way that so many have been to me on my path over the past few years.  One of my most exciting accomplishments was becoming a best-selling author, when I contributed a chapter to a book called The Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit for Success (Volume 1). (As I wrote in one of my May blog posts on bucket lists, I definitely got bit by the writing bug through that experience, and authoring an entire book someday is another one of my bucket list items.)

Thanks to some of the connections I made by participating in the book, as well as folks I’ve met throughout my business journey, I was fortunate to be profiled in forums including Canvas Rebel and She ROCKS It magazine. I attended the Dreamer’s Women’s Networking & Celebration event at the beginning of the year, which was the first event where I represented Mission ENSPIRE as a vendor. In November, I participated in my first speaking engagement as a business owner, giving a talk titled “Entrepreneurial Leadership: Scoring Success with a Legendary Mindset” at the Success Junkie Summit hosted by Serita Love. I’m accustomed to public speaking somewhat, since I do so much training and facilitation in my work, but something about giving a “real” speech as founder and CEO of my own company felt different–definitely a growth moment for me! I was nervous but had so much fun once I got started, and even decided to keep the momentum going by applying to be a speaker at a retreat in New Orleans next March. (I’ll keep you posted on how that goes!)

Having said all that, I strongly believe that my learning comes not just from things I accomplished but from things I didn’t accomplish as well. For example, one of my goals and plans was to be a guest on a podcast at least monthly.  Though I did have the privilege to be a guest on the Embrace Your Power podcast with Host and Career Success Coach Denise Taylor, that monthly goal didn’t happen. I researched interesting and relevant podcasts and worked on some applications to appear, but never ended up submitting them. More to the point, I didn’t set aside dedicated time to work on this goal, and that can make all the difference.

Still, I’m proud of what I accomplished, while also working full-time in my nonprofit job. Reflecting on what kept me motivated and on track throughout 2023, one factor in being able to accomplish so much was the time I spent in early December 2022 planning for 2023 at Candace Junee’s Go-Getter Retreat where we prepared our mind, spirit and business to prosper in 2023. Since I know the value of having intentional time for reflection and planning, I’m excited to share about my “Chart Your Course” Workshop that I’m hosting next month.  If you’re feeling uninspired, unmotivated, or in a rut–or even if you’re feeling good as 2023 winds down and looking to keep that momentum going for another year–this goal-setting workshop is for you. We’ll celebrate your wins and growth from 2023 with thoughtful reflection exercises and clarify your big audacious goals for the coming year so that you can “Fiercely Soar in 2024”.  Go HERE for session dates, times, and further details.

Thank you all so much, again, for being part of this blog journey–and our collective learning and growth journey–with me in 2023. I’m excited to stay connected and also find new ways to engage in 2024, and I wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and New Year!

Mindset Matters

Black Woman Leading Coach Felicia Tate kicked off the morning with a session called “Mindset Matters: Embracing Growth over Perfection.”  “Mindset” is a set of beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself.  Mindset influences how you think, feel and behave in any given situation.  Your mindset impacts your success or failure.  Felicia shared the importance of flexibility to a growth mindset (“flexible people aren’t bent out of shape”) and emphasized that sometimes when we’re confronting our fears and working toward a growth mindset, this journey can get worse before it gets better, or get harder before it gets easier.  She asked the audience to reflect on these questions:

• What is currently holding me back from embracing growth over perfection?
• What do I need to release in order for me to fully embrace a growth mindset?
• What does embracing growth look like for me?

Felicia shared this quote that really stayed with me after the session and now that I’m home and reflecting: “Your mindset is the compass that guides your journey.  Embracing growth over perfection is extremely vital to how you choose to show up for the experience.”  For me, “embracing growth” definitely means re-examining my need for perfection.  I’m a “recovering perfectionist” who has to work to keep that perfectionism mindset at bay sometimes, so this topic was especially impactful for me.  

Grace and Self-Compassion

Next, we heard from Black Woman Leading Coach Karma Hill, whose topic was “Giving Grace: Self-Compassion Skills to Support your Wellness.”  Karma shared two quotes to get us thinking about the topic of grace and compassion:

• “Self-compassion involves directing sensitivity inwardly to our own experience of suffering along with a deep desire to alleviate the suffering.”  (Kristen Neff)
• “Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.” (Christopher Germer)

We learned that self-compassion is not self-pity, self-indulgence, making excuses, being passive or complacent.  Rather, self-compassion is about self-kindness versus self-judgment; a sense of common humanity versus isolation; and mindfulness versus over-identification when confronting painful self-relevant thoughts and emotions.  We even took the time for a Tender Self Compassion Break so we can practice that for ourselves to take forward after our time together.  Karma reminded us that: All humans are imperfect; we deserve kindness; and we all have life challenges and need to give ourselves grace.

Wrapping Up and Keeping the Momentum Going

Black Woman Leading founder Laura Knights closed the conference and retreat reminding us of our intentions that we created on Day 1 and the action steps that we have been creating through the conference.

As the conference closed we were reminded “I am everything I want to be. I have everything I need.” via this song.  Laura also told us not to forget to schedule an “appointment” with ourselves within the next two weeks to work on our actions.  No matter how informative and inspiring a conference or retreat may be, it’s so easy to get caught up in our day to day lives and back to “business as usual” when we get home—I’ve been guilty of this myself in the past, so I really needed this reminder to intentionally set aside time in the next few weeks to tackle the action steps I committed to at the retreat.    

I especially needed to set my “follow-up” appointment because I had barely any time to take a breath post-summit! The very day the Black Woman Leading LIVE conference concluded, I was off to Atlanta for several days to lead coaching trainings at an annual conference for AmeriCorps members that the nonprofit I work for hosts.  I was asked to lead 3 three-hour coaching training sessions, which is really just a “teaser” or introduction to coaching—but I was still a little nervous about preparing all my materials in time and getting back into in-person training after a long pivot to virtual during the pandemic.  

As I was getting prepared for my training on Tuesday, I realized that I didn’t print enough materials so I would need to find somewhere to do some extra printing.  I was really beating myself up about not being fully prepared but as I was walking to the local FedEx Office I saw this mural which has one of my favorite MLK quotes:

Reflecting on the meaning of this quote and all of my experience coming off Black Woman Leading LIVE—especially the sessions about letting go of my pursuit for perfection and giving myself grace—helped calm my nerves and remind me that I’ve trained and practiced for delivering exactly this type of training.

Once the training started, that comfort level immediately returned—and it was so great to be back training in person instead of connecting with participants through little Zoom squares on screen!  I led the participants through one of my favorite coaching activities, in which they break into small groups that each come up with an image, word, song title or some other creative way to describe several common service delivery methods—counseling, training, mentoring, and coaching—and to note the ways they differ from one another.

I love this exercise because it not only helps participants understand how coaching is unique from counseling, training, and mentoring, but I get to see so many different forms of creativity!  We had some groups share songs which they shared on their phone. We had some groups who had artists in their group, so they drew images.  We had a few skits—for example, one group acted out a scene where everyone was in an elevator together with someone and the elevator got stuck.  One person in the elevator acted out having a panic attack and each of the other group members assisted the person as a counselor, trainer, mentor, or coach would do.  The exercise allows individuals to think about how these roles have some similarities, but they are also some distinct things as well.  (I’ll share more about those similarities and differences in a future blog post!)

In addition to the excitement of this conference being back in person for the first time since 2019, for the first time the audience included not only AmeriCorps members but interns from my employer’s internship program for HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) students. Being an HBCU alum myself and having built a two decade-plus career in the nonprofit and community economic development industries, it was especially meaningful to me to have this opportunity to connect with the next generation of emerging leaders.    

Staying Connected

As you might have picked up from reading my blog posts this month, Black Woman Leading—both the live conference + retreat and the leadership program—have been transformative for me, both personally and professionally.  If you’re a Black woman, here are some great ways that you can connect with the Black Woman Leading Community:    

• Listen to the Podcast
• Join the interest list for next year’s Retreat & Conference
• Check out the programs for early career, mid-career and executives. 
• Follow Black Woman Leading on social media

For the rest of my readers, I invite you to listen to the Podcast and share information about Black Woman Leading with Black women family, friends, or colleagues in your lives.

Inspired by all of the wisdom about self-compassion and self-care that I learned at Black Woman Leading LIVE, I’ll be taking a break from posting next Thursday to give myself some time to unwind and tackle some of those action items from the summit.  But I’ll be back with a new blog series in July and look forward to reconnecting with you then!    

Leveling Up in Our Careers

Day Two of the conference had a thought-provoking and productive start, as Black Women Leading founder Laura Knights led us through a morning session focused on our next level career growth strategy.  Laura structured the agenda so that this was a working session guided by a worksheet for us to complete and a guided set of discussion topics.  We first examined our “current state” in our career and shared about our “vision state” and the things it might take to get there.  With our table-mates, we talked about our current strengths, our “gaps,” and skills we needed to develop to get to the next level in our careers.  The worksheet also helped walk us through an inventory of the relationships and resources we need to move close to that vision state.

Some of the questions that I wrote for further exploration for myself: Am I pushing myself?  Is this really what I want to do?  Am I being safe? Am I sitting in comfort?  I’ve definitely taken my career to new levels over the past couple of years—with moving into a more senior leadership role and my full-time job, launching my business, and tackling my longtime goal of pursuing ICF coaching certification —but I still think it’s important to take time to reflect, with intention, on what I want that next “next level” to look like, and to set new goals as I achieve my current ones.

Living Better through Better Sleep Habits

Then we got to hear from Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell whose session was called “Sleep Better to Live Better:  How to Elevate Your Life Through Better Sleep.”  Dr. Holliday-Bell shared seven tips for how to start doing this:

1. Prioritize sleep
2. Learn your sleep need to function optimally.  (Some of us need more sleep than others in order to feel healthy and well-rested.)
3. Start your day with sleep in mind
4. Manage daily stress and anxiety
5. Create a soothing bedroom and bedtime routine
6. Protect your relationship between your bed and sleep
7. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

This session spoke to me in so many ways!  I’m fortunate that I don’t often have trouble sleeping, but some of these tips (especially #4 on managing stress and anxiety!) are ongoing things I need to work on.  And I’d never really thought much about sleep as something that’s essential for us to protect and prioritize, so Dr. Holliday-Bell really got me thinking about how important it is to be intentional about sleep and rest.  I know that I can work to implement some of these practices to function more optimally in order to live better.

Another High-Energy Afternoon

After lunch we got a special performance by Tarrey Torae whom I had never heard of before but I’m looking forward to listening to more of her music.  She even did a mini lesson on stepping and had everyone up out of their seats learning how to step—another great example of ways that the conference organizers came up with to pull us out of that typical post-lunch energy slump! 

The afternoon continued with a panel of the Black Women Leading Coaches and there were sooo many gems dropped that I’d run out of room if I shared them all, but some of the most impactful ones that I wrote down were about boundaries and wellness.  The panel talked about how setting boundaries is really about teaching people how to treat you; setting, communicating, and upholding boundaries; and holding yourself accountable for maintaining those boundaries.  That can be tough to do, but we were reminded how important it is to be consistent in enforcing boundaries and not to waver—because ultimately, we won’t reach the level of success we aspire to without setting firm and clear boundaries.  Like many of us, I’ve sometimes struggled to set boundaries or say “no” to things in the past.  The panel reminded us to stop apologizing for your boundaries and that we don’t have to apologize for taking care of ourselves.

After discussing boundaries as a form of self-care, the panel shared other ways that we can look after our wellness, such as taking time to rest—and not only taking time, but intentionally scheduling those rest breaks so that we can be sure we take them!  This resonated with me because in the past I’ve sometimes caught myself falling into a pattern where I keep meaning to take time off, but then something always comes up that gets in the way or makes me think I should postpone my break to take care of whatever thing that popped up that seems more urgent or important.  I was grateful for the reminder from the panel that we deserve to take care of ourselves and as one panelist said “we are worthy of pampering ourselves!” and need to give ourselves permission to do so.  Everyone emphasized the wellness is a lifestyle and a practice. I came out of that session feeling re-committed to prioritizing my wellness and well-building and I’ve been using the phrase “I will chose self-care for myself” as an occasional mantra these last few weeks.

Knowing Our Value

Turning back to career considerations, our next session was Salary Negotiation with Lenna Turner.  This is a topic that is SO important for women and for Black women in particular as well as other women of color.  It also resonates personally with me because—perhaps like many of you have experienced as well—I’ve been in positions over the course of my career where I realized that I was being underpaid and undervalued and wished that I’d been more assertive in my salary negotiations in hindsight.  Of course, it’s hard because as women we’re often socialized to be nice, agreeable, non-confrontational, etc.; to be grateful for a job offer we’re given and worried about coming across as “greedy” for asking for more money.  Pay discrimination is also very real.  Employers and policymakers bear the primary responsibility to end it, but while we’re collectively worked toward this broader systems change, Lenna shared some great tips to help us raise our voices in the salary negotiation process. The core principle that Lenna shared is “Know Your Value,” and from that, take steps to convince your boss of your ”value contribution.”  Be prepared as you head into a salary negotiation, use specific examples, connect the dots between your accomplishments and skills and the value of your work, be confident, and be open to feedback.  While I’ve improved in my salary negotiation skills over the years, I’ll definitely be channeling some of Lenna’s advice when it’s time for my next compensation discussion with my boss. (These principles are also helpful to me in thinking through how I price my own services in my business.)

Making the Most of that Salary (or Business Revenue)

Our final session of the day was “You Earned It, Now Protect It: Financial Management Strategies” with Nikki Tucker.  Now, I thought I was doing an okay job with my finances.  I’ve learned a lot over the years, and I’ve also developed quite a bit of expertise in personal finance and financial coaching through my day job in the nonprofit sector.  But this session gave me some great new ideas!  To be honest, I was even a little overwhelmed at first—Nikki gave us a list of about 15 “to-dos” for our finances but also encouraged us to give ourselves “permission” to take only what we need.  I’m not going to try and be an overachiever and tackle all those 15 things, I’m going to take them one by one and over a reasonable time frame.

Nikki started by letting us know “we can’t protect what we are not aware of”; in other words, the first step (even though it might be a little scary) was taking stock and taking an honest look at where we are with our finances.  She gave us a “You Earned It Worksheet” to use during the session and for follow-up after the session.  It was broken in the following categories:

• Security
• Credit
• Assets
• Love/Marriage/Divorce

And the session ended with an “organizational pulse check” (kind of like a quiz) which I got 80% on–but who’s counting. (I can be competitive with myself but have to remember that it’s not a bad thing that I still have room to learn and grow! )

Winding Down

After another incredible day of conference sessions, dinner on Day Two was on our own.  While I had so much fun turning it up with the other conference-goers at our dinner cruise the night before, it was also nice to have some quiet time to myself to unwind.  I took time before dinner to go to the beach and take a few pics.  Then I laid out my towel, turned on my praise & worship music and just reflected on the past two days of the conference.  Taking the “rest,” “wellness,” and “self-care” themes from the session earlier in the afternoon to heart, I used this as my time to relax by the beach, hear from God a bit and just listen to the waves.  Wherever you are in the world—beach or no—and whatever wellness and self-care mean to you, I hope you too can find some time this week to relax and reflect.      

“Emotional Intelligence“

After lunch, we got right back a full afternoon with a session on:  “Leading from the Inside-Out: Growing Your Emotional Intelligence” with Black Women Leading Coach Sunnette Thompson. Sunnette defined Emotional Intelligence as: 1) the ability to recognize our feelings and those of others; 2) the capacity to motivate self; and 3) the ability to manage emotions in ourselves and relationships.  Key elements of Emotional Intelligence include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and relationship management; and we discussed the importance of “leading from within” with self-awareness and self-regulation. 

 I left the session with some powerful reflections on how this discussion applied to me and my leadership style, both in my full-time job and in my coaching and facilitation practice.  How am I using emotional intelligence as I am leading?  Am I using it? How can I do better?  How can I exercise, build and grow this muscle?

“Relationship Management“

For my readers who attend conferences or all-day work meetings regularly, you might be like me: every time I’m at a conference, I feel that post-lunch energy slump coming on mid-afternoon, like clockwork.  However, at this conference, I quickly realized there was no danger of that happening! Black Women Leading founder Laura Knights took the stage for the next session, on relationship management, and she kept the energy level at 100%!  Laura talked about the concept of “influence” and how influence really means driving action and results.  We can build our influence through relationship management, personal branding, a visibility strategy, and self-advocacy.  Managing relationships is about intentionally building connections with others, learning how to positively influence interactions, navigating through difficult situations, and actively monitoring them for mutual benefit to both parties.  Laura also talked about self-awareness about adaptations like code switching, the mirroring danger and belonging.     

I really appreciated that Laura built time into her session for small-group discussion among our tables.  She asked us to consider and share with our table-mates some of the following questions:

• How are you currently using your influence at work?
• How are you utilizing the relationships within your reach to achieve your professional goals?
• How can I create win-win relationships that will benefit me as well as them?

I’ll admit, heading into this particular session, I wasn’t sure at first what new things I might learn–even though I was confident that I would hear something thought-provoking, since I always do when Laura presents!  Relationship management is an ever-present topic for me. You could even say that I live and breathe relationship management in my full-time job.  On an almost daily basis, it’s critical to the success of my community economic development work that I build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of collaborators: staff who I supervise, executive leadership who supervise me, external parties like funders of our work, and both senior leadership and frontline staff at our community-based nonprofit partners.  

My business wouldn’t be successful without relationship management, either. Trust and strong relationships are absolutely fundamental to a productive coaching dynamic, and it’s of utmost importance to me that I maintain solid relationships with my consulting, facilitation, and training clients too.  But I hadn’t thought much about how relationship management connected to influence or what it means to cultivate influence.  I realized I’d always thought of “influence” as the domain of powerful people in high-profile roles, like CEOs and politicians–but Laura’s session made the light bulb go off in my head that we all have opportunities to cultivate influence each and every day.  This quote that Laura shared especially resonated with me, and it’s something I’m still sitting with now that I’m back home:  

“Influencing is everything we say or don’t say, do or don’t do, are or are not, that modifies, affects, or changes someone else’s behavior, thoughts or actions, consciously, or unconsciously, for good or ill”.  –Anonymous

“Personal Branding”

Of course, while on-site at Black Women Leading LIVE, I didn’t have much time to sit with that quote or my thoughts because we rolled straight into the next session on “ Being on Brand: Personal Branding for Career Growth,” led by none other than my coach from my time in the Black Women Leading leadership development program, Summer Alexander.  It was great to connect with Summer again, and to know that the entire summit audience would have the opportunity to benefit from some of the knowledge and wisdom that I knew she would share.  Some of the gems that Summer dropped included:

• As it relates to the workplace, your personal brand is the external perception of how your peers and leaders view you, based on how you consistently present yourself.
• Benefits of building your brand include differentiation, influence, career development and strong reputation.
• Four pillars of a personal brand are implementation, strategy, self-management, and  self-awareness. 
• Strategy without implementation is a waste of time, energy and the piece of paper you wrote it on.  (Having spent most of my career in the nonprofit sector where we can sometimes get bogged down in studies and strategic plans, I felt this takeaway in my soul! )
• Consistency is key when it comes to your personal brand.
• You have to know what the core of you is and know your brand.
• We have to own our own narrative. 
• Brand components include values & beliefs, skills & expertise, personality & style and strengths & opportunities.
• Be so good that they can’t ignore you.

I’ll confess, this is a topic where I am definitely still growing!  My mindset through much of my nonprofit career has been to stay behind the scenes, in service of elevating our community partners and not myself.  I had to make a major shift when I became an entrepreneur and realized that my personal brand would be critical to my success in my business–and ultimately to expanding my ability to transform organizations and change lives through my work with my clients.  I’m still a work in progress here, but Summer left us with four actions to develop a brand that positions you to accomplish your career goals:  assess your brand, boost your brand, consistency is key, and decide your journey. 

Winding Down An Inspiring Day

The day ended with a session called “Lessons from the C-Suite” with Janara Jones (Vice President – Global Taxes and Chief Tax Officer at Albemarle Corporation) and Dorri McWhorter (President & CEO of YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago).  I didn’t take notes, just listened and absorbed as these incredibly accomplished women shared about their journeys to the C-Suite.  It reminded me that our career journeys are not linear:  we get to choose which path we want to take and there’s nothing wrong with going after what you want for yourself and your career. 

True to Laura Knights’ promise that we’d have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the “retreat” portion of the retreat and conference, our evening activity was a Dinner Cruise and we absolutely made the most of it.  Perfect weather, good food, good company, a little dancing–what more could a group of powerful, creative, energized women ask for?  We even sang a bit of Mary J. Blige in unison! 

As you can see, it was a jam-packed day of knowledge, growth, and building community with my fellow summit participants! There’s so much to share that I have yet more to write about in next week’s blog.  But for now, I want to conclude by giving a HUGE shout-out to Sandria Washington, who served as the emcee for the entire conference.  It’s a more nuanced and involved role than many people think it might be.  The emcee has to provide the transition between sessions, confidently speak before an audience of hundreds, introduce other high-powered speakers and session leaders, and share important “housekeeping” information about the agenda and conference logistics like break times and restroom location.  A truly great emcee also finds a way to keep the audience energized and engaged throughout.  Sandria had such an incredible way of connecting with the audience and getting us into the right mindset to receive what was in store for each day and each session. 

I’m definitely going to draw inspiration from Sandria’s energy in some of my future training and facilitation gigs! Until next week, I’ll leave you with a little “insider” clip of our impromptu singing during the dinner cruise and hope it brings you some of the joy we were all channeling that evening.  (And none other than Dorri McWhorter from the afternoon’s “C-Suite” panel joined right in–talk about a CEO who’s driving impact in her community, inspiring the next generation of Black women leaders, and having fun while doing it!)    

How it Started

First up, I took a long weekend off from my day job to focus on my personal development and my growth as an entrepreneur by attending the Black Woman Leading LIVE Retreat + Conference in Florida.  This was an exciting next step in a journey that started in summer 2021 when I saw a post from a colleague about the Black Woman Leading Leadership Development program.  The program called to me and to my goals as an entrepreneur, and after reaching out to Black Women Leading’s founder Laura Knights, I enrolled in and completed the leadership program later that fall.  The experiences and insights I gained through the program and the community I built with other participants made me want to stay engaged.  I continued to participate in Black Women Leading’s alumni program in 2022 to stay connected to program and other alums and I even appeared on an episode of Laura’s podcast along with other alums to talk about “Navigating Your Career Path.”

As soon as Laura announced that she’d be holding the first ever Black Women Leading retreat and conference in May 2023, I knew that I had to participate!  I got registered right away and shared the announcement with as many Black women that I knew.  (Like the colleague who first put Black Women Leading on my radar screen back in 2021, I’m always looking for opportunities to share information and resources that have helped me with my own networks.) 

I took an early morning flight so that I could enjoy the area before the pre-conference Alumni Dinner in the evening.  But traveling takes a lot out of you–especially when your flight leaves at 6:55am like mine did!–so by the time I got to the resort and my room was ready, I was so tempted to just crash and chill out in the room.  But I reminded myself that this experience was supposed to be all about self care and pouring into myself so I walked across the street for a manicure and pedicure at the spa I’d checked out briefly at the airport that morning. And I was sooo glad I did; it was a great experience and the perfect bit of pampering to banish the stress from travel and put myself in the right frame of mind for the next two busy conference days ahead!

Kicking off Black Women Leading LIVE

 Black Woman Leading’s Founder Laura Knights kicked off the conference on Friday morning by asking us to set our intentions and give ourselves “permission slips,” asking us to reflect on the question “What permission slips do you need to write yourself to be present?”  Laura also shared the “3 C’s” for attendees throughout the retreat weekend: Care, Community, and Clarity.  Reiterating the “care” mandate, she reminded us all that the weekend was designed to be a conference and a retreat and that there would be time for learning but also time for relaxing and “retreating.”  This was a welcome reminder, especially for folks like me who work in industries where the term “retreat” is often used as a euphemism for an all-day or multi-day business and strategy meeting! (And the Black Women Leading LIVE attendees definitely took advantage of the opportunity to build community and have some fun–more on that later in this post and next week’s.)     

Reflecting on Laura’s prompt, I set my intention–be open to receiving what’s for me–and gave myself the “permission slip” to be open to meeting new people and adding to my community.  Even though I often lead trainings and feel completely in my element talking to and facilitating discussion among a room full of people in my day job and my business, I can actually be more of an introvert in social and networking settings.  After Laura’s kick-off, I enjoyed two more thought-provoking and powerful sessions over the course of the morning. 

“Managing Grief from Career Transitions”

Black Woman Leading Coach Chinasa Elue, Ph.D Associate Professor of Ed Leadership and Higher Ed led this discussion, and it was truly eye-opening for me! We generally only talk about grief in the context of losing a loved one, but grief can apply in other situations too.  In this session we learned about grief in the context of job transitions and a framework for how to walk through it.  Dr. Elue shared a framework called the ACT Framework that we can use when we realize that it’s time to leave a space that we have outgrown: Acknowledge that pain exists, Care (Self & Community) & Truth (honoring our lived experience). 

This session really had me reflecting as I’ve been with my current employer for 16 years.  I’ve been fortunate to grow and develop during that time, both personally and in terms of my career advancement.  I’ve always enjoyed and felt a strong connection to my work and I’ve gained so many valuable colleagues and friends along the way–so this is something that I will have to truly think about when it’s time for me to make my next move and transition out of the company.  Every job transition has its challenges, especially when you’ve been as invested in the work for such a long time as I have, and hearing Dr. Elue apply the lens of grief to those types of transitions and provide a way of processing and moving through that grief gave me tools that I know will be helpful in my future.  I shared one of her slides that especially resonated with me in a LinkedIn recap in case it’s helpful for someone else.

“Worthiness Within Your Wardrobe”

Morgan Wider led the next workshop that was subtitled “How to Show Up with Power and Purpose.” I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I first read the session title in the conference agenda. How would our wardrobe tie in with our power and purpose?  I was intrigued to learn more, though, especially given that the pandemic and our remote work/stay-at-home time during the height of COVID-19 has up-ended some of the norms and trends around how we dress at work and even at home.  Plus, I’ve been fortunate to work in an industry for many years that hasn’t typically enforced strict dress codes, so I’ll admit it’s been a long time since I gave my wardrobe that much thought! 

It turned out this session was about so much more than wardrobe and appearance! Morgan is a sought-after speaker and style consultant but my biggest takeaway from her talk was that while clothes are an outward expression of what we feel about ourselves, truly showing up with power and purpose in our lives requires first cultivating confidence and self-love within.  Morgan coached us all to accept our imperfections–whatever those may be–practice forgiveness for our flaw or mistakes, and think about self-love as an everyday job. 

We also each went through a powerful exercise where Morgan asked us to turn our phone cameras to face ourselves and to press record as we recited this……

Needless to say, this wasn’t what I was expecting when I sat down for a conference session that I thought might be a light-hearted discussion about wardrobe, but the practice of recording our prayers of self-love and forgiveness really landed with me in a profound way and I’m still thinking about those words now that I’m back home in my day to day life.  Looking back at my notes from Morgan’s session, I wrote down what I was feeling in that moment after our exercise and I know these words will be sitting with me for a long time too:  I am Worthy; I Show up; I Show up “on purpose”; I am worthy of being seen.  And yes, the session did inspire me to start thinking about fashion too, and how I can incorporate some items into my wardrobe that better express my inner self and my unique personal style!  (I’ll let you know how that goes in the coming months and maybe even share a photo or two in a future blog if I find a new outfit that feels like a visual representation of “showing up on purpose!”)

Getting back to the “retreat” aspect of our retreat, we had lunch on the beach, which was fantastic!  If you’ve had to attend conferences over the years for your work like I have, you know that the typical conference has participants indoors for the entire day, and often in what can feel like a never-ending series of windowless meeting rooms!  Our beach lunch was a welcome opportunity to get outside and get some sun and take in the view of the water.  I’ll close out this week’s post with a few pics I captured of the Gulf of Mexico.  Wherever you are in the world–beachside or not–I hope it inspires you to take a few minutes for yourself and get outside for some fresh air this week! I’ll be making space to do the same as I work on next week’s post continuing my reflections from Black Women Leading LIVE.