Tag: bloggers

Africana Arts And Humanities Festival

I am still processing the beauty, the brilliance, and the warmth of the Africana Humanities Festival. To the organizers, thank you for creating a space where our stories, our scholarship, and our voices are not just welcomed but celebrated. Being featured as an author and speaker at this 250 anniversary festival was an honor.

Great partnering with co-session presenter R. Manasseh Thornton

To every single person who stopped by my table, sat in my session, picked up the assessment, asked questions, and shared your own stories with me, YOU are the reason this work exists. The conversations we had confirmed everything I believe about why The GreenLight Factor needed to be written.

🚦 So many of you are standing at an intersection right now. A career decision. A relationship. A dream you keep putting on hold. A path that looks right on paper but feels wrong in your body. This book was written for that exact moment.

The GreenLight Factor is coming soon and your pre-order means the world. It tells me the message is landing before the book even hits shelves.

Signup to attend a Greenlight Lab today. Let’s get you to your Greenlight.

Authors This is For You If You Are Experiencing These 4 Signs

when you have something to do life will not allow you to move forward until you do it. ― Iyanla Vanzant

When you have something to do, life will not allow you to move forward until you do it. So if you caught that writing bug and can’t seem to let it go, then follow that lead. How can you know? Here are for signs that both aspiring and seasoned authors are stuck.

1. You’re Always “Working on It”… But Never Finishing

You have ideas, drafts, notes, and even chapters. But nothing gets completed.
You keep tweaking, rewriting, or starting over instead of moving toward a finished manuscript.

What’s really happening: Perfectionism or lack of structure is keeping you in motion, but not in progress.

2. You Keep Second-Guessing Your Voice or Message

You wonder: “Is this good enough?” “Will anyone read this?” “Should I change direction?” So you rewrite, dilute your message, or abandon strong ideas.

What’s really happening: Lack of clarity and confidence is causing you to disconnect from your authentic voice.

3. You’re Consuming More Than You’re Creating

You’re reading books, watching writing videos, attending workshops. But not actually writing consistently.

What’s really happening: You’re hiding in “learning mode” to avoid the discomfort of execution.

4. You Don’t Have a Clear Path to Publishing

You have written (or started writing), but you don’t know what comes next. Self-publish? Traditional? Hybrid? So, the manuscript sits… and sits.

What’s really happening: Uncertainty about the publishing process is creating paralysis.

Know that being “stuck” isn’t about talent, it’s about clarity, structure, and support. As an author of 11 books, I have been there and now teach the process throughout different communities. If you identified with any of the signs and need help, let’s connect now and get you moving. Clarity is on the other side of the ‘Ask’.

Happy Writing!

Culture. Creativity. And Impact At The Africana Arts & Humanities Festival

Join authors, scholars, legal leaders and cultural storytellers at the Africana Arts & Humanities Festival. On this occasion I join with literary creatives as a featured author to celebrate 250 years of black life, culture, creativity, and impact. This literary event promises powerful conversations, with dynamic voices shaping our communities today.

Organizers voice that this year’s speakers reflect the diversity of our culture and history.

Register Now and learn about my newest book ‘The GreenLight Factor,’ a Leadership Discernment Framework based on the Traffic Light metaphor for navigating life’s intersections

🗓️ Saturday, March 28, 2026

📍African American Library & Cultural Center

🎟️ Free and open to the public. Come listen, learn and celebrate.

Before You Read The GreenLight Factor, Meet the Woman Who Lived It

I Am Woman

Every book has a story behind it. This one is mine.

Before The GreenLight Factor existed as a book, it existed as a life. A series of roles, rooms, and relationships that quietly shaped everything I now know about leadership.

I want to do something I don’t always make time for: properly introduce myself. Not just my credentials, but the journey behind them.

I Am a Certified Master Leadership Coach

This isn’t a title I hold lightly. Becoming a Certified Master Leadership Coach meant times of deep study, practice, and honest self-examination. It means I have sat across from myriads of leaders. Leaders at all levels and helped them find what was already inside them.

The greatest coaching insight I have ever received? The green light is rarely about permission from the outside. It’s about permission from within.

I was recognized for exemplary service within the community. As a result, I continue my quest to help Crown the Next Generation. Being the strategic leader and archetect behind the 30 Under 30 Emerging Leader in Washington DC, is testament to my commitment to emerging leadership development. I have served as Chief Judge and now working towards celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the program in June.

There is nothing more powerful than watching a young leader step into their own green light.

I Led HR Strategy Across the Andina & Caribe Region for a Big Pharma Company

Operating across cultures, languages, and borders taught me that leadership is not one-size-fits-all. The best leaders I encountered, and tried to be, were the ones who led with both strategy and soul. Who understood that behind every org chart is a human being trying to do meaningful work.

That experience is woven into every page of this book.

I Served as VP of the Hospitality & Human Resource Association of Broward County (HHRABC), FL and President of the Writers Group of South Florida

I have always believed that leadership must extend beyond the walls of any organization. Community leadership taught me that showing up especially when no one is keeping score, is one of the most important things a leader can do. And leading a writers’ group? That lit a fire in me that culminated from my other books on leadership, success, inspiration and faith.

And Now, here’s my Newest Book

The GreenLight Factor is the book I wish I’d had at the beginning of my leadership journey.

It’s not a manual. It’s a mirror. A roadmap built from real experiences. It exemplifies the wins, the pivots, the moments of doubt. The breakthroughs that came when I finally stopped waiting for someone else to give me permission to lead boldly.

I wrote it for the leader who knows they are capable of more but keeps waiting for the “right” moment. For the professional who has been told to wait their turn. For anyone who has ever dimmed their own light to make others more comfortable.

Your green light is already on.

One More Thing

If you stay around long enough, you will also learn that I am a mom to two incredibly driven, slightly workaholic adult children who work in the corporate world. I take partial credit and full responsibility for any overachieving tendencies. 😄

And I am grand mom to two dogs, one a beagle. Who are without question the wisest members of my youngest household. These dogs are the greatest teacher of strategic rest I have ever encountered.

I share all of this not to show you that the path to this book was not a straight line. It was a full, layered, beautifully imperfect leadership journey.

And that’s exactly what The GreenLight Factor is about.

Thank you for being here. Follow along. The best is yet to come.

💚 With purpose.

🟢 Pop Culture Contrast: Leadership Is Not Squid Game

When the world watched Squid Game, one scene stood out, the childhood game “Red Light, Green Light.”

Move at the wrong time? You’re eliminated.

In that world, movement is fear-driven.
You move because someone shouts.
You freeze because someone is watching.
You survive by reacting quickly enough.

But leadership is not Squid Game.

In real leadership, “Green Light” is not about external permission.
It’s about internal alignment.

You don’t move because someone says “Go.”
You move because:

  • The timing is right.
  • The values are aligned.
  • The strategy is clear.
  • The cost has been weighed.
  • The mission demands it.

In a fear-based environment, people move to avoid loss.

In a GreenLight environment, leaders move to advance purpose.

One is survival.
The other is significance.

The GreenLight Factor is not about reacting under pressure.
It’s about discerning when to accelerate, when to pause, and when to redirect without panic, performance, or elimination.

Because leadership is not a game.
And your movement should never be dictated by fear.

Need help? Let’s chat

Cheers!

Photo Squid Game

Get Up And Move

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Get up and move. That’s me. Finally selected a ‘walking’ friend in another state. I’d have her as an accountability partner for my need-to-move decision. To exercise. To stay healthy. To think. To write. My goal was simple. Walk at minimum twice weekly as a start (secretly hoping for more). But two times per week was manageable. After-all, the week has 7 days. I drive out of town a lot so twice should be achievable.

And We’re Off!

Walked 30 minutes! Yea! I did it. Before our midweek check-in, my friend sent me a video on the 2nd day. I screamed by text. “Don’t rush me or don’t bother with the accountability.”

Then I looked at the video. It was doing sit ups. Rolled my eyes since of late I have been experiencing a bit of back pain. There’s no way I can go that low much less to do the sit up.

Then I did it. Oh so satisfying! Yippee!

Next Steps

I snuck away. The weather wasn’t great. Cold. Windy. But I walked. Went a slightly longer route to get to the regular route. Why? Because there was a lady slowly running ahead of me. Not wanting to bump into her space (or more-so she into mine), I walked around. She ran ahead, then disappeared. Nowhere in sight.

I walked along. It worked to my benefit because I added another 10 minutes to my stretch. Horrible back pains but I did it slowly, but surely. Stopping to stretch along the way.

Got home. Did what I love. Wrote about my steps in this medium. Hmm, what if this is an inspiration to write, to put it in a journal of sorts?

Climbed the stairs. Then looked at the wide-open space between rooms and laid on the floor. Guess what I did? 30 sit-ups in blocks of 5 and 10. I’m so very proud of me!!!

I think I can do this! Again. I’ll keep going. One would never believe I was a track and field athlete (smirk).

So that’s how you do all things uncomfortable. No matter what it is. Career, education, financial, relationship, homeownership. Whatever your goal, you accomplish it one step at a time. One day at a time. Bigger goals become accomplished.

Cheers!

You Can’t Lead From Empty …

Leaders, if you are constantly pouring into your team:
… solving
… deciding
… carrying
… fixing

When do you refill?

Self-Care is Self-Love

Burned-out leaders can’t build thriving team. It’s simple, but it’s often ignored. Because too many leaders wear exhaustion like a badge of honor.

Self-love isn’t spa days and slogans.
It’s boundaries.
It’s rest.
It’s saying no.
It’s asking for support.

Burned-out leaders don’t build strong cultures.

If your leadership feels heavy lately, coaching gives you space to reset, without judgment, without pressure.

Get coached now.

Cheers!

The Hidden Cost Of No Boundaries

Time spent rescuing is time not spent leading.

It’s the Hard truth. Leaders who say ‘yes’ to everything often:

🔭Get seen as Dependable
But not Strategic

🔭Helpful
But not high-level

Because time spent rescuing is time NOT spent leading.

BOUNDARIES create space for:

  • Thinking
  • Strategy
  • Growth
  • Influence

Without them you stay Stuck in reactive mode. Ask yourself, are you Leading or constantly rescuing?

If your leadership feels reactive instead of intentional, it’s not a motivation problem. It’s a boundary problem.

Coaching helps leaders set professional boundaries without guilt or fear. Let’s chat about our boundaries lab if this resonates.

Cheers!

23 Ways To Fight Writers Block

I am struggling to get inspiration to continue writing a story I started. What do I do? ~New writer

Writers often face that daunting moment when the initial excitement fades and the blank page becomes a fighting nightmare. You may be many chapters in, or just past the opening scene, losing momentum is one of the most common challenges in the creative process. But the good news is that writer’s block and motivational slumps are not permanent. They are signals that you need to shift your approach. Reconnect with your story’s core or simply give yourself permission to write imperfectly.

Here are 23 strategies offered by seasoned authors. These are designed to help you rediscover your pulse and move ahead with renewed energy. Yep, sometimes inspiration can feel frustrating and out of reach. That’s when you dig deep. Adopt a strategy or two to use whenever the writing drought hits.

How To Get Back in the Writing Game

  1. Read books
  2. Keep writing
  3. Go for an isolated nature walk
  4. Relax. The story will write itself if you stop worrying about it
  5. Keep a journal for each project. Write why you can’t think of anything to write
  6. Free write your story until you get a flow going
  7. Follow the advice of keep writing. But be prepared to write stuff you don’t feel okay with. This is how you break the barrier
  8. Write for the sake of writing.
  9. Draw inspiration: music and movies. Inspiration is fuel. Don’t wait for it to fall in your lap
  10. Move. Exercise. It Stimulates your brain
  11. Try dancing
  12. Write one true sentence about your story and repeat it until you get some momentum
  13. Outline the next couple of chapters. Start high level then fill in details. Keep iterating. Often you find there is something in your story that is giving you doubt and this helps to resolve that too
  14. Go hiking with friends and bounce ideas off them
  15. Walk away. Write another book. Sometimes you need space to think
  16. Go on “Artiste Date” (solo excursion somewhere you like). This will help your creative. You need to stock the pond to catch anything worthwhile
  17. Add a new character
  18. Write another element: poetry, prose, scripts
  19. Keep writing. Some days it’s inspiring and exciting. Other days its drudgery. But you sit down and keep writing
  20. Do art. Draw, music, painting, dance, even cooking. Get that creative right brain firing on all cylinders
  21. Make a list of ‘why you like your story and why you’re writing it
  22. Write the ending and then go back and write your way to it
  23. Think “what if”. What if your character got abducted? What if another love comes along? What if the treasure you sought in the jungle housed vampires? Don’t dismiss ideas. Just write them down and then brainstorm it further.

Are you a writer? Is a tip or two missing? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Finish 2025 Strong: Leadership Lessons from Thanksgiving

Recalibrate… Finish Strong

Thanksgiving may have passed, but the spirit of gratitude is one of the most powerful leadership tools we carry into the rest of the year.

This is the season where leaders shift from reflection to readiness. While many people slow down mentally, high-impact leaders use this window to recalibrate. It’s not about rushing to finish tasks. It’s about finishing the year with clarity and intention.

Gratitude sharpens our focus.
It grounds our decisions.
And it reminds us that leadership is not measured only by what we achieve, but by who we become along the way.

As we move toward the close of 2025, here’s a question I encourage leaders to sit with:

What is ONE decision you can make right now that will set you up for meaningful growth in 2026?

This may be a decision to:
• Delegate more intentionally
• Step into a new direction
• Release what no longer aligns
• Seek clarity before making your next move
• Invest in development (your own or someone else’s)

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year are the most underestimated leadership window, and yet one of the most powerful. Small shifts made now create profound momentum in the new year.

If you are a leader navigating transition, stepping into a new role, launching something new, or simply needing clarity for 2026, support is available.

And if you know someone in your organization, circle, or family who needs that guidance… this season is the perfect time to gift it.

Let’s finish strong, lead with intention, and walk boldly into the year ahead.

Setting Goals: Key to Overcoming Crises

Together we Grow

Ann, a historian and extreme planner, had an adventurous time touring Greece with her husband. During the trip, she shared photos of places she had learned in her undergraduate program. As they began their return trip, civil unrest occurred blocking all flights to leave Turkey, cruise and all. Quick decision, they decided to get out of the country whichever way they could. Both landed in Paris, only to be separated to get back home to the USA. Separation was a non-issue. Their goal was to return safely to their two kids waiting back home.

Times of Crises

There are times of crises as in Ann’s case. But most often we do have opportunities to plan ahead. Financiers will preach that we should plan for times of crises too.

Why is it important to set goals? Because if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. Where you will end up, who knows? That’s when you will just have to go with the flow.

Goalsetting is the process of identifying desired outcomes and creating a plan of action to achieve them, providing a sense of direction, motivation and focus

So why do we need to set goals? Because setting goals is the process of identifying desired outcomes and creating a plan of action to achieve them, providing a sense of direction, motivation and focus.

That’s the reason it a pleasure to facilitate the writing process with authors. The event was held at the Broward County’s West Regional Library in Plantation, Florida. This session focused on Writers Goal Setting for 2026 books through the Writers Group of South Florida.

If you are an aspiring author, or are ready to take your leadership to the next level and need a copy of the Goal-Setting guide, connect to get yours today. Leadership Assessment also available.

Not an author but ready to take your leadership to the next level through setting your 2026 goals, let’s chat. Referrals are warmly welcomed.

Cheers!

Which Type of Entrepreneur Are You And What’s Your Biggest Challenge?

Life’s too short to learn from your own mistakes. Learn from others.

Every entrepreneur faces moments of doubt, exhaustion, and uncertainty. First-time founders, side hustlers, and small business owners constantly navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Whether they are launching their first startup, grinding through a side hustle, or scaling past a plateau; mindset shifts and motivation is needed to keep pushing forward.

Here are the top 5 Challenges Entrepreneurs face. As you review these characteristics, which can you identify with the most?

1.The First-Time Founder (0-2 years in business)

Characteristic: Everything is new, scary, and overwhelming. They’re discovering that entrepreneurship is 10 times harder than they imagined. Every setback feels like potential failure.

What they’re dealing with:

  • Imposter syndrome at peak levels
  • No roadmap or proven process to follow
  • Financial stress and uncertainty
  • Isolation (left their corporate network behind)
  • Constant self-doubt about their decisions

How to Stay Motivated: “You’re not alone in feeling this way.” Know that “It gets easier as you learn”

2.The Side Hustler (Building while Employed)

Characteristic: They’re living a double life. They are exhausted, stretched thin, and constantly questioning if they should quit their job or give up the dream.

What they’re dealing with:

  • Working 60-80 hour weeks between job + business
  • Guilt about time away from family
  • Progress feels painfully slow
  • Watching others succeed faster
  • Energy depletion and burnout risk

How to Stay Motivated: “Your pace is valid” + “Every hour invested compounds”

3.The Struggling Scaler (Stuck at a revenue plateau)

Characteristic: They’ve proven the concept works, but can’t break through to the next level. The excitement has worn off, replaced by grinding frustration.

What they’re dealing with:

  • Revenue flatlined for 6-12+ months
  • Doing everything themselves (can’t afford to hire)
  • Comparing themselves to “overnight successes”
  • Questioning their business model
  • Burnout from working IN the business vs ON it

How to Stay Motivated: “Plateaus are part of growth” + “Breakthrough is closer than you think”

4.The Solopreneur (No co-founder, no team)

Characteristic: They make every decision alone, celebrate wins alone, and face failures alone. The loneliness is crushing.

What they’re dealing with:

  • Decision fatigue (no one to bounce ideas off)
  • Wearing every hat (CEO, marketer, accountant, customer service)
  • No one to catch them if they fall
  • Feeling like giving up but having no one to hold them accountable
  • Craving validation that they’re on the right track

How to stay Motivated: “Your independence is strength” + “Solitude doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong”

5.The Comeback Entrepreneur (Failed before, trying again)

Characteristic: They’re carrying baggage from past failures. Every challenge triggers memories of “what happened last time.” They need courage to keep going despite the scars.

What they’re dealing with:

  • Fear of repeating past mistakes
  • Judgment from people who saw them fail
  • Financial pressure (often starting with less capital)
  • Self-trust issues (“Can I actually do this?”)
  • Imposter syndrome amplified by previous failure

How to Stay Motivated: “Failure was data, not destiny” + “Most successful entrepreneurs failed first”

Honorable Mentions:

  • The Mid-Life Career Changer: Left stability for uncertainty, facing age discrimination and “what have I done?” panic
  • The Minority/Underrepresented Entrepreneur: Fighting systemic barriers while building, needing validation in spaces that don’t always welcome them
  • The Post-Pivot Founder: Had to abandon their original idea and start over, grieving the old vision while building the new one

Which did you identify with most? Deeply reflect and if you need help, let’s connect.

Otherwise, gift a copy of 101+ Empowering Quotes to the entrepreneur in your life. It’s available in eBook, paperback, and hardcover formats, all under $20. It’s the thoughtful gift that fits in a stocking and inspires all year long.

What makes this gift special? It’s genuinely useful. Unlike generic presents that collect dust, this book becomes a go-to resource on tough days. The portable size fits perfectly in stockings, bags, and on desks. And at under $20, you can afford to gift it to your entire network of entrepreneurs, coworkers, or team members.

Give the gift of daily inspiration. Give them the reminder that they’re not alone in this journey.

Travel with Intent

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Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin

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HEALTH | INSPIRATION

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