Growth is the best gift you can give yourself
August birth month celebration because Growth is the best gift you can give yourself. August is my birth month – and that means YOU get the presents! Whether you’re a past client, a friend, or someone ready to take your next big step, here’s how you can join the celebration.
Dead Poets Society
Clarity builds trust and momentum
Summer is almost over and it’s time to make all those back-to-school plans. As we make those plans, lets pause for a minute. Think of a teacher or two who made a difference in your life. Personally, as I age, I think about those teaching experiences and the effect they had on my leadership journey. As I look back, I think of society’s great teachers like Erin Gruwell, Maria Montessori, and the fictional Mr. Keating (Dead Poets Society).
Here are 5 lessons leaders can learn from great teachers.
Teachers break down complex topics into simple, digestible pieces.
Leaders must do the same—clearly communicate vision, expectations, and feedback so everyone understands what success looks like.
Lesson: Say less, mean more. Clarity builds trust and momentum.
Teachers know learning takes time and that growth isn’t always linear.
Leaders should extend grace and patience during times of transition, failure, or new learning curves—whether with teams or themselves.
Lesson: Progress often looks like repetition before results.
Great teachers recognize that not every student learns the same way.
Great leaders acknowledge that not every employee works, leads, or grows the same. They tailor support, roles, and recognition accordingly.
Lesson: Personalize your leadership to bring out the best in each person.
Teachers use routines and structure to create a safe space for creativity and exploration.
Leaders who implement clear systems give their teams the confidence and autonomy to take initiative.
Lesson: Strong frameworks unlock innovative thinking.
Teachers who genuinely care spark curiosity and motivation.
Leaders who lead with purpose, authenticity, and heart cultivate higher engagement and loyalty.
Lesson: When you model passion, people give their best
As school begins its opening session, the road becomes a task / lesson plan in and of itself. What are your thoughts on the top five lessons? Anything missing that you would like to add? Do share, we would love to hear.
Don’t forget to connect if you would like to discuss your own leadership growth journey.
A Port Royal Tale
When most people think of Jamaica, they think of white sandy beaches and tons of fun in the sun. Yes indeed! It’s all that! And if you’ve never been, you should!
But the island is more than that. It’s filled with rich history. A land full of learning. Oh yes, Learning comes in different forms. To understand the future you have to look back.
To understand the future, you have to look back.
After Calabash Literary Festival, I visited Port Royal, the historical site tagging along with my girls. A visit I thought ‘boring’ but agreed to go. My older daughter wanted her boys to learn about the land of her birth.
Boy was I in for a surprise! The rich history that existed in that place was unfathomable. Now that I’m older, I was able to connect the dots. Here’s a brief overview.
Initially inhabited by Pirates, canons were evident everywhere. Captain’s quarters provided full length windows showing 360-degree visuals of views from the Caribbean Sea. This was a way to prepare for potential battle while enhancing supervision from all corners.
Giddy House was named for the feeling visitors get when they try to stand straight inside. It was an artillery house that stored defense items. Giddy house was struck by an earthquake in 1907 and partially sank.
Hundred-year-old trees provided way more than shelter. Their magnificence can’t be missed.
Secret spots were noticeable everywhere. All conducive to the life of a pirate to protect, attack, and surprise.
Sadly, Port Royal suffered the major earthquake. A natural disaster that sunk the area leaving remnants of what once was.
The sea’s backdrop midst the sun’s heat, was nothing compared to the learning gleaned. Our family walked away with rich learning of stories told and untold.
A sumptuous meal of fish and festival at nearby restaurant sealed the simple yet remarkable experience.
Plan a visit. I hear the area is now a point of renovated focus for the beautiful island of Jamaica.
Cheers!
Show up. Let yourself be seen. ~Brene Brown
What’s a networking event without door prizes? Boring (smile). So, event organizers encourage gifts. They are a simple yet powerful way to boost engagement, excitement, and attendance at networking events. They create a sense of the anticipation and fun, making the event more memorable for participants. Door prizes also encourage people to arrive on time, stay longer, and interact more freely with others. Besides entertainment, they offer a subtle marketing opportunity for sponsors, hosts, or businesses to showcase their products or services in a positive light.
The PSL Business Club asked the question: “What is the Perfect door prize to give away at networking events?” Members chimed in. Some suggested giving what you would like to receive. Others suggested giving away high-end gifts that will make you the talk of the event. Gift these over several periods and you’re sure to leave a lasting memory. Here I share key gift ideas extracted as members chimed in.
Higher end gifts creates a lasting memory of your brand. Such gifts are:
There you have it! Here’s hoping it takes the guess work out of your gift giving when attending your next event.
I love to write! It’s a passion that began during my primary education years. I reflect on those early years. Back then, my uncle (an educator and school principal), would gift me with a book on birthdays and Christmas holidays. This was his custom instead of the usual and more preferential ‘toys’. Though disappointed then, I would dive into the books reading for hours.
As life progressed and blogging became a thing, I created my first blog A Moment With Shells in 2010. Later, on completion on my postgraduate education, I formalized this blog titled Successful Leaders to share my passion. It focused on empowering developing leaders through personal growth, leadership development, and success strategies.
That was a over a decade ago. Funny how time flies when you’re having fun!
Here’s an overview of my efforts to create articles, writings, or gleanings. The idea was to uplift, encourage subscribers and visitors under the headings listed.
The blog emphasizes the importance of setting clear, actionable goals. It encourages readers to commit to their objectives, keep them visible, and seek accountability to stay on track. Inspirational quotes from figures like Jim Rohn and Tony Robbins are used to motivate readers to design their own life plans and persist in their pursuits.
Articles guide readers in uncovering their life purpose by reflecting on personal experiences, childhood interests, and unique talents. Techniques such as visualization, journaling, and seeking feedback from friends are recommended to help individuals find fulfillment and direction.
The website offers strategies for managing stress and achieving a healthy work-life balance. It highlights the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, seeking professional support, and engaging in activities that promote mental well-being.
Recognizing when it’s time for change is a recurring theme. Writings discuss signs that indicate the need for a new direction and encourages readers to take proactive steps toward personal development. It also emphasizes the courage required to make significant life changes.
For aspiring authors, the site provides insights into the publishing process, including self-publishing and audiobook production. It also encourages writers to reflect on their life experiences and consider the legacy they wish to leave through their work.
Overall, Successful Leaders serves as a resource for individuals seeking inspiration and practical advice on personal development, leadership, career change and achieving success in various aspects of life.
Subscribe to keep updated on upcoming new and exciting developments. Have you been a follower? If so, how long and how have you benefited? Do share, we would love to hear!
Cheers!
With so many books to choose from, you’ll have the hard part of deciding which one to donate.
On Instagram I shared the hard task of purging my books. I have a million with little or no storage space. But what happened was…. During my purge, I ended up reading and re-claiming books.
I decided to share my work (purge in process), and an interested person asked, “where can you donate books?” I responded briefly but decided to post more here on the blog.
S T U F F
Stuff. Just stuff. Oh how we accumulate stuff. Meryl Streete in the movie “The Devil Wears Prada“, went on a tirade lecturing fellow actress Anne Hathaway when she snickered that the colors were the same. Naturally they weren’t.
As I reflected, I met a woman who per chance argued that we spend so much time in our lives acquiring ‘stuff’. I smiled.
As life transitions, we even pay for the stuff that we accumulate and don’t have room for. Whether it’s downsizing, relocating elsewhere with less space, we end up storing more and more of our ‘stuff’. Storage spaces make thousands of dollars annually storing our stuff while increasing costs intermittently through the year. We complain, object but still grudgingly pay because our stuff is important to us.
Goodwill, the Salvation Army and other places exist for us to give away our stuff. Our precious stuff. Is there an end in sight? Why not create a journal with ideas on how to really downsize. Then use bags to purge, donate or keep.
What are your thoughts on accumulating things, then paying to store them. Do share, we would love to hear.
Cheers!
Crowded Airport when a woman exclaimed “I love your colors”. Adorned in summer colors, I replied crazy, right? Ahhh vibrancy she chirped. Vibrancy.
I leaned over and whispered back with a smile “vibrancy” and walked on.
I thought of that interface with a complete stranger. Such simple passerby exchange yet amicable. It left me thinking about perspective. It’s late evening and I’m taking the last flight out. I Only wanted to take a carryon to my out of state meeting so I placed the hot yellow necklace around my neck. Added the orange shoes with a red pants. But I’m known for that. I do things others are afraid to do, all with a purpose… my purpose to take one bag (smile)
How about you? Do you do things that perturb others leaving them wondering… could that be me? Do share. We would love to hear.
Cheers!
Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels.com
“A word after a word after a word is power.”
Margaret Atwood
The publishing process can be intimidating for an unknown writer. The traditional Agent-Publisher-Author relationship is hard. Rejection after rejection is common as Agents say ‘no’. Writers become discouraged and often give up. Manuscripts stay in the darkness of desk drawers for years.
As time has involved, so has the advent of self-publishing. Writers become bold and take advantage of their publishing plight. They make bold moves; step ahead, take the reins to achieve their publishing goal of becoming an author. With low budget and unplanned expenses, some cut corners and quality becomes compromised. Book covers are mediocre. Titles lack depth. Formatting is non-existent, which leads to the demise of some great manuscripts.
On the other hand, some writers step out, work hard, invest, learn the process, and viola! Success follows!
Here are 15 Authors of color who achieved significant success through self-publishing:
These authors demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial spirit and literary talent often creating space for Black women’s voices. This occurred at a time when traditional publishing wasn’t receptive to their work. Many of these women went on to sign traditional deals. Suffice it to say they proved their commercial viability through self-publishing. Others maintained independence throughout their careers.
Need help to get over your fear to make the leap? Let these women inspire your journey. Thoughts about any of these or other women of color who have experienced success? Do share. We would love to hear.
Cheers!
“Writing is a process, a journey into memory and the soul.”
Isabel Allende
Award-Winning Storyteller and Journalist Sharon Gordon published her debut novel Sheribaby and started off with a bang! Introverts may not be as purposeful due to shyness. They are reserved and avoid putting themselves ‘out there’ for the world to see them and their author life.
That said, here are 15 women authors who found significant success through self-publishing:
Many of these authors began self-publishing when traditional routes weren’t available to them. They remained independent even after achieving success. Several eventually signed traditional publishing deals after demonstrating their commercial appeal through self-publishing
Need help to get over your fear of leveling up to achieve your goal of being a published author? Let these women inspire you. Have you or someone you know stepped out and achieved success? Do share. We would love to hear.
Cheers!
Absolutely thrilled to announce that Sharon Gordon’s debut book “Sheribaby is NOW AVAILABLE!
Journalist Sharon, is the talented 2025 Award winning Storyteller and niece of beloved Jamaica’s Singer Songwriter Beresford Hammond.
I met Sharon a decade ago when Reggae music matriarch Miss Patricia Chin, hosted my Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders book event at VP Records, New York.
It’s been such an honor to guide Sharon through the book publishing journey – from connecting her with Raquel, the perfect editor for her genre, to navigating publisher conversations and finally seeing her words in print.
Her dedication to the craft and willingness to embrace the publishing process made this success inevitable. This is why I do what I do!
Congratulations Sharon! Indeed, hard work pays off!
If you have been dreaming of becoming a published author but aren’t sure where to start, let Sharon’s journey inspire you. With the right guidance, YOUR story could be next on the shelves!
Order your copy of Sheribaby today https://a.co/d/5R50Nwu and follow Sharon’s author journey
Enjoy our literary conversation here.
Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power. Poetry is boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words. – Paul Engle
An evening of laughter, fun and cheer! Yes indeed, it was great ❤️
The Writers Group of South Florida Authors performed. Energy pumped, attendees became inspired, created and shared on-the-spot pieces.
Personally, it was an honor to have lead this initiative and to have read Poet Charmaine Allwood-Hanson’s piece “WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN”, written in recognition of Caribbean American Heritage Month 2021.
An energizing event with promises of more to come.
Thanks fellow author and Poet, Dr. Susan Lycett Davis for the La Veranda venue referral. It was the perfect location to host this inaugural Open Mic event 🎙️
Write on writers ✍️
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