The Spot Mag ~ Celebrating Women in Business August 2020

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

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August 2020 M IN DFUL N E SS: EMBRACING C HA NGE P. 12 FA LL FAS HI O N W ITH TAY P. 18 M U D & LO TUS F OUNDER

SHAN N O N S PA NN-RYA N

AUGUST 2020

IN THIS

Issue E M OT ION AL F ORE C AS T

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C RYS TAL ’S RE AL E S TAT E T IPS

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C RYS TAL ’S C HAM PION S

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M IN DF U L N E S S

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FAS HION

WOM E N TO WATC H

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N AT ION AL F E AT U RE

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PR T IPS WIT H AN IK A

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F IN AN C IAL WE L L -BE IN G

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WOM E N TO WATC H: T E C H

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Feature: Shannon Spann- Ryan p. 20

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Contributors C O -F O U N D E R & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN

CREATIVE DIRECTORS: CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN

ADRIANNA SWEARINGEN

ANTHONY GONZALEZ ANIKA JACKSON ANGIE CAMPBELL BRIT TANY SWEARINGEN TAYLOR KAY WANDA BOOTH W R I TE R S :

PHOTOGRAPHER: BRITTANY SWEARINGEN

AUGUST 2020

Crystal Clear The hardest part of these past four months is the feelings of helplessness. From the spread of Covid-19 and daily, if not hourly, stories of the devastation, it leaves in its path. To the economic shutdown of pretty much all small businesses, 30+million applying for unemployment. To the racial unrest after centuries/decades of building cases of injustices, people are fed up and want change TODAY! How do you deal with all of these things as a business owner and, more importantly, for me, as a black woman business owner? I am blessed to have this magazine that I independently produce and publish, meaning I have full control of my content! I knew that millions of small business owners were struggling with some reportedly doing 30-40% of their average sales, all while having to pay rent, utilities, staff, and carve off some money to pay their bills. I decided to revamp my podcast “The Spot Mag Podcast” and reach out to women business owners who would like to share their stories and discuss giving their companies some more exposure in the digital magazine. I know I can’t do much on the monetary front to help all my fellow women business owners, but I would love to learn more about your business and how we can promote you to our audience. With the addition of the podcast and the magazine’s digital issue with click-through options, we can tell your story to other women to serve as inspiration and motivation as we all struggle with ways to do more.

I hope you are staying positive, and while I continue to chastise myself (a habit I’m trying to break), I feel like everyday that I can show up and be the best, I’m doing enough. You never know who’s watching! Show up with poise and always give yourself the grace to see that you are enough, and every day you’re doing your best!!

Crystal Swearingen Crystal Swearingen, Co-Founder | Editorial Director

The Spot Mag

@the.spot.mag

crystalsavesthedeal@gmail.com

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EMOTIONAL FORECAST

The sun is out with all its glory and life is feeling bright and adventurous. In the next couple of months there will be plenty of laughter, memory making and good old summer fun.

A lot of us have been feeling quite nostalgic and that’s because our soul has yearned for simplicity. If there’s one word to follow this soul warming season it’s “simplicity”. Remember all the little things you enjoyed and would bring you a moment of peace? Go back to that thought and take action. You’ve got an abundance of simple pleasures right in front of you to indulge in.

August rolls in with a feeling of curiosity opposed to uncertainty. We fiercely decide to seek our own path and what truths are resonating with our own unique spirit. If you haven’t learned to be guided by your intuition, now is the time. As our curiosity in what works for us grows stronger, so will our inner guidance signals. I’m excited to be apart of this chapter for people because it’s the missing link that’s been needed to follow the path to the best version of ourselves. I’ve helped several in Texas and now in Kansas understand how your life is gracefully supported by this beautiful planet and the moment you accept that little nugget of truth you see so many gifts start to reveal themselves all around you.

Be captivated by the beauty summer has to offer us. Allow the sun to warm your heart and the blue skies to direct your thoughts. We’ve got an abundance to be thankful for and now more than ever we need to share our goodness and our love. I wish everyone bright adventures this summer. Have a simply wonderful summer.

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Best Wishes, The Southern Psychic Sincerely, Angie Campbell “Southern Psychic” 1320 N 3rd ST Lawrence, KS 66044 Www.southernandpsychic.com Www.facebook.com/southernpsychic

CRYSTAL’S REAL ESTATE TIPS

Real Estate amid a pandemic is something new to us all. We had sellers waiting to list their homes to see how their area case numbers panned out, and the proper protocol is when and if they allowed people to enter their homes. One thing that Realtors across the country implemented pretty quickly was video and FaceTime showings. Video tours enabled the sellers to physically limit showings to one person in their home to shoot the video and reduce the number of strangers entering their home. Many sellers required that potential buyers view the video and submit a response in writing before approving showings. This was one way to eliminate showings that the home didn’t match what the buyer wanted/needed and prevent looky loos.

Buyers searching for their new home are also facing a very competitive market in specific price ranges. I work in multiple cities and two states, but for this example, I’m going to use Overland Park, Ks, a suburb of Kansas City. I pulled numbers of recently sold homes today for a client and out of the 46 sold, all of them sold for over 100% of asking price. For example, a house was listed at $210,000 and sold for $235,000 and was only on the market for two days. Homes are receiving multiple offers and driving the asking price way up in homes under $250,000 in this market place.

Buyers and sellers navigate this new market with sellers weighing the pros and cons of listing their homes during a pandemic and the fear of not taking advantage of a fantastic seller market. For buyers searching for homes and potentially having to make multiple purchase attempts before winning a bidding war, one thing is sure in this new market, the importance of using a Realtor. The Role of a REALTOR is to help you avoid low inventory pitfalls, pricing your home to sell correctly to attract a multitude of offers, making sure your home is clean and establishing COVID-19 showing protocols.

If you have been thinking about taking advantage of these AMAZINGLY low-interest rates in 2020, make sure to call a Local REALTOR to guide you along the way.

Crystal Swearingen 785-550-3424 CrystalSavesTheDeal@gmail.com Broker/Owner Crystal Clear Realty Kansas Realtor Nest Seekers LA LICENSE #

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CRYSTAL’S CHAMPIONS

BEHIND THE LENS OF NORMALCY

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This issue’s Crystal’s Champion goes to Photographer and Branding Expert Trina

Baker! Trina decided to use her platform during our lockdown to help raise money for our most vulnerable members of the communty. Recreating “The Front Step Project” she raised over $3100 in donations for Just Food Kansas, a community food pantry!

With these past few months effecting a lot of busiensses how have you pivoted what you offer?

I have mainly been trying to stay top of mind through social media. I have had a few sessions, however, I think people are still a bit nervous about the current situation. People have reached out to schedule sessions for August so we shall see what happens then.

What inspired you to start the front step project?

I read the article about the women in Boston who started it and I thought it sounded like a great way to give back to the community and help people support a good cause. It also kept me busy at a time when I really had nothing to do. I will also be included in the book they are producing in the Autumn.

Here is a link to that page. https://www. thefrontstepsproject.com/

I noticed you started a new fb series Acrylic art pour. Can you tell me more about this series and your inspiration?

Painting is my first love. I graduated from KU with a BFA in Fine Art. That being said, I have always looked for new techniques to express myself. I love the acrylic pouring because it’s unpredictable. When you pour the paint you really have no idea how the work is going to turn out. My challenge now is to figure out how to make it fit my style of abstraction. Look for the work to become more stripped down and basic in shape and flow. It’s exciting and I love it!

What’s next for Trina Baker?

tography, however, I am not sure what that looks like in today’s environment. I follow the path where it takes me.

Where can people find you online? https://www.instagram.com/trinabakerphotography https://www.trinabaker.net/ https://www.facebook.com/TrinaBakerPhotography

For the next few months I want to concentrate on my painting. I have a few commissions that I am working on and a new series I want to pursue based on Polaroids By Georgia O’keeffe. In a way this whole spending time at home has really ignited my creativity. I still want to continue pho7

Crystal’s Champions is dedicated to strong and inspirational women and organizations that are making a difference in the community. To nominate a Champion, email Crystal at Crystalsavesthedeal@gmail.com

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MINDFULNESS

EMBRACING CHANGE For centuries philosophers have waxed and waned about change; that it is the only constant, that it creates opportunity, that we must embrace it. And yet, we resist it with fervor, doing our very best to create consistency in our lives. This is because our brains are wired for stability, to desire homeostasis. 2020 has been one big damn exposure exercise in our ability to adapt and adjust to change.

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Change is a constant, that is a fundamental truth. The persistent, inevitable constant, whether we welcome it or not. The past several months of our existence have forced us as individuals and communities to reconcile the acceptance of change. COVID, job loss, working from home, children missing school friends, anxiety of essential work, and fear of going to the grocery store have become our daily lives.

Protests, airing our grievances, confronting candid and uncomfortable conversations, unveiling unconscious biases, challenging history and revealing present oppression is a social change unfolding beautifully before our eyes.

In the last issue, we explored being okay with not being okay; the goal was to acknowledge our ability to accept that which we cannot control. This requires more. Relief, at least in the short term, requires us to examine how to both problem solve and actively adjust to the new realities we face. We fear and resist change.

We fear the unknown, the potential catastrophes, pain, responsibility, loss or exposure that may come with changes. We desire predictability. Our brains are wired this way, to desire consistency and assurance.

So why do we fear change? That is a complex question. Simply put, our brains, specifically

an old part of our brain that helps us survive, called the amygdala, prefers stability and often interprets change as a threat. This helps us prepare for danger and risk, even when it isn’t there. That response is shaped and conditioned by the experiences in our lives. If changes brought pain or harm in the past, we tend to resist change more. And the opposite is true. Sometimes we catastrophize the unknown, meaning we distort the reality to expect the worst outcome. The whole “plan for the worst, hope for the best” mentality is a perfect example.

Change can be a confusing concept, if we are really honest with ourselves. Every day of our lives is very different, yet we view them as consistent if the major areas of our lives are intact.

We tend to only view change as an interference when our lives are upended or changed in ways that require us to shift our perspectives on our lives, ourselves or the world around us.

The question we are challenged with is how effectively we can adapt to the change with which we are presented.

I was faced with this prospect, reluctantly, with both anxiety and hope. I lost my long-term job a couple months back. I was forced to embrace the curveballs the universe pitched. I have to be honest; it is scary to hold so much fear and uncertainty about how you will support your family and maintain some semblance of financial security.

Change. We are facing this reckoning as a culture and society. Many of us who can no longer tolerate oppression, bigotry, racism and brutality are demanding a change. Those who resist are fearful of what they may lose, the

position or authority their privilege has provided for far too many years. Much of our society is facing the demand to let go of their version of history and embrace the honest reflection and assessment of our past and present.

What happens to us does not define us as much as how we respond to the new reality. Embracing change can foster growth beyond what we may otherwise expect from ourselves or believe is possible. I have had numerous conversations with clients who are both grieving the changes and losses of the year so far, and are finding new motivation for connecting with friends, exploring going back to school, renewing romance in their marriages, deepening spiritual connections. Here are some basic steps to embracing change: Embrace uncertainty. The best outcome of change is limits we often put on ourselves are broken. This welcomes unknown life adventures in which we can be fully present. I have absolutely no idea how long the pandemic will last, or how we will be changed because of it. I am excited to see what the future holds.

Learn. DBT mindfulness training has helped me better accept that which I do not know, and be perfectly okay with that. This helps us to see the world and our experiences through fresh eyes and discover new perspectives.

Quiet the judge. We don’t need to have all of the answers right now, and we need to challenge judgements of what we “should” be doing or not doing as we traverse this community-wide trauma together. Be kind with yourself, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and strangers.

Mindfulness of non-judgement is essential to allowing change effectively.

I mentioned I lost my job. It was hard to say goodbye to a position I loved. And, it has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I’ve started my own mental health practice and take full control of my professional life. This has been an incredibly taxing and exciting change to embrace. I hope everyone is well and managing this all the very best they can.

Anthony Gonzalez, LCSW, QS

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Skate Fashion as Seen on HBO’s Betty PLUS the obligatory state of the world message

BY BRITTANY SWEARINGEN

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Janay, Honeybear, and Indigo. During the radical reclassification of personal style

It feels remiss to begin any piece without at least acknowledging the pandemic. Is an acknowledgment ever enough? I struggle to gauge what becomes relevant in a fashion article amidst an ongoing rejection of violence and neglect against the most vulnerable in our societies. What is relevant, is life as it is, in our new normal. Fashion remains my most alluring oasis in life, I constantly seek new pathways to bring my activism and my art into the same realm.

Today, I dedicate my writing today to Black women.

Black women who so often wear the title of strong, black women who we ask too much of in a world dependent on organizers, black women who love fashion, black women gay and queer women.

During the quarantined weeks of spring, fashion starvation, and an exclusive relationship with casual wear, I was recommended to watch HBO’s new series Betty. I was immediately piqued. I skating to be a sport of presentation, similarly to fashion. Plus,

a new attention-getting element to my image and accessory? I quickly joined the hot summer subculture. ‘Betty,’ itself is often a diminishing term for girl skaters that is reclaimed through this series by Crystal Moselle. The show dives into the lives of five young skaters as they navigate the world around them, exploring sexuality, the #MeToo movement, feminism, and friendship. Betty is made special not only by their diversity of actresses, but through the sincerity of their stories.

Each girl on the series has a unique yet accessible style that fluently reads to her personality. Show stylist Camilla Garmendia represents the skate scene gloriously through the use of modern brands and authentic style. At my local skate park, I spoke to a girl wearing Converse, Champion, Nike, and Adidas. Needless to say, these brand influences run deep in skate culture. The core of Skate is of course Sportwear, and Garmendia amplifies this theme with unique prints, brands, and pieces to create the ensembles behind each character.

Kirt, portrayed by Nina Moran, is often seen in a snapback, oversized tee and crew socks. Kirt skates in Vans, a prominent brand among skaters known for flat soles ideal for boarding. Another brand more subtly represented is Urban Outfitters. For anyone looking to replicate the styles of Kirt and Camille, actress Rochelle Vinberg, look no further than the graphic tee and cargo pants section of UO. Camille also regularly wears printed button downs from UO, like this mustard woven. (and the only* good thing about fast fashion is that you can always find often last season in local thrift stores and online!)

Janay played by Ardelia Lovelace skates in a sports brami and a heavy pant that brings to mind 90’s singer Aaliyah’s Tommy Hilfiger look. This classic contrast between feminine and masculine pieces

works visually and metaphorically as Janay struggles to balance her feminism and her relationships with men (No spoilers).

Honeybear is the Queer style influence on the show. Honeybear is queer fashion to the max. While sporting tech accessories like a speaker necklace and camera clutch, Honeybear wears skin-tight silhou-

Flat shoes and crew socks are musts from the get-go. Prints very encouraged, bonus points if you can stack them. Jackpot if they are all of different color palettes. As tops go the first consideration is necessarily sweating, skate is a sport and you will drip. I am partial to Janay’s emphasis on simplicity and practicality. If you are really cool, you can drape some tech jewelry together for functional and futuristic vibes. Snapback, not officially recommended.

Through this simplified recipe, you can interpret your personal style into the iconic skate wear of Betty, seamlessly.

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Indigo and Kirt

ettes made loud through bold color and ecstatic prints.

Last but not least, beautiful Indigo, (who may or may not have inspired my recent eyebrow bleaching) supplies the feminine flavor to the group dynamics. Like Honeybear, Ajani Russel as Indigo embraces print and bodycon. However, her prints are less dense and are made unique by fashion elements like asymmetrical hems, ruffles, and an exposed closure. Her style mixes flounce with fit, creating an effortlessly cool and trendy ensemble that reads as feminine and unwavering. She also casually rocks a fiery faux fur coat for nearly an entire episode, which is series affirming enough.

From bottom up, results may vary.

*WLW: women liking women, a popular internet term for gay women of unkown sexuality. Umbrella term.

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CHANNELING THE HOT SPRINGS EXPERIENCE Mud & Lotus is an outdoor soaking tub and sauna tucked away in a private garden in downtown Lawrence, Kansas.

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Women To Watch

I AM JOYCE JOHNSON

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W

omen of power always wear many hats. It is not just one singular act that catapults them into a class of their own.

Joyce Johnson wears many hats with grace and with a style that has the power to influence others to realize their divine right to prosperity. Joyce Johnson is a six-time author, speaker, sales champion, business coach and the founder of Why Sales Network, who has worked as a sales leader, business consultant and mentor for over 20 years.

She began her educational journey at Prairie View A&M University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Ms. Johnson then went on to obtain her MBA in global management from the University of Phoenix. Joyce started her career in professional sports and later entered the telecommunications industry, leading to a role as sales director in global markets. As a top performer for a distribution company, Joyce led strategic account management and business development for multiple oil and gas customers in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

Joyce Johnson is an achiever who has realized that the greatest way to exercise your influence, is to empower others to do the same. “I created Why Sales Network in order to help and celebrate others. After many years in corporate, I realized that my purpose and passion was the mentorship and the development of college students. What many students, student athletes, and others do not realize is that every skill you learn in your course of study is transferrable to a career in sales, and conversely, no matter what career path you choose, sales is a necessary skill set,” she explains.

Ms. Johnson is continuously creating tools to educate and guide individuals to making career choices that work for them. This passion has led to a series of guides to coach students on personal growth and development of their career path entitled: Why Sales for College Students,

Top 10 Sales Tips for College Grads and Get A Job Today- Five Things You Need to Know.

Her latest projects include a podcast entitled Let’s Talk About It #collegelife, a weekly happy hour webinar series, Pivot During Panic, and a recent virtual mastermind, Why Sales Leadership Virtual Retreat.

Now that Joyce has accomplished so much throughout her career, it is her mission to coach, mentor, and support the development of anyone whose passions are great and whose determination is greater. So, as Joyce Johnson exercises her own influence, she encourages every young person, entrepreneur, dreamer, and college student to try new ventures, focus on what serves their greater purpose, and lastly, when the time is right, share it with the world.

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FALL TRENDS WITH TAY Transition seasons are by far my favorite. Especially transitioning to fall. Transition seasons force you to get creative and put your own personal twist on fashion. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good simple sundress that I can throw on with cute sandals and be set for the day. But when it comes to seeing new fall styles I am more than ready to make them work even if its 100 degrees in Texas. This year for fall we are expecting to see a lot of workwear mixed with street style. This is perfect for the modern business woman.

We all want to be the most fashionable in the office and maybe turn a few heads. Knowing the key pieces to buy and how to style them will do just that. The key fall pieces this year are a slightly oversized blazer, a midi skirt, a wide leg dress pant and square toe heels. Splurging a little on these staple pieces is key since they can be worn so many different ways. You can keep your budget in check by mixing in less expensive tops, camisoles, statement jewelry and layering pieces.

The slightly oversized blazer. You can go with a solid or a plaid for this. Solid if you want to be a little less edgy and be able to wear your blazer with more options. Here is a great blazer that is great quality and won’t break the bank. For a plaid op-

tion I would suggest a subtle plaid that can still be mixed with a lot of the pieces. I love that you can wear a silk camisole like this underneath it to dress it up for work. Then pair it with a band graphic tee or a cami and jeans for a fun streetwear look.

The midi skirt. A piece that will never go out of style. If you’re in the southern states and wanting to follow fall trends while dealing with the southern heat I suggest a silk midi skirt that is lightweight and cool . We also love a good knit midi if you’re lucky and don’t have to worry about the fall heat. Depending on your office you can get a little bit edgy by choosing one with a side slit or even an animal print. I love that you can wear a simple blouse and pumps to give off that chic style. Or you can throw on a camisole and moto jacket for a different spin on it.

The wide leg dress pant. Finding the perfect fit for a wide leg dress pant is key. Each body type will want something a little different when it comes to the pant. Some will prefer the high waist style while others will prefer a more mid rise. You will also want to make sure you get the perfect length to show off just enough of your fall shoes while not being too short. This is another piece that can be kept classic with a blouse and some fun jewelry or made more unique with a camisole and blazer.

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The square toe trend. This trend takes me back and I could not love it more. We’ve been seeing the same shape one shoes for years now and I am so glad that the style is getting changed up this year! The first time I saw them I thought they might be hard to walk in, given its been probably 20 years since I’ve worn a square toe heel. To my shock they were just as easy to walk in as any average heel.

What I love about all of these fall work wear pieces is that they can all be switched up for when you

want to meet your girlfriends for happy hour after work. Or when you want to get more use out of your pieces and wear them on the weekends. I love to throw a blazer, graphic tee and shorts on for a weekend streetwear style. Whether you like to have a chic work look and put your spin on classics with jewelry and shoes or if you want to be the major head turner in the office, this years fall trends will work for you.

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About Taylor: I grew up with a love for fashion and had always dreamt of owning my own company. When I was little my great grandmother gave me a love for fashion and my grandmother taught me how to sew. I started making my own clothing when I was 12 then eventually attending fashion school after high school. In 2012 hard times hit and I knew I needed to find a way to make a better life for my daughter. I clipped coupons, saved up $300 and started Hazel and Olive. It started in my tiny 500 sq foot apartment where i worked 18 hour days shipping out orders to friends of friends who had stumbled across my business. I quickly launched my website and within the first 6 months had done over 1 million dollars in sales. I now operate a 6,000 sq ft warehouse with the most amazing team. Starting at rock bottom really gave me the drive to create exactly what I had always dreamt of.

Cheers, Tay Tay

oversized blazer in plaid that can be casual for the weekend or styled with a camisole or solid color for the office!

STRIKING BALANCE WITH MUD AND LOTUS OWNER SHANNON SPANN-RYAN

With health and well being at the forefront of our communities, I wanted to reach out to a business owner I have admired for some time. I grew up in Wichita, Ks, and had minimal experience with concepts like acupuncture and eastern medicine. As an adult, I’ve opened my mind to learning new things.

One thing that intrigues me is the functions of the body and nonprescriptive ways to heal your ailments. I gifted my mother, who struggles with constant back pain a session last year where she experienced the sauna, the tub, and ended her session with acupuncture.

After her rave review, I wanted to learn more! While I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Shannon socially and through my other businesses, I hadn’t heard the story of her natural medicine journey. I hope you all enjoy learning and hearing her fascinating story. Thank you, Shannon for taking the time to answer my questions with such detail and insight. Truly appreciate you! Crystal 1. What inspired you to open Mud and Lotus?

I spent 12 years living in Northern California and I fell in love with hot springs - that combination of hot mineral-rich water, and being immersed in nature, felt so incredibly therapeutic for me. My friends and I would go on adventures hiking to remote hot springs, and it just became a huge love of mine. Traveling around the world, I saw that many cultures have used heat bathing - in the form of saunas, steam rooms, and various types of soaking pools was a common practice and that the research on the health benefits of these practices was astounding. When I moved back to Lawrence in 2014, especially in the fall and winter I would long for that heat and I just decided to build it, at the least for my friends and family and my acupuncture clients.

2. I know you started with an acupuncture wellness business, how did you get started with acupuncture?

When I was 16 yrs old I had horrible cystic acne - angry pus-filled cysts all over my face and back. It was painful, it really affected my self esteem, and I was put on some pretty heavy-duty medication for it. The medication didn’t really work and it also caused some pretty bad side effects. Even at that young age I wanted to understand - WHY was my body doing this? WHAT did it need to heal from the inside out? I began studying essential oils, making my own cleansers and such, and herbal medicine. My acne didn’t improve until I drastically changed my diet away from the sugar and fast-food laden diet of my high school years. But I was in love with natural medicine by then - it just made more sense to me to try to treat the root of the problem, and not just the branch or the symptoms. My time in California led me to study massage therapy, western herbalism, craniosacral therapy, and sacred plant medicines. Eventually, I decided to get my Master’s Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I absolutely love that TCM offers a completely different view of the body - as an interconnected whole, rather than the reductionist approach taken in conventional medicine.

3. What are some of the challenges that have come with running a business amid this pandemic?

The biggest challenges really have proven to be growth opportunities. In Mandarin, the character for “crisis” includes a radical, which means “opportunity.” And this is exactly what our name, Mud & Lotus, represents - it’s taken from the famous quote by Thich Nhat Hahn which says that “Without the Mud There is No Lotus.” It’s been hard to keep my staff busy and give them enough hours with fewer appointments being booked. It’s been challenging to provide essential healthcare services

to some of my higher-needs patients and make sure that we are keeping a safe environment for my staff and my clients. I have been keeping up on the research of which herbs and supplements have proven to be effective or at least supportive in treating Covid-19 - learning a lot from the doctors and acupuncturists and researchers in China where they have integrated the Eastern and Western medicine. But all of these challenges have had a silver lining in a sense - I feel that my team is more solid, my relationship with my patients is stronger, and my skills as a practitioner have grown. In the climate of this pandemic which is not likely going away anytime soon - I feel even more committed and passionate about giving people tools and resources around how to cultivate optimal health, keep inflammation at bay, build strong immune systems, the absolutely necessity of de-stressing and decompressing and having a affordable options for selfcare.

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4. What do you feel is the most important lesson you learned in owning your own business?

That no matter what mentors or other experts are recommending, you have to trust your own instinct. Mud & Lotus seemed like a pretty “out there” concept for Lawrence - people just aren’t aware of the health benefits of heat bathing and there’s not a culture around self-care like there is in Germany, Turkey, or Japan. But everything in my being compelled me to go for it - despite being pregnant with my second baby while developing and launching it when she was just 4 months old - that inspiration was like a wave that swept me up and I had to ride it.

It would have taken more effort NOT to do it than to do it. So that’s the lesson - when you feel that inspired and moved and in sync with the universe, just go for it.

5. What are some of the health benefits of your services?

I am so glad you asked!! While I am passionate about “alternative medicine,” I am also really into evidence-based practices - which means that every technique and modality offered at my office has a large body of research showing it to be scientifically effective. Some of the benefits of heat bathing (sauna and hot tub) include:

Aiding the body in detoxification Promoting relaxation and stress resilience Increasing athletic endurance and recovery Helping to build muscle and buffer muscle loss Promoting cardiac health and linked to a lower risk of all-cause mortality Increasing insulin sensitivity Increasing cognitive function Acupuncture is the fastest growing sector of alternative medicine - not only has it been used for thousands of years but it also has enormous backing in the scientific world. Government agencies like the VA and Worker’s Compensation can be billed for acupuncture, we are very close to getting Medicare to cover for acupuncture as well. This is exciting because I would love to see more people have access to preventative, low-cost and minimally invasive treatment modalities like cupping, acupuncture and herbal medicine.

6. With your Eastern medicine background, what do you think people should be prioritizing when it comes to their health?

Let’s just say you get a brand new car. You will probably be pretty diligent about getting regular oil changes, rotating the tires etc. And if a check engine light flashes up on your dash - you’ll probably be pretty proactive about getting it check out right? Our bodies are the same way - we need regular “tune-ups” to maintain things running well. If you are experiencing pain, digestive issues, anxiety, sleep issues etc - it’s like the light on your dash. This is feedback from our body that something is out of balance - if we listen and give it right support, the bodies’ own innate healing intelligence can often rectify the issue. That support can come in many forms - acupuncture, herbal medicine, bodywork, chiropractic, massage, stretching and strengthening; good old rest even is so powerful. I think our culture encourages disconnecting from our body, ignoring issues until they become emergencies, and there is very little emphasis in our health care system around preventative care.

The other thing I would like to emphasize Western Medicine and Eastern Medicine are very complementary. It doesn’t have it be an “either/or” situation. I work with people and their physicians all the time to help them reach their health goals. For example, I’ve seen incredible results with people getting acupuncture after their rotator cuff surgery. I have a very high success rate in helping women get pregnant with an IVF procedure that previously were unsuccessful. Sometimes a patient may

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want to get off a certain medication and we can work with that, or they are just looking for adjunctive care in addition to other more conventional methods. All of these approaches are wonderful and hopefully, as our healthcare system acknowledges that many people these days are dissatisfied with uber short doctors visits and the pharmaceutical pill pushing that too often happens - we will move toward a more integrated system where effective strategies from Western and Eastern medicine are being prescribed in a harmonious and complementary way.

7. Have you sought out mentors along the way?

Yes I have many mentors - I have business mentors, fitness mentors, and spiritual mentors who keep me on track. I am the kind of person who is always wanting to learn, grow, and evolve in every aspect of my life. Some of the people who have been very powerful teachers for me are Michael Sonn, local Sufi goddess Malika Clark, my husbands’ mother Niyonu Spann, Alan Lazaros, and my Qi Gong teachers Grandmaster Leone and Zhenevere Sophia Dao.

8. I’m big on quotes and motivation, is there a specific quote or saying that resonates with you?

“Without the Mud, There is No Lotus ” by Thich Nhat Hahn. This is the balance of yin and yang - they need each other to exist. If I never struggled, I would be able to experience that exhilaration of overcoming an obstacle. If I was never overwhelmed or stressed out, care-free release and relaxation would lose its power. Being busy with lots of appointments wouldn’t be as much fun if we were never slow. So everything under the sun has its place and gives us meaning in a different way. As one of my mentors has always said - Life is a tragi-comedy. There is incredibly suffering, violence, pain - and also earth-shattering ecstasy and bliss. My task to grow my heart big enough to love it all and this quote helps me remember that.

9. How do you balance running your businesses and being a mother of 2 small children?

This is the golden question! I am very blessed to

be able to work part-time so that I can be with my girls- age 4 and 18 months- quite a bit of the time. I have learned to delegate and surround myself with team-oriented people who I can trust. Also, I have learned to accept that things aren’t always going to be perfect - I try to “do my best and leave the rest” so that I am not holding myself to unreasonable/impossible expectations. My husband is amazing with the girls (he refers to himself as a “double daughter dad” lol) and definitely supports me with my dreams. I often give myself permission - despite the books that need balancing, endless emails to respond to and social media posts to be made - to call it quits and just be present with my family. Sure, I would love a whole month of pre-scheduled perfect Instagram posts - but that’s just not my life right now. I don’t want to sacrifice these precious years with my girls for the sake of my business. In TCM just as we move through seasons of the year, we move

through seasons of our life as well. I know that I am in that Earth season of my life where my kids need me a lot - I’m still nursing and co-sleeping for example. I’d love to read more, meditate more, workout more, etc but there will be a season of my life were those things are more prominent. I try to breathe and relax into that often when I feel like I am not where I want to be.

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PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING TIPS

Your Brand Amplified™: The Art of Storytelling

“Two or three things I know for sure, and one of them is that to go on living I have to tell stories, that stories are the one sure way I know to touch the heart and change the world.”

— Dorothy Allison, American writer One of the biggest issues that many clients have, and the reason they hire my agency, is their reluctance to tell their stories. They want to stay behind the scenes and “do the work” but know in order to achieve their goals, they need to have someone help share their narrative. I am not speaking only of the polished, Instagram stories of beautiful, well organized carousel photos of businesses and brands, success stories and the accolades they have received and the “where they are now.” At the heart of PR is storytelling. It’s important to share the journeys taken, the roads less traveled. How they got to where they are. Warts and all. Why is this so important? For so many reasons.

Think back to when you were starting your career or entrepreneurship path. Who did you look up to and aspire to follow? How did you decide to go down the path you took? What barriers did you face in life and in business as you followed this path, and how did they help you learn and grow? Did you have more appreciation for where you landed? Wouldn’t you appreciate learning from other’s journeys and perhaps sharing your own to help someone else who may not believe they could get there?

Or receiving inspiration from hearing of others perseverance in the face of adversity?

Here is a recent example from a client who has been highlighted in these very pages. In Feb-

ruary, I was contracted to work on a client’s series of events, culminating in a music festival for Juneteenth.

Shortly after our initial meetings and calls to set up the lead-up events, COVID-19 hit. The client, Shared Harvest Fund, was in a unique position of being a volunteer service and student debt relief organization founded by three Black women doctors, two of whom were ER doctors. The founders quickly realized their need to pivot their platform to a new initiative: myCOVIDMD. With the multitude of testing sites popping up, it was important to think about the messaging of myCOVIDMD and the women behind the initiative. There were many interesting PR angles – the ability to ramp up a cadré of volunteers ready and willing to assist with pop-up COVID-19 testing sites around the country, the business model of Shared Harvest Fund, the testing sites themselves. But the most important story was that of the founders and especially the CEO, Dr. Nana AfohManin. It is the story of women founders, whom are also women doctors of color, offering culturally competent telehealth and antibody testing in communities that did not have access to either telehealth or testing. It is a story of a relatively new grassroots organization that was pulling off testing and providing access, even without government funding or big donors.

As a publicist, it’s my job to learn about my clients and their businesses as much as possible – so that I can share and “sell” their stories with an enthusiasm that lends itself to receiving media coverage and uncover new places to pitch stories. It was gratifying to be able to tell the story of Dr. Afoh-Manin and the organization.

One pitch led to an online article which led to requests for interviews. A press release in the right hands landed an online article for Forbes that then led to an appearance on an Amazon Studios tv show, Regular Heroes.

Now, not every PR hook is going to end up on a tv show. But realize that by showing a willingness to share your vulnerability with others and help others learn from both your triumphs and your struggles, you may end up being lauded, asked to speak, receiving interviews, from the media outlets in your wildest dreams.

Anika Jackson is a mother, community volunteer, philanthropist, and brand strategist. There has never been a time when she didn’t enjoy connecting, collaborating and creating meaningful relationships between businesses and communities, and strategically helping brands apply those concepts to meet their goals. A woman gifted with the ability to draw excitement to an event, brand or concept, creating winning solutions and developing strategic press and marketing initiatives that lift up key partnerships and collaborations is the fuel that excites her.

Anika has gained a reputation for her philanthropic work in the community in both Houston and Los Angeles, as a founder of multiple charities as well as past chair and thought leader for organizations including Junior League, Learn Grow Lead, and Planned Parenthood. In addition, Anika is a founding family and was on the initial advisory council for Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy.

Presently, Anika has a PR consultancy based in Los Angeles which includes a variety of luxury beauty, fashion, nonprofit and small business clientele. Additionally, she is the national correspondent for The Spot Magazine, highlighting women in business as well as writing a new column on Meaningful Messaging; the author of the Women Acquiring Assets section for Equity Movement Magazine; and writes a blog focused on people and products that make a difference.

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FINANCIAL WELL-BEING

Three Financial Questions to Ask Before Unexpected Times Emotions have reached high and low levels with

the best strategy for money and business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite global issues, I encourage you to focus on a positive outlook and what is best for you and your family. Let us discuss three financial areas you can control before and during unexpected times.

1.

Am I protecting my family and business?

More than ever, you need to review all insurance policies. Do you know your benefits? Are the correct people listed as your beneficiaries? These questions may sound simple; however, I worked with clients who had ex-spouses and deceased family members still listed as beneficiaries. Life gets busy; it's easy to forget or put off updating these documents. Your various insurance policies can be the difference-maker in your family's quality of life in unexpected situations.

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Here are some action steps to ensure you are protecting your money, family, and business. First, locate all insurance policies (life, disability, health, and commercial) and attorneys' power. Second, review benefit amounts, verify names and contact information of each beneficiary. Last and most importantly, put the documents in a location accessible by family or trusted friends when needed to settle affairs. It is hard enough to deal with loss or illness without added emotional stress. Consider sharing this advice if you are a caregiver or responsible for assisting in parent's affairs. The best strategy is talking to your estate planner and family to ensure accuracy and transparency.

2. How many sources of income do I have coming into our household?

The objective is to have five income sources. I believe in striving for financial independence to release the dependence on a single paycheck—the three main types of income categories are active, passive, and portfolio. Active income is from your direct labor when you stop working, the paycheck stops. Passive income is from establishing an automatic system to receive money for providing a product or service.

For example, rental property, selling digital workbooks, or selling virtual courses. Portfolio income is from collective investing activities earned as interest, dividends, and gains.

I recommend having at least one fund source from active activities, three income streams from passive

activities, and portfolio income from various investments. Passive income is a leading source because it requires some work upfront and occasional engagement, but other than that, it automatically generates income.

Here are a few ideas for earning passive income. Try selling downloadable digital worksheets, planners, and curriculums. Become an affiliate, getting paid to promote other people's products through social marketing. Passive income is a great way to quickly pay off debt, save for unexpected expenses, and invest to reach financial goals.

3.

How can I reduce my debt and expenses?

We cannot rely on a single source income stream.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people lost their jobs, unable to pay the necessary bills increasing their family stress. Here is a proactive strategy to get ahead in your finances. I recommend writing down all debts and expenses and then categorizing debts as 'must pay' or 'waive during hardship.' Contact each creditor to verify requirements and policies if you are unable to pay. Next, categorize expenses as 'necessary' or 'non-essential.' Call each company on the 'necessary' list to negotiate discounts or lower payments.

Everyone's situation is different; therefore, adjust the following options for your specific situation. First, put money in savings to cover future unexpected expenses. The amount does not matter; it's more about the commitment to a goal. Second, choose your smallest debt and commit to paying it off first while making payments on others. Third, do both by paying off the smallest debt and putting a small amount in savings.

Remember, the amount does not matter- it's a commitment to achieve financial goals.

2020 is not over, and you can still crush it. Select

one financial area to focus your efforts on protecting your family, increasing your income, or eliminating debt. I wish you the best on the strategy you select. If you have questions or comments, you can contact the team at www.

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Wanda Booth is a Business Strategist helping the Million Dollar Business Divas achieve financial freedom and purpose in their online business. After serving 25 years in the US Army, Wanda worked as a licensed financial advisor and broker, helping business owners and families build wealth. During her work, she noticed a gap in women’s leadership programs and financial literacy. Wanda had enough and decided to form a company strengthening business owners through the art of masterminding. Additionally, Wanda commits time and resources as a champion for several nonprofits assisting mental wellbeing for teens and young women.

Wanda is the best-selling author of two books, Insight 20/20: Applying Lessons to Advance in Life and Career and You Matter Most: 8-Week Self-care Guided Journal for Building Confidence and Coping with Anxiety.

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Women To Watch

Stacy Kirk

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Maya Angelou once said, “If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” Stacy Kirk does not live every day like the average person. The very essence of her aspirations exudes excellency.

Growing up in a small suburb of Fort Worth, Stacy was one of only two Black students in her entire elementary and only one of six out of a high school graduating class of 600. She faced traumatic victimization from teachers who shoved her, counselors that told her not to apply to a four-year college, coaches that told her she should run faster because she was Black, and peers seeing her name in the school newspaper telling her to go back to Africa. Despite it all, she received a scholarship to Stanford University where she graduated in Computer Science, rose through leadership, and created two successful tech companies employing over 45% women of color. She fought every step of the way, fueled by those who doubted she could do it.

Stacy Kirk is a computer scientist, tech entrepreneur, agile coach, coder, international technology speaker, and Stanford University alumnae. She has championed quality and process innovation in software development for over 20 years. In 2010, Stacy founded QualityWorks Consulting Group, a quality-driven web and mobile application delivery firm. QualityWorks delivers value for clients like AT&T, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, Fox, and Legacy.com. In 2019, Stacy founded Posture, a SaaS platform

that advises and automates a cybersecurity program for small and midsize enterprises. Posture helps enterprises drive compliance regardless of their level of in-house knowledge. An AI-powered platform simplifies the process of gaining and maintaining a cybersecurity compliance program. Leveraging agile best practices, this solution provides integration, automation, and the visibility to ignite a culture of accountability across the enterprise while providing a marketplace of compliance products and expertise to cost-effectively remove roadblocks.

In addition to her companies, Stacy’s passion is advancing STEAM education, which is defined as science, and technology, interpreted through engineering, and the arts, and based in mathematics. As a Lego League Robotics coach and advisor/sponsor of youth-focused STEAM non-profit organizations, Stacy is committed to empowering and ensuring that the next generation has access to pursue careers in technology.

As Stacy Kirk surmounts in the technology industry, she is carving a trajectory behind her for other young people to follow. Some children will be told that achieving certain paths in life are impossible, and others will be told that they don’t qualify. But as Stacy Kirk has learned throughout her life, those negative words are fire. The fire can either burn you or light a spark. Stacy’s accomplishments, leadership, influence, and determination are powered by the spark that is inside of her.

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