BWMB Magazine - Catch Her Shine by Black Women Mean Business

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THE BOOKING MAGNET, CHRISTINE HORN ON MANIFESTING HER SUCCESS.

MAINTAIN POSITIVE ENERGY EVERYDAY!

V. Simpson

I S S UI SE S V U E | I VS P|E CSI P ARL I N EG DI2 T0 I O2N 2

How to Leverage CREATING GENUINE Success RELATIONSHIPS THAT CONVERT and Failure

MORE RESOURCES TO START AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS

CATCH HER SHINE

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contents 10The Star Treament

Kym Nicole on the ultimate client experience.

14 2 2Catch Her Shine 30Funny on Purpose to Win, When Shit 23How Happens Magnetic

Christine Horn is ready for the YES and helping others find success in Hollywood.

Taja V. Simpson is Bold, Beautiful, and building her empire.

funny.

Von Decarlo the freshest perspective on

love and winning.

Christal Jordan on PR,

THE SQUAD JASMINE WILLIS - Senior Editor MARIA HARRIS - Senior Editor MUZIKSCRIBE - Managing Editor STACI MOORE - Senior Project Manager STEPHANIE ROSA - Senior Art Director

THE LEGAL STUFF: The information contained in this publi-

cation is for informational purposes only and is subject to the terms and conditions found on www.blackwomenmeanbusiness.com. Ellese & Co, the publisher of BWMB Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organization has been provided by the respective subject or contributor with no verification by us. Further, the opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its contributor and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Ellese & Co or BWMB Magazine, therefore, we carry no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon.

Contact: editorial@blackwomenmeanbusiness.com www.blackwomenmeanbusiness.com Advertising Inquiries hello@elleseandco.com 626.536.1227 WWW.BLACKWOMENMEANBUSINESS.COM 5

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From the desk of the

FOUNDER Ditch the Co-Star Syndrome

"No, sis, I'll take the picture." How often have I said this and then dealt with the sinking feeling when I saw all my girls getting their likes on Gram. For whatever reason, I never liked to see myself in pictures, and let's not even think about being in a video. The online business landscape continues to reward those playing by its rules. Hiding in your business may be hurting your success. Whenever I speak with women about why they don't want to show up on camera, it is usually something that many would classify as superficial. But what is trivial about not feeling confident about the way you look? I'm not too fond of it when people tell me how to appear, and it's easy to get on the comparison wheel when you have to compete for attention in the same newsfeed as some of the gorgeous and polished women featured in this issue. It's your time to shine and be the star of your show. Your days of being the co-star and running from your time in the limelight are over. Get honest with yourself, and whatever is keeping you from seeking the spotlight, deal with it. Lose the weight, get some lashes, go to Toastmasters, whatever it takes. The ladies in this issue have honed their crafts, grace stages, and screens in our favorite shows. At the same time, others featured in this issue support the efforts of our favorite stars and are not afraid to step into the spotlight and shine. I want YOU to SHINE!

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MS. ASHLEY

Beautiful, Loved, and Blessed Ever heard of edutainment? To put it simply, edutainment combines the words education and entertainment. One person who is genuinely passionate about this is Ashley Tamar Davis. Davis, her former mentor Prince's muse and favorite singer, gained notoriety for being the music legend's protege while co-writing their Grammy-nominated duet "Beautiful, Loved, and Blessed.” In 2010, Tamar initiated and created Syren Music Group, LLC, a music entertainment company specializing in the advancement of independent music and live entertainment. The company was funded through personal finances acquired while on tour and starring in Tyler Perry's stageplay "The Marriage Counselor." Tamar is also the co-founder of The Tamar Davis Project, an international and educational project designed for artists to benefit from opportunities that will become a catalyst to successfully launch their careers under the watchful eye of industry mentors. Education was always something that Ashley’s parents emphasized. Ashley loved learning. She loved anything she did - studying, singing, rehearsals, and dancing. Luckily, she always had her village to help her along the way. Davis officially started her career journey after she graduated from college in 2004. She was a background singer for Tamia on the Verizon Ladies First Tour. She knew the value of having a capable mentor like the famous singer and making the right connections. During this tour, Ashley met a choreographer named Fatima Robinson, who ended up being the

person who introduced her to Prince. FULL INTERVIEW

Reflecting on her time with Prince, Ashley shares, "The biggest lesson I learned from him was not to ask for permission." She explains, "If Prince wanted to do something, we would simply do it... he didn't ask for people's opinion." He would talk to people to see where they were, which allowed him to know if they were in alignment with what he might be doing. Davis continues to put into practice the guidance Prince shared with her. She vividly remembers them having deep conversations that now seemed more like a prophecy about where the industry was going. Everything she learned from Prince years ago, from ownership to streaming, is happening now.

ON BWMB

Understanding the value of education, Ashley decided to use her platform to merge entertainment and education edutainment. For her, education is all about access and awareness. She also launched her podcast Tamar Talks, in which she shares words of encouragement and inspiration centered around arts and education. If you didn't know, Ashley stays busy on the music side of things. She's working on a new song slated for an August 2022 release. She's also joined Stewart Copeland, the drummer from The Police, on tour this year while working on individual projects and works as a music supervisor for television and movies. If you're wondering what a music supervisor does, you're not alone. Music supervisors artfully select and license preexisting songs and recordings for use in movies, television shows, and video games. So, as you can see, there are many opportunities in the music industry, even if you work behind the camera. Ashely shares that COVID was truly an eyeopener for her regarding her business endeavors. It made her realize that you

“When I was challenged to have a platform, it was like: is it cancer, is it aids, is it diabetes? And I said: Nope, it's education. Education to me is access and awareness.” can hone your craft in many different ways. In today's world, we have more resources available than ever before. Even if you don't have a mentor, the internet is full of specialists sharing their knowledge and expertise. You need to make sure you're taking advantage of this. You need to figure out what honing your craft

means to you, and you have to work towards it every day. If you want to learn more about Ashley: www.tamardavis.com Instagram: @AshleyTamarMusic Facebook: @AshleyTamarMusic

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star

The

treatment

Being a business owner is not just about delivering your services or your products. It’s about creating an experience for your clients. - Kym Nicole

FULL INTERVIEW ON BWMB

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You are a professional at what you do! That is how you build up your reputation, one of many secrets to longevity. Kym Nicole is someone who has mastered the art of providing customized experiences that WOW her clients! Her brand is synonymous with star treatment, and her work has been featured in television, print, film, and video. She made her television debut on the Lifetime TV network as a contestant on American Beauty Star. Her versatility and flair can be seen on clients' faces who appear on popular award-winning programming and work with some of the industry's most respected celebrities such as Michelle Williams, Ledisi, Garcelle Beauvais, Eric Benet, and many more. Kym also penned her first book, "A Little

Makeup Can't Hurt," in 2015. "The young women and ladies I've had the pleasure of doing makeup for inspired me to carry out my vision for my book. Growing up, I suffered terribly from low self-esteem and struggled with my [physical] features (lips, nose, hair). I was able to see an enormous shift in confidence and self-worth in the ladies, so I decided to write a book sharing industry tips and a bit of my journey to self-assurance and self-love." After completing cosmetology school, Kym started working as a hairstylist at a local salon. She was there for a few years and stumbled upon makeup because one of her clients, a model, asked Kym to do her makeup since her makeup artist wasn't available. Kim gave it a try, and her client ended up on the cover of a magazine. Afterward, Kym made a leap

of faith, took some classes, and implemented a vision as a makeup artist. The number of her clients increased, and she opened her salon, the Kym Nicole Beauty Studio, nine years ago. Ms. Kym hasn't looked back since! Now, she mostly spends her time on television and movie sets. Kym believes that word-of-mouth is what sets her apart outside of her skills and helps maintain her reputation. Her ability to treat her clients with kindness and respect for their privacy keep her booked and busy. Her focus is always on staying professional, so when she is on the phone with her celebrity friends, she asks them if they're on a business call or "friendship" call. Her advice for anyone looking to get started in the beauty industry is to hone your craft

“I would like to say that I’m skilled at what I do, but I think my spirit and the way that I treat people has probably what got me further than others who are maybe more skilled.” and never stop learning. Be kind to yourself. One of Kym's most recent product launches is her Glam Precinct Lash Kit. She explains, "In creating my own physical product, one of the important aspects for me was its high quality and giving that look and feel of upscale and expensiveness." Oubre was handson throughout the process, from idea to implementation. She also supports the lives of young girls and women who struggle with low self-esteem and depression with her new foundation, 'Erasing Low Self-Esteem.' On a more personal note, Kym is now back into the dating scene. She shares that kindness is one of the most important things she looks for in people, whether a romantic partner or a client. She believes if a person is not kind to others, then it's only a matter of time before they get comfortable enough with you to treat you any kind of way. If you want to purchase Kym’s amazing lash set, visit Glam Precinct (www.theglamprecinct.com and onnect with Kym on Instagram @kymmyizabeauty.

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MAGNETIC

Christine Horn is ready for the YES and helping others find success in Hollywood

The most critical factor influencing your personal and professional success is your mindset. Your behavior reflects your thoughts; how you think is how you act, not the other way around. But when it comes to being an entrepreneur, often we overlook the role of the mindset. Recently, we had the honor of chatting with Christine Horn to talk about the importance of mindset and personal development. Known to many as "The Booking Magnet," Bronx native Christine Horn is a Broadway, film, and television actress, a career coach for actors, and the author of “Playing Small: The Actor’s Guide to Becoming a Booking Magnet.” Although acting became Horn's first love, music was never far behind. She started a record label, a production company (Chocolate Superstar Productions), and released two successful projects, "Walk with Me" and “Therapy," on iTunes. Christine's voice does for soul music what a hit play does for Broadway - she enriches it by expanding its boundaries. Horn's use of melody, language, dialect, and drama enables her to touch those searching for that extra bit of enlightenment, individuality, and entertainment. Christine spends time as a career coach for actors to give back to the community that has given her so much. Through her acting, singing, writing, producing, and coaching, Horn is determined to make a difference in the entertainment industry. Her film/television credits are impressive and include a variety of powerful performances! You've probably seen Christine in Snowfall, The Good Doctor, American Crime Story, Terminator: Dark Fate, Blackish, and Good Girls, to name a few. She will be a part of the new series coming to Netflix called “The Lincoln Lawyer.” With being an actor comes a lot of rejection. We don't see that every YES an actor/actress receives is preceded by many NOs. Christine shares that she auditioned for every season of Snowfall but was cast in

season four, which she auditioned for three times! But the rejection didn't stop her from advancing her career. She stays focused on the vision placed in her heart when she was a kid. This helps her to take rejection too personally because it's not personal. There's nothing wrong with you. You aren't the right fit for a particular environment at a specific time.

FULL INTERVIEW

ON BWMB

Christine always knew she wanted to be a performer, but she wasn't always confident. She has done a lot of personal development throughout her career journey, ensuring that she knows her worth and value. As a believer in the laws of attraction, Christine knew that if she could attract money, she could elicit people in that same way. Thus she came up with the "Booking Magnet.” And, baby, you can feel that pull when Christine's in a room. Christine is a true acting professional, giving each scene precisely what it needs, and steals our attention each time she's onscreen. Horn believed this, too, as a result of her inner work. When she's working, she doesn't seek validation from others. Her goal is to portray the character's truth. She is humble but knows that she will take up space and time because she belongs there. Horn started working as a health coach when she moved to Los Angles. One of her friends suggested that she look into coaching aspiring actors. She started doing Facebook Live sessions, and pretty soon, her community and business started blossoming. During that time, Christine made sure to keep checking in with people to see what they wanted/needed, but she also had to build herself up as an entrepreneur by working on her mindset. She now helps actors through her signature course Book More TV, The Red Carpet Club and live event Booking Magnet Live. Christine often gives her clients advice that we can also apply in entrepreneurship. She says, “Don't reinvent the wheel. All you gotta do is throw some rims on it. And guess what? You, you are the rims! You are

“Don't reinvent the wheel. All you gotta do is throw some rims on it. And guess what? You, you are the rims, you are the thing that makes it special.” the thing that makes it special!" We are all unique and one-of-a-kind, so it doesn't matter if someone else does the same thing as you. The way you deliver your message and your work will resonate with the people it's supposed to reach. As long as you are authentic in your career, you will find your audience. If you want to learn more about Christine and platforms, visit www.christinehorn.com and connect with her on Instagram and TikTok @actresschristinehorn.

Makeup Artist: Day Byrd @muadaybyrd Creative Director/Photographer: Bee Alyssa-Trofort

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Life-Changing TIPS FOR MAINTAINING POSITIVE ENERGY EVERYDAY How does a typical day start for you?

oes the following scenario sound all too familiar? You’re shocked out of a fitful sleep by a blaring alarm. You crawl out of bed, groaning at the day's stresses ahead, turn on the TV or radio, pop a K-cup into the Keurig, and check social media or emails. What do you see? Most likely stressful stories or client follow-ups that you left from yesterday's bunch. As you leave for the office, you’re sur-

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Is it remotely possible to live a positively charged life in a world filled with negativity?

You awaken, feeling rejuvenated by restful slumber. You’re greeted by the melody of the birds singing as they herald the beauty of the new day. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, and you sit up, stretch, and spend a leisurely moment taking it all in (I know this sounds very Disney-ish but humor me).

The answer is yes! Consider, for a moment, how this same day could have started if you were focusing on positivity instead:

You spend your commute wondering what exciting opportunities await. You outline a fulfilling day mixed with working toward

rounded by agitated drivers until you finally arrive at the office, only to be submerged into countless meetings and requests.

your goals and enjoying your favorite hobbies. At the office, your co-workers chat amicably as they settle in for a productive day. Which morning do you prefer? The best part is you have the power to choose either one! Try these life-changing strategies that help you discover your ability to keep positive energy flowing regularly:

INTERACT WITH NATURE. As simple as it sounds, you can gain a genuine outlook by interacting with nature. The beauty of nature is the reality that the course of nature continues regardless of the surrounding circumstances.  Sunlight always shines through the cloudiest days and darkest nights.  Spring delivers an annual rebirth of life as new plants peek through the frozen snow.  Animals carry on their natural routines as they fulfill their purpose.

UNITE WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL SIDE. Spirituality can bring calmness, happiness, and serenity to your life. These attributes help to contribute to positive energy. Whether you decide to embrace religious beliefs or spend time in self-reflection, you'll find that you feel differently when you connect with your spiritual self.  Associating with your spiritual side can genuinely allow you to be accepting of yourself AND your past and willing to commit to turning things around for the better.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. PHEW! As cliche as it sounds, this holds weight for so many of us! And as bad as things might seem to you, know that they're not the worst they could be. It's

important to notice the good things you have in your life.  Think of five things that you're happy about or thankful for each day.

 Ask yourself how you can turn your current position around and improve it with the resources you have now.

HELP SOMEONE IN NEED. There's nothing quite as fulfilling and affirmative as helping someone. Rediscover the satisfaction that comes from being a Good Samaritan. Remember, when you help someone in need, you're contributing to making the world a better place because someone will be better off thanks to you.

CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION. One of my editors always says not to complain about what you refuse to change (let that one sink in). Your circumstances are what you make them and make of them. If you look at a situation and expect hopelessness, then that is likely what you'll get. Instead, why not look for an assured outcome for each and every event? Give these a try and see how quickly you'll be able to extract a glimmer of hope from those unfavorable circumstances. Then, instead of relying on others to create what you hope to have, you can craft the situation you want for yourself!

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FULL INTERVIEW

ON BWMB

The People's Party

Jasmine Leigh on people, podcasting and perusing her dreams Two foundational principles of sustaining a successful business are continuously doing your research and developing your customer "avatar." Your brand should connect with your ideal customer and provide solutions to pain points. Connecting is primary, but listening is paramount when establishing a mutually beneficial relationship. One person who unites with her audience extremely well is Jasmin Leigh. Jasmin is a Los Angeles-based actress, comedian, and producer taking the comedy scene by storm! She's gifted with southern charms and a sassy take-charge personality. Growing up, Jasmin knew she wanted to be in the entertainment industry. At the beginning of her career, she created a web-based talk show Jasmin's World. She originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career but immediately fell into comedy and frequented the "Comedy Store" club during open mic nights. This is where she met her future co-host, Talib Kweli. Eventually, Talib offered her a job and recorded their first episode a few months later. Leigh has turnt up in the acting world! She's starred in several independent films and television shows, such as "A Hot Night in the Valley" and "She Wins," plus appearances in "Straight Outta Compton," "Grownish," and "Station 19." She recently opened her own production company, Jasmin Leigh Productions, and works as a writer. Jasmin also holds a culinary degree and utilizes her cooking and catering skills as a personal chef. Whether writing, dancing, cooking, acting, or comedy, Jasmin lives by the motto, “Live life as if no one is watching!" One of the more essential things Jasmin does is make sure that her guests know that her

“Some of the comments actually would give me good feedback. Even in the rude comments, I would kind of take from the rudeness what I felt like would better me for future.”

podcast is a safe space. They pride themselves on being drama free and don't choose guests based on scandals. Their focus is on deep perspective and conversations. Leigh conducts the proper research on people she believes will engage her audience and relate to them personally and professionally. She explains that their audience is very vocal about their wants and needs. Jasmin takes the time to review feedback provided on their podcast site or social media so that she can stay close to her audience’s needs. Regardless of industry, it is a must-have to allow your customers and/or clients to share what's going right or wrong. You might not have a massive following as Leigh does, but you shouldn't let that block you. If you haven't reached that point in your business yet, look at others in your industry. Take note of how other companies that provide similar products and/or services serve their consumer base. Don't think you don't have any resourcesjust because your people aren't vocal yet. Leigh had to balance her personal and professional life as a newly single mom. She shares that one of the things that helped her along the way was her tribe of friends and family and working for a family-friendly company. Thanks to this fantastic support system, Jasmin was able to shoot new podcast episodes from her home only three weeks after giving birth! If there is a lesson to be learned here, pick your tribe WISELY and work in an environment that provides a steady work-home life balance. If you want to hear more from Jasmine, tune in to The People's Party podcast and connect with her on Instagram @realjasminleigh.

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CATCH HER

Taja V. Simpson is Bold, Beautiful, and building her empire!

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What is your relationship with money? Having a well-founded and healthy relationship with money is pivotal if you desire to secure multiple bags and achieve financial freedom. By developing a hearty understanding of money, you want it to work for you and not vice versa. One person who truly recognizes and implements this mindset daily is Ms. Simpson. More than a pretty face on the screen, Taja, dropped so many GEMS. Success leaves clues and she is a road map that you certainly want to follow. Taja V. Simpson, also known as Taja V., is an award-winning actress, director, author, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur. Her acting credits include tv shows like Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Bold & the Beautiful, and BET's drama, The Oval, plus movies such as LOLA and Tyler Perry's Boo2!: A Madea Halloween. The Louisiana native's success didn't happen overnight. Taja graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Broadcast Journalism from McNeese State University. After graduating, she relocated to Houston, TX, and made a profound discovery - her love of acting never "left." It was evident as a child when she would play with her cousins and recite lines from her favorite films. She took up acting classes and eventually became a household name. Her official breakout role was portraying Adele in the Bold & the Beautiful, a popular daytime soap set in Beverly Hills. The creators rewrote her character as a recurring role over the next two and a half years. Before this, Taja guest-starred in other TV shows and movies which garnered her awards for Best Actress, Best Overall Performance, and People's Choice.

Taja's acting career continued to thrive, and so did other areas of her life. She's garnered over 40+ production credits, including stage plays, music videos, and short films. Thanks to her success, she helped her parents retire, one of her biggest dreams, and purchase her dream home. She also believes that her accomplishments have helped her grow and become the best ver-

sion of herself. Apart from being an award-winning actor and author, Taja is also a successful entrepreneur. During her career, she launched TAJ Hair Growth. This product helps regrow and strengthen all hair types. The Working Actors Academy (TWAA), an online acting course assisting talented people to become

Photographer: Ty Anderson of Knox Photography LLC @Knox_is_shooting Styling The Ivy Showroom @theivyshowroom Malik Ford - Stylist - @truthandcon Hair Elijah Cohen @designer_elijah_ MUA Michelle Rainey Beauty @michelleraineybeauty Art Design/Set Design OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON Marc Koger @OSOTM.LLC Production Assistant Tyree M. Vance @advanced_image

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successful working actors and impassioned by the beauty industry, unveiled a lipstick line called the Taja V. Simpson Collection. So, she was not just building her acting career; she was also making reasonable business decisions as an entrepreneur. On her entrepreneurial journey, Taja learned a considerable number of valuable lessons. When she first started working with Tyler Perry, she realized she was dreaming too small. Taja explains, "A lack of confidence and self-love can make us feel like we're not enough, not allowing ourselves to expand our minds to dream bigger. We evolve throughout our lives with each step, each decision we make, and our dreams have to mature with us. Not honoring that growth and transformation can only lead to an unauthentic life." Taja's growth journey continued when she was reminded how someone's opinion of you does not have to be your reality. She was always told that she was "too dark" to wear lipstick as a young girl. In her late twenties, she finally understood how this was a false narrative pressed upon her, yet it settled into her subconscious mind. Because of this, she decided to produce the Taja V. Collection with bold and bright colors that allow girls of any ethnicity to establish their own beauty standards and look fabulous while doing so! The biggest business lesson Taja adopted along the way was to enact healthy habits with her finances. She learned how to make money work for her. At the beginning of her career, she knew she had to use a portion of her earnings to invest in her dreams. Even if she was getting hourly pay, she ensured that any coin spent would work in her favor! Taja learned how to properly use a credit card instead of a debit card. If you use your debit card, you are not getting any additional benefits. Yes, the money pulls straight out of your checking account, which is excellent. Using your credit card helps build your credit and eventually establishes your personal road to wealth.

FULL INTERVIEW

ON BWMB

You can probably tell that Taja is genuinely a Black Woman who means business! For her, it's not smoke and mirrors and all the pretty things. It's about securing the bag and creating a legacy for herself and Black women everywhere by showing them how they can do it. If you want to see more of Taja, look at Working Actors Academy (TWAA). TWAA is an online acting course that combines Taja's love of acting and her passion

for serving and uplifting others, helping talented people become working actors. Also, make sure you check out Taja’s book Women Who Shine. She shares her personal journey of embracing self-acceptance, self-love, and combating emotional and psychological traumas from colorism. You can also connect with Taja V. on www. tajavsimpson.com and on Instagram @tajavsimpson.

W W W . L O V E B Y R D P H O T O . C O M

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Leverage HOW TO

Your Successes and Failures to Your Advantage Life is easy if you recognize what works and doesn't work and apply that knowledge to the future. You become more capable, knowledgeable, and powerful with each passing day. You evolve into a highly successful and competent person.

However, most people fail to use their experiences to their advantage. They dodge failure and never examine those times they do fail. Success is seen as a time for celebrating, not learning. But this, my friend, is a grave mistake. The rules of life are revealed to you

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each day! Imagine if you used every struggle to become an enhanced version of yourself. Imagine if you learned from every mistake AND every success. What if you never repeated a transgression and made the most of your accomplishments? How would your life change in a year? In 10 years? The results could be astounding! Here are a few tips I'll share with you to gain a better understanding of how you can "do better":

Examine your past. Think back on your life and list your grand slams and missteps. Consider your work, educational, and relationship experiences. Think about those times you made plans and came up short or experienced considerable success. Recognize why you were successful. What made you successful? Reflect on why you failed. What can you learn from that list that you can apply now??

Determine your purpose for the day. Setting a standard for the day provides a benchmark for determining your achievements. By now, you should have some understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. That awareness plays a part in whether you meet your mark or not.

Determine your long-term goals. You need short-, mid-, and long-term milestones to measure your progress. Setting these standards NOW also allows you to plan your day more effectively.

Review your day. Yes, you can plan your current day to set up for long-term achievements. As your day comes to a close, reassess how well you stuck to your plans. What did you accomplish? Fail at? What were the factors that led to those outcomes?

Determine ways to improve. After reviewing your day, what changes do you want to make for tomorrow? How can you be better tomorrow than you were today? What can you do tomorrow that will make you 1% better than you were today? Make a new plan for tomorrow that includes the lessons that you identified today.

Test your hypotheses. Spend a day executing your new plan. Did you have a better day? What were your failures today? What were your successes? What can you do to have an even better day tomorrow?

Ask friends and family for help. Ask your friends and family to help you identify why you’ve been successful or unsuccessful in the past. What are the ideas you hear over and over? How can you apply this information to your life?

Keep a journal. A journal can be a great tool for making the most of your successes and failures. It’s natural to write about your successes and failures in your journal. You’ll learn things from your

past and your present that can be applied to your future. Are you more or less successful than you were five years ago? The most common answer is, “About the same.” But this is a tragic response. In the last five years, you’ve had the opportunity to learn from each day. You could have improved by a small amount each day and be much more effective today than you were then. Each day provides you with information that can be used to enhance your approach to life. Leverage your successes and failures to become the most successful version of yourself.

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FULL INTERVIEW

ON BWMB

purpose FUNNY ON

Do you ever feel like business gurus keep giving you the same old advice? At times, the best place to learn about your business and receive honest advice is from someone in an industry that is nowhere near what you're doing. Why? Because they're going to give you the freshest perspective! This was one of many reasons we (virtually) sat down with Von Decarlo to discuss the business side of comedy. Originally from Clairton, PA, Von Decarlo is a stand-up comedienne, producer, writer, and actress with appearances in global ad campaigns and national commercials for GNC, Disney's Aladdin, Match.com, and Carnival Cruise Lines. She's performed at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival on Kevin Hart's LOL Network and appeared on the Lil Rel and Friends show. In addition to comedy life, Von secures the bags by working as an actress in commercials and film, a producer with her own production company, and a writer. Her one-woman show Lasagna debuted at The People's Improv Theatre to a packed crowd and rave reviews! Growing up in the projects, for Von, laughing was survival. She believes that she gets her sense of humor from her mom, a strong person with a silly, goofy, and sometimes dark sense of humor. Von remembers that the two of them sometimes would laugh at the most horrendous things, but it made them feel better. It helped them survive. The first time Von got on stage as a stand-up comedian, she knew there was no going back. But that doesn’t mean that it was easy. As a profession, comedy is pretty unique. It's a

profession where you have to evolve and learn literally in front of an audience. But like with any other discipline, you have to be able to accept the whole process. Von believes that if you genuinely love what you do and it doesn't feel like work, that is your God’s gift. That is your true calling, and you have to be relentless in pursuing it. And also, like with any other profession, there are days that Von feels off or days when she would rather stay home. But again, she doesn't let that stop her. Von truly believes that God has given her a purpose, and it's her duty to walk in it. With a background in production and years of experience on stage, Von is at a point where whether she’s on-stage performing stand-up or doing a movie or a commercial, she’s grown her skills to where she feels like she does not have her best day, no one knows that except her. Being a comedian comes with a high ceiling, and you genuinely have to be open to taking risks almost daily. Everything isn't for everybody. It would be best if you were relatable, but you still need to be yourself. Being authentic is crucial for any career choice, but it's vital for comedians. Nobody can deliver a joke as you can, nobody shares your perspective, and nobody has your experiences. You can

change your material, but you cannot change your personality. That's why Von believes that there is no competition in comedy. You are just uniquely you. When talking about her material, Von explains, "When it comes to retiring certain jokes, I'll do it if I feel like I'm done talking about it, but I know that I can always go back to it. If you're growing as a comedian, you're paying attention to yourself as a person. And sometimes, the experiences you go through along the way can make an old joke work." Von shares that some comics feel like once they do a special or an album, the material is dead, but she doesn't believe that to be true. She believes that you can continually expand on your work, reusing some of the previous content and painting a broader picture. The same goes for other professions. Often, you can repurpose the material you write for your products, services, programs, and marketing campaigns. In Von's words, the financial side of the comedy business is a very fickle industry. For her, it's all about expanding one's business model and maintaining multiple sources of income. If you want to know more about Von, check out www.vondecarlo.com and make sure you listen to her comedy mixtape “A Draggable Offense.” You can also connect with Von on Instagram @vondecarlo.

Von truly believes that God has given her a purpose, and it's her duty to walk in it. FULL INTERVIEW ON BWMB

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How to Win When Shit Happens CHRISTAL JORDAN ON PR, LOVE AND WINNING

Putting yourself out there is scary, it’s hard but it’s also crucial if you want to achieve your goals in life, whether it's starting your own business, promoting your services, or finding the love of your life.

FULL INTERVIEW

ON BWMB

Christal is a twenty-year veteran in community and public relations. As the founder of Enchanted Branding & PR, she secured clients within entertainment, arts, and fashion with an emphasis on community opportunities within Atlanta, GA. Early on, Christal realized the power of harnessing celebrity influence to support community initiatives which resulted in her work with several non-profit organizations and providing support for various projects within the City of Atlanta. She is a news personality with a segment on Fox 5’s Good Day Atlanta and Rolling Out. She recently joined UC Asset as Executive Director because she believes in the company’s mission to become an integral player in the growth of Atlanta. She also serves on the board for the King Center foundation along with Saving Our Daughters and the Tracey Nicole foundation. Christal is an award-winning author with her latest book titled, 'How to Win When Shit Happens: 31 affirmations to build mental immunity in the midst of Chaos.' Christal married Adrian Jennings in front of family and friends on October 4, 2021. After going through a hurtful divorce as a young mom of two, Christal dedicated all her time and energy to her kids and her business. She wanted to make sure that her kids had the same lifestyle they had prior to her divorce, so she pushed through. One of the things that she learned as a career woman was how to pack things away and focus only on the now. But sometimes, as you push forward, you're not always addressing your issues, you don’t take time to heal. So, while everything looked good on the outside, inside there were a lot of holes. Christal explains that she had to go back and do some healing on her own before she was ready to put herself out there again. First, she decided not to believe all the discouraging statistics that were out there about women, especially black women, finding love. She believes that we receive what we say, so she decided to approach love from a positive perspective and continue to believe that there are still amazing men out there. Another thing she had to do was make sure not to stay

“I KNOW THAT THERE IS A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT'S LIKE ME BECAUSE I EXIST. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIT A YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC TO BE SUCCESSFUL.”

in a relationship is she felt like it didn’t align with what she was looking for. She knew that she had to be honest with herself and trust her gut. So, her advice for women is: watch what you say and watch what you allow in your presence. Christal met her, now husband, at the beginning of Covid. She approached the relationship without any expectations, but pretty soon realized that this man was everything she prayed for. She also realized that all this time she was thinking about what she wanted in a man, but she didn’t think about what to actually do when she finds it. So, for the first time in a long time, she decided to put her shields down and to put herself out there. She decided to take her second chance at love. As a PR specialist, Christal believes that this same advice can be applied to your business. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You are your representation and you shouldn't be competing with anyone. There is a demographic that's for you and it’s important to realize that you don't have to fit a younger demographic to be successful. There’s a lot of other women out there who are going through the same things you’re going through, and they want to hear your perspective. There's an audience for everyone, but oftentimes we make a mistake of trying to be something different than who we are. But, when you just show up as your authentic self, people will respond to that. Besides love, Christal seems to be getting a second chance in her career as well as she is opening some new chapters and going back to her first true love, broadcasting journalism, with her YouTube channel, and a new radio show. Now, that both of her kids moved out she has more time to dedicate to her career and she plans to take full advantage of her second act. If you want to learn more about Christal, make sure you check out www.enchantedpr. net and connect with her on Instagram @ EnchantedPR.

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