Growth Women's Business Networks Magazine September 2021 Fall Edition by Growth Women's Business Networks Magazine

From The Founder... Special Thank You From The Founder:

Thank you to all of Growth Women’s Business Networks Magazine contributors, followers, and all the women/men who have been featured in our magazine. Thank you to all of our readers who support GWBN Magazine’s mission, purpose, and vision in an effort to help us build up our networks. Mission: Growth Women’s Business Networks Magazine mission is to empower and support women towards growth in their businesses within various industries. We believe in supporting one another and networking to assist you in reaching your overall mission of building a larger customer or client base. Purpose: Our primary purpose is to be supportive of women in our local communities, in different states across the United States, and even countries Internationally. Growth Women’s Business Networks Magazine is here to support women authors, business owners, entrepreneurs, educators, health & wellness coaches, ministry leaders, nonprofit organizations, and podcasts/radio/television hosts. Vision: Our vision is to reach people by sharing the gifts and talents from women in various industries who want to advertise and market their books, products, and services. The online digital magazine is available in printed copies and eventually will be sold in stores in the United States and worldwide. Facebook: www.facebook.com/GrowthWomensBusinessNetworksMagazine Instagram: www.Instagram.com/GWBNMagazine Twitter: www.Twitter.com/GWBNMagazine Subscribe to get monthly update on our website at

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God Bless You, Jennifer Diaby Growth Women’s Business Networks Magazine

Contributors FOUNDER/CEO, Jennifer Diaby PUBLISHER, Danyelle Timmons CONTRIBUTING WRITERS, Tafadazwa Mazibuko Victoria Henry Chyrel J. Jackson Rolanda Pyle Kadenia Javis Lisa Bradley Verna Mayers-Fakunle Elizabeth Crawford Tamara Brown

Photo Provided by Cala from Unsplash

6-8 Cover Feature– Joan T. Randall 10 Author Spotlight-Nefertiti Fisher 14 The Impact of Gratitude 19 Inspirational Words of A Published Writer 20-21 Gentlemen’s Den 22 Career Branding 23 Women Wellness 25-30 Women Motivated by Purpose 32 Is Your Skin Ready 34 Power Principles

Photo Provided by Kristina Tamasauskaite from Unsplash

Interviewed by Jennifer Diaby Joan T. Randall is an international speaker, award-winning best-selling author, business coach, and publisher. She is president of Joan T. Randall Enterprises, LLC, and CEO of Victorious You Press, an independent publishing company. As a former regional vice president with Macy's, Joan oversaw operations for several districts, including Northern Virginia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and the Carolinas. Within her role, she trained, coached, and developed executives for growth positions within the organization. Under her leadership, several managers experienced an upward trajectory into senior manager, director, and vice president roles. Joan has been featured in media locally, nationally, and internationally. Her awards and accolades include but are not limited to; Outstanding Community Leadership, Philanthropy, Entrepreneurship, Award-Winning Author, and Women's Leadership and Advocacy as seen on ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox. She is an ordained Elder and operates within the five core values she established for her life, business, and ministry: live, learn, love, lead, and legacy. Joan has a passion for giving back and partners with Safe Alliance, a nonprofit organization for women and children recovering from domestic violence. She champions Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Initiatives, the annual Go Red Campaign for Heart Disease, and remains a Partner in Hope for St Jude’s Children Research Hospital. She is an evolution engineer, empowering individuals to activate a growth mindset in the core areas of their life. Additionally, Joan helps spiritual thought leaders and individuals of faith write and publish their stories, messages, experiences, or expertise so they can monetize their unique zones of genius, build their businesses, and create legacies. Joan founded The Intensive Academy, an online platform where authors take their Books 2 Business & Beyond™. Here, she teaches authors how to leverage their books to create multiple streams of income, brand themselves as authorpreneurs, and gain visibility and credibility for maximum business growth potential. As a domestic abuse survivor and victim advocate, Joan motivates and empowers women to own their power by telling their stories, and in so doing, own and celebrate their success. Joan was born in Kingston, Jamaica. She is the mother of three daughters, one son, and GiGi to five grandchildren. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, Bill Randall.

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www.victoriousyoupress.com

Mrs. Joan Thaxter-Randall, you are the Founder of Victorious You/Victorious You Press. Tell the readers about your company and what services you offer clients. We are an Independent Publishing Company with a specialty in the Non-Fiction Genre. We help spiritual thought leaders and individuals of faith write and publish their story, message, or expertise so they can monetize their impact, build a brand, and create legacies. Where can the readers view more about your services? They can visit the website at www.victoriousyoupress.com For many years, Mrs. Joan Thaxter-Randall you have been in the ministry. Tell us about Joan T. Randall Ministries. We are an online ministry whose Mission is: To teach God’s word in practical truths while being fully committed to the greatest commandment – Love. Our goal is to create an environment of relationship vs. religion and fulfill God’s great commission–winning souls for the kingdom. I know you work with several Authors to help them write their books and published them. Can you tell us more about your services as Publisher? At Victorious You Press, we strive for excellence, as we believe it is a spiritual mandate. We take pride in the fact that seventy percent of our authors are referrals or repeat clients. That is truly one of our most significant accomplishments. The entire team at V.Y. Press holds firm to our motto: The joy an author finds in penning their book is the joy we find in publishing that book. Our core values make us stand out from the crowd; Live, Learn, Love, Lead, Legacy. We embody these values as a team and help our clients to do the same.

*We all have a story, message, experience, or expertise. And, once that gift is acknowledged, we must LIVE in the moment, knowing that tomorrow is never promised. *As we journey through life, be open to LEARN new things to grow. Once learning stops, growth stops. *LOVE is all about relationships and treating others with respect and dignity. *As we grow and mature with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, we should LEAD by teaching others, thus creating a LEGACY for the future. At Victorious You Press, we not only publish, but we Coach Authors to understand the importance of knowing their Why, Who, What, and the R.O.I. when writing their books. In addition, we assist with implementing specific marketing strategies to help them achieve and maximize their best-seller result. We have a full-service package that covers: Author Coaching Editing Marketing Strategy Uploading to the Publishing Platform

Manuscript Evaluation ISBN Assignment Typesetting eBook Conversion Keywords BISAC codes Cover Design for eBook and Paperback Print on Demand Account Activation

As a Coach who assist Authors in birthing their books, what advice would you give to someone beginning their journey as a writer and who wants to become a published Author in the future? I am affectionately known as the Author’s midwife. It is a title that was given to me by an Author and one that I embrace. (lol) I would say to any aspiring author, connect with an indie publisher or a writing coach and talk with them. This will give foreknowledge of the process and prevent procrastination or even the thought that a story may not be worth telling. Once equipped with the know-how of the process, start writing. I would recommend doing a brain dump or mind mapping. This is when you sit and layout every aspect of the story you want to tell. There is a structure for this, but that can be defined later. Get it all out and write — this is just one of many things you can do to get going. Be intentional and schedule your writing time. It is very easy to put it off if it is not planned because it may not be a part of your everyday process. So, when you add the writing time to your calendar, you are more likely to execute it because it is scheduled. Choose the time of day that you are most alert and choose a place to write that brings out your creativity. I believe that everyone has a message that someone is waiting on, So write! You are an Award-Winning International Best-Selling Author of many books, can you tell the readers about your books and where they can purchase them? Yes, my books are all available on Amazon, and anywhere online books are sold. They are also available on my website at www.victoriousyoupress.com/book-store What book projects are you currently working on? I am working on“Image in The Mirror II.” It is the second Anthology in the Trilogy series. There are sixteen authors in this book, and I am excited to share that I will be executive producing a documentary to this book. The eBook launches in Feb 2022, and the film launches in April 2022. What has been your most significant achievement as an Author? My most significant achievement as an Author is successfully building a six-figure publishing business from my books. As a result, I launched The Limitless Academy, where I teach authors how to leverage their books to create multiple income streams in a strategy called Books 2 Business and Beyond™.

As a Transformational Speaker, what topic would you speak on transform the lives of people who are stagnant in their businesses or careers? Transformation means to Change or to Shift. So, if someone is stagnant in their business or career, they must do an audit on their current position to see if something needs to be adjusted or changed. I would speak to the seven P’s (These are in no particular order) Pray (I absolutely believe that faith, career advancement and or business goes hand in hand) Position, Presence, Prospect, Plan, People, Pivot Recently, you became the new Co-Executive Director of “The Boost Pad.” Please tell the readers about the “The Boost Pad” and what type of services you offer clients who are Entrepreneurs in our community? I am super excited about becoming an Executive Partner with Steven Lewis at The Boost Pad. The Boost Pad provides the necessary resources underrepresented entrepreneurs need to create solutions, build impactful businesses, and increase economic mobility. The purpose is to invest in minorities, people of color, and female entrepreneurs. The goal is to connect them to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and propel their growth from ideation to minimum viable products and beyond. Our focus is Curriculum, Community, and Capital. Curriculum: Structured guidance that teaches entrepreneurs what it takes to start and run a successful business. We focus on the psychological and economic factors for building a business. Community: Access to subject matter experts, mentors, advisors, and investors who can contribute knowledge, perspective, and, in some cases, funding to founders at the start of the entrepreneurial process. Capital: To eliminate financial barriers for new entrepreneurs/founders, we have created the Start-Up Currency that helps with a line of credit and start-up Capital. In this space, I get to truly impact lives to change outcomes and create legacies. Over the years, you have been featured and recognized on several news platforms. This month you was the feature story on Making Headline News. Congratulations on your feature story. Tell us about that experience. The Headline News Story was extraordinary. It was a great experience. To be recognized for my work in this space is humbling. I was also awarded the title International Woman of the Year for International Womens’ Day. I was elated. All Glory goes to God for the blessings he has bestowed on me. Without my never-ending, crazy, reckless faith, I would have never had the courage to activate the promptings from the Holy Spirit. So, He gets the Glory. We are living through very difficult times due to the Covid-19 pandemic. What words of encouragement would you give to those who are losing hope to build up their faith? Yes, we are experiencing some difficult times and some major storms. However, I believe that as long as we are alive, we can be the best of who we are called to be. Covid has been a burden on most of us, but there have been notable wins as well. Unfortunately, the natural disasters we are experiencing are out of our control. At this time, we can only control our mindset, attitude, and behavior. Because we were given free will, we must choose how we show up daily. If we decide to shut down, be depressed or be negative, that is the lane we will reside. However, if we choose to be grateful for what we have and operate with a positive mindset and attitude, that will make a difference in how we live each day. The storms never last forever, and like Jesus, who was asleep in the boat, if we can find rest in the storm, we will come out better on the other side. Now is not the time to lose hope, now is the time to draw closer to God and build that relationship that will fill your heart with joy even in these times of uncertainty. Do you have any upcoming conferences, events, or workshops? Yes, I do. I have a free “Books 2 Business and Beyond™” Webinar coming up on October 15th, from 12 noon – 3 pm EST. Then the Limitless Lifestyle Intensive Conference is November 5, 6 and 7. The theme of the Conference is A Literary Affair. It is all Virtual. On 11/5 and 11/6 are general sessions for all attendees and on 11/7 it is VIP session only. To access tickets, go to www.victoriousyoupress/limitless-conference However, the most exciting thing happening for me this month is my trip to Nairobi, Kenya. I will be launching Victorious You Press Internationally and the first location in Nairobi. This is in partnership with The Nehemiah Project, a Global organization with businesses on five continents and 38 countries worldwide. In 2022 we will launch VYP in The Congo and Cameroon. This is an exciting time for Victorious You Press as we will now be a Global company.

Give us some words to educate, inspire, and encourage women and all of our readers of Growth Women’s Business Networks Magazine. Queens, it is our time. We were created with unique gifts and talents for such a time as this. God is calling on us to make significant shifts in the earth realm. We are problem solvers, solutions strategists, encouragers, motivators, healers, builders, prayer warriors, and supporters. The bible refers to us as wisdom. So, rise and be courageous. There is no need to hold back. Write the vision, take action and walk in your authority. Stand on your story, no matter how painful it was, has been, or is. You were built to overcome, to be resilient, and to persevere. Own your story, as it is someone’s vitamin or painkiller. Your story is the solution to a problem, and that story was designed for your purpose. You were born for this! If God gave you the Vision, He will give you the Provision. Your time is NOW!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737046601 https://amzn.to/2VMCLNU https://sistersrocnrhyme.com https://meanmysister.blogspot.com

Author’s Spotlight NEFERTITI FISHER Interviewed by Jennifer Diaby

Nefertiti S. Fisher is a CEO, Amazon Best Selling Author, and Personal/Business Development Coach. Nefertiti S. Fisher is married to a United States Marine and has a beautiful son in college. Nefertiti thrives on the fact that she was built for service and community. Nefertiti was blessed to be raised by aware and active parents who instilled in her the values and principles to walk in greatness. Nefertiti is the CEO of Beautiful One Inc. and I Come 2 Inspire Inc. which was designed to help people with personal development as well as business development goals. Nefertiti specializes in helping brand new startups and small businesses to assist them in making their unique thumbprint in the business world. I Come 2 Inspire U Inc. is the Not-for-Profit part of her business designed care, support, feed, and uplift our homeless and disadvantaged Veterans and family. Nefertiti writes for several published publications from Optimal Magazine, MzCEO, and The Influencer magazine. She has spoken on the TEDx platform and on the campus of the esteemed John Maxwell platform. Nefertiti has a drive and passion like no other and when she walks in a room, she commands the floor and when she is a part of your team, she is a tremendous asset and will make a vision come to life. Nefertiti is a humble and God centered person that is a natural inspiration. Nefertiti’s Mantra’s are: Standards are meant to be Raised Not Lowered and never shrink yourself to make others feel comfortable with your gift and who you are. Be the best Beautiful that you can be!! Nefertiti S. Fisher a born inspiration to all. #Be Beautiful! Please introduce and tell the readers a little about yourself. Hi, I’m Dr. Nefertiti, a John Maxwell Team certified speaker, teacher, trainer, and coach. I’m passionate about personal development in all its forms, but my specialties are teaching and training. As a certified teacher and trainer with the John Maxwell Team, not only am I equipped with a host of top-tier development resources to share with you but I myself have also been taught and trained by one of the world’s foremost leadership experts, Dr. John C. Maxwell. John Maxwell has been an authority on leadership for more than 40 years, and if he’s taught me anything, it’s that teaching is ultimately serving. I am here to provide you with the tools you use to multiply your results; I am here to help you grow yourself, your team, and your organization beyond your barriers… and that is why I love what I do. Dr. Nefertiti Fisher, you are the Founder of Beautiful One Inc. Please tell the readers about your coaching business and what services you offer to clients? My coaching involves the ability to understand you: to think how you think, and understand your perspective. From this benchmark, I will place another perspective on top of yours – stretching and growing you to gently see a more empowering way. As a certified John Maxwell coach, I can see what you are going through now and what is up ahead. Coaching is foreseeing, paving the way, coming alongside you while helping you achieve goals and overcome limiting paradigms. I offer two levels of coaching support: Individual Coaching– one on one private and confidential coaching. When I am working with you one-on-one, it is my highest objective to help you reach your purpose, vision and goals by working through John Maxwell's programs specific to your needs. Together, we will create a strategic, powerful plan for you to gain clarity through a weekly process including interaction and accountability. ●What are you doing to invest in yourself? ●What are you doing to invest in others?

Group Coaching– small setting onsite or via webinar and video technology When I am working in a group setting – although it’s not singular in nature – having the entire group’s input in thinking magnifies the richness of the discussions and results in developing solutions that are above and beyond what any individual can create. The cohesive bond that is formed empowers each person to develop the leader within and shine in a safe environment that nurtures the group as a whole. It is an experience unlike any other and follows the same premise as an academic think tank. Where can someone who is interested in finding out more about Beautiful One Inc., view information about your services? https://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/nefertitifisher or https://www.bohcinc.com You are a Best-Selling Author, tell us about your book titled “Finding Your Beautiful: Don’t let the ugly situations in life make you lose your Beautiful!!” Transform yourself from the inside and grow. Finding Your Beautiful is a book to give you the tools and steps to help you find your beautiful you. You already are a beautiful woman. Now is your time to discover, know and grow in your personal beauty. As you go through this personal development you will begin to watch as you blossom and will see how the acknowledgment of your inner beauty begins to show in your health, in your self-image and in the way that you present yourself to the world. You will walk away from reading this book a more confident and courageous woman. Events have happened in your life, but today is the 1st day of your personal transformation and spiritual growth. Please tell the readers about your anthology book, “Don’t die in your dip: Life Can Dip You but You Have to Keep Pushing Up.” This book is full of wisdom, advice, and encouragement from women who have walked out victories and share the path they took to not get stuck in their dip. Where can your books be purchased? For a personalized and signed copy www.bohcinc.com Recently, you were a speaker at the TEDx Martindale Brightwood Event and spoke on the topic “Breaking the chains of poverty mindset-From “It Takes a Village.” Tell us the reason you spoke on this topic. Often times the only thing in people way will an elevated mindset is them. If we can break different paradigms off of people they can operate at the highest capacity and the best version of themselves they can be. Tell the readers about the Power Up Summit created and hosted by Kearn Cherry where you were one of the Power Speakers. This was an amazing opportunity for myself. I got the great opportunity to share the stage with powerful and influential women. I was able to speak on a small part of my book about flipping the trap around and just being able to empower people to be the best version of themselves. How can people contact you to speak at their event? https://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/nefertitifisher or email directly info@bohcinc.com What is one of your greatest accomplishments? I am still accomplishing. Everything I have done, every success, and every failure has been my greatest accomplishments. What advice would you give to those who are feeling stuck in the same place because they are not moving forward in life? You never want to sit and look back at life and say I coulda, I shoulda, and I woulda. That is not a good feeling, I teach to write those three sayings at the top of a sheet of paper, then write the list of everything you wanted to do, when you are done scratch off do anything you the title and replace it with punch list for living! And go after everything you desire. It is never too late to desire and connect with some positive pushers in your life that will not let you settle for mediocrity, but will push and pull you into excellence. In the last year, it has been a difficult time for many people due to the Covid-19 pandemic, what are some words of encouragement you would give to the readers? This too shall pass. We have lived through some difficult times and this is our generation hardship, but just like people survived in our pass from illnesses and depressions we too will look back on the victory of how we persevered through the COVID-19 pandemic. Do you have any upcoming conferences, events, or workshops? I do have two masterminds and a marketing your business coaching event coming up, so just email for information at info@bohcinc.com Give us some words to educate, inspire, and encourage women and all of our readers of Growth Women’s Business Networks Magazine. The one thing you can do for yourself is to identify your purpose and passion. Those two do align, because when you realized what you are really purposed for, you can operate in it with passion. I always tell people let your passion fuel your purpose, so you can go out here and kill the game. So, keep going! You fall get up! Never give up on you!!!

www.bohcinc.com Instagram and Tik Tok: ICome2InspireU FB: Its Nefertiti

Camille C. Akpulonu graduated from Fisk University with a degree in Computer Science. She currently works in Information Technology for the State of California. She lives in Sacramento, California with her husband and two kids (Chistina, 2 and Joshua, 18). Her love for writing began with writing short stories as a child and in college poetry. This love grew to sharing exciting stories with children so that they may see diversity in books and feed their imaginations.

Publishing The Adventures of Bubblegum Bobby has been a dream of Camille’s for a long time. The idea started over 15 years ago and has blossomed into a wonderful story for young children. The Adventures of Bubblegum Bobby: The Journey Begins is the first in a series of children chapter books that focus on geography and history. Worksheets are also included for child development. Camille’s hobbies include: crafting (sewing, crocheting and miscellaneous projects), hiking, biking and interval running. Reading, writing, and imagining are some of her most favorite things to do. She hopes reading her book will inspire you to do the same! Join the Bubblegum Bobby Challenge by blowing bubblegum bubbles with your children and posting on social media using #BGBChallenge. Please be sure to tag us.

Books can be purchased at:

www.BubblegumBobby.com Contact Camille Camille@TripleC-Designs.com Follow Us on Social Media: AdventuresofBGB camille.c.akpulonu

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By Contributing Writer, Tafadzwa Mazibuko The pandemic has challenged many businesses in many ways that magnifying the negative can be the order in team meetings or offices. Gerald Good states” If you want to turn your life try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” Celebrating every milestone is an energy booster in an organization and will definitely improve productivity amongst team members.

I recall the day I read on Growth women Business Network magazine that they had been awarded Best Magazine of the year! I was so proud to be associated and motivated to do more. Being appreciated whether it is a team award or organizational award promotes resilience. A person whose work is appreciated develops the stamina to overcome obstacles. If one’s work is appreciated whether it is within the organization or externally makes one to overlook current obstacles and be more hopeful of the future. In your business what are you doing to celebrate the team members? Sometimes just a thank you for being a team member who comes to work on time everyday can go a long way. Sometimes a thank you in your email or thank you note on the desk of your team members will make them proud to be members of the organization.

When a person is not appreciated, they are not compelled to do their work with excellence. Being appreciated makes one to increase value on their work. One is motivated to upskill so that they can get more of the “well done claps” Early this month I was a recipient of African Authors Honoree Awards for two of my books:” The dream that was worth fighting for! And “The King’s dream for His daughter.” The thought that the books were read and chosen for the awards was a motivator to work harder, to upskill my talent as a writer. Charles Schwab states that “The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement. In your business how are you appreciating and encouraging yourself as the owner? Do you take time to celebrate when you win a proposal, or you wish you had more every time you win that client?

If you have done a project for a client and they are happy getting a reference letter is not a challenge. A happy Client will recommend you to their network or give you a letter which you can use to get more business. To get true value from clients, employees, business partners they need to feel valued. The drive to do well comes from feeling acknowledged and appreciated. Businesswoman during this COVID era where hopelessness can easily cloud people due to closures, delayed salaries due to slow payments from clients, why not create a culture of gratitude to motivate the people around you. Just a thank you for being loyal, for being hard working, for being resilient. Gratitude is a choice, choose wisely!

Website: www.tafadzwamazibukospeaks.co.za Facebook:facebook.com/The-dream-that-was-worth-fighting-for-218787128459623/ Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/tafadzwamazibuko 14

Financial Literacy Avoid Tax Traps with Loans to Friends and Family Lending to friends and relatives can be tricky, and not only because of the stress it can place on your relationships. There are tax issues involved as well. If you have to lend money to someone close to you, here are some tips to do it right in the eyes of the tax code. Charge Interest Yes, you should charge interest, even to friends and family. If you don’t charge a minimum rate, the IRS will imply interest in the loan and tax you for the interest income they assume you should be getting. This can occur even if you’re not actually getting a dime. Charge Enough Interest Not only should you charge interest, the amount must be reasonable in the eyes of the IRS. If it's not, the IRS will imply interest at their minimum applicable federal rates (AFRs). To stay on the safe side, always charge the interest rate at or above these AFRs, available on the IRS website. The good news is these interest rates are low and almost always below the prime interest rate. Know the Exceptions If you don’t want to charge interest, you don’t have to IF: • The money is a gift. In 2021, you and your spouse can each give up to $15,000 to an individual each year. OR: • The loan is less than $10,000 and is not used to purchase income-producing property. If you don’t charge interest and the loan is used to purchase income-producing property such as capital equipment or to acquire a business, special tax rules apply. In this case it’s good to ask for assistance. Get it in Writing If you expect repayment, write out the terms of your loan. There are a variety of basic loan document formats online that you can use. Creating a loan document may seem unnecessarily formal when dealing with a friend or family member, but it’s important for two reasons: 1. Document your tax code compliance. By documenting the terms and charging a stated interest rate, you can clearly show you are within tax code rules. 2. Avoid misunderstandings. Creating a written document will make it clear that it is a real loan, not an informal gift. Your friend or relative will know that you expect to be paid back and when you expect Repayment.

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Kadenia Javis CEO

Address: 7171 Two Notch Road Columbia, SC 29223

Maikel Diane Brown is a self-published authorprenuer, who is also a creative artist and a full time single mother of one. She was born in Montgomery, Alabama and currently resides in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, music, traveling and spending time with her daughter, family and close friends. Maikel Diane is the proud owner of The Brown Gals, LLC, “A Transcendent Space of Creativity to Inspire, Influence & Motivate”. Drawing from her experiences, imagination and native roots, Maikel Diane creates a variety of content for both adults and children. “I am the proud owner/creator of The Brown Gals, LLC. I am “That Gal” who is a Mother, Daughter, Sister, and a Friend. A strong and talented Black Woman from the South coming into her own. The meaning behind the color “Brown” evokes an organic sense of strength and resilience. Growth and feelings of peace. These are just a few of the many characteristics of what I feel a Brown Gal embodies. Having a space where I can continuously showcase my authentic self and work I feel is necessary to share with others. Through my writings, lifestyle, and mixed media artwork, you can get a glimpse of what I bring to the table. I bring me. Highlighting the beauty of myself as an Authorprenuer, Brown Gal, and Creative. The Brown Gals is A Transcendent Space of Creativity to Inspire, Influence & Motivate. “I get most of my ideas for my writings from my everyday life and past experiences. I’ve often caught myself laughing with friends and family in person or through texts saying “that would make a good movie!” when different things happen to us. So me being me, I often “write it out” to bring the idea or event to life. Whether fictional or nonfictional, I believe giving the reader a strong piece that they can FEEL makes for a great story! My first book that I am honored to have self published through my business The Brown Gals, LLC is titled “Do You Know Why You’re Awesome August?”. The book's illustrations were created by Fx And Color Studio. I wrote this book with both adults and children in mind. “Do You Know Why You’re Awesome August?” was inspired by a true and loving relationship between myself and my daughter. Sometimes thinking of the perfect response can be challenging with certain questions, so I created a story of hypothetical questions that a child might ask their grown-up in the future about LIFE! Wanting my readers to enjoy the loving and poetic conversation a mother has with her young daughter named August, that plays on a brainstorming technique (5 W’s & H questions) to help her realize why she is AWESOME!”

www.thebrowngals.com Email: info@thebrowngals.com Facebook: maikel.diane.brown Instagram: @the.brown.gals. 18

Inspirational Words Of A Published Author I never thought about or ever wanted to be a published author. In no way was it ever on my radar or on my list of things to accomplish. I was just writing poetry and enjoying the journey. But then life happened and my writing’s purpose changed. My poetry became a way of escape. It turned out to be an outlet and a way to vent. It became my way of communicating and having conversations with God. I began writing in my late 30’s. So for me my gift of writing manifested later in life. But I am a firm believer that there is no set time or age limit as to when God can use people. His timing is perfect, and whenever He decides to reveal to you the gifts He has blessed you with, He already has the people in place to receive you with them. Because publishing my work was not on my agenda to do, I was comfortable just writing for others. No one needed to know my thoughts and feelings. Why? What purpose would it serve? No one really cares anyway, right? But God had to remind me that He gave me this gift of writing not for me to keep to myself or hold it hostage, but to share with His people, and for me to think. He blessed me with such a talent not to just keep hidden and unused would have been selfish thinking on my part. His gifts are meant to encourage, inspire and uplift others. I could not sit down on what God gave me because people were waiting. They were waiting to hear my words. And because I was staying still, I was holding them up and they could not move until I moved. God had to shift me from a writer to a published author so I could reach who He needed me to become in this life. His will had to be done. I shared my story to encourage you. You could be the answer to someone else’s prayer. You could be the one person that can make a difference in someone else’s life. What gifts and talents are you sitting on or holding on to? What is it that God has gifted you with to share with His people? Whatever it maybe, don’t let fear or worry stop you from moving forward with what God has purposed you with in life. Just remember, someone is waiting on you!

www.lisa-bradley.com

Lisa Bradley Contributing Writer

GENTLEMEN’S DEN Rh JENKINS I was born and raised on the farmlands of Hollywood, SC. I’m the eleventh of 13 descendants of Joseph & Janie Jenkins. We were a close family where almost everyone in our community did some type of farming, (later on in life after being enlightened by my Creator, I found out that life is compared to farming: you reap what you sow in all areas of life, spiritual, mental and physical). Being challenged by a birth defect and low self-esteem, I endured struggles. From childhood to school years, which I enjoyed in my elementary times: (I was chosen to be the salutatorian and then was made the historian, which was the most challenging. Then in high school my interest were somewhat suppressed, probably by fear of (the unknown) in growing up in my condition. Then after high school, I did four years of military service. Returning home, I continued farming for several years, and then in manufacturing and food service. In an evaluation at one plant, the manager related that I would do better in writing my thoughts to express myself than verbal communication. That was a light that helped inspire my writings, even though I attempted to write songs earlier in life, that was a spark that got me into writing. Actually, I wanted to be an entertainer. Currently, my main interest is in Spiritual and Human Development, with the fact that the average person only uses a small portion of their true potential. In my book, “The Healing Word,” I cover several areas of human life that deal with healing; practical Christian living and attitudes that hinder living a sound, healthy, well-balanced life. From overcoming my health and emotional issues to trusting an all-wise God to lead and guide my through life. From learning the Two Major Laws that are prevalent in the earth, and how to tap into the law of life, to lead a fulfilling one on this side of heaven. I cover redemption and how important it is to know its meaning and how we can stay free from the curse brought on this earth because of the fall of man, the importance of communion and how it affects our relationship with Deity; our Covenant with God, and then a collection of scriptures on healing and life. Prayer, Faith, Praise and Thanksgiving all play vital parts in staying well. Then I list some roadblocks to healing and how to receive healing. Obeying Natural Laws, and over 75 Stress Stoppers are listed. Meditation and Confessions lead to the finale of “The Healing Word.” Rh Jenkins is a ‘Refired’ Chef – Organic Farmer – Ordained Minister, Author –Songwriter and Spirit-life Coach. He resides in Charleston County SC and is married to the former Kathryn Smith – They have one grown son.

Social Media:

Facebook: Rh(Robbie) Jenkins) Administrator of the Creative Faith Group Instagram: rh jenkins6

GENTLEMEN’S DEN PROFESSIONAL TAILOR

Omar D Omar has been a Professional Tailor for over 20 years now, in which he has a love and passion for his work. During the pandemic in 2020, Omar had a vision along with his wife to create and start an alteration business. He decided to name his business after his Great-Grandmother, Nakankou who was a nurse and midwife who helped many women and assisted with delivering babies in the village of Guinee, West Africa. She opened up her home and allowed people to stay there until they left for their successful careers. Being full of her loving spirit and good deeds, God blessed her to live to be 110 years old. She raised Omar when he was a child and he loved her dearly. Omar learned through her how to give to others and named his business after his Great-Grandmother, which is an honor for him. Please introduce and tell the readers a little about yourself. My name is Omar also known as the Professional Tailor of South Carolina. I am the Founder/CEO of Nakankou Alterations & Tailoring, LLC. One thing about me I am very detailed and I love to make sure my customers are satisfied and their clothing fit them nicely. I believe with the work I do first impressions are everything. Secondly, I want to make sure to keep my customers' trust through my work.

What inspired you to become a Tailor? What inspired me the most to become a Tailor is I believe in dressing well because it transforms a person in a good way. I absolutely love the work I do as a Tailor when I see my customers happy. What services do you offer at Nakankou Alterations & Tailoring? Nakankou Alterations & Tailoring offer services which include: Alterations on formal wear, prom dresses, wedding dresses, jacket repairs, pants/skirt hemming, slim fit pants, sewing patches on uniforms, zipper replacement, along with alterations on men, women, and children suits. Where can people contact you and schedule an appointment? They can schedule an appointment for their clothing alterations by completing this form: https://form.jotform.com/211915249675160 or call 803-748-5661. If the readers would like to follow you on your social media pages or view your website. Where can they learn more about your alteration business? Facebook: www.facebook.com/NakankouAlterationsTailoring Instagram: www.Instagram.com/NakankouAlterationsTailoring YouTube: Nakankou Alterations & Tailoring Website: https://nakankoualteration.wixsite.com/nakankoualteration/

Nakankou Alterations & Tailoring

FIVE ELEMENTS OF CAREER BRANDING Have you heard of Career Branding? Many people do not realize that Career Branding even exists! They are familiar with branding for business, products and/or services but not career branding. Why is that? Let’s start by defining exactly what “branding” is. When you are in the process of branding you are promoting. You may ask, what is being promoted? “Promoting a particular company or product offered, through advertisement and design”. A second definition of branding involves “making an indelible mark or noticeable impression on somebody or something”. Therefore, it would be safe to say that career branding is ‘promoting yourself using your career’. Based on the intended results, with career branding you position yourself to become influential and successful by branding your career. Think of it in this way, one of my taglines for my unique coaching model Self Invest 101™, why invest in yourself? “Because YOU are your greatest investment”! Your career 7 brand is ‘your

investment’.

By being your own greatest investment, it is critical to put your best foot forward in all things job search and career. If indeed you are your own investment and brand, you want to make sure that you stand out from all the others in your field! Having an effective career brand is paramount in completing this task. The following are 5 important elements of career branding. Keep in mind there are more than just these five but, in my opinion, these are some of the most important. They are: Resume/Cover letter, Job Search Strategy, Interview Skills, Personal Appearance and Work Style. Let’s take a closer look at each one. Keeping in mind that you can also use or transfer the elements of career branding as your personal brand development if you are a business owner/entrepreneur.

Resume/Cover Letter – Your resume is the most important tool you have in developing a career brand. Think of your resume as your calling card. It showcases not only your employment history but also your skills. Therefore, ensure your resume and cover letter contain relevant and pertinent information, hard/soft skills, experience and leadership skills.

Job Search Strategy – Organize and strategize your job search. Utilize online spaces, pages and platforms in searching for the perfect job. It is not a bad idea to visit the HR Department of the companies you are interested in. Ask questions, ask for job descriptions and make sure to familiarize yourself with the vision and mission of the company. Develop partnerships, connections and collaborations through networking and attending job fairs.

Interview Skills – Your communication skills and style are critical during the interviewing process. How well can you articulate your job skills and job performance to others? Remember to take note of your posture, verbal and non -verbal cues, to show your personality and exude confidence. It is important to remember you are selling yourself, utilize your art of negotiation and definitely dress to impress!

Personal Appearance – Take special note of the office climate of any potential employer. Does the office have a business casual form of dress or is it strictly conservative? Based upon that information, you will have the ability to make an “informed” decision on how you will present yourself. Remember, less is always best. Do not go over the top with cologne, perfume, jewelry or make-up. Leave your cell phone in the car! Make sure that your hair and nails are trimmed, cut and neat. When in doubt on how you should dress to impress, google is your best friend.

Work Style – Evaluate your past work performance and take notation with the type of work style that suits you best. Do you like to work in teams, groups or solo? Are you logical, detail-oriented, supportive, idea-oriented? When you recognize the style that you thrive in you can use it as a tool to use on the job. The most important thing to remember about career branding is that you already have one. It’s the way you govern yourself on the job, it’s your style, it’s your reputation, it’s how you’re known and respected in the workforce. It’s your reputation. Know who you are. Be confident. Develop your strengths and acknowledge your weaknesses. A successful career brand has the primary ingredient of AUTHENTICITY. 22

Elizabeth Crawford, M.Ed, Certified Career and Personal Development Coach Wisdom & Insights LLC www.wisdomforlife101.com | @selfinvest101 | Wisdomforlife101@gmail.com

Mental Health Matters: The Five Stages of Grief “How do we say good-bye?” How can we say goodbye to loved ones or to a job we have had for many years? Should the pain be this intense? How long am I allowed to hurt? The answer to these questions is not simple and furthermore, the answer is specific according to who we are as people and what we value. Grief takes place in stages according to the Kubler-Ross theory on grief and loss. According to this theory, there are five stages of grief:

1. Denial: during this stage a person has great difficulty come to terms with the loss. For many, there is a feeling of numbness or what appears to be no feeling at all. Many people might describe this as “going through the motions.” However, there can also be a level of fear of the unknown as the realization of the loss begins to take shape.

2. Anger: Intense emotions and feelings of betrayal or regret may occur during this stage. Some may describe feelings of low-level agitation or frustration that appear to have no direct source. Others may describe this as a feeling of intense rage wherein it is difficult to focus. Other people may tend to hyper focus on activities that provide distraction to avoid the source of the anger.

3. Bargaining: during this stage a person may find it helpful to recant the story of loss to others to try and find meaning to better understand how or why a loss occurred. A person might beat themselves up about what they could have done differently to prevent the loss or pray to a higher power to change the circumstances.

4. Depression: sadness, tearfulness, and feelings of low motivation mark this stage for some. However, for others it could appear to be apathy or being distracted and disconnected from activities like work or socializing that they used to find meaningful.

5. Acceptance: during this stage one considers their life now as being reality and may begin making plans and/or resolve to build a narrative of optimism despite the loss.

If you have experienced loss recently, it’s important to know that you are allowed to grieve in your own individual manner. If grief and loss has been keeping you from enjoying your life and you desire to have help with this process, there is help available via your local mental health providers, local church and community grief groups, or via online platforms. Every person will experience loss at some time in life. Knowing how to work towards a place of acceptance can be the key to living a life with purpose and intention. Victoria Henry, MS LMHC Five Stages Of Grief - Understanding the Kubler-Ross Model (psycom.net)

www.livelightcounsel.com Facebook: @livelightcounseling Instagram: @livelightcounseling Twitter: @livelightcounseling

Victoria Henry, Contributing Writer

WOMEN MOTIVATED BY PURPOSE (VOL. 1) ANTHOLOGY BOOK Stories of Women Who Moved Forward from Their Challenges to Step into Their God-Given Purpose

Visionary Best Selling Author Jennifer Diaby

Co-Author Camecia Clark

Co-Author Makunda Ewing

Co-Author Dr. Tamecca Rogers

Co-Author Shanelle Fields

Co-Author Aneika Turnbull

SEEKING AUTHORS Contact: WomenMotivatedByPurpose@gmail.com

Co-Author Camecia Clark

Chapter Title: Trust Your Journey

Camecia Clark is a licensed professional counselor and Certified Adolescent Trauma Professional from Houston, Tx. Growing up she saw the effects of mental illness in her family, so she began the journey to become a mental health advocate. She obtained a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Texas Southern University, and a M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Camecia has always had a passion for helping others and she hopes to help parents, teachers, and community leaders to have necessary conversations with children about their mental health. She hopes that "Am I Next" will bring awareness to the Black community that has been conditioned to ignore the signs of mental health and trauma and inspire us all to end the stigma of mental illness. When she is not advocating for mental health and writing books, Camecia enjoys spending time with her children, Caylon and Braylon Mike. She specializes in

teaching children and teens to express their feelings to their parents, develop healthy coping skills, and to seek help when needed.

Website: www.Aminextbook.com Instagram: serenity_counseling_services 26

Co-Author Makunda Ewing

Chapter Title: Purpose Of A Lifetime “Purpose Of A Lifetime” is written to answer the question: if you were offered the purpose of a lifetime, would you pursue it or would you avoid it because of feelings of fear, unworthiness, or believing you don’t hold the capacity to accomplish it? Makunda Ewing is the founder of Far Above Rubies Academy, an author, podcaster and empowerment speaker with the vision to help women live a victorious life in Christ. After battling verbal abuse & divorce she decided to intentionally live her life on purpose by fulfilling the visions and dreams of encouraging and empowering others to live their dreams and aspirations. She is the author of Shattered to Victorious and God’s Glamour Girl Rules. As a speaker, writer, and Life Coach, she has the ability to influence you to make a difference in your life and the lives of others around you. Her accomplishment of being teacher of the year was awarded from her drive and tenacity to instill the love of God in young children and teenagers. She has inspired many women how to “Stand up and Stand Out” at her recent speaking engagement. Also, she has been the Master of Ceremonies at many different ladies day conferences and events. Makunda is an alumnus of Valdosta State University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Administrative Services. She is the mother of two amazing gifted children. She loves serving the Lord, and is gifted to empower and teach others to be the best that God has destined them to be. Website Link: www.faraboverubiesacademy.com Podcast info: Love & Relationships & everything in between https://open.spotify.com/show/1741PdweJWpmLjFFye7pzu?si=4K0zwt9MQ8y9de_xvSBZzQ&dl_branch Facebook: Makunda Clayton Instagram: Makunda Clayton / Far Above Rubies Academy

Co-Author Dr. Shanelle Fields

Chapter Title: Familiarity Does Not Breed Greatness In this chapter, I will discuss how doing the same thing does not yield great results. If someone desires to achieve more, more must be done. In all areas of life, it is important to recognize that you can be great. Sometimes that road is lonely and difficult; however, it is necessary to yield the results you desire. Most importantly, walking in purpose is not for everyone. Your purpose belongs to you and you only. How you choose to get there is the hard part! Shanelle B. Fields was born on Halloween to Rev. Monroe Fields, Sr. and the late Barbara H. Jones in Florence, SC. Her first assignment was to be a big sister to Monroe Fields, Jr. who would make his appearance five years later. Ms. Fields was educated at both Florence Christian Schools and in Florence School District One. Ms. Fields always had a thirst for knowledge and was an avid reader. She enjoyed going to school and excelled in academics. Her parents had her reciting Bible verses and Easter speeches until she was 15 years old! After completing high school, Shanelle matriculated to the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC, and received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Secondary English Education. Her first job was teaching in Charleston County School District and she has been educating students for over 17 years. Continuing her love of knowledge, she furthered her education at the Citadel Military College of SC, to earn a Master’s Degree in Secondary Counselor Education. It is at this point that she found her calling of helping others find solutions to their problems. After her Master’s Degree was completed, she began working as a Professional School Counselor and found her niche. Even with a busy three-year old, Shanelle found the time to complete a lifelong dream, and on March 15th, 2014, she completed her doctoral degree in Counseling Studies from Capella University. In November 2018, Dr. Fields completed the requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor and is still committed to helping young people and adults become successful. Her practice, Taking the First Step Counseling & Educational Services, LLC is located in Summerville, SC. As an LPC, she works with others on increasing self-esteem, grief, anxiety, depression, positive educational outcomes, and women’s issues.

www.takingthefirststep.net Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/am-Enough-Dr-Shanelle-Fields/dp/173582688X/r ef=sr1_1?keywords=Dr.+Shanelle+Fields&qid=1628104926&sr=8-1 Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-am-enough-dr-shanellefields/1139839677;jsessionid=326ABE940F297C671644AF1C84D469E6.prodny_ store01-atgap10?ean=9781735826882

Co-Author Aneika Turnbull

Chapter Title: When God Shows You His Will In my chapter, I have shared how I overcame my obstacles by allowing God to do His Will in my life. I've highlighted the steps I took in trusting and believing God to take me on this journey of finding my true purpose. I finally learned that within me there is an invincible woman, greater than any challenge or obstacle. When God shows you His Will, trust and believe that He will take you to higher grounds. Aneika Asharee Turnbull is the Author of A Little Girl’s Dream, a children’s book that highlights the importance of self-confidence, determination, and resilience. She was born and raised on the beautiful island of Jamaica. Aneika migrated to the United States of America several years ago and recently completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Exercise Science at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach Florida, where she also pledged as member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Aneika aspires to become a Physician Associate and hopes of managing her own practice and collaborating with other healthcare professionals to boost access to healthcare and deliver effective health services. She enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones, binging TV shows, traveling, shopping, watching YouTube videos, and reading. Aneika started writing at an early age and participated in many essay and writing competitions. She has also written many poems, a few of which are published. She likes to think of writing as a way of expressing her thoughts and emotions. Aneika has always dreamed of becoming an Author where readers can find inspiration and true meaning through her works of literature. Aneika’s favorite quote is “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve '' by Napoleon Hill and it has encouraged her to work hard in achieving all of her goals. Her advice to everyone is to believe in yourself and your dreams, and to never stop praying. SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB LINKS: Facebook: Aneika Turnbull https://www.facebook.com/aneika.turnbull Instagram: @augisbae_ https://www.instagram.com/augisbae_/ @theauthorbae_ https://www.instagram.com/theauthorbae_/ Amazon book link: https://amazon.com/dp/0228825172 Barnes & Noble book link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-little-girls-dreamaneika-asharee-turnbull/1136801952;jsessionid=2E8676691B52A93D97A74F0DD D5755F0.prodny_store01-atgap04?ean=9780228825173

Co-Author Dr. Tamecca Rogers

Chapter Title: Breaking Down Barriers: No Permission Needed My chapter, "Breaking Down Barriers: No Permission Needed" is about challenging things we all face in life while overcoming and living in our God-given purpose: How do we overcome the challenges we face? What steps can we take to live in our God-given purpose? This chapter will show you my efforts for overcoming my obstacles and how I learned to live in my God-given purpose. Dr. Tamecca Rogers holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Dr. Rogers served five years as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy and a combined six years as a high school instructor and college enrollment counselor. She has also held adjunct professor positions at multiple postsecondary institutions. She has worked at Tulsa Technology Center since 2010 and currently holds the position of the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She is the proud mom of Ian, Chazen, and Keith, and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her family. Dr. Rogers has written several stories with her ten-year-old son and co-author Keith Ross. SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB LINKS: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Tamecca-Rogers/e/B08NLRQFYK

FALL Summer’s Done No more hot sun Time to gather crops The temperature drops The weather’s cool Kids back in school It’s a time of transition Time to focus on your mission It’s a time of change And a time to rearrange Beautiful trees Lose their leaves Green, orange, rust or brown They all fall to the ground Fall is here Autumn is in the air!!!!

www.rorosrainbowcommunications.com 31

Winter is Coming! Is Your Skin Ready? I love the fall and winter seasons. This is my favorite time of year, the air is cool and crisp, the leaves change colors, and of course the holidays. As the seasons change, you pull out your winter wear with your favorite boots, hats, and gloves. But did you remember to switch out your skincare routine? During the summer we are using spfs, light weight creams and lotions, and cosmetics that are light and breathable. The winter season can be very damaging to the skin. In winter months your skin needs two types of moisturizers or an all-in one. Your skin needs a moisturizer that acts as a barrier on the skin to prevent moisture loss and also a moisturizer that keeps your cells hydrated. We never really think about switching up our routine because often times we feel the sun is more damaging. However, that is far from the truth. The brittle cold can be just as damaging if not more than the sun. The cold temperature and low humidity results in dry air leaving your skin without moisture. Since the temperatures are so cold, most people have their heat on which can take even more moisture out of your skin. Those with eczema or psoriasis may notice their symptoms are exacerbated by the cold weather. These tips and tricks on how to get your skin ready for the cold can help you avoid severe effects from the cold weather:

1. Only exfoliate once per week. When choosing an exfoliant be sure that it has moisturizing properties. 2. Choose a moisturizer that has a little weight to it. This means that is should have butters and

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

oils and less water. When reading your labels if water is listed within the first 4 words, this is a water-based product and should be avoided. After your bath or shower, pat your skin dry leaving behind a little moisture. Apply your butter/oil-based moisturizer to lock in that moisture. Do the scratch test. Taking your finder nails, run them over your skin. If you can hear the scratching then your skin is NOT moisturized and hydrated properly. Use natural soaps. Natural soaps are made using oils and butters. They are usually free from toxic and harmful ingredients and can easily start the moisturizing process while bathing. Start taking warm showers. I know, there is nothing like a hot shower or bath, but this strips the skin of its natural oils causing more dryness. Do not lick your lips. I know we have all seen the “ring” around the lips that licking can cause. The ring appears after the skin has become so dry and cracked it has formed a crust over the irritated area. To avoid licking your lips use a lip balm, even underneath your favorite lip stick for extra protection.

Implementing these changes now will prepare you for the cold winter months ahead. Remember, winter is coming! By: Tamara P. Brown Contributing Writer www.jakessentials.com www.jaksprivatelabels.com

excelpublishings@gmail.com

Power Principles for Strategic Business Success Verna C. Mayers-Fakunle Contributing Writer Strategic Planning has since its inception been viewed as a tool to achieve desired outcomes or results. The strategies that result from this process of planning become the guiding principles by which many businesses operate and the thread that holds a business together. Into this strategic plan are knitted the goals and objectives that become the core of a company’s operational culture. Companies who have embraced strategic planning as an integral part of their business processes have been successful at using historical data to produce results driven outcomes. However, the world we currently live in has changed significantly. For the business world, the future is no longer as predictable as it once was. There are so many variables that must be considered when developing strategic frameworks and the practice of front-end planning which only focuses on results and outcomes may not prove to be as effective as it was in the past. The challenge with traditional strategic planning rests in the practice of top-down approaches to sharing organizational goals and outcomes. Oftentimes, the person(s) developing the strategic framework for the company, lack the organizational skills and knowledge to create a viable “action” plan to achieve the desired outcomes. As a result, there is a disconnect between those who create the plan and those who are tasked with developing the operational frameworks by how they will be realized. The days of being able to develop strategy in an upper management silo and then directing everyone down the chain to adopt it, embrace it, and make it work, are becoming obsolete. As integral as the strategic framework is to a business, it is even more important to include viable operational frameworks to support it and include guidance from those who are charged with implementing it. To do this, businesses must adopt a collaborative and mutually beneficial method for developing, implementing, and assessing strategies. This practice should include input from those who are doing the front-end work daily and who have a keen sense of what it takes to make things happen. I recommend businesses introduce the “POWER” framework into their strategy process.

POWER is an acronym that outlines a way to provide actionable steps toward achieving desired results: Plan, Organize, Work, Evaluate, and Reap. These steps are defined as follows: Collaborative work with all vested stakeholders to identify desired outcomes. Plan Develop an operational framework to achieve goals Organize A clear roadmap with detailed steps and realistic timelines for those steps to be achieved Work Periodic check-ins to assess progress as well as identify need for revisions Evaluate Acknowledgement of goal achievement and rewarding the team for their hard work

Reap.

Strategic planning must become a practice that engages the entire team in setting expectations and developing a plan of action to achieve them. The old adage that, “teamwork makes the dream work” could not be more appropriately applied than when considering the viability and success of today’s businesses. Developing “powerful” strategies will provide tangible processes by which your business can compete and thrive. Business: Inspired Strategies, LLC (Business and Educational Consulting) Website: www.vernamayersfakunle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VernaInspires Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vernainspires/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vernainspires LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verna-mayers-fakunle-6070898/ 34

Dr. Shanelle Fields Shanelle B. Fields was born on Halloween to Rev. Monroe Fields, Sr. and the late Barbara H. Jones in Florence, SC. Her first assignment was to be a big sister to Monroe Fields, Jr. who would make his appearance five years later. Ms. Fields was educated at both Florence Christian Schools and in Florence School District One. Ms. Fields always had a thirst for knowledge and was an avid reader. She enjoyed going to school and excelled in academics. Her parents had her reciting Bible verses and Easter speeches until she was 15 years old! After completing high school, Shanelle matriculated to the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC, and received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Secondary English Education. Her first job was teaching in Charleston County School District and she has been educating students for over 17 years. Continuing her love of knowledge, she furthered her education at the Citadel Military College of SC, to earn a Master’s Degree in Secondary Counselor Education. It is at this point that she found her calling of helping others find solutions to their problems. After her Master’s Degree was completed, she began working as a Professional School Counselor and found her niche. Even with a busy three-year old, Shanelle found the time to complete a lifelong dream, and on March 15th, 2014, she completed her doctoral degree in Counseling Studies from Capella University. In November 2018, Dr. Fields completed the requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor and is still committed to helping young people and adults become successful. Her practice, Taking the First Step Counseling & Educational Services, LLC is located in Summerville, SC. As an LPC, she works with others on increasing self-esteem, grief, anxiety, depression, positive educational outcomes, and women’s issues. Dr. Shanelle believes wholeheartedly in giving back to her community, as she has given many presentations at churches, Mental Health Events, the College of Charleston, and other workshops. In 2017, Dr. Fields founded The Barbara Jones Education Foundation honoring her late mother who was a 39 year veteran teacher. Through this charitable organization, she can instill in others the importance of education, scholarship and hard work. She is also the Secretary of the Baptist Young Women Missionary Organization and has previously worked with the youth department as a Bible Study Teacher at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church. She is also the grief counselor at her brother’s 2 funeral homes, Albert A. Glover Funeral Home in Summerville, SC, and King-Fields Mortuary in Summerton, SC. One of her latest endeavors was to compile a directory of solely African American mental health professionals in the state of SC. By completing and organizing this directory, she is advocating for the importance of mental health in African American communities.

The name of the directory is The Healing Group and call be found at www.thehealinggrp.com. Dr. Fields’ favorite and most enjoyable role is that of Mom. She is the mother of an energetic and busy 10 year old named Isaiah. He keeps her busy as a Football Mom and repeat Fortnite V-Buck Buyer. Isaiah is the light of Dr. Fields’ life and inspired her #1 Bestselling book on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles, I Am Enough. She realized she had to be the best version of herself to be the best mother she could be for him. He is also her biggest fan. They are 2 Peas in a Pod! All of Dr. Fields’ success is attributed to God, her family, and a host of many

others who encouraged her along the way.

Books can be purchased at:

www.takingthefirststep.net

GROWTH WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORKS MAGAZINE Recognizing the Gifts and Talents of Women as Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Ministers, Authors and Much More!

AVAILABLE in DIGITAL and PRINT!

www.growthwomensbusinessnetworksmagazine.com www.facebook.com/GrowthWomensBusinessNetworksMagazine/