Today's Black Executive November/December 2021 Issue by Pastoring Today

5 WAYS SMALL BUSINESSES CAN PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON (BPT) - Sponsored by Office Depot

If you're a small business owner, you know what the holiday season means for your bottom line. But with 2021 bringing a wave of unprecedented challenges, it's hard to know if you're prepared for the busiest time of year. Fortunately, there are resources available to help you stay on top of all the little things that need to get done - so you can focus on the big picture and end the year stronger than ever. Here are five tips to help you save time, stay organized and reach your customers during the holiday season and beyond. 1. Get your technology ready Whether you rely on online sales, in-store business or both, be prepared for a fastpaced selling season with technology that's updated, protected by current security software and backed up. For products, support and services to conquer the holiday

5 WAYS SMALL BUSINESSES CAN PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON continued… hustle and bustle, Office Depot offers everything you need to be up-to-date, including services for all your last-minute tech needs and 24/7 IT remote support from experienced technicians. 2. Choose time-saving services to get errands done Time is extremely valuable in November and December, so don't waste it - take advantage of same-day services to get what you need as soon as possible. Office Depot recently introduced a "20-Minute Pickup Promise," offering customers the ability to order products online and get free in-store and curbside pickup in 20 minutes or get $20 off their next qualifying purchase.* Office Depot also offers Same-Day Delivery. Customers can simply place a qualifying order, choose the delivery window that's convenient for them, and the products will be delivered to their door in as little as one hour. 3. Market your seasonal events and promotions Before big events or holiday promotions, make sure your customers know all about them. With small business solutions from Office Depot, you can plan an effective marketing strategy and print eye-catching materials to help make your business shine. With Office Depot's Same-Day Printing Services, you can also choose from a wide portfolio of print solutions including flyers, signs, posters, banners, marketing materials, cards and more – all ready for same-day pick-up. Qualifying orders must be placed in-store, or online for in-store pickup, by 2:00 p.m. local time, and Same-Day Service must be requested at the time of ordering. 4. Ship faster For gifts, supplies or products you need shipped to yourself or others, take advantage of Office Depot's free Next Business-Day Delivery on qualifying orders of $45 or more**.

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5 WAYS SMALL BUSINESSES CAN PREPARE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON continued… 5. Celebrate your staff Finally, as 2021 draws to a close, make sure your employees know how much you appreciate their hard work, especially during the holiday rush. Office Depot offers a variety of gifts for every team member on your list this year. Consider creating and printing custom holiday cards or photo gifts too that show individual appreciation for staff as well as clients and vendors. Find services and solutions to succeed this holiday season with savings all season long at OfficeDepot.com and in Office Depot and OfficeMax stores nationwide. * Curbside pickup is available in most stores, subject to state and local regulations. Orders must be placed 1 hour before store closing. If your order is not ready in 20 minutes, you will receive an email, within 48 hours of placing your order, with a coupon for $20 off your next qualifying purchase. Certain exclusions apply. Excludes tax. No cash back. See email for coupon terms and conditions. Office Depot reserves the right to modify or cancel the offer at any time. Same-day print services are excluded form 20-minute promise. ** Free Shipping/Delivery: Minimum purchase required after discounts and before taxes. Orders must be placed by 5:00 P.M. local time (in most locations) via phone/online or 3:00 PM via fax. Orders outside our local delivery area and most furniture, oversized, bulk items, cases of bottled water and other beverages and special-order items do not qualify. Non-qualifying orders incur a delivery charge. Delivery fees will be noted prior to purchase. Other restrictions apply. See OfficeDepot.com/delivery, call 800.GO.DEPOT or ask a store associate for details

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General Mike Pain, Leader of The Original Black Panther Militia is very ambitious, selfmotivated and a complete workaholic. He rose to the rank of General swiftly because of his drive and determination. Not too long after reaching General rank, he was soon promoted to The National General, putting him in charge of starting chapters across the globe. In July 2021 King Rick retired, passing the torch, leaving General Mike Pain the new leader of The Original Black Panthers. General Mike Pain added Militia to the end of the name to pay homage to the entire bloodline from which they originated. General Mike Pain has been a pillar in his community, defending, protecting, and fighting for his people daily and is a true voice for the people.

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Founded By Dr. Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale

The Original Black Panthers love, honor, respect and protect our Queens, families and our communities. We respect our ancestors, elders, those who work for justice in our communities, and authority figures who truly love our people.

1966 Oakland, California The Black Panther Party of Self Defense

We stand up against hate, injustice, racism, and oppression, our goal is to see our people and communities thrive and to protect the lives of our Kings and Queens by any means necessary.

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Peace and LOVE, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!! Before we get started, I have to say I am not a medical professional. I am not soliciting medical advice, nor am I telling you these things are going to work for you. What I am saying is, these are some of the techniques that helped me get through my depression. My hope is that these tips can help you become better at coping with your depression. This has been a rough year for a lot of families with this whole pandemic and everything that came with it, or should I say everything that has come with it because we are still dealing with it. We’ve lost a lot of great people throughout this pandemic, and to the people who are reading this article, my heart goes out to you! As a Vet, I know all too well what depression can do to you. Depression can drain you like you’ve never been drained before. Depression will have you sitting in a dark room listening to the same song for hours. I don’t want anyone going through what I’ve been through and what so many other people are going through (period). So, I’ve decided to share some tips with you to assist with your battle against this unconscionable disease.

1) Communicate with others Speak to someone about your feelings, it could be a friend, a family member, or you could join a support group. Have a standing lunch or dinner date with someone. Join a social club or take some type of class so that you’ll be engaging with a bunch of different people who are sharing their time and energy with you in a comfortable relaxed setting.

2) Alter your eating habits: a change in lifestyle Believe it or not, eating right has a lot to do with your mood. Now we all have different views on how and when to eat. Some people fast daily and some people eat traditionally three times a day. Whichever one is for you, all I'd say is incorporate plenty of fruits, veggies, and herbs. Stay away from the "bad sugars"-French fries, pasta, donuts, and candy. These foods make you feel good at the moment, but after a certain amount of time, you'll start to crash, and this will ultimately alter your mood. 3) Modify your thought process Put a halt to negative thinking! Have you heard the expression "you are what you think about"? So, if you have negative thoughts in your head, what do you think is going to happen? Take a wild guess... I'll wait... If you haven’t figured it out yet, let me help. If you have negative thoughts, there will most certainly be a bunch of negative things happening in your life. So, to combat this, get out of your head and stop overthinking. Focus on the positive in every situation because the positive will essentially help you overcome your depression because things in your life will start to change.

4) Exercise Now this should be first on the list, but honestly, I didn’t put this in any specified order. Exercising is one of the best ways to fight depression because it releases chemicals in the body called endorphins, which are commonly known as the body's feel-good chemicals. Now for me, when I’m done working out, all I want to do is eat and then go to sleep because I'm spent afterward. I hope today that the information that I shared will help you to get started on the road to fighting your depression! It is not an easy fight, but one that must be had, and YOU ARE NOT in this fight alone! 19

FAITHCANON.COM

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Let’s Sell to the World Ready To Reach Your Goals? We Buy Black has already done the hard work of targeting your customer market. Millions of our supporters are interested in Black owned businesses who make exceptional products. If this describes you and your business, waste no more time and create your shop on We Buy Black!

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FIND YOUR LOCAL BLACKOWNED RESTAURANTS WITH EATOKRA. EatOkra is your guide to blackowned restaurants. If you'd like to support local black businesses, or maybe just find a new favorite place to eat, download the EatOkra app now.

WWW.EATOKRA.COM

Shop Little Labels Making A Big Impact For People And The Planet By (BPT)

(BPT) - You have probably seen a variety of certifications on food products when shopping at the grocery store, like the Fairtrade Mark, or the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) blue fish and/or the Non-GMO Project label. While these certifications are showing up more and more, there's still confusion as to what they actually mean. If you're like many shoppers, you want to know how the food you buy impacts people and the planet, including how it was grown, harvested and produced, and each of these labels can help! All of these organizations help provide a great reminder to focus on food sustainability and traceable supply chains. The MSC, Fairtrade and the Non-GMO Project have come together to make it easier than ever for shoppers to buy goods that do good. 25 Today's Black Executive Magazine

Shop Little Labels Making A Big Impact For People And The Planet continued… By looking for the little third-party certification labels that are making a big impact in our food systems, consumers can shop sustainably throughout the grocery store. Here is what to look for, and what each of the labels mean: 1. The blue and green farmer: Farming is the single largest employer in the world - two out of every five people farm for a living! Purchasing goods with the Fairtrade America logo is an easy way to make a difference in the lives of people who grow our food, enabling them to earn a decent income, to support their families, and to invest in their communities. Look for the logo on coffee, tea, chocolate, produce, cotton and more! By buying Fairtrade products, you are also helping to combat climate change, support gender equality, end child labor and protect workers' rights. 2. The blue fish: From the seafood counter to canned or pouched fish, to frozen seafood, and even pet food and supplements, look for the blue fish label from the MSC for seafood that is wild caught and certified sustainable. Products with the blue fish label are independently verified as environmentally sustainable and are traceable back to a sustainable source in order to fight fraud and mislabeling. 3. The butterfly: Processed foods - especially those containing corn, soy and sugar derivatives - dairy, meat and eggs, fruit and vegetables, snack foods, vitamins and supplements, vegetable oils, body care products and more can carry the Non-GMO Project's butterfly label. In buying products with the butterfly label, sustainability-minded shoppers will know they're avoiding consuming genetically modified organisms (GMOs). 4. No matter the grocery store or aisle, there is a label to look for that will help you feel good that your purchase is having a positive impact on the planet and on people's lives. Look for these little labels year-round to ensure you and your family can make a positive impact on our food system.

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AN ONLINE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS DIRECTORY Join Color Of Change in the fight to support and protect Black businesses.

OUR BLACK BUSINESSES NEED OUR SUPPORT. Black entrepreneurs are getting the short end of the stick as they struggle to survive COVID-19, with nearly half of our businesses facing the prospect of closing their doors forever. Color Of Change's Black Business Green Book is a directory where you can find Black businesses to patronize for the holiday season and beyond, as well as resources that will help you join the fight to get Black entrepreneurs the protections and relief they are owed.

WWW.BLACKBUSINESSGREENBOOK.COM Today's Black Executive Magazine

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