Kingdompreneur Magazine

SUMMER 2019

AUG 2-3 2019 MIAMI FLORIDA

MEET OUR TEAM

Dr. Shirley Clark

Founder/Publisher Genevia Hill Editor-In-Chief

Dr. Patricia Bailey Board Member

Yvette Munroe Board Member

Elaine Head Writer

Ethel J. Davis Writer Dr. Keith Johnson Writer Dr. Marcus Howard Writer

Dana Bennett Writer Eddie Smith Writer Dr. Omai Kofi Writer T. Lynn Tate Writer

Danielle Clark Writer

Syvilla Pristell Writer Elgie Loyd Research Database Specialist

Dana Bates Copy Editor

Dr. Diane Washington Board Member

Rodney Dennis Writer

Carmen Herrera Board Member

Bridgette Johnson Writer

PUBLISHER My Story

It was my high school graduation. As the great Charles Dickens’s novel said, “It was the best of times and the worst of times.” I was seventeen, and I was quite ignorant to all that was going on around me during this period in my life. I had very little insight about my graduation and education as a whole. All I knew was that it was expected of me to finish high school, but completing it had no real long-term meaning in my life. You see, the entire seventeen years of my life, I was reared in an impoverished environment. My mother had only an eighth-grade education, and I don’t really think she knew why I needed to finish high school, no more than it was expected of a child.

When my mother and father married, they were sixteen years old. They lived in a rural community down on the East Coast, Washington, NC. Everybody in the community mostly worked in fields planting and harvesting mostly corn, collard greens, and tobacco. Even now, I can still see myself working in tobacco barns, gathering, and tying tobacco to be placed on a pole. So when my parents married at such a young age, they had to forfeit their education to work to create a life for themselves.

When I was five years old, my parents separated. So, my mom moved back to her hometown, Durham, North Carolina. And the biggest problem she had was that she had no viable working skills other than working in corn and tobacco fields. Also, when she left, she could not take us with her. Her plan was to go back home and try and

make a living for herself and come back and get us. It was three years later that we were united with our mother. Those three years were some of the darkest times in my family life. We endured so much physical and psychological abuse that was horrific.

But when we finally united with my mother, I was so happy. I can remember the day like it was yesterday. I was sitting in the backseat of my uncle’s car as he was taking me to be with my mother after those years. I said over and over in my mind, “I am going home to be with my mama.” So much joy was in my heart that day. Truly, I can remember it like it was yesterday, and I am now fifty-five years old. Such overwhelming joy filled my heart. But I did not know what life had in store for me. I did not know that being with someone who loved you, and you loved them back could be so bad. I had no idea what life was going to be like when I got back with my mother, but I definitely did not expect to live in the kind of substandard living I was about to endure.

Because my mother had little education, the only job she could find was being a cook at “greasy spoon” places and cafeterias. If all of our utilities were on at the same time, it was a miracle. I remember having to fill the bathtub up with water because the water was getting ready to be cut off. For nine years, survival was our main focus.

From day to day, we did not know how we were going to make it. My mother would cook a whole bag of rice just to feed us. When you grow up in an impoverished environment, I think it is a given having good clothes to wear was a constant problem.

IT WAS A DAY I WOULD NEVER FORGET!

“It was the best of times and the worst of times.”

Life growing up in poverty was awful!

In the twelfth grade, I was so looking forward to graduating. I just wanted to be out of school. However, the twelfth grade was “no piece of cake.” What I realized after flunking the first semester in English, I had to pass the second semester to graduate from high school. I never thought about how important English was until I was faced with this dilemma.

My mind could not put a subject and a verb together, nor did I have an understanding of punctuation. I did not know how to construct or stop a sentence. I really worked hard to try and make sense out of writing, but all I knew how to write was a run-on sentence. And I had to pass this class in order to graduate from high school.

So when the semester ended, which was the end of the school year, I didn’t know what to do. I was scared, and I definitely did not want to see my grade because I did not want to see that I had failed. Because if I did, this meant facing up to another truth: I will not be graduating, which I knew I was not capable of doing. My solution: never ask the teacher if I passed or not. To this day, I never knew my final grade in this class. However, the hardest thing for me was going through the motion with my mother and sister acting as though I knew for sure I was going to graduate. Somehow my mother scraped up enough money to pay for my cap and grown, so everything was taken care of for my graduation. All the while this was going on, I was being haunted by the fact; I might not graduate.

The school year ended, and graduation day arrived. I was “one scared chick.” All day long, internally I was in turmoil. I am sure I had created some story just in case my name was not called, so as my mother and my sister Rosa sat on the bleachers with me, I was praying hard inside.

When it was our time for our row to line up to receive our high school diploma, I got in line with everyone else. When I reached the stage and they called my name, while I wanted to be joyful, all I could feel was relief. So I plastered a smile on my face and went back to my seat and hugged my mother and sister. Even though I had received my diploma, I still felt like an imposter. I was so guilt-wridden that I never really experienced the joy of that day. I knew what was going on. It was the fact that I had a secret, and I was too embarrassed to tell anyone. I did not want to be a failure.

This was such a conflict in my heart that I kept this secret for about twentyeight years before I was able to share it with anyone. But when I did, it was a period in my life where I could celebrate what I had come through. You see, by the time I shared my story, I was then an owner of a writer’s agency, Jabez Books, and had helped over 70 other authors write and publish their books. Also, in the first five years of establishing my Agency, I published and copyrighted personally over eight books. As of 2014, I have written and published over 21 books.

When I think about my life and what I went through and where I am now, I am truly grateful. As been said many times, your past truly does not equate to your future. I thank God today for His restoring grace. He restored to me the years that the cankerworm and palmerworm stole from me according to Joel 2 in the Bible. We can be restored no matter what we have gone through to hinder our progress.

Dr. Shirley K. Clark

Unpeeling

uccess Limitations S

Ialways wanted to start my own business. I remember when I was in high school and the guidance counselor called me to her office. On this particular day, I walked towards the office thinking what did I do. I sat down in the lobby chair. Pretty soon the high school guidance counselor called my name and I walked into her office. My high school guidance counselor asked me a simple question that changed my thought pattern and life. She said, “what do you want to do when you graduate high school?” Without missing a beat, I said, “I want to go to work and make money.” After additional conversations, I found myself applying to college. College was not in my grand scheme of things, yet I was taking college level classes. You see, my thoughts in high school were to get a job and make money. But subconsciously, I was at the beginning stages of thinking like a business owner.

The path I would take positioned me for success beyond my limited thoughts. On the journey of a business owner there are highs and lows. There are days when it seems like you cannot catch a break. There are also days when things flow your way and you feel like you are on cloud nine.

What you think about your business will determine what you generate and how successful you will be in your business. I know, many readers are saying it is not what you think, it is the profit that you make that will determine how successful you are. Well my good friends,

let me ask you a few questions? Be honest about your business, yourself and your wealth. Have these thoughts ever run through your mind:

• What are other successful business owners doing that I am not doing?

• Do I know enough, have enough, am I enough?

• Do I have to work harder than others to make a living?

All of these questions are distractions to the bigger picture. Do you think billionaires and millionaires think negatively and worry about these things? Do you think billionaires and millionaires allow these thoughts to surface before shutting these types of questions down? You are doing what other successful business owners are doing. You know enough for what you need right now and capable enough to learn what you need for the future. Having a business means you must work smarter to accomplish your goals and dreams. You must keep your focus on the plan and be a person of integrity.

Once you remove the stronghold and misbelief that you cannot be successful, once you stop focusing on what is wrong, stop focusing on what someone say about your social media postings and focus more on your business, your brand, and your products, you will start unpeeling the success limitations off your business and move from good to great!

It is time to hit the restart button. Identify the negative thoughts and when these negative thoughts show up press the restart button. This button is with you every second, every minute and every hour. You have control. It is up to you to hit this button when negative thought arises. Give it a try for 21 days and see what happens for your business.

GENEVIA HILL

Genevia Hill is a best-selling Amazon Author of God’s High Destiny Women Business Devotional. Genevia is in the Founder’s Circle of Rebirth Body Shapers, LLC

For more information please visit: www.GeneviaHill.net

Do You Have a Minute? Did you know that the etymology of the term media is center, amid many other synonyms. We also know that media is connoted as a channel of communications. How do you single-handedly center your brand through a channel of communications? If you took some time to write down the ways you think you would be able to do so, you will come up with one general way: The Media. Using the media to grow your brand or service is very key even on the smallest of scales. SEO is a way to be at the center of internet searches. So how do you use the media to expand your brand? Please know and know that you know that the internet is the largest media company in the world, owned by no one in particular. Although there was this one guy we all have to take our hats off to and dust off our keyboards to the Time Magazine and CNN headliner: Peter Emeagwali. The main thing you want to do is develop your brand with the end in mind. What do you want the world to know about your brand? If you sell your brand, what would someone inherit when they purchase it. A brand is IP. Intellectual Property. That IP must be communicated in a basic way, a unique way, and a connective way. Developing and writing out that “My Brand” story and you sending it to the media yourself is key. That was a nugget, don’t miss that.

The major way you can utilize the media to build your brand is to get into relationships with people who work in media. This means from the camera man to the person going to get the coffee, everyone in the media industry should be treated with the highest regard (another nugget). It makes no sense to want your brand in the media and you do not have a relationship with that media outlet, nor the talented people who are the engine behind it. People who want to be known, but don’t take the time to get to know others are a waste of time and the tax payer dollars.

Let me tell you a story, there once was a woman who decided to go work for the media because she knew she had a million-dollar brand. Instead of building media relationships from the outside in and attempting to be and insider, she became an insider. There wasn’t a place she could not go, not a person she did not know, but more importantly she was well known and well respected. Her brand was to be an insider and connect other insiders. No matter which logo she used, her brand was there in all that she did. She could use her non-profit, or her media company, or her financial group, or her platform logo, no matter which company she used, they all came from her brand and she was, well known which is the golden nugget. More about her later.

If there were three top ways to dominate the market by using the media to expand your brand, we would end our journey right here. To make this short and sweet, (yes this is the desert already), you will need to have an appetite to be known. If you, yourself personally do not want to be known, find you someone who does who can be your Brand Ambassador, Chief Communications Officer, or Publicist. I say out of the gate identify these people and or one of these persons. This person will have tons of connections and contacts. They will be nice to look at, nice to listen to, and very dedicated to getting things done. They will be able to get things done with or without you, but it is best you know what is going on and be very accessible to them. Do not rely on your stakeholders to do anything for you, when you are the one who created the brand. They need to feed off your passion and energy to run your brand around this world and not miss a beat. When you use the media to grow your brand, you can savor this sweet desert outlined here without any of the other information aforementioned “how to’s”. Hire someone to run your brand with you. With is in all CAPS in my mind here. Expansion requires a team. Branding requires a team. Media requires a team. Moreover, YOU require a team.

Learn more about Dr. Kofi, please visit: https://www.omaientertainment.com/

Dr Kofi is the owner of Omai Network Entertainment of which she has assisted in marketing and promoting such brands as Bank Of America, Psyched television show, Zest, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Dr. Pepper, NASCAR, Hypnotiq, M&Ms and many more. Her writings, events, and work have been published in Rolling Out Magazine, The Seattle Times, Associated Press, and local publications such as The Plano Insider, Southern Dallas Business & Living Magazine, Manna Express, North Dallas Gazzette, Dallas Weekly, Texas Metro News and Garland Journal. Her media company has worked with various award shows and galas such as Xernona Clayton’s Trumpet Awards aired on TvOne and Dr. Cheryl Jackson’s Feed Just One Gala which in 2017 featured The Queen of All Media, Oprah Winfrey who raised over one million dollars for the evening.

INVESTING IN THE PROPER IRA

By Eddie Smith

The Bible encourages us to prepare for the future. In fact, there are many verses that direct us to make wise investments for the days ahead. Proverbs 6:6-8, Proverbs 13:16, and Proverbs 21:20 come to mind. Radio host, Dave Ramsey, and others have developed faith-based plans to assist us.

Perhaps you, like many of us, direct portions of your income to your IRA, your Individual Retirement Account. They are offered by various financial institutions. I’d like to suggest an IRA for each of us to consider whether we are currently employed or not. Here it is.

In this IRA, the “I” stands for Integrity. We should be people of integrity. Integrity has a double definition. It means whole and undivided. It also means moral, upright, and honest. The measure of our integrity is, some have said, who we are when no one else is around. Maintain your personal integrity so when you grow old, you can look back without regret, and to the future without fear.

The “R” in this IRA stands for responsibility. Sadly, we live in a day when the mindset of many seems to be about doing as little as possible. In Matthew 5:41, Jesus taught about “going the second mile”, doing more than what’s expected of us.

Finally, the “A” in this IRA represents accountability. Independence is a big deal to Americans. As you know, we have formally declared ours. However, going it alone isn’t a wise way to approach life. Fallen leaders are often highly gifted, multi-talented, charming people. The problem they most often confess to be the reason they fell, was their lack of accountability. Each of us needs a mentor, at least one mature person to whom we can hold ourselves accountable. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors, there is safety.”

Whatever financial investments you make, be certain to invest yourself in this IRA--your integrity, accepting responsibility, and find someone to whom you can hold yourself accountable.

Eddie is an Entrepreneur, Best-Selling Author, Leadership Expert and Gifted Writer & Speaker

Entrepreneurship Is It Right For You?

By Syvilla Pristell

According to www.Dictioary.com, an entrepreneur is defined as a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses; a person taking on greater than normal financial risks. Dictionary words used are enterpriser, speculator, tycoon, magnate, trader, dealmaker; promoter, informal wheeler-dealer, whiz kid, mover and shaker, go-getter, high flyer, hustler. Words entrepreneurs use are passionate, motivated, willing to take risks, deep divers into a future…plan, flexible, adaptable, hard-working, disciplined, dedicated to reaching an end. Entrepreneurs usually believe in themselves or the dream they have. They must have the ability to bounce back from any and everything. These definition terms demonstrate that entrepreneurship is designed for special, exceptionally gifted people. BUT gifting can be taught to an individual with passion. YOUR PASSION MAKES YOUR WAY! You must know your gift and no matter what - let no one take it away.

DREAM, DREAM BIG AND BIGGER (FINISH IT), and work out the steps to get to your dream.

Are you considering becoming an entrepreneur? What is an entrepreneur?

Many entrepreneurs should realize that the training for entrepreneurship begins, in many cases, with hardships and working through troubling situations. Most entrepreneurs have failed many, many times but never quit. They don’t always tell of the days with utilities off, no money to pay bills, families dividing and even separating because of entrepreneurial commitment. The greatest lesson of becoming an entrepreneur is called “Overcoming.” Overcoming adversity and overcoming doors that seem to be closed. Entrepreneurial means looking at what has been halted and calling it delay, not termination.

Take for example is The Shadd Piano. The Shadd Piano is designed by Warren Shadd, the first African American piano manufacturer in the world. Warren comes from a legacy of family musicians and piano tuners. Warren was a musician at age 4. In 2003, Warren took a leap of faith and opened his own piano company, without a big investor. From 2003 to 2011, time took its toll but with much perseverance he sold his first piano in 2012. Today, The Shadd Piano is competitive with Steinway and other famous pianos. Warren Shad has high-end, made-to-order instruments in several Rolls-Royce dealerships, on the set of the television show “Empire” and at the Vatican. Warren’s life included many ups and downs, however as an entrepreneur Warren had to overcome many obstacles.

As an owner of several funeral homes, assisted living facilities and founder and consultant to numerous charter schools; I personally found the greatest advice given to me was “Start at the finish line”. Know where you want to end and work backward building the plan on how to get there.

Lessons to apply in your quest as an entrepreneur:

1. Learn how to research. Look on the internet. Put in words that describe what you need. Often you will find even “free” resources.

Suggested Resources:

* SBA- www.sba.gov Small Business Association -Focus on connecting small businesses to lenders. SBA offer advice for entrepreneurs willing to learn about every aspect of entrepreneurship, getting the word out through social media, raising money and writing a business plan.

* Women-Owned Small Businesses Certification, http://federal.famr.us/Women-Owned/Certification Certifications are helpful in bidding for large contracts, especially where minority representation is acknowledged and preferred.

* Goldman Sachs offer guidance to over 10,000 small businesses - http://www.goldmansachs.com

* Community Colleges offer classes on starting a business. Some may be online or in person,

* At OpenCourseWare Consortium, Doug Neal, serves as executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship teaches the Entrepreneurship Hour seminar series, available for free through iTunes.

* Nextavenue.org features articles with extremely helpful topics e.g. The Best Free Stuff for Small BusinessEd

* Banks teach entrepreneurship. Examples can be found through PNC, SunTrust Bank, and Bank of America.

2. READ all about entrepreneurs. When you have read everything that you think you need to read; READ a little more. Read about the business you want to start. If it’s never been done before, read about general principles of starting a business and getting the word out.

3. Study business plans of others. Practice making business plans. Each place of submission requires different formats but most information is general and can be cut and paste from one format to the other.

4. Stay positive. Don’t look for others to help you. Entrepreneurs are self-starters. They don’t have people patting them on the back at the beginning. They fall down and get up and start again. They ENCOURAGE themselves. They don’t whine, they WIN!

The driving force for entrepreneurs is the Finish line that really prompts the starting line. Remember, it’s not done until we finish.

Syvilla Pristell is a marketplace leader and for over 20 years, she has been a business owner.

By Elaine A. Head PhD, DD

Why Entrepreneurship?

“Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled.” – Harvard Business School

Why is this topic important to you? Times are changing. Will you be able to retire with sufficient funds to maintain your lifestyle? Business in the 21st Century is not the same as in the 20th Century. You need new skillsets, mindsets, habits to run your business. Goalsetting is very important. The vision in your mind will work to help reach your goals.

Are you among the 76% of Americans who live pay check to pay check? Or, are you among the 50% of Americans who have no

money for retirement? It is shocking to know that 47% of Americans don’t even have $400 for emergency funds. Is this you?

Why? You may not know how to get money. You may not know how to keep money. You may not know how to multiply money. Traditionally you may have been taught to go to school, get a good job, buy a house, and contribute to a 401K. You may not have been taught how to create wealth.

If you have a Bachelor’s Degree, you will earn on average a $2.1M in lifetime income over a 40-year period. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, have the opportunity to build a cash

Founder/CEO SK Gas & Oil Management

flowing asset through consistent efforts that may produce a $1M cash flow in five years. This creates freedom in time and freedom in money by leveraging both.

What do some Great Entrepreneurs have in common?

• Henry Ford started Ford Motor Company in his garage. Steve Jobs started Apple in his garage. Hewlett and Packard also started their technology company in a garage.

• Michael Dell started Dell computers in his dorm room at college. Mark Zukerberg started Facebook in college.

• Bill Gates purchased his Microsoft operating system from a small programming company and today it has grown into a giant. Technology has made it possible to build networks and keep them connected globally. Imagination helped to grow this company.

• How do relationships help entrepreneurs grow their businesses?

• Customers and partners are important money relationships.

• Partner relationships help each grow, and become accountable.

• Mentors play a very important advisory role in the entrepreneur’s success.

How are the giants like Amazon, known as ‘the everything’ store, Walmart, and Home Depot driving small businesses out of the marketplace? Most small businesses cannot compete in the marketplace with these giants.

How are entrepreneurs impacting communities in a very healthy and happy way?

• They are providing products and services.

• They are leaders who train leaders.

• They are helping you and others to start a home-based business; you don’t need a lot of funding – just energy, passion and the drive to succeed. Home based businesses allow you to spend more time with your family members.

Why is the entrepreneur’s biggest enemy procrastination?

• Relationship skillsets must be learned and adapted before an entrepreneur can become very successful. Without attraction marketing skills, it may be too easy to put off until tomorrow what should be done today. (Ask me how I know…?)

• Mindsets must adjust and align with one’s new passion and purpose and can take time.

• Goals and planning require action, and at times massive action, and consistency.

• Habits are essential to be your best.

• Personal development is an important part of your day.

In conclusion, entrepreneurs are important in our society. The key to your own success could very well be daily personal growth initiatives. Find and read inspirational books. Remember, leaders are readers.

“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t so you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.”

– Warren G. Tracy’s student

RESOURCE TOOLS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

New

This handbook is a comprehensive practical course that ANYONE who is desiring to become an entrepreneur (or a struggling entrepreneur) can become one in just 7 days. It is a step-by-step daily action business map plan that provides systems instructional building that enables entrepreneurs the sustainability that they will need when launching a start-up business. It is truly a tried and true course based solely on experimental acumen. But the best part, 90% of everything shared in the program can be done FREE. People no longer need a lot of money to move forward in executing their dreams and visions in this day and hour. The course is filled with practical tips and resource information to avoid the many pitfalls and mistakes most people make when starting a business.

Celebrating Women OfWorth

DR. KATRINA FERGUSON

Who or what have you allowed to define and determine your worth? What has infiltrated your life and affected the way you view your value and contribution to the world? When you analyze the way you see yourself, you will understand why you behave the way you do. We have allowed others to influence our self-worth to the point that we have no idea who we are, whose we are or what makes us great.

We must learn to accept and operate based on our ‘inherent’ value. Dictionary.com defines inherent as “existing in someone or something as a permanent and inseparable element, quality, or attribute.” This is the actual value we possess, rather than the images we are bombarded with on a daily basis through the media and just plain being out and about. These images represent our ‘assigned’ value. This is value assigned by others and accepted by the masses as cultural, trendy or even generational choices. Actually, these are an indication that we have lost track of our val-

WOMEN OF WORTH –An Anthology

Mentor | Chaplain | Professional Speaker Life Coach | Serial Entrepreneur | Best-Selling Author Corporate Trainer | Radio Personality

ue based on who we are and whose we are.

The media isn’t the only source that influences the value we place on ourselves. We often allow well-meaning friends and family to put their price tag on our forehead and we then live based on that falsely assigned value. We cannot allow our value to be colored by anyone, least of all those closest to us. The realization that people can only love you to the extent that they have experienced love, or love themselves, is an indication that they will not value you anymore than they value themselves. If they are operating in a place of self-loathing or if they lack self-confidence and self-esteem, they can only give you what they have. That is not a good place to look for validation of your value.

Any reasonable person looking to appraise the value of a thing, looks first to its creator. In our case, this is the only way to measure our worth. By creator, I don’t mean our parents. Although my mother loved me more than life itself, a realization that I only came to in her death, she wasn’t able to fully establish within me the depth of my value. Only my Creator could do that. Without minimizing the role of our parents, we only come through our parents; we don’t belong to our parents.

God had a purpose for our spirit to be in the earth realm and chose our parents to make it happen. Be very careful when you start saying hateful things about them. They were chosen by God to bring you into this world without any regard for the circumstances surrounding your birth. Although my mother did everything she knew to do, only God could help me to understand and embrace the value He bestowed upon me.

My teenage years were wrought with challenges because I did not understand my value. Even though there was family who loved me, friends who surrounded us, they were not able to help. Living in a single parent household, without the daily influence of my father, created a foundation of making decisions based on the holes in the tapestry of my soul. Holes because a crucial piece of the puzzle was missing. My parents divorced, and as a result, rarely did I see my father.

There were times my mom would say he was coming to pick me up and he did not show. Father-daughter dances with no father. Living only 25 minutes away, my deduction was that he didn’t come around because I wasn’t good enough, valuable enough, for him to be a part of my life. In actuality, the only time I even heard from my father was if mom

called him because I had done something wrong. Without a father to tell me I was beautiful; to tell me I was smart; to tell me I was a gift to the world; to remind me that in any and every relationship, I was the prize; I believed the opposite.

Not having my father to validate my worth and value meant I would endure a lot of unhealthy relationships, and consequently, a lot of pain, as I attempted to find that value in other men. It was a balancing act between determining value and avoiding fornication. Eventially, I became the prey. The prey of every male that crossed my path. It’s as if my lack of understanding my value was a magnet, attracting every unsavory voice to speak against my God-given value.

To add to the difficulty of discovering my value, I was bullied throughout my school experience. Even though mom worked two jobs most of my life, she placed value on the new house and cars, but we didn’t always have the newest of clothes in our closets. Sometimes she even made my clothes. I still remember the kids teasing me saying, “God help what she’s wearing.” or “hey Roach, make sure you stay out from in front of the bus, cause if you fall, the driver will run over you … you’re so black you blend in with the pavement.” Just the beginning of a self-esteem problem that would follow me throughout my entire young adult life.

(Side note: when I was in school, bullying consisted of saying mean things to people. Today you can literally be bullied to death. Bullying is very serious and something we want to pay close attention to as we raise our children in this generation.)

As a result, much of my time, was spent alone. Mom was working to pay for a lifestyle that paralleled what was abandoned when my parents divorced. This lifestyle didn’t allow for much of a social life or involvement with other people for me. The food, for both sustenance and emotional growth, was not readily available and as a result, I learned to depend on myself for validation, companionship and most everything else. So much so, that at times, it was and still can be difficult for me to be around other people for long periods of time.

Eventually, I was introduced to a relationship with Christ and started the journey of coming into the knowledge of Him as my Creator, Savior and Lord. This is when

I started to realize that the formula, I was using to calculate my value was all wrong. Much like math in school, it just didn’t add up. For years I had been looking to impostors and

inventors to assist me in assigning value to my life when all along, the work had been done.

Some would say rather than looking to the Creator for my value, I looked to the objects of His creation to find my value instead.

At some point, I can’t even tell you when, I got the idea that my value had nothing to do with people and everything to do with God. The revelation that I was a made in His image was the catalyst I needed to help me understand my true value! If you are lacking self-confidence, try God-confidence. Forget about self-esteem, build your God-esteem. Why do we allow people who did not create us to invent a value for us when all we have to do is receive and believe what God has already said about us?

Because we have never embraced the fact that there is a very real purpose for us being on this earth. You have a WHY … a BIG WHY. Visit my YouTube channel and watch the videos so that you can be clear about WHY you were

created. Once you get this down, you will realize that no matter what you face in life, “If your WHY is BIG enough, the HOW will take care of itself.” Unfortunately, some will not even consider these writings true. Instead, we look for the answers in the latest personal development book. It won’t be enough. I'm not putting down personal development. If you know me, you know that I am a personal development friend. In your process of developing personally, it is imperative that you include the words from your Creator in your study. Take dominion over your life’s situations and walk in your complete inheritance as kingdom citizens.

As I was maturing, I didn’t sound anything like this. Because I spent so much time alone, I began to really like myself and became shy; painfully shy. However, no man or woman is an island. You were not created to live life alone. We are created to be social. If you see where I'm going, you realize that this in itself is a very difficult thing to do - to both love being by yourself and to socialize. A lot of times people don't believe me when I tell them how shy I really am. They see me in videos, on stages, even in pulpits, and think there's no way I could be shy. “How can she be in front of all those people. I could never do what she does.” The very same things I said about myself many years ago.

Ironically, it’s true. I am extremely shy and introverted. There are times where I will be in my home and not see or seek out another person for days, sometimes weeks. I am not the social butterfly that I appear to be, in actuality, I am probably the most extroverted introvert you'll ever meet.

I had to accept the fact that shyness did not serve me. It did nothing to help me in my pursuit for destiny and purpose. That meant shy had to fall away, in favor of sacrifices for others, which meant that there was a lot of work for me to do. I had to find out that there was someone other than those mean kids, or the rude adults, or the BMW salesman who told me that I would never have a nice car. I had to get past all the lies and comments that had nothing to do with who I really was.

When you are clear about your value, you will want to be around more people so that you can allow that gifting to flow through you to them. I didn't desire to be an inspirational speaker. Inspiration is defined as giving people the hope they need to tap into their true potential and understand their value. I kind of just fell into it. After being involved as a trainer or having conversations with people, I realized that

what I said had a major impact on those involved. Not so much the words, but what was behind them. I could be training on any topic and people would come to me afterward for further counseling and prayer support.

Lastly, understanding your value is not a magic pill against everything that people will say or accuse you of. Assaults to your character and integrity will still come against you to remind you that it is not what happens to you but how you respond to it that matters. And know that you are victorious even though you may not feel like it at that moment. We could stay on this path for an inordinate amount of time. Just stop and think of all the things that had to go right for you to even be sitting here reading this story. Maybe everything in your life is not perfect, but God has a plan for your life. You are important. You matter to Him.

Excerpt from Women of Worth: An Anthology Book Article by Katrina Ferguson

Available at: www.Amazon.com www.womenofworthanthology.com

About Katrina

Katrina Ferguson delivers a passionate, enthusiastic and entertaining message to both teach and encourage you to celebrate your individuality and breakthrough to become your ‘greater self.’ Her inspiring message is based upon lessons learned in her own breakthrough journeys. Ms. Ferguson is committed to helping others across the world apply these principles in their individual lives and relationships. In her unique, uncompromising style, she brings life changing principles and leadership skills that have inspired and motivated thousands across age, gender and industry lines. As such, Ms. Ferguson has been the subject of numerous articles and interviews and her story is currently being used all over the country to train and motivate sales forces of both public and private organizations.

Ms. Ferguson’s acute understanding and ability to motivate people has enabled her to excel in the network marketing industry. Her keen awareness that conflicting demands, resource constraints and shifting priorities are challenges that must be overcome for success in today’s global marketplace has placed her in constant demand as a presenter, motivator, and trainer of trainers by sales organizations across the nation. Ms. Ferguson encourages everyone to be passionate and uncompromising in ‘giving back’ to the community and celebrating their ability do so. She is Chaplain for the WNBA Washington Mystics team and the Founder and President of A Sister’s Love, a nonprofit organization, whose mission is to provide practical information, tangible and intangible tools to assist women and children in achieving while propelling them into greatness.

For more information, to purchase Ms. Ferguson’s materials or to request an appearance, please contact her by email: Katrina@KatrinaFerguson.com or online at www.KatrinaFerguson.com. Please follow her on IG @ #DrKatrinaSpeaks and on FB @DrKatrinaSpeaks.

BURNETTE BROWN

Burnette Brown is a published contributing author to, “Women of Worth” the anthology. Her ability to overcome domestic violence led her to become the founding president of Single Mothers Helping Others, a non-profit organization established to assist domestic violence survivors become self-sufficient. The organization offers financial counseling, employment preparation, and life coaching. Ms. Brown earned an Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management from Strayer University. Ms. Brown is also the owner of Virtual Secretary, Inc, an administrative consulting firm. Ms. Brown is a member of the National Speakers Association and the American Business Women’s Association. Of all her accomplishments she is most appreciative of her calling to serve God and being awarded the gift of motherhood to her 6 beautiful children.

Contact Information for speaking engagements: Burnettebrown@ymail.com Phone: 919-633-1533 www.burnettespeaks.com

BRITTANY HAMPTON

Brittany Hampton was born in Bethesda, Maryland on September 1, 1989. At the age of 4, her parents separated. Her mother made the tough decision to move Brittany and her sister to the great state of Texas, where Brittany spent the next 20 years. Brittany is a proud graduate of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas.

After starting her academic career at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, Brittany knew she was destined for greatness. But like many young adults, her focus was drawn away to another

path that would lead her through a journey that she never imagined.

A non-denominational church organization she joined during her Sophomore year turned out to be a cult in disguise. Mentally abusive and manipulative leadership stripped Brittany down to the core of her being. At one point, she was homeless, depressed, and even considered suicide. By the grace of God and with the love of her family behind her, she was able to escape the organization and relocate to the Washington DC Metro area.

Brittany is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies at The University of Maryland - University College. Her expertise is in relocation and property management, and she finds joy in helping others find and settle into a safe and affordable place they can call home. Brittany is also passionate about helping other young women through telling her testimony of finding God in a dark time in her life and fighting to be everything she was destined to become.

For more information, contact Brittany at Bri.L.hampton@gmail.com Follow her on her social media platforms: Instagram: @justsimplybrii or @brimovesdmv or @testimonytimeline Facebook: @Blh015

Contributing Author

Contributing Author

TY GRAY-EL

Ty Gray-EL, the Minister of Poetry is an internationally renowned poet, storyteller and founder of Breath of My Ancestors Ministries, a cultural enrichment organization dedicated to restoring the heritage of Africans in America. He is also the CEO of JustSalTy Publishing and host of the Breath Of My Ancestors Radio Podcast. Ty earned a B.S. in Street-ology from the District of Columbia, a Master’s Degree in Survival in the Ghettos of North America and a Ph.D. in Psyche-ology from the University of Adversity and Hard Knocks. While some laugh at Ty’s academic achievements (once labeled ineducable) he is as proud of his accomplishments as any holding degrees from Howard, Harvard or Yale. He is an author, activist, lecturer, public speaker, husband, proud father of four and was the first designated Poet Laureate of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a two-time Spoken Word Billboard Award winner and recording artist with Tea-4-2 Productions. He is also a Certified Stress Management Therapist (CSMT) through the National Association of Drug and Alcohol Interventionist.

Rising from the depths of heroin addiction to becoming an author, lecturer, recording artist and radio personality, he is now called “The vessel through which our ancestors speak.” As a performance poet, storytelling-griot and activist he has appeared on multiple television and radio shows and in many magazines and newspapers.

As an ordained minister of the Gospel, he confronts the issues of racism and bigotry with poetic compassion, dramatic storytelling and historical fact, while weaving a tapestry of tolerance and hope. Ty’s presentations are a slice of lecture, a slice of poetry, and a slice of theater that all come together like grandma’s sweet potato pie.

PICKING A STAR LINEUP

How to choose the right people for your team?

Most entrepreneurs soon find that it is difficult to run a successful business alone. There is only so much one person can handle in a day, and I’ve yet to meet a person who is an expert at every aspect of their business. You may be a great visionary, but horrible at the day to day details it takes to keep operations running. So while you can cast vision, things can fall through the cracks when it comes to following up or sending emails. Sound familiar? This is just one common example of why we need others to help us build our dreams. The saying goes that many hands make light work; however, I’d like to submit that the right hands make for great work.

Every team is only as strong as its weakest link, so it is imperative that proper consideration is given when building a team. Each person chosen is a direct reflection of the leader’s ability to make wise decisions, and one bad hire can ruin an otherwise strong team and cost us momentum, morale, and productivity. So what should we be looking for when adding to our teams? I like to use the 3 Cs rule: character, capacity, and chemistry. Let’s take a look at each of these qualities – first character. Character refers to a person’s mental and moral composition. I’d be careful about adding a person to my team who is willing to win at any cost. We all know that those kinds of wins always cost us more than they are worth. I look for persons who exhibit good moral character, sound judgement and even temperament. People who are erratic in their choices often do not make good decisions. Ask for references and actually follow up on them. Look for patterns of good work ethic and personal conviction. Unfortunately, character is not a quality that can be taught. When we hire people with poor character, we are then forced to micro-manage, and who wants to waste valuable time babysitting? It’s best to hire quality people, and let them fly.

The next quality is capacity. Capacity refers to the person’s ability to do the job. The candidate may be an outstanding person with a magnetic personality, but can he/she do the task well? When we are new in business, we are often tempted to form our team from friends and family who dare to believe in us and our dream; however, this may not be the best pool to choose from when it comes to finding competent help. I’ve consulted with several entrepreneurs who hired a family member to help with the business knowing he was not qualified, and now they are faced with the

tough decision to remove that person from the team and potentially damage a close relationship. Here is where we have to exert emotional fortitude and not let our emotions or care for a person sway us to make an unwise decision. Nice does not equal competent.

And this does not only happen with friends and family; sometimes, we just click with a candidate and really enjoy their company and conversation, but we have to go back to the real question: “Is he or she qualified?” Now here is where we have to use sound judgement because capacity is something that can expand with training. So the question becomes, “Are they qualified and if not, could they be with reasonable training?” If the answer is yes, then you may have a winner on your hands if they are teachable and coachable. Every person on my team must be teachable and coachable – even those who are subject matter experts and seasoned in their craft. We should always be learning and expanding our ability to be great.

Lastly, is chemistry. Not the dreaded class we all had in high school, but the ability to play well with others. Ask yourself would this person gel well with the rest of my team? Unlike capacity, chemistry is not something that can be taught, and it can take a minute to form, but a good leader knows what type of person would work well with his/her team. Not everyone on your team will look and talk alike; however, they should be like-minded, like-spirited and able to align on the mission and goals of the company. So this quality is less about having similar hobbies and more about being on the same page when it comes to how we do business and how we interact with each other as a team. Someone can be a rock star when it comes to skills and experience, but have a terrible disposition. When I look at someone who is not doing well at a task I ask myself, “Is it attitude or aptitude that is holding them back?” Usually it is attitude, and again, that is a personal choice.

The ball is in your court as the leader. Set yourself and your team up for success by making wise hiring choices. Keep your standards high and wait for the right person versus making a rushed choice simply because there is an urgent need. I’d much rather lose sleep staying up late doing the task myself, than losing sleep over a bad apple ruining my team’s momentum and morale. The right people on the court with you makes all the difference – ask Jordan, Magic, Kobe, Lebron. They are all superstar athletes with incredible skills; however, each one gives much credit to their teammates for making them better and working with them to get to the championship. Your team matters, so choose wisely!

TV & Radio Opportunities

Is being on television and radio what you want to do? If so, email our office today, so we can assist you in achieving your media goals in life.

www.clarksconsultantgroup.com

ETHEL J. DAVIS

CEO & Portfolio Manager at VZD Capital Management LLC

Ms. Davis is the first African-American woman to own 100% of a Registered Investment Advisory firm in the Midwest and is a powerful advocate for wealth literacy, especially among women and minorities.

BIOGRAPHY

Ethel J. Davis brings 26 years of investment experience from respected firms - American Century, Fidelity Investments, Charles Schwab and Paragon Capital Management LLC. Being a fee-based investment advisor, Ethel’s compensation is tied solely to her ability to grow her client’s assets under management.

Titles are one thing; heart, passion and dedication are quite another. Ethel is a financial maven by leveraging her investment experience to understand each client’s goals, objectives, time horizon and emotional state of mind. She makes it her mission to extract their stories, filter the information and then build a customized solution that fuels their dreams, honor their heritage and exceed their financial expectations.

Ethel is recognized by the Kansas City Business magazine as a 5-Star Wealth Manager. Ethel rejects the “cookie cutter” and “predetermined models” or selling commissioned based products. VZD Capital is built on the twin principles of legacy and value. We believe that wealth represents the accumulated value of lifetime of hard work, the experiences and growth of families and the culmination of resolute, disciplined management. Forthright communication, expertise and individualized planning combine with VZD’s decades of experience to build legacies for clients that represent their values and create mechanisms to convert wealth into reached goals, be those philanthropic, commerce related or personal. As a fee-based Registered Investment Advisory firm, your success is our success, and we will not stop until your goals are met.

VZD Capital is where clients come first.

Please feel free to visit www.vzdcap.com or send an email to ethel@vzdcap.com.

ETHEL HAS WORKED

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ETHEL BEEN FEATURED IN:

FOR:

• Paragon Capital Management Principal & Portfolio Manager

Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Financial Consultant

American Century Investments Investment Consultant

PROJECT YOUR VISION TO THE WORLD

By Dr. Marcus L. Howard

Life, keeping true to its design, is in a constant ascent when it comes to thought processes, performances and requirements. This is the core reason that what we see as excellence is constantly changing. Once a mark of excellence has been met, it moves. Our internal person is always looking for better and since excellence is the best we know, we constantly desire better.

Tomorrow we will look at today’s accomplishments as old news and require something greater to conquer. The reason; we were created for change. The purpose; to produce a more Kingdom experience.

Knowing that this is the exact mindset that consumers are using, as entrepreneurs we must continue to raise our standards for excellence as well, and refuse to give in to the “this is good enough” mentality that plagues every failed or failing business.

Everyday must be approached as a journey to the greater product or service. Most people who attempt entering the marketplace don’t believe that they can attain the success of others in business without giving up their values, ethics or lying down their character standards. The reason this limiting thought process is such a pestilence, is because the requirements for success as it deals with business has eluded most of us for generations, as we believed that the only business we could successfully do had to be within the confines of small thinking. The marketplace has been viewed as a place to work for others to earn money for our necessities.

The truth is that the requirements for a successful Marketplace Ministry are the same as any other entity.

Write the vision and make it plain: This process is not just for others to be able to understand your plan, but it also serves as a great reminder of what your motivation, purpose and process are for accomplishing the vision. Even the most successful entrepreneurs have to be reminded of the vision’s foundation from time to time. It is also important to revisit this plan from time to time for updates and assessments.

Believe in the Vision: If you don’t believe in your own vision and ability then it is unrealistic to even hope to gain the belief or support of anyone else. Confidence and support in your project must begin within.

Determine what is necessary to fulfill the vision: Based on your plan determine what functions and tasks you can personally handle and which ones you will need to lean on O.P.R. (Other Peoples Resources). Knowing your own limitations and what is available to you via relationships and connections is key to your success.

GO with the vison: At the end of the day, the only thing that will ensure success is you moving from planning, hoping and wondering to implementing. Remember there is no such thing as failure, because every missed mark left a lesson behind.

Dr. Marcus Howard is a renowned visionary, award-winning author, coach, national speaker, creator of The Entrepreneur’s Dictionary, founder of Believe & Go Digital Academy and he is a TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) host.