Speak Woman Magazine Fall 2020 Issue

WOMAN Fall 2020 Issue Volume 6 -Issue 3

$10 Digital $2.99

Growing Your

Business During A Pandemic

Surviving Home School

LaTonya Donaldson Her Story of

Conquering Her

Spotlighting the strength, diversity, and uniqueness of this journey called womanhood

CONTENTS

Growing Your

Business

During A Pandemic

Pg. 11

Briana

Surviving

Riggins

Home School

Pg. 8

Pg. 12

Self-Care Starter

Pg. 13

Conchetta Jones Pg. 14

Joci Smith Pg. 16

Pg. 18

LaTonya Donaldson Her Story of

Conquering Her Queendom

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EDITOR’S NOTE Speak Woman Magazine is a platform to promote positivity!

With this goal in mind we have compiled a group of women who exemplify Grace and Strength.

I am so grateful to have connected with each of you and look forward to watching you to continue to shine bright!

We invite you to share your story.

Shanda Campbell, Editor-At-Large

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FAITH

Under

Briana Riggins

A nightmare struck! Watching my son lay there, I had to make one of the hardest decisions to allow surgeons to operate on his brain. Each time we had a scare to face death, I was not ready to lose my only son at the time. God answered each prayer by prolonging his life a little bit more. He heard my petition and gave him two and half years more than the doctors projected in the beginning. I used my faith through five different treatment solutions and through eight weeks of chemo and radiation. I used my faith through six months of physical therapy and two years of back and forth to the hospital while caring for family and working.

Let me just say this, I don’t know how people deal with this situation, or anything tough, without God. At any given moment I shared my faith and belief in God to propel me forward. I shared how through prayer I was given life, renewing fuel to keep going, and a shoulder to cry on. I was able to share my heart with God and become renewed and definitely strengthened each time.

My husband was the backbone of the family! He left his job to take care of our son, yes our son. See in the beginning of my son’s journey Brandon was just my good friend. He came into my life at a time when it was all falling apart. He helped me to mend the broken pieces. We did not expect that in our union that we would have to bury our son. For Brandon it didn’t matter what we were facing, as long as we did it together. Holding each other’s hands and pushing through each obstacle was the key to living. I always believed that if God allowed it, He would bring me through. I looked at each situation as a learning experience. Not realizing that others were watching the process as I went through. I got to see the legacy as my faith began to unfold in the death of my son. I listened to the word of God, I listened to worship music and talked to God a lot during that season. I also began writing in my journal about the experience and I adapted and pivoted where needed. This was the process of healing that I adopted through the first storm. I knew that if He brought me out of that, He could do it again.

Now I share my experiences to help other woman weather the storm and WIN! Women are known for being strong, but we have to make sure we go through the healing process also. You must be made whole inside and out. I now share my story and have developed a system to help others deal with doubt, unbelief, and fear.

www.unitedthroughthefire.com

Our number one priority is to create an unforgettable experience for you and your loved ones. Our baked goods and custom cakes are a hit at any function!

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Growing Your Business During A Pandemic

Covid19 has hit the economy hard and small businesses have taken the hardest hit.

Tension and stress have been high due to everyone being concerned about the health of our families and the survival of our businesses.

Here are a few tips to grow your business during a pandemic.

Don’t panic- It is impossible to think and strategize when in a state of panic. Blood flow is constricted therefore restricting creative ideas from emerging. By decreasing panic and regaining hope this will open the door of possibilities on the next step for your business.

Dig In- A successful business is not revealed during the good times it is revealed during rough seasons. This is a time to reflect on the why by focusing on the core values and mission of your organization.

Communicate Often- Talk to your team often. Talk about the safety features that you have implemented. Review what you know, what you don’t know, and what your next steps are. This will give voice to your team’s concern while maintaining a hopeful team perspective.

Think Big- This is a time to re-imagine the way things have “always been done”. How can tasks be re-created to operate more efficiently? What are additional products &/or services that your organization can provide during these changing times?

Surviving Home School 2020 has brought newness to every activity that has been labeled “normal” in times past. This is highlighted most in the way children and families experience school. Historically the start of school would include shopping for school clothes and supplies. The first day of school brought sights of parents hugging their children and sending them off to the bus stop or from the drop off lane. This has not been the case this year.

The Covid19 pandemic has made us have to rethink school. Parents and students have had to rearrange their lives and household in preparation for distance learning. Instead of students heading to the school building they are heading to the kitchen table or other areas created to complete lessons online. This has added stress and anxiety to many homes.

Here are a few tips to make the most of our new normal.

Create a dedicated space for learning.

Surroundings affect our mental health and ability to learn. Make the school as “normal” as possible for children by creating a dedicated space for learning prompts children’s brain to go into work mode.

Make sure that the area is comfortable, quiet, neat, and free from distractions.

Create a scheduleCreating a schedule gives students some control and knowledge about what the day will bring. This is in contrast of them living in the ever changing world around them.

Ask for helpUnderstand that communication is key. If your student is struggling with assignments email or call their teacher to discuss options.

Connect with community resources.

Make Self-Care a priority.

It can be stressful when things are not done the way the “should be”.

Remembering that this is a new experience for us all allows us to be more graceful with ourselves. Remember to be kind to yourself and the children around you.

Self-care means something different to each of us. This is primarily because caring for ourselves looks different for each of us. Self -care is simply taking care of your self in the now. While it is important to look forward in planning and goal setting for our future, we cannot let this truth overshadow the need to care for ourselves now.

Self-Care Tips

“I’m too busy”- Many of us have a full plate, especially due to covid19. We are constantly adjusting to new norms and putting out fires, but many times we are just going through the motions and time just continues to slip by us. One way to end the cycle is, stop saying that you are too busy. What we say out of our mouths manifests so if you continue to say “I’m too busy” you will be.

Take time to evaluate what and how you are doing things. Creating a list of requirements and schedule allows you to review what you do. Doing this will allow you to review how much time is blown or can be cut down.

Feelings of guilt- Society has made many women feel like they must care for everyone, but themselves. The guilt that comes when going against this can be a barrier for many. Many of us have had a lifetime of creating habits and patterns of not caring for self. One question that may bring a different perspective when these thoughts and feelings arise is to ask yourself what will happen to those depending on you if you are not well?

So, where do you start?

Understand that self-care is not a one time deal. Create time in your daily schedule to focus on you. This does not mean blotting out your whole morning or afternoon for yourself, but it does mean implementing yourself in your list of daily priorities. You can create a morning or evening routine that focuses on self-care.

Think holistically- Self-Care is not about one area of your life, but you as a whole being. Think about it from a mind, body, soul perspective. What are you doing to pour into every area of your life? Be mindful of what you put in your body. Think about what you watching, eating, and accepting are these things pouring into you or draining you?

Speak Woman Magazine Woman To Watch

Conchetta Jones

www.

.com

Conchetta Jones is owner of Confident Woman She’s All That; a coaching, consulting, and training company for women. She is a Certified Personal Development and Confidence Coach who motivates and inspires women to step out of their comfort zone and go after the life that they desire and deserve.

She is an Author, Model, and Speaker. It is the title speaker that she is most proud of, because for years she had a fear of speaking in front of people and failed speech class twice at different colleges because she could not present speeches in front of the class. She’s All That helps women identify the obstacles keeping them stuck and not allowing them to live the life they want. She uses her life experiences to show them how to follow their dreams.

It was her love of working with girls that motivated her to start her non-profit, She’s All That! A personal Development Mentoring Organization. She feels that women are dynamic entities and she loves being in their midst. She especially loves her friendships with younger women. She loves their energy, drive, and courage and feels they help her to stay young.

Conchetta is deeply family-oriented and finds it a blessing to spend time with her mom, son, and grandsons. Conchetta has been in a space of leadership for many years and is currently the CEO of her own lifestyle coaching company. She continues to lead and support women who need guidance as they navigate their life.

Connect with Conchetta!

Smith

"Let Us Sweeten Up Your Day"

www.jocicakes.com

Joci Smith, raised in Tampa Florida, is the definition of a modern, independent woman. She is an extraordinary mother and veteran who has created a successful brand.

Her repertoire has continuously evolved since she picked up a baking pan 16 years ago.

Joci is a self-taught baker whose cakes have been a hit from the start of her career. While building her brand, Joci pursued formal education at The Art Institute of Atlanta, furthering her brand in Atlanta’s bustling food industry.

Since 2008, Joci has served as CEO and master baker at her Atlanta based company and manages production at an industrial-grade commercial kitchen. Through her cakes, she is known for creating one-of-a-kind spins on classics that wow the palate; her key lime cake is top of the list. In 2012, she conceptualized a convenient, deliciously layered dessert in a jar, named JociJars. In 2016, the JociCars imprint was commercialized and well-received by her growing customer base. In 2018, she expanded the bakery’s reach into the diet conscious realm with the launch of Cheat Eats. Intended as a portion controlled dessert, lower-calorie treat Cheat Eats are packaged for individual consumption- removing the hassle of calorie counting for fit clients on the go.

Joci has appeared on iHeart Radio, AUMA Radio, Atlanta’s Michael and Joi in the morning radio show, The Tecap Report, and Yandi Smith’s Everything Girls Love blog.

On television, her products have been featured and praised on VH1’s Love & Hip-Hop. Bambi of Love & Hip-Hop franchise exclusively featured JociCakes desserts at her Shimmer Elite Hair Line Launch.

Why did you become an entrepreneur?

I have always wanted to own my own restaurant with my daddy, so it has been a desire of mine for a while. I began selling cakes as a hobby and it grew into a business out of struggle and need. I lost my job about 13 years ago and I did not look back. I decided that I never wanted anyone else to have control over me and my ability to feed my family.

This taught me how to manage money and to do profit & loss reports and the importance of it.

Talk about your accomplishments I would have to say that my greatest accomplishment was when I acquired my commercial kitchen space because I had been home based for so long. Acquiring my kitchen made me feel more accomplished and professional. It allowed me to then market to a new demographic and elevated my professional level from Tell us about your greatest struggle just a kitchen baker. It allowed me to in business and what did you build relationships with other business learn from that experience? owners as well. It was something that I saved for and was able to attain. It I built my business literally from was that next big step that I needed. the ground up; selling dessert slices on the weekend out of my car to How do you relax? beauty salons and barbershops in Atlanta, it was all a struggle. FindI love to travel! I spend as much ing the money, balancing single of my free time as possible parenthood, learning how to mainexploring the earth. tain my backend. I would always tell myself that if you want your What advice would you give other business to be successful you must women that is finding her way run it like you are a corporation. I through entrepreneurship? purchased a receipt book and Be patient with yourself. Always would give receipts for cake slices and gather names and numbers to maintain a level of professionalism. built my client base. Then I created Run your business at the level that you are trying to reach, so that you a database of all my clients and people that I would network with. will already be ready when you get there and not scrabbling around tryThis was prior IG and Facebook era. Just having the money to live ing to get things in order when you acquire that major contract. Being a and pour back into my business was hard to manage because there small business is hard, but the work was no backup plan for additional will pay off with consistency.

Remember, no matter what...always funds. What I learned to do over time was just put a little to the side take time for yourself because without with every order and try to increase being healthy and mentally stable my sales to generate more income. nothing will run!

LaTonya Donaldson

Her Story of

Conquering Her "One of the best things I’ve ever done is create the Calling All Queens Network. I had the idea for years, but was too afraid to listen to my intuition, too afraid to fail, and too afraid of letting myself down. The moment I realized I had the power to change my life by changing my mindset, the shifting began. Never be afraid or apologize for leveling up. Just know, Queens, your intuition is never wrong. Always listen. Your higher self is trying to elevate you; if it feels right and excites you, don't sit back and wait. Just do it!

I am so happy I started the Queendom movement, and I promise this is only the beginning of the empire. I'm striving to create something magical, not only for myself, but for every single one of you beautiful Queens.� LaTonya Donaldson

Life is supposed to be good and we are meant to be happy, but if that is true, why are so many people still settling for a life that is less than they desire. My opinion? We are looking in all the wrong places. At least that is what I was doing.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve had my fair share of struggles, and in that time, I often found myself trying to transform my life from the outside in. I changed jobs, tried different diets, followed the guidance of well-meaning friends and teachers, only to find that I was more disconnected and confused than ever before. It took a while for me to finally realize that “conquering my Queendom” and truly being happy was not going to come in some pre-mixed formula I could follow every day.

If I was going to truly be happy, I had to find my own way. And what I found is that the old saying is true: “Happiness is an inside job.” And I am now conquering my Queendom from within.

Her Story of

Conquering Her

What has been your greatest struggle in tapping into your Queendom?

My greatest struggle has been allowing myself to be vulnerable. I am usually seen as a strong independent Black woman who has her stuff together and always has good days. What people do not see, and that is due to my actions, is that I am also a broken and flawed woman. I am a survivor of domestic violence. I am a survivor of cancer. I am a survivor of bankruptcy and foreclosure. I am a survivor of divorce. I am a survivor of miscarriage. I am a survivor of an absent father. I never shared the flaws because I was ashamed. I was guilty. I was afraid of being judged and the "clean" image was indeed dirty. I realized the more of my story I shared, the more women were drawn to me. Perhaps because they saw that I am them. They are me. We are more alike than we are different.

My greatest wish is to raise my daughter to be accepting of ALL of herself. I want her to know that she is never too much and is always enough. My greatest wish is to raise my sons to be men who allow themselves to show grace and kindness to all women. To treat them with respect and as the Queens they are.

What advice would you give wom- Queendom. Practicing self-love means en on finding value in themselves? honoring your truth, listening to your

heart, trusting yourself, practicing I won’t tell you that the journey self-care, setting boundaries to conquering your Queendom is al- as needed, and accepting yourself for who you are, as you are. It may sound ways going to be easy or that there will not be challenges along the way. like a lot, but a little bit of intention What I can promise you is that if you and practice go a long way. Make are committed to you and the changes a conscious effort to fill your self-love you want to make, the transformation cup and watch how radically your life changes for the better. will be worth it. Your inner work is the only way to create and conI make time for nothing. quer your Queendom. Whether you When was the last time you had choose to walk this path alone or reach out for support, commit to doing unscheduled time on your hands the inner work, and your outer reality where you intentionally did nothing? will transform in beautiful ways. Only Meditation is an incredible practice you can begin this work. It starts with because it is during those moments of making the decision that you will no solitude and space that some of our longer allow your negative self-talk to most powerful insights come through.

It’s also the time when our inner voice control your life. There is nothing or nobody that can give you what it is has a chance to speak to us without the excess noise of the world. Get that you are seeking. intentional with your time and Yes, inner work is challenging, schedule a couple of hours this week but the person that you become on the to do nothing…and see what unfolds for you. Questioning your daily other side is well worth the journey.

You will embody your true power and activities forces you to reevaluate begin the process of embracing your- where you are in life, and most self. There is nothing that you cannot importantly, why you do everything you do. Having time to remind yourdo. Do not fear the journey of selfdiscovery. Commit to showing up for self why you are passionate about yourself and doing the work. Life will your work, you will without question—be able to improve your take care of the rest. performance. Take a step back from being overwhelmed, take a deep Talk more about self-love breath, and take the time to reach your Self-love is difficult to practice, full potential. but is vital to conquering your

Protecting

What is next for you?

Those who know me know how deep my love goes for others. It has even superseded myself at times. I’ve learned how to make sure that is no longer the case and the love I give to others, goes into me FIRST. As I continue to dive into new ventures in my life, learning who I am and knowing my worth are key. It’s far from easy, but in doing my best, I will be overwhelmed by the results. Being in spaces that value ME and MY work will be amazing and will become validation that those spaces are where I need to be. I will encourage Queens to stop holding themselves back and allowing self-sabotage and doubt to negate them from their destined path towards greatness. Because our time is now Queens.

Now, go out and conquer your Queendom, Girls!

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