CELEBRATING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
JAN/FEB 2018
MAGAZINE
OPRAH SAID, "A NEW DAY IS ON THE HORIZON!"
CATHY HUGHES FOUNDER AND CHAIRPERSON OF URBAN ONE, INC TRAILBLAZER OF HOPE | LEGACY IN LEADERSHIP ROLE MODEL OF EXCELLENCE
CHAMPIONS NEVER TELL: SISTERS SURVIVING STORMS IN THE WORKPLACE
#TIME'SUP
Administration COO Jil Jordan Greene Content Editor Dr. Cherita Weatherspoon Beauty and Style Ali Levine Ashley North Mary Byrd Melissa Hibbert Siobhan Thomas Career and Entrepreneurship Darieth Chisolm Jil Jordan Greene Personal Growth Dr. Cherita Weatherspoon Latisha Scott Lynnette Rogers Shaundyll Rogers Financial Wealth Vanessa Lindley Health and Wellness Brea Owens Denise Jordan Kiaundra Jackson Miyume McKinley Nicole Littrean Wendy Talley Creative Arts Rochelle Huerta Tynetta Brown Party4One | Single. Solid. Successful Angel Suttle Dr. Cozette M. White Genesis Dorsey Indiana Tuggle Keina Williams Krystal Smith Food for the Soul Guest Bakers and Chefs
MICHELLE WASHINGTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Business Office 1007 N Orange Street Wilmington, DE Email more@womenofmoremagazine.com Live Events Experience MORE Live Experience MORE Unplugged Audio Production Women of MORE Magazine Podcast Digital Publisher ISSUU.COM www.womenofmore.com
HOW DO YOU LEARN TO TRUST AGAIN, AFTER BEING VIOLATED, ASSAULTED OR ABUSED? By Darieth Chisolm TV Host, Author, Speaker, Coach, Filmmaker & Activist You may have heard of my widely publicized personal story of revenge porn and cyber harassment on the Dr. Oz show or The Today Show. A jealous and controlling ex-boyfriend took nude photos of me while I was sleeping, and then put up a website displaying them, and directed my friends and family to view my naked body. This was after he threatened to kill me because he couldn’t handle rejection when I ended the relationship. This left me locked in a place of shame and silence for months. Since sharing my story, I’m frequently asked, “How do you learn to trust again after being violated, assaulted, or abused?” HERE’S WHAT I’VE LEARNED. Time heals all wounds. Time alone in self-reflection during prayer and meditation is very important. I took time to be still with myself so I could rebuild my self-esteem. I decided to enjoy being in the moment and taking it day by day. I’ve learned not to rush into another relationship. Trusting again takes practice. It can be rocky at first, feel a little scary that you may make another mistake, but eventually, you can get back to trusting yourself and trusting others. Don’t blame yourself for falling for an abusive partner. Instead of beating yourself up for having made the choice to be with someone who is abusive, forgive yourself and look at the choices you made with honesty and compassion. You may not have seen the signs, maybe you were in love, maybe you didn’t believe things would turn out so badly. Let go of any selfblame and guilt. The most important thing now is to learn from the experience and grow into a better you.
Make a list of what you won’t tolerate in your next relationship. List the behaviors that are unacceptable to you. Commit to honor yourself and maintain those healthy boundaries if a new partner starts crossing them. Get in touch with your own needs. If you’ve been made to feel unlovable and that your needs were unworthy of being met, get back in touch with your needs and what you want out of life. When you feel you’re not good enough, you are rejecting yourself. Once you learn to love yourself and put your needs first, you will find yourself attracting more loving and trustworthy people. Believe that it’s possible to love again. Don’t let a previous bad relationship lead you to believe you’re not capable of a happy, healthy relationship. You can break this cycle and find love with someone who is better for you. Learn to love yourself and others in a healthier way. Release the shame. Shame is the number one emotion that most people say cripples them when they think about moving forward. The heaviness of the shame weighs you down and prevents you from ever wanting to trust again or start a new relationship. Let me help you through this. I want to gift you with my 3 Daily Habits to Free Yourself from Shame and Live More Fully. It’s a free audio recording and workbook you can access at www.FindYourEverydayCourage.com. You can also learn about how we are supporting and helping victims of cyber harassment at www.50ShadesofSilence.com.
4 | PERSONAL GROWTH
Each New Year comes with the New Year New Me mantra. I applied that mantra to my new year with a twist; I want God to hide me as I seek Him. I had a few amazing moments and a few very disappointing moments in 2017. Choosing me became a personal celebratory moment. I decided that loving me more, every part of me-mind, body and soul, would be a priority. I started my weight loss journey and it’s been an eye opening yet rewarding process. I started going to counseling to work on areas of my life I’ve buried that need to be addressed. I opened my heart to love without fear for the first time in over three years. My clutch bag website www.whataboutaclutch.com was revamped and it looks AMAZING! THEE And, I was chosen to grace the cover of a magazine. With all the highlights of my life last year, there were also some WRITTEN BY LATISHA SCOTT lowlights. The year did not end the way I had planned or But those words stayed with me and I meditated on expected. I was confused. Over the past three them until I realized that I needed to be hidden until I years I had been working on me, working on my was ready for what God had for me. I thought the relationship with God, changing my perspective, problem was with everything and everyone else praying more, fasting more, and being grateful. outside of me, but God made it clear that I needed to But disappointment still found its way in to my focus on my and the only way to do that was to life. As certain situations unfolded, I was left focus on Him. baffled, upset and broken-hearted. I was like, “Come on God! I don’t understand. What else do I Now, my prayer is, “Hide me, Lord, while I seek you. need to work on?” I was so frustrated and was Show me the things in me that aren’t pleasing to ready to throw in the towel when it came to you. Mature me so I can handle what you reveal to certain things. me in preparation for what you have for me.” God knows the desires of my heart, and as I seek Him I I would see all of these inspirational quotes on become better equipped to handle everything He social media. They would just make me angry and has waiting for me. Psalm 84:11 reminds me that I’d keep scrolling. I was doing what the quotes God is a protector who gives grace for the journey, said I should be doing, but all those great things and that those who seek to walk after Him will have weren’t coming to pass in my life. One day out of what they desire. anger I said, “I want God to Hide me until I’m ready.” I wanted Him to hide me from those who LaTisha Scott meant me no good until I was ready to deal with Website: www.WhataBoutaClutch.com it. IG: @whataboutaclutch FB: LaTisha Nicollette
ME
5| PERSONAL GROWTH
GO RED FOR WOMEN’S HEART HEALTH: KNOW YOUR NUMBERS One in three women die from heart disease. What’s so sad about this is that heart disease is largely preventable. Here’s what you need to do… Go Red!
G
GET YOUR NUMBERS
R REALIZE YOUR RISK E
O
OWN YOUR LIFESTYLE
EDUCATE YOURSELF AND FAMILY
D DON’T BE SILENT
Get your numbers means an annual visit to your health care provider to get your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and weight checked. If you’re diagnosed with any form of chronic disease like diabetes or high blood pressure, it means checking in every four to six months as requested for follow-up. This allows you and your health care provider, who is your partner in health, to stay on top of things and make the adjustments needed.
Finally, don’t be silent. Raise your voice and bring awareness to the fact that heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. Be assertive. Talk with your healthcare provider -get your numbers, then ask what you can do to reduce your risks of heart disease. Join the Go Red for Women movement by wearing red on National Wear Red Day, February 2, 2018. Paint your town, workplace, beauty shop, and place of worship red. Don’t be silent. Let your voice be heard.
Owning your life style and realizing your risks means taking responsibility for the things you do or don’t do that put you at risk, like smoking, lack of exercise, poor eating habits, and more. You’ve got to learn what to do to stay healthy, then make lifestyle changes based upon what you learn, and teach your family, too. The next generation should be healthier based upon what we know and do.
Learn more at goredforwomen.org. Denise M. Jordan, MA, RN Community/Public Health Nursing, Retired Stay connected : Email: thisandthatwithdenise@gmail.com Facebook: @thisandthatwithdenise
6 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Robin Graves (#Iron Butterflyy) is a Certified Personal Trainer with Strength Factory Personal Training and an NPC Bodybuilding Bikini Competitor. Robin has been a personal trainer for 3 years, but an athlete most of her life with a strong background in dance. She’s a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and enjoys working with the young ladies in the Delta Gem program. Robin also has an etiquette program, working with young ladies in grades K-12. Robin’s goal is to strive to provide the community with the basic knowledge to empower us to be better versions of ourselves.
R obin Graves
REFRESH WRITTEN BY MARY BYRD When cleaning out my closet I always find myself rediscovering amazing clothing items that are in excellent condition that I am no longer using. I have made a commitment to myself that I will live a more minimalist life, especially when it comes to my wardrobe. I am trying to stay true to being a “Fashionista on a Budget” and not breaking the bank. So, I have decided that instead of always being on the hunt for new items that are unique and different, I can create my own. Pinterest is my new best friend for inspiration. Since I am not a seamstress, I have to look for ideas that require very little or no sewing. We all love our jeans and there are so many different ways that denim is being styled. So, instead of breaking our bank account trying to keep up with the latest trends why not take a stab at recreating them with very little effort? A simple trip to Joann’s Fabrics and Crafts really opened my eyes to the possibilities, giving me even more ideas for future projects. After spotting jeans that I absolutely loved on Instagram, I decided to create my own version with gorgeous feathers and some simple fabric glue. It only took a few minutes and I LOVE the outcome. I created a totally new look with an item I already had in my closet. Now that’s what I call more bang for the buck. Fashion is like art so why not get creative and show off your own personal style using something old from your closet and a little something new. 8 | BEAUTY AND STYLE
Accepting Challenges
WRITTEN BY ROCHELLE HUERTA As a self-taught artist, every piece of art that I create is a challenge for me. Accepting challenges help you grow and advance, making you stronger and more successful. This canvas painting was one of those challenges that tested my MORE. Painting hands has always been difficult for me and this painting required me to paint a crowd, most of the crowd had their hands up and in different angles. The outcome of the painting was a success. My customer was more than thrilled with it making my work a success! Never doubt your abilities. I know that challenging myself has made me stronger and more confident in my work. To see more of my work, follow me on Instagram @rochelle_the_artist and Facebook: Rochelle The Artist. -Rochelle Huerta
9 | CREATIVE ARTS
Champions Never Tell is a book that gives women the power to take control of their work-life and circumstances. While women are waiting for their leaders, organizations or HR to assist them, they are suffering in a multitude of ways. Champions Never Tell offers women insight on self-care and what they can do for themselves to save themselves. Seven incredible women bravely share their stories of being in hostile work environments to give clarity to the ambiguity that many women experience when trying to determine whether they’re harassed. The book offers insights, recommendations, and action steps that women can take to assess where they are and take control of their health. Who is the book for? This book is for women who are confused about what may be going on in their workplace. It’s for women who are at their wits end about being mistreated. It’s for women who want to know that they are not alone, and are not overreacting. Staying in hostile work environments for long periods of time can cause emotional trauma and scars that last a lifetime. The trauma is magnified when organizations continue to promote toxic leaders and allow mistreatment regardless of how many people’s careers they affected and destroyed. Workplace Bullying A common issue not widely talked about or studied is workplace bullying. It is the repeated and unreasonable actions of individuals (or a group) directed towards an employee (or a group of employees) intended to humiliate, intimidate, degrade, or undermine, which creates risk to the health or safety of the employee.
CHAMPIONS NEVER TELL
SISTERS SURVIVING STORMS IN THE WORKPLACE
JIL JORDAN GREENE
CHRISTY RUTHERFORD
CHIEF HR OFFICER THE PEOPLE RESOURCE GROUP CHAPTER 2: THE DEVIL WEARS NAVY BLUE
PRESIDENT LIVE-UP LEADERSHIP CHAPTER 3: LIFE BEAT THE LIFE OUT OF ME
Workplace bullies are often in supervisory or managerial roles and nearly 35 percent of Americans have experienced one. Since there is a general lack of awareness about it and an element of personal shame involved, people don’t realize they are victims and are reluctant to report it. The lack of awareness also keeps companies/organizations from addressing it properly. Workplace bullying has hurt more employees than sexual harassment and nearly half of the people targeted suffer stressrelated health conditions which include debilitating anxiety, an impaired immune system, posttraumatic stress disorder and cardiovascular problems.
Champions Never Tell is a must read! It can be purchased in several different formats at www.ChampionsNeverTell.com.
According to the 2014 Workplace Bullying Institute survey: • Most bullies are men (69 percent) and target mostly women • Women bullies (31 percent) target other women two times more than they do men • Women bully other women at a higher rate than men bully women • Nearly 80 percent of women who are bullied by men lose their jobs • Nearly 90 percent of women who are bullied by women lose their jobs • When men bully women, they lose their jobs at a lower rate than when they bully men • When women bully men, they lose their jobs at a higher rate than when they bully other women
DR. VALORIE PARKER-HAGEN PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ARISE BY VNP PRIMARY BOOKING AGENT FOR LES BROWN CHAPTER 4: EAGLES SOAR
JADE BROWN-RUSSELL
VONGRETCHEN NELSON
PRINCIPAL, THE JBR FIRM CHAPTER 5: SOMEONE'S GOING TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU'RE BLACK BABY
PCC GLOBAL INSTITUTE, LLC CHAPTER 6: CRABS IN A BARREL MENTALITY
RONETTA FRANCIS FRANCIS DYNAMICS CONSULTING GROUP EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY, ETHICS & COMPLIANCE OFFICER CHAPTER 7: IS IT TIME TO CALL THE LAW?
CHERYL SNAPP CONNER CEO OF SNAPPCONNER PR, FORBES AND INC CONTRIBUTOR, CREATOR OF CONTENT UNIVERSITYâ„¢ CHAPTER 8 - THE WORLD IS GETTING BETTER FOR WOMEN ONE STEP AT A TIME
6-PART SERIES SEGMENT 1: SHE'S READY
READY FOR OPPORTUNITY! GUEST WRITER ANGEL SUTTLE
“If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” When you remain prepared, opportunities will be drawn to you, but you can't receive what you aren't ready for! This applies in all aspects of life: from dating and relationships to aspirations and business. So, with that in mind... if everything you've been praying for showed up, would you be ready to receive it? That home, promotion, breakthrough? Are you ready? I asked myself this exact question a few months ago when the opportunity of a lifetime "slid into my DM's". I had just binge-watched a new show on Netflix called "Dear White People," which I totally related to as the occasional "token black girl" throughout my time in academia. I took to social media to voice my kudos for the series created by Justin Simien. I never anticipated that post would draw the attention of Netflix but it did! Weeks later, I was flown to New York City to film one of their most impactful diversity campaigns, #FirstTimeISawMe. I shared this platform with other influencers and celebrities including Spike Lee, Marlon Wayans, and Ava DuVernay. I never submitted a casting and didn't have an agent, but when the opportunity came to me, I was ready! Angel Suttle | Radio Personality IG, Facebook, & Twitter: @HaloEffectDaily www.HaloEffectDaily.com www.B969FM.com
12 | PERSONAL GROWTH
6-PART SERIES SEGMENT 1: SHE'S READY
ARE YOU READY TO UNLEASH YOUR INNER CONFIDENCE? GUEST WRITER DR. COZETTE M. WHITE
Embrace It It’s true that you are single and this is something to celebrate! Everyday, make a decision to celebrate the advantages of being alone. Do not entertain pity from your family members or friends. Instead, respond to them wittingly. When you do this, it will instantly show that being single is a matter of choice, in the same way that being married is. After all, there are limitless possibilities and you may meet a fascinating bachelor soon! Be Present At All Events It is lovely to be single since it is not necessary for you to follow someone else’s schedule. So, don’t turn down invitations. When you have an open mind, you venture into unknown territory, and this is exciting! You might find that visiting the museum alone turned out to be fun because you got the chance to interact with many intriguing people. These interactions might result in a new job, a new friend or possibly, a new partner. Think of it as a way of developing your knowledge and your network. Go After What You Love Doing You should enjoy the chance to discover what you love most. In many instances, people settle for a profession when they reach an age where When you’re single, you should they can’t determine what makes them happy. You might already have a enjoy your life to the fullest. The thriving career. But, be brave, go bigger and bolder -start a blog, set up a opportunities, freedom and business or discover a new hobby. As a woman who is confident, you know choices are boundless. If you what you want. are confident enough to embrace and enjoy singleness, Have Immense Awareness you can live life the way you When you have confidence and awareness of the world around you, you desire. Sistas, here’s a checklist can start a conversation with anyone. Awareness stems from reading and to help you build your doing. Look for that popular best seller your friend mentioned and form a confidence. Soon you’ll be monthly group club with your friends. This will enhance your knowledge radiating confidence and and you will never have to scratch your head looking for a topic to discuss glowing in your singleness. with people! Recently, Dr. White was awarded the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award by President Barack Obama. Learn more about Cozette via her website at http://www.MyFinancialHome.com Follow Dr. Cozette at @cozettemwhite
Get Rid of Barriers As a woman, the biggest mistake you can make is to desire something but fail to make the effort to get it. For instance, you may be good at volleyball but do not have the guts to join the volleyball club in your town. Get rid of your fears and take that bold step. When you deal with your fears, you become confident. In the end, you find that it was not as hard as you first thought. It’s all in your mind. Think about what you, as a woman who is confident in her singleness can do, then do it. 13 | PERSONAL GROWTH
KNOWING YOUR TRUEFORM Written by Siobhan Thomas
Once again, it’s that time of year when everyone gets in the gym, eats healthy and starts back at the top of that bucket list they never got to last year. After all the resolutions have been broken and your gym membership has gone to waste, you’re still left with your TrueForm. This year, make it your duty to know what your TrueForm is. Stop wearing what everyone says is trending. Stop putting on the cookie-cutter outfits that are plastered over IG, conforming to something that is not you. Embrace your true self. Embrace your TrueForm. Start small and set realistic goals for yourself, whether that’s for fashion, beauty or lifestyle. Make sure that you don’t set your sights on something unrealistic and overextend yourself. Think about the things you what to accomplish and make a list. Review your list then decide which things are realistic and can enhance or better your TrueForm. Fashion What sense of style are you trying to bring back to life? Casual Chic, totally Glam, or Boss Babe. Look to see what you have in your existing closet and find what complements the style you are trying to achieve. Remember, building the perfect wardrobe takes time. Develop patience so you can accomplish the style you really desire. Beauty Create an AM and PM routine that works for you. Look for products that target the areas you want to concentrate on. Creating a routine trains your skin so you can get the results you are looking for. This is why you should find the time to pamper yourself. Not only will it help improve your skin and hair, but it will enhance your inner TrueForm as well. Lifestyle Know your chaos and embrace the chaos that you have. Others may look at your chaos as total confusion but only you know what works for you. Find ways to eliminate chaos or ways to embrace it but keep it under control.
CONNECT WITH SIOBHAN THOMAS HERCHAOSGIRL WWW.HERCHAOSGIRL.COM IG: @HERCHAOSGIRL PINTEREST: HERCHAOSGIRL
14 | FASHION AND STYLE
DO N' T WRITTEN BY SHAUNDYLL ROGERS
In 2016, I participated in my first ever Vision Board Party. On the day of the event, I arrive prepared with my board and list of goals, dreams and desires. Once settled in, I start feverishly flipping through pages of magazines looking for the perfect inspiration and symbols that would represent my goals, dreams and desires. Surprisingly, this part of the process challenged me. I questioned everything. In one moment I found myself asking, “If I put this photo on the board, will people judge me for having such lofty goals?” The next moment I was looking at a photo and telling myself, “Shaundyll, that is way too big, honey. Maybe you should scale your inner desires down a bit.” I went from feeling inspired and proud to uninspired and personally disappointed. First, I was disappointed because I was afraid of others may think. Second, I knew my personal belief system was keeping me from believing that what I wanted was achievable. Finally, I was disappointed because I made the decision to dumb down. I intentionally left things off my board that were important to me because I did not believe that they would ever actually transpire in my life. I refused to share my board because I did not want to be judged. I was left with a Vision Board that ended up forgotten about and eventually put in the trash. Why? Because it didn’t really represent me.
DUMB DOWN
As 2017 got underway, I still could not get that Vision Board Party off of my mind. It was hard to acknowledge that I had dumbed down my own personal dreams, goals and desires. At that time, all those things I wanted for my life were SO much larger than my personal belief in my own ability, capability and faith in the God I was trusting to make it all happen. I knew I had some work to do. I needed to improve my confidence, not only in myself but also in God.
I made a choice in January 2017 to focus on pushing past the boulder that was holding me back. I became intentional about building myself up. I began doing things daily that pushed me out of my comfort zone, built my confidence, and reminded me about the ability of the God that I choose to trust and believe in. I was determined to not allow that woman from 2016 to live through 2017. It was not always easy, but it was definitely worth it. I want to challenge you to stretch yourself throughout this year. Don’t dumb down or compromise your goals out of fear, insecurity or because of what others may think. You are STRONG, BOLD, AND WORTHY of having all that your heart desires; so dream big, set challenging goals and value the vision that has been placed in your heart. Purpose to end this year being better than the person you were when you started it!
CONNECT WITH FB: Shaundyll Rogers IG: IAMSHAUNDYLL
15 | PERSONAL GROWTH
Women are standing up in 2018 and reclaiming their power. The #metoo movement has spread across the globe and does not discriminate based on race, class, religion or ethnicity. One common thing that keeps some women stuck in abusive situations at home or at work is financial. Whether you’re single, married, divorced or cohabitating, in order to keep your power and freedom of choice you have to make sure you’re focusing on three things: equity, emergency fund and an exit strategy. 1. Equity – at work and at home. On average, women still earn 80 cents for every dollar men earn, with Hispanic women earning 54 cents and black women earning 63 cents for every dollar. While there is advocacy work that needs to be done on a macro level, you can start being your own advocate by improving your negotiating skills, getting rid of the imposter syndrome - know that you are worthy of that promotion or raise! Also, don’t settle for careers that historically were “women’s work” (unless you love it) because they tend to pay less. At home we must also advocate for equity. Women tend to take on most of the domestic and child-rearing responsibilities, which either causes them to leave their careers totally or slow down which affects their income earning ability. You must discuss with your partner your desires and strategize on how your family will balance these responsibilities and the finances. Contact me for the “Family Planning” tool. 2. Emergency Fund – we cannot ignore the risk we put ourselves in by not having money available for emergencies. Calculate how much money you would need to cover your basic expenses: food, housing, transportation, etc. for at least 3-6 months, in case you are without income. This will give you security and options. 3. Exit Strategy – you must have an exit strategy for your job, business or home. If you are working at a job or in a relationship and are victimized or feel trapped because you can’t afford to leave, you are losing your power. My motto is, “stay ready!” You must invest in your professional development, your business and yourself! That means taking courses, hiring a coach, reading, exercising and eating right. Here is a list of books I recommend for your professional and financial development: https://www.amazon.com/shop/vanessalindley
Don’t let money keep you in prison. If things aren’t going right, you want to have the option and ability to leave for your safety and peace of mind. Lastly, don’t just wear black for solidarity, be in the black! Which means, you must ditch the debt! If you owe more than you own, you are in the red, not the black and that can keep you stuck. Get an accountability partner and get started on being debt free in 2018! A great resource to help you get started on your journey is my book, Life Balance for the Women on the Rise. http://lindleyconsultinggroup.com/product/lifebalancebook/ Contact me: Vanessa@lindleyconsultinggroup.com LindleyConsultingGroup.com Follow on all Social Media Platforms: @VanessaLindley
TIME'S UP!
WRITTEN BY VANESSA LINDLEY 16 | FINANCIAL GROWTH
WELLNESS Lounge
the
IMPROVING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH THE S.M.A.R.T WAY
“Caring for the mind is as important and crucial as caring for the body. In fact, one cannot be healthy without the other.” -unknown author WRITTEN BY WENDY TALLEY, LCSW Every year during the last few weeks of December, we see a lot of social media posts about people’s new ideas; mood; how they are going to remove negativity, backbiters, naysayers and gossipers; and find new friends. But no one ever says how they are going to do this. We set a lot of goals around our physical health, relationships, career or business, and our finances. Our goals are admirable and when we make them we have every intention of accomplishing them; but somehow we often get off track and struggle to make progress on the things we want. Why is that? We have a goal, but we don’t have a strategy to accomplish it. So, to avoid your Facebook friends saying “Oh, here she goes again with this same old bull s*%t,” you can use this great tool to set goals that are meaningful and SMART for the new year. S.M.A.R.T GOALS was developed by George T. Doran in 1981. The acronym spells out
objectives which any person in almost any profession can use to achieve their goals:
S (Specific) is about targeting or focusing on a specific area of improvement or project. M (Measurable) is where you quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress. A (Assignable) this is where you identify who will do the task, support, or assist you in
completing the project.
R(Realistic) states what results you can realistically achieve, given available resources. T (Time-related) means you must be able to specify when the result(s) can be achieved.
In order to live your best life, you have to set goals in every area of your life. Wendy Talley, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California where she has a private practice, KW Essential Services and Consulting Firm, Thelese Consulting Group, LLC. For booking engagements go to www.theleseconsultinggroup.com or email theleseconsultinggroup@gmail.com. Reference: Doran, G. T. (g). "There's an S.M.A.R.T. way to write management's goals and objectives". Management Review. AMA FORUM. 70 (11): 35–36. 17 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS
SHE LIVES WITHIN
ME
HDARTISAN PORTRAIT
THE 7 STEP BLUEPRINT TO FLOURISH IN 2018 WRITTEN BY DR. RACHEL TALTON
1. BE COMMITTED – People often have great ideas, but are not committed to them. Commitment requires putting the resources, time, and energy into making your dream a reality. Avoid skipping over the commitment component of making an idea work. Commitment is critical to making everything happen. 2. FORM A MASTERMIND GROUP – A mastermind should include people who have your best interests at heart, will work through things with you, and challenge you. Masterminding is a formal way of getting these people together. Many successful people do it because it is a way to challenge their thinking, get different perspectives on their ideas, and be pushed to the next level, both intellectually and in business. Even if the group is not formal, put a team of people together that cares about you and your idea. You can’t do it alone. 3. CREATE A PLAN – It does not have to be a 100-page strategic plan, but it must be goal-oriented. You should have big-picture goals broken down into tasks, a timeline for when these tasks will occur and identify who is responsible for implementing the tasks. Your plan serves as a blueprint to help you remember items that are critical to the success of your idea. Place your guiding principles at the top of your plan so you remember why you are doing what you are doing. 4. BE ACCOUNTABLE – Hold yourself accountable to achieving your goals or explain to yourself why you did not. Create weekly accountability metrics and reward yourself when you achieve your financial, professional and personal goals. This step is very important to your success.
Dr. Rachel Talton is the founder and CEO of a successful brand strategy firm, Synergy Marketing Strategy & Research, Inc. and CTO of Flourish Leadership, LLC. She unlocks passion in organizations, people, and brands from the inside out. 5. BUILD YOUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION – Having a spiritual foundation or believing in something that is bigger than yourself can help to guide your decisions. Some actions may get you where you want to go but may not be the right thing to do. Another direction may take longer but is truer to who you are. 6. NEVER. EVER. GIVE UP – Sometimes, when things seem to be going well, you hit a wall. The difference between people who are flourishing and those who are not is that successful people see the wall as a learning experience on their way to getting to their goals. You must be able to lift yourself up over your challenges. Something inside of you says I can do this, I can get beyond this challenge –that’s self-determination. There are many people who are smart, beautiful, and talented, but who are easily turned away by a challenge. You never hear about these fantastic people because they let one or two challenges get in their way instead of using the challenges as a learning experience on their path to fulfilling their purpose. 7. REMEMBER TO CELEBRATE – Even if it is a little thing, celebrate! This advice is especially important for women. We assume that it is our job to take care of everybody and fix everything, and we never take the time to celebrate the things we accomplish. Be sure to celebrate both the little things and the big things that you have been able to accomplish.
Cathy Hughes URBAN ONE
THE FOUNDER AND CHAIRPERSON WATCH THE INTERVIEW WOMEN OF MORE MAGAZINE
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ON EXPERIENCE MORE PODCAST
ONE
WOMAN VISION COMPANY
Cathy Hughes is a dynamic, media pioneer who demonstrates the power of one – one woman, one vision, one company – Urban One. As Founder and Chairperson of Urban One, Inc., the largest African-American owned and operated, broadcast company in the nation, Hughes’ unprecedented career has spawned a multimedia conglomerate that generates original content across the spectrums of radio, television and digital media. Her humble beginnings in Omaha, Nebraska, were not a deterrent to her success but rather part of the catalyst that fueled her ambition to empower African Americans with information and to tell stories from their perspective. Hughes began her radio career in her hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, at KOWH (AM), a station owned by a group of African-American professionals. In 1971, she moved to Washington, D.C., and became a lecturer in the newly established School of Communications at Howard University. During her tenure, she served as General Sales Manager at WHUR, Howard University Radio, increasing the station’s revenue from $250,000 to $3 million in her first year. She also became the first woman Vice President and General Manager of a station in the nation’s capital and created the format known as the “Quiet Storm,” which revolutionized urban radio and was aired on over 480 stations nationwide. In 1980, Hughes purchased her first radio station, WOL-AM, in Washington D.C., and pioneered yet another innovative format – “24-Hour Talk from a Black Perspective.” With the theme, “Information is Power,” she served as the station’s morning show host for 11 years.
In 1999, Cathy Hughes became the first AfricanAmerican woman to chair a publicly held corporation, following the sale of more than seven million shares of common stock to the public. Since that time, she, along with her son and business partner Alfred Liggins, III, has grown Urban One, Inc. into a multi-media company that is an urban radio market leader with 56 stations comprised of Hip-Hop, R&B, gospel and talk radio formats. Urban One is the first African-American company in radio history to dominate several major markets simultaneously and is the first woman-owned radio station to rank number one in any major market. Its success has earned Cathy Hughes hundreds of prestigious awards and recognitions including: the ADColor Lifetime Achievement Award, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Chair’s Phoenix Award, the NAACP Chairman’s Award, the Giant of Broadcasting Award, the Uncommon Height of Excellence Award, the Essence Women Shaping the World Award, the Ida B. Wells Living Legacy Award, and induction into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame. Today, Urban One is the parent corporation of several subsidiaries: TV One, the premiere, African-American owned, cable television network in the country and current home of the hit show UnSung, NewsOne Now, and the reality show R&B Divas; Reach Media, which presents syndicated radio programs like the Rickey Smiley Morning Show and the Tom Joyner Morning Show; Interactive One, home of several popular websites including The Daily Grind and Hello Beautiful; and One Solution, a marketing firm that allows advertisers to take advantage of all of the assets under the Urban One brand.
EXPERIENCE MORE PODCAST
POWERED BY WOMEN OF MORE MAGAZINE
GO, GIRL!
Moving Beyond Goal-Setting to Goal-Getting, Part 5
It’s the beginning of a new year and we are closing out the 5part series, Moving Beyond Goal-Setting to Goal-Getting, just in time for you to attack your goals with fierceness. In this issue, we’re looking at the final two strategies in the GO! methodology to help you accomplish your goals and live the life you desire. Strategy 9: Goof Off When you decide to go after your goals, it means hard work, maybe late nights, giving up social activities, and perhaps even curbing your spending so you can invest in your goal. If you are laser-focused you may forget to relax, revive and rejuvenate. You may even think that there’s no time for you to enjoy yourself, that you’ll relax when you accomplish your goal. While I can understand why you’d feel that way, it’s not a healthy way of operating. Going long stretches without giving your mind and body a break may lead to an emotional, mental or physical breakdown. What good is it to get to your goals and not be well enough to enjoy what’s on the other side? Take time to Goof Off. Take time for restoration. A week-long vacation is great, but it may not always be necessary or possible. It’s okay to take a day and spend it doing absolutely nothing at all. The world will not end if you treat yourself to a massage, mani/pedi and lunch with a friend. And, you most likely won’t lose your job if you take a day off. You must be fit for the fight and well for the work if you’re going to see your goals to completion.
To order a copy of GO! 10 Powerful Steps to Accomplishing Your Goals & Living the Life You Desire, visit www.GO10Steps.com. This life application journal is like having a life coach in your hand. Dr. Cherita walks you through each step, then takes you on a process of reflection, identification, clarification, and action that will propel you forward on the journey to your goals.
Strategy 10: Game On This strategy is all about next level living. After you’ve accomplished that first goal, it’s time to get right back in the game to start working on the next one. At this point, you know that if no one else is cheering for you, you can cheer for yourself. If no one else will go to bat for you, you can step to the plate with bat in hand swinging for a home run. You’ve proven that you can play the game, but don’t just come to play, come to win! Don’t stop where you are. No matter the outcome, keep playing. I love this quote from J. Askenberg, “You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out, but you gotta suit up for them all.” You deserve all that you desire, so declare right now, Game On! 23 | PERSONAL GROWTH
Download the free GO! Motivational Audio at www.CheritaWeatherspoon.com. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at CoachCherita.
leave
A LEGACY COLLECTION Written by: Tynetta T. Brown, B.F.A.
Taking our “legacy” theme and expanding it a bit, we want to recommend that as you are building your life as a Woman of MORE, that you explore what it means to start a legacy collection of items that represent your lifestyle statement or footprint in the world. One of the definitions of legacy is defined as anything handed down from the past as from an ancestor or predecessor. Another view is something that happens or exists because of something that happened at an earlier time. From a love of limited edition artwork, rare books, fragile LLadro pieces, Faberge’ eggs, your grandmother’s handkerchief collection, heirloom jewelry or the family Bible with the lineage carefully noted inside; our collections and treasures help us create lasting memories for future generations and tell a story in your absence. There are no rules for what items constitute a legacy collection. That is an individualized decision. One can choose to collect an item(s) for heritage sake, just to enjoy daily or that will be of monetary value in the future. The adventure, pride, and joy in building a special legacy collection that is reflective of you or your family interest can be empowering and provide a sense of pride. Knowing that you are curating items for your own personal enjoyment, but also for others to enjoy as you display them in a special place for all to view, takes on a special meaning.
Our world offers so many great places to start or complete existing collections. New and vintage items can all be found in the family attic, flea markets, museum shops, art galleries, trade shows, through niche online collector groups or anywhere you find one or two items that spark interest that you can build upon and will have meaning to you and those you wish to share them with. In thinking of the importance of your legacy, you may want to put pen to paper and share the meaning of your collection and why you felt it was important to have these items and how you hope they will be treasured for generations to come. Remember also that those precious items will need a little care and feeding along the way and depending on the item and value, you certainly want to ensure them in the event of loss. No matter what you decide to collect, how you decide to collect to pass down to future generations or selfishly enjoy the conquest, a focused, curated collection with your personal touch is reflective of your insight to the value of leaving your mark and another dimension of your dynamic personality and interests. Send a photo of one of your treasured legacy collections or tips for collecting to combinationsinteriors@gmail.com and I’ll share it with our readers for inspiration. Happy collecting.
NEW YEAR MEANS NEW YOU!
Ali Levine
This year I want you to want even MORE for yourself. Especially when it comes to your clothing choices, your image, fashion! As I always say “confidence is your best accessory.” After going through my recent journey on Bravo’s new TV show, Stripped, I learned this on a whole another level for myself. Being stripped, I had to really hone in and trust in myself when I had none of my fashion, beauty or anything that truly made me feel like Ali. That was extremely hard for me, I learned a lot about myself during those 21 days and how our society truly relies on materials to make us feel good and confident. Could you live without your materials? I didn’t think I could. It’s given me a whole new perspective on fashion and beauty! Don’t get me wrong, I love dressing up and feeling fabulous but I have learned that I don’t always have to be that way all the time and I am still FABULOUS! That’s why I am stressing I want MORE for YOU. Strip yourself every now and again, and see that you can handle it! You’re still fierce without it! Even technology, can you go without your phone? Give yourself that break you deserve. Stripped forced me to live without my phone until I chose to get it back! What a whirlwind! But again, I learned how to go back to the simple life and trust in myself, focus on what’s important and really focus on ME, my husband and the simpler things in life that I often forget about.
Now with being pregnant and a Mom to be, I am learning how to re-prioritize my life and what’s important and how to apply that to this year and my life going forward. I am very excited that this year in order to move forward in my life becoming a Mom, and my amazing business that’s been growing and expanding by the day. I will be launching my Ali Crew where I have trained other amazing stylists to be able to help my incredible clients remotely and in person. Whether they be in Los Angeles or somewhere else. Ali Crew is here to help you with simple wardrobe questions, putting an outfit together, auditing your closet of things that maybe you shouldn’t be holding onto anymore, a simple game of Toss and Keep, building those basics back up and going through your trends and how to spend on them and more!
I have also launched on alilevinestyling.com facetime and skype styling services. You can get tips, tricks and all the fashion bits you need from myself & my incredible crew! I am so excited for this year and all the exciting opportunities coming! Trust in yourself, FOLLOW ME ON ALL SOCIAL CHANNELS change up that comfortable look, try something new, @alilevinedesign get out of your comfort zone!
EMAIL ME: ali@alilevinedesign.com
Celebrating
Chef Hilda Villarroel Amsterdam
WOMEN WHO FEED OUR SOULS.
I would describe myself as a very determined and highly motivated person. As a pastry chef, I take my job seriously and I am able to see things in a border perspective. I believe success comes from hard work and dedication. I enjoy life to the fullest with humor and with a smile on my face. Each day gives me the motivation to focus and succeed in what I want to achieve. Above all, stay positive and enthusiastic through every challenge in life. It will make you stronger. Conned with me on Instagram: @hildavillarroel
Chef robbin jordan fort wayne, in Baking allows me to express my creativity and share a little love with those who receive my treats. My specialty is sweet potatoes pies but I do so much more than that. Robbin’s Sweet Tables does desserts for teas, weddings, birthday celebrations, and more. If you can “see it” I can probably produce it.
I believe it’s okay to step outside your comfort zone – to try something new. If you want to build a business -- go for it. Make a plan, put the strategies in place, and go for it. Focus on your dreams but do the work to get there. Connect with me on Social: IG @robbinjordan3 and FB @@robbinjordan
Have you ever talked to someone who looked right through you or was completely distracted and continued to look the other way? As the receiver in a conversation with that person, you would probably feel disrespected and quickly lose interest and patience with them. So often public speakers treat their audiences the same way by making little to no attempt at connecting with their audience members’ eyes which conveys the same message as the example above. If you’re like me, you’ve been made aware of how important eye contact is when interacting with others but as a speaker, having good eye contact is immeasurable. In this article, I will share why it is important to maintain good eye contact with your audience and tips to enhance your connection during your presentations. Communication involves much more than just the words we use. We say a lot to people through non-verbal communication with our body language and facial expressions. Good eye contact is one of the most powerful tools you have to build a connection with your audience and it’s a very powerful means of expression both positively and negatively. However, there are times when your eye contact can come off as offensive or make audience members feel uncomfortable depending on the cultural setting, if the speaker is gazing, winking or staring at the audience.
EYE CONTACT WRITTEN BY LYNNETTE ROGERS
Your eye contact has such a dramatic effect in improving your audience’s perception of you. Why? Because our eyes were made to connect and communicate with the eyes of other people and they typically reveal our thoughts and feelings. Take a moment to think about how expressive our eyes really are. As you are verbally delivering your message, you watch your listeners’ eyes to determine whether or not they understand. How can your eye contact keep your audience engaged, feel more connected to you and enhance positive reactions? Here are a few tips to improve your eye contact while speaking to an audience: 1) Try to make eye contact with audience members one by one. You can do this by looking directly at specific audience members for 3-5 seconds each. This is usually the amount of time it takes to complete your
2) Work your way from the back to the front of the room being careful NOT to scan and pan the room with your eyes. The people in the front are easy targets, therefore, I advise speakers to aim to make contact with those in the middle or back that need to be drawn into the conversation more. 3) Do not read your speech verbatim glancing up every now and then. In my experience, this is one of the quickest ways to disconnect and lose connection with them. By reading your message word for word you cannot increase the understanding of your message. A listener in the audience wants to feel spoken to in a direct and personal way not spoken at and/or read to. Remember, your eye contact will let your audience know that you are aware of EVERYONE in the room and that you are paying close attention to all of their social cues. If you practice and implement these tips, you will be well on your way to making a deeper connection and impact, and you will leave a lasting impression with your audience.
thought or sentence. 27 | PERSONAL GROWTH