Happy New Year! We’re into the first week of 2017. Many people have established their resolutions. For some, it’s eating better and exercising. For others, it’s starting a new business or becoming debt free. Whatever it is, it takes a certain degree of courage to admit that you have something in your personal and/or professional life that needs to change.
Have the courage to dedicate your steps with discipline and consistency. The sky is truly the limit. For those of us who have come out of abuse, it took courage to say that we were in trouble. It took courage to admit to ourselves that we wanted and needed change. The first step is the hardest and most courageous. It’s the courage to face ourselves in the mirror. We had to do that before we could take the next step of reaching out to others for assistance.
My courage has created a life for me that I NEVER thought possible. I’m a national speaker, trainer, Amazon best selling author, and I’m happily remarried. Had I not taken that first step of courage, I would not be experiencing the positive changes I’m experiencing in my life. And, by faith, humbleness and transparency, I’ve helped other women to do the same.
I had a mentoring session with a young lady yesterday who is a survivor. The things she’s doing with her life are phenomenal, and I’m honored that she feels that I have talents and areas of expertise that are beneficial to her holistic journey. I do not take that for granted. I’m happy that my courage has assisted others in some way to create the changes they want/need in their lives.
It is an honor to share another accomplishment with all of you. I have been named a 2016 Woman of Success honoree by Lori Pelzer for her annual Girl Go Be Great Women Success Soiree in Columbia, SC. There were 50 women selected around the country, so I’m truly honored that my wins have been regarded as being worthy of recognition. To learn more about Lori and the event itself, follow the link: http://loripelzer.leadpages.co/lori-pelzer/
I recently had the privilege of speaking at Hard Rock Cafe in Memphis, TN. It was the location for my dear friend, Gwendolyn Turner’s 1st official fundraiser for her transitional housing facility. The Corinthian Safe House will be a safe haven for women and families fleeing domestic violence. It’s has a tentative date of operation of December, 2016. Gwen asked if I would share a few words about my personal journey and the need for housing for survivors in our community.
It was a great opportunity for me to share about my struggles with solidifying housing for myself and my children when I left my abuser. It’s not easy finding housing, especially when your credit is not that great, resources are limited, transportation is a challenge and you are dealing with the emotional and/or physical trauma of abuse. I was able to share how everything I just mentioned were barriers for me. I was able to share how those same issues are a constant problem for many of the survivors I’ve spoken to. And, having worked specifically as a Victim Advocate for Shelby Co., I spend a lot of time talking with victims and survivors first hand. Housing was often listed as a top priority. I conducted a survey recently among advocates and survivors of abuse. Housing was the one barrier that was listed as a priority at a rate of 100%.
I am hopeful that Gwen’s date of operation becomes a reality. It looks very promising. It is certainly needed. I will be there for the ribbon cutting. If you’re in the Memphis, TN area, I encourage you to join us. Be on the look out for additional information.
For a 2nd year, I am pleased to have been asked to join Katrina Kimble and Pearl “Hair Deva” Walker with co-hosting a Pink and Purple Awareness Day event. You ARE worth fighting for, and I’m excited about all that the event will bring. We will have some great food, vendor shopping, networking opportunities and of course, information on domestic violence as well as breast cancer. It’s absolutely free to attend, and my hope is that those who are in the Memphis, TN area make plans to attend and share this event with others. If you’re not in the area but would like more information, please let me know. I’ll be more than happy to share it with you.
Katrina Kimble is truly the brainchild behind this wonderful event. With over 20 years of health & wellness and community & faith based engagement, she’s truly an expert in her field. She is certified in several areas of health and wellness and her expertise has been embraced around the country.
Pearl “Hair Deva” Walker is a licensed natural stylist and the owner of Legacy Locks and Natural Styles, a business that has been around for over 60 years. A community activist in her own right, Pearl continues to be committed to bringing thought provoking perspectives to her salon and regularly hosts events to encourage positive dialogue on a number of social issues affecting our communities locally and nationally.
In an ideal world, who wouldn’t want to have unlimited funding available to promote their products and services? After all, there’s approximately 7 billion people in the world. But, in the realistic business world where many upstarts (and even those who’ve been in business for awhile) may find themselves financially challenged, one must be strategically creative in how they go about marketing on a budget for maximum benefit. Here are a few ideas that may help when you have minimal to no additional funds for marketing yourself:
1. Utilizing social media/social sites. Every week, there seems to be another social media platform that can be used for exposure. While Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn continue to be among the front runners, social outlets such as Pinterest, Blab, Instagram and Periscope are quickly being recognized as useful and effective forms of reaching potential clients and supporters around the globe. The best part-all of these platforms are absolutely free.
2. Partner/Collaborate. There are two types of people to partner/collaborate with-those within your field and those completely opposite of it. Both will allow you to have a meeting of the minds to share ideas and be exposed to new audiences. Remember, even those who share similar skills will likely have their own niche, which is also true for you. And, those who operate in a completely different field may be connected to those that are in need of your services and vise versa.
3. Ask for help. Think about those who may have tangible resources that you could borrow or have donated to you for your particular business. Tangible resources could be anything from cash to office space and supplies. Consider those who you admire who may be able to offer some advice. You never know who may be willing to help if you don’t take a leap of faith and just ask.
