| I cried thinking about you, Charreah. But first, heyyy from the Avalon in Alpharetta, north of Atlanta where I am attending TSP Live, the largest conference for Black business owners. I may or may not have stood in a chair to “Knuck if You Buck” and business strategized at the same time. Magic Johnson was one of the keynotes and talked about how he built more than 125 Starbucks that were incredibly successful and sold them back to Howard Schultz, the founder of the company. The biggest lesson he shared on making an impact is to make it personal for those you serve. So instead of selling scones like other Starbucks, his locations served sweet potato pie to a community that didn’t eat scones. He realized he was the ONE, the voice of millions of Black folks who wanted businesses to better cater to their desires. I told you I got to walk the stage and accept my Six Figure Success award. The best part was my dad got to attend unexpectedly. And he made me think of you. |
| “I saw myself in you up there,” he said after I came down with tears in his eyes. That led to tears in mine. My dad is a Black man born to sharecroppers in Jim Crow South Carolina. His first job was picking cotton. He is an entrepreneur, like his father. They both were denied access to loans and opportunities. Even with a masters degree and serving in the military, he trained men to manage him with half his experience and pale skin. He walked in to sales meetings with confederate flags in offices. He saw his deferred dreams bare fruit when he watched me walk the stage. And that’s what made me think about you and let one thug tear roll thinking of you having this moment. Who gets to see their dream come true through you? Which of your family members or friends will be inspired to keep going because you didn’t stop? Whose shoulders are you standing on that your win will make every sacrifice worth it? Click the photo above or Here and Let me know: |
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| I’ll be in New Orleans at ESSENCE Festival this weekend in New Orleans! If you will be there, write me back with what you are most excited to experience and maybe I’ll swing by and join! Coming Up: Remember the movie Girls Trip, which was filmed at ESSENCE Festival? This week I’ll be sharing the crazy story of how I ended up the only person working at ESSENCE with a cameo in the film. |
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| I am my ancestors’ wildest dream. My good news is great news for the world. I’m just getting started. |
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| So nice I’m saying it twice: Who gets to see their dream come true through you? Click here and let me know >> |
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