​We were on our way to launching a phenomenal LIVE experience in Atlanta, GA on March 19, 2020.  A Signature Flair and the Government Contractors Association (GCA) lined up an all-star cast of successful female entrepreneurs from all walks of life to share their stories of triumphs and trials in launching their ventures.  Ladies were also going to experience relaxing massages, sipping on mimosas while enjoying an appetizing menu, free professional headshots, networking, and shopping.  It was going to be a memorable first day of Spring.
Then corona changed everything…..
I remembered Abe (founder of GCA) coming in the office and asking me and the team what did we want to do about the Women Who Win event.  My assertive, almost cocky spirit was adamant that Women Who Win must go forward.  “We don’t quit.  We got this, “ I exclaimed as the women of the group joined me in unison in carrying out the vision.  The event was to go on as planned and we were all going to be fine.  Yet to my better judgement and looking back in review, GCA made the wise and final call that we would have to postpone the event.  Here is the link to view us announcing the postponement of the Women Who Win event - https://youtu.be/TkMZwHC4CiQ.   Within 48 hours of our announcement, the governor of Georgia also announced that no events in the state were permitted to have over 25 guests in attendance (those numbers quickly dropped to 10 in attendance).  I was in a state of dismay.
Spring blossomed on, but life as we knew it changed right before our eyes.  Businesses’ doors began closing.  Venues and events were immediately closed and cancelled.  The lineup of Spring festivals and social gatherings were halted.  Recreational centers, gyms, clubhouses were all reducing hours and limiting access to their facilities. Schools immediately closed.  Grocery store shelves became bare. The airports and travel ceased. Hospital beds were overflowing. Unemployment hit an all-time high as the global markets began tanking all around us.  All of this turmoil occurred within the first 30 - 60 days of the COVID catastrophe
However, even through these tumultuous times, I witnessed you, Women Who Win, never giving up.  I witnessed you, Women Who Win, taking inventory of what matters most in life.  You found the heartbeat of your worldwide purpose being more defined in moments of challenge now than ever before.  God has allowed the entire world to stop so that you would have the time to pause, reset, and go.  Even during the curse of these times, we can still find our blessings.

Share with us how you have adjusted your brand and business.  What do you envision for the rest of 2020 and beyond?  What suggestions do you have for other women?


#womenwhowin #triumphovertrials #WWW2020 #asignatureflair #onlineevents #globalevents #inspirational #motivational #business #femaleCEO #BossChics #LadyBoss
 

 ​Last Tuesday night, I had a moment of anguish.  I told my sibling that I found myself begging and longing for God to show up in my presence to comfort me, like children beg for their mommy or daddy.  I couldn’t shake the pain that night…. 
It never even dawned on me that until now that my pain was because of the blatant and unending hate on display consistently in America. 
In my lifetime, I have witnessed countless of Black American murders that have gone unpunished.  Why is it now that the entire globe is in an uproar.  Please don’t get me wrong.  I am grateful for the overdue attention to this hateful matter.  But even in the pain, I can’t help but wonder WHY NOW? 
1. Let’s see….we brought in the new decade with coronavirus wiping out a few hundred thousand of people like a plague.
2. We are ushering in 5G networks that are causing cancer in infants to the elderly and it is only the beginning.
3. And now the plan for a race riot is brewing around us and the infrastructure of our community has already been weaken financially where we don’t have our own resources to secure or even rebuild anything.
The way to take matters into your own hands is to plan your own destiny.  We don’t ask for permission to defend and provide for ourselves.  We should expect to do that.  I am in strong support of an economic boycott.  It is something we have known we should do forever, but where do we put those dollars within our community?  What is the financial plan to build and sustain business systems for the Black community for the next 400 years?  What is our succession plan?
If you have ideas or thoughts on any of these matters, I welcome intellectual conversations.  No hate or fear here so please don’t bring that spirit to my table.
Let’s chat….
#reparations #justice #blackouttuesday #blacklove #blackbusinesses #enoughisenough #nofear #blackowned #truth #liberation #beginningoftheend #cantstop #wontstop #letstalk #inspiration #motivation #mylife

I always knew I needed it.  I desired it more than I know.  Now that I have it, I haven’t been as careful with it as I should have been, but I will from this moment forward.  I have received that precious gift called time.
My life is organized by timelines, checklists, and to-do’s.  Managing my businesses by timelines has produced moderate success and I always felt like if I could “create” time to work on the business instead of working in my business, then I could experience the success I know that is achievable.  Now that my wish has been granted, three weeks later I don’t feel as if I have accomplished all that I should have. 
The Pause:
Many people are feeling and living in a state of confusion and lost during this pandemic.  I would say their feelings are valid considering the uncertainty of how life moves forward from here.  I also know to that we have some level of control within us to execute what we desire.  Those who ask me, I quickly tell them how happy I am during this time.  God has granted me a moment to pause, rest, think, and refocus on what is important.  This pause on life is forcing me to reevaluate decisions (personal and business) that can propel me in new heights.  Instead of wallowing in despair, maximize your “pause time” and listen to what God has for you.  It can only get greater.
The Reset:
Although the state of Georgia has announced its reopening of several industries, I haven’t reopened yet.  NOPE!  Not going to launch my spirit out in public fulltime yet until I see the leaders themselves meddling in public.  I am not a guinea pig. 😊  Now that doesn’t mean that I operate in fear.  Like I tell all of my colleagues, “Operate with caution, not fear.” 
For now, reset for me is creating new strategies that will allow me to serve and grow.  A Signature Flair produced corporate events on a local level.  A while ago and before the pandemic, I announced that A Signature Flair produced global events.  Little did I know that the various platforms I have access to are growing a worldwide audience.  We are examining more ways to service our clients on a global scale.  The other part of resetting is strengthening relationships and creating new ones.  I recently rekindled  a past business connection that has sparked new business opportunities.  I probably would not of had the chance to launch these efforts without this time on my side.
Now GO
The Go phase is me giving myself permission to be successful in all the ventures I set out to accomplish.  I am one of my own hardest critics.  I expect a lot from myself and I believe that mental anxiety I put on myself has caused previous issues in my life.  Even writing this entire paragraph has taken too much time to create as I ponder on the execution of the next moves in both business and personal life.  I keep asking myself, “How do you plan in the midst of uncertainty?”  This is what I came up with….
1.Understand what you CAN control.
2.Keep wise council in your ear
3.Be smart with your own resources
4.Listen to your inner voice
#NoCorona #Reset #Time #Business #SmartMoves #Reflections #MakingADifference #virtualreality #blog #ASFEvents #events #motivation #inspiration #StayEncouraged
 

     For the past couple of weeks, I have been in a mental whirlwind with the “shelter in place” order.  How does America expect small businesses to truly survive a self-inflicted, planned out pandemic such as this?  (Watch 201 event on YouTube to know what I mean by self-inflicted).  A crisis such as COVID-19  does require us all to take cover to keep humanity from dying off, but the economic fallout of the entire economy is going to be an atrocity that small businesses may never be able to recover from.
    When the last economic downturn occurred, I was transitioning fulltime into my real estate career. I didn’t fully understand at the time how real estate served as a vital asset in building and transferring wealth.  Experiencing those hard moments of loss and income is making me cringe at the thought of what I believe is coming in this next recession which is the ultimate loss of small businesses.
     Back in 2006, lenders gave out (yes GAVE out) loans to any person who could breathe.  They didn’t care about qualifications, income, job stability or any factors to qualify an individual for a loan.  People moved into homes that they couldn’t financially maintain/keep and within 3 short years, foreclosures and short sales ruled the real estate market.
Today,  a decade later, a planned-out pandemic is going to cause another financial meltdown that is not only going to devastate the real estate market again, but will also eliminate small businesses within the next 2 – 3 years.  Many of the lender products that are available to business owners right now have stipulations that will require them to be repaid within 2 years.  If a business owner is not able to pay the loan back, then what happens to them?  The same consequences for not being able to pay your mortgage; the lender will foreclose on the business.
     In my opinion, these business and federal loans are a temporary band-aid to cover the wound that everyone is experiencing.  If your business did not provide an essential service in life (food, shelter, health services) then you pretty much were confined to your home.  Stores, restaurants, and even schools will all have to learn how to repurpose themselves to be relevant in the age of COVID-19.  Most microbusinesses are not in any position to be closed for any amount of time, let alone take on additional debt without a way of paying it back.
      It is my sincerest desire that my above thesis is proven false.  I don’t want to see the federal government owning small businesses just like they are positioning themselves to own the airline industry.  If our small businesses do not survive this economic mess, then we are going to be left to the mercy of this country.  That is not a plight I think that I can personally survive.
 
#smallbusiness #cornerstone #america #covid19 #shelterinplace #recession #depression #minorities #loans #resilient

I Have Been Censored And You Are Probably Next…..
      At first I wasn’t going to tell anyone this story, but then I realized that if I keep my mouth shut then my family, friends, and peers will not know the truth.  Here is my story.
   Last Friday, I had an intriguing conversation with the leader of the Blockchain Chamber.  I explained to her how that we MUST find a way to explain to common, everyday people how to really apply blockchain in our everyday lives.  If we do not succeed at this mission, our basic common life will NEVER be the same. 
      Side note:  For those of you reading this in my blog and don’t understand Blockchain, let me explain it simply.  Blockchain is an open ledger where any two parties can do a trusted transaction between each other without any third parties’ interference.  The most common use case of Blockchain is the use of a Bitcoin.  You can visit www.blockchainchamber.org for more resources and events.
      Now back to the story.  She was so invigorated by my wakeup call that she inquired what made me realize the urgency now.  I told her that my mom had forwarded me this video that explained where the world was headed after the coronavirus and 5G networks sends our economy into a whirlwind.  It explained how the governments and world orders are preparing to use digital currencies, ids, surveillances, and more to control all aspects of our lives.  Even as I write this, I am sitting in disbelief, but you can not close your eyes and ignore what is happening. 
      I went to my phone to try and forward the video message to her and that is when it happened.  The video message that my mom sent to me could not be forwarded anymore.  In my mind it was a mistake.  So I went on my computer, brought up Facebook messenger, only to find that the message had been totally erased from my history.  I was in shock!  Why would Facebook erase this message?
      I wasn’t satisfied.  I called my mom while I had the leader of the Chamber still on my phone.  My mom missed my initial call, but she called right back.  I added her to the conference call and explained to her how I needed her to resend me that video again.  My mom looked through her history on her phone only to find that not only was the video message erased from her list, but ALL of her past contacts and messages had been erased.  We had been censored!
     All of our lives we have been told that we have the freedom of speech, the freedom of thoughts, and expressions.  Why now are messages and videos being removed from our private communications?  Who is behind this censorship?
      Let my censorship serve as a wakeup call to you.  Do not remain silent behind being censored.  You have the right to know the truth of any matter that exist.  Can any person provide solutions to this silent pandemic that has for us?