By: Pichi Bellingrath McClure

We cannot change what happens to us, but we can choose what we can do next. To link these two statements successfully requires the key of self-awareness.

When tough luck strikes, self-awareness unlocks the understanding of our situation, by recognizing the behaviors that arise from that challenge and its consequence. If self-awareness is not present, the consequences of a person’s life can be disastrous; however, if a person is leading a destructive life, it is not necessarily the end. Tough luck does not have to win.

One always has the ability to harness self-awareness and become empowered by self-confidence, which often occurs when hitting rock-bottom. …

By: Denitresse Ferrell

I really want each of you to take a moment and think about what strength means to you. Take a look at the first picture of strength that automatically pops into your mind.

If it’s from your childhood, does it match who you grew up to be? Is it a favorite character from your latest Netflix marathon? What about that character actually resonates with your daily reality? Maybe it’s a friend or family member. But is it really appropriate, or even fair, to hold them up as the gold standard all the time?

We can go a long while before asking these kinds of questions. That’s probably because we’re surrounded by ideas of what strength can, or rather ought, to be. Unfortunately for us, some of these ideas are not just cliche; they’re actively harmful. …

By: Jamie Martin

Thanksgiving is a week away. It’s the day that many families practice gratitude (even if it’s just a one-minute pause before dinner with the family).

Yet, a gratitude practice that is year-long is far more beneficial. You’ve seen it in articles. You’ve read about gratitude journaling. You’ve read about the benefits. You have tried making gratitude a daily practice.

And nothing happened! It didn’t change your life profoundly. It didn’t make you happier.

Why didn’t it work?

It’s simple. Did you practice the art of gratitude or did you take the action like it was something on your to-do list? …

By: Denitresse Ferrell

“Normal” wasn’t working. That’s what I’ve been hearing over and over again the longer we’re in this pandemic. “Normal” wasn’t working. “Normal” wasn’t good enough. And that’s true in more ways than I like to think about.

But as it turns out, it’s especially true when it comes to our wellbeing in the workplace. For those of us who’ve been privileged enough to go remote in 2020, we might have thought that some of the old office worries would go away. With so many other COVID-19-related emergencies and lightning-fast changes, wouldn’t it have been nice to get a break from the same tired dynamics? …

By: Jessica LaMarre

In 2017 I was in Nashville, TN for conference for business. We were in the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, which has 2,888 rooms and nine acres of indoor gardens, making it the largest non-casino hotel in the continental U.S. This place was big and beautiful. However, it was stressful being there for a few reasons:

1. When I am at a conference, it is hard to find time to do all of the other work that needs to get done, so it is constant work.
2. I had two little ones at home whom I missed very much. …

By: Denitresse Ferrell

You know the story. As minorities, we can find ourselves unique in our work environments. But not in the ways we hope. There’s no spotlight on our accomplishments, our contributions, or even our potential. The spotlight’s on our difference, and it’s never too long before we really start to squirm from the heat and the glare.

We can hide it, and we can hide it well, but the squirming and discomfort stay with us. But apparently that’s just how it goes! …

By: Tracy Benson

Are you a Change Maker or a Change Avoider? Or perhaps you’re a bruised and battered Change Survivor?

If you could choose which one to be, which would it be?

If you’ve read this far, my guess is you’d opt to be a Change Maker. Me too. (No one likes being told “how it’s going to be” less than an Aries!) So why not learn to grab hold of the unexpected change that’s coming at you, and, like in martial arts, redirect it to your advantage?

Great news: Even if you don’t think of yourself as a Change Maker this minute, you can learn to become one! …

By: Lauren Kane

Hopefully, your answer to this is “yes.” To be blunt, if you said “no,” then you need to get to work.

Every business solves a problem for a certain demographic, their ideal customer, but not every business can articulate the problem that they solve during a pitch. Why? Because they get lost in the solution.

Don’t get me wrong: You should be excited about the solution you offer. The solution is the shiny thing that for you, as a founder, made you want to go on this crazy start-up rollercoaster.

But here’s the problem: Potential investors won’t be able to get excited about your company if they don’t see why there’s a need for it. …