No One Succeeds Alone

 

Credit: No One Succeeds Alone

Overview

No one expected a dreadlocked fifteen-year-old who cared more about his DJ business than his homework to grow up to become one of the youngest-ever White House fellows, create multiple nonprofits, and found a multibillion-dollar company. But Robert Reffkin, raised by an Israeli immigrant single mother, disowned by his maternal grandparents for being Black, and abandoned by his father, has always defied the odds. Read more here. Credit: Robert Reffkin.

Writers Series Welcomes Joshua Spodek, PhD MBA

Credit: Writers Series, Guest Joshua Spodek | Presented by Sasha Talks

Meet Joshua Spodek, PhD MBA

Joshua Spodek PhD MBA hosts the award-winning This Sustainable Life podcast, is a four-time TEDx speaker, bestselling author of Initiative and Leadership Step by Step, professor at NYU, published in the New Yorker, and leadership coach. He holds a PhD in astrophysics and an MBA from Columbia, where he studied under a Nobel Laureate and helped launch a satellite (having emerged from some of Philadelphia’s most dangerous neighborhoods). He left academia to found a venture to market an invention that showed animated images to subway riders between stations. He teaches and coaches leadership and entrepreneurship at NYU and Columbia Business School. He has spoken at Harvard, Princeton, West Point, Google, IBM, The New York Academy of Science, Children’s Aid Society, and other renowned institutions. He has been published in The New Yorker, TIME, Inc., Quartz, and Psychology Today. Featured in pieces every major network, the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and more, he has been called “best and brightest” in Esquire’s Genius issue, “astrophysicist turned new media whiz” by NBC, and “rocket scientist” by Forbes.  He visited North Korea twice, swam across the Hudson River twice, has done burpees daily since 2011 (195,000 and counting), takes 3 years to produce one load of garbage, hasn’t flown (by choice) since March 2016, is in his second year with his refrigerator unplugged and sixth month with his apartment unplugged from the electric grid, and his carbon footprint is about 1 ton per year. He blogs daily at joshuaspodek.com. Credit: Joshua Spodek.

CEO David Botos Welcomes Academics & Businesses

 

Credit: David Botos, CEO Helix

David, Welcome to Authors by Sasha! You're the Founder and CEO of Helix Professional Services. At what point within your academic journey did you recognize the opportunity to create an entrepreneurial medium that would connect talented academics with businesses needing a creative, yet objective, perspective in solving their organizational challenges?

When I was just a freshman, I was getting involved with case competitions and hackathons.  I had seen my sister win an internship with Accenture after her sophomore year from a case competition and I knew it was the way forward.  I participated in many of them for the cash prizes and clout but found the process lacking for many students.  It was poorly marketed and there was no guidance for students.  We thought this was the perfect opportunity for students who understood the competition process first-hand to make an impact on the industry.

Do you recall the very first business case you worked on during your academic and professional journey? What did you learn from the initial experience? 

My first business case was for KPMG.  It was a competition paired with an event called the Michigan Undergraduate Consulting Conference.  This competition and event was run locally by a professional club on campus meaning that competition operations were less professional than even those we experienced later run by our current competition.  We found from this that transparency in marketing, speedy payments of prize pools, and better guidance for participants was a necessary improvement.  This continued to ring true for our competitors as we went on to their competitions.

What variables other than the opportunity to be paid for engaging with leading organizations contribute to delivering a unique experience for students within the Helix Network?

Students receive a myriad of benefits from HelixCases.com.  From the most direct benefits of meaningful jobs, relevant experience, and prize pools, to the networking benefits we offer with judges, mentors, and speakers, students receive more from HelixCases than any other professional recruiting website.  We see the student side of the market as an often-disregarded element of the recruiting process and actively are improving our offering by the day for students.

Talents are trusted to craft solutions to real challenges existing within organizations. What are a few challenges that are common among start-up companies and established organizations?  

For any sized client, HelixCases collects student participants interested in working for them as a first career.  We use our student ambassadors at campuses across the US to blast messaging through flyers, professional clubs, tabling, and more.  Then, we test the aptitude of participants with a real problem the firm faces.  For these organizations, often the hours of time that Gen-Z participants are spending ideating solutions can yield interesting insights for a firm.

Are there any unique organizational challenges that you've discovered during the course of the pandemic? Have the type of business cases evolved in the past year given how workers, consumers and employers are operating in the global white space of uncertainty?

The pandemic has changed the HR dynamic.  The Great Resignation was a symptom of a larger shift in workers’ psyches towards working on problems found personally meaningful and fulfilling.  In the past, work was a necessary evil, not something that is meant to be enjoyed.  In this changing environment, AI screening tools, chatbots, and even interviewers continue to depersonalize and dehumanize the process.  That is why we are confident HelixCases will succeed in changing recruiting.  We believe that we are adding a low-cost, competitive or complementary option to AI solutions on the market.

David, you've also acquired some business acumen from investing your time at MATTER which is a healthcare incubator in Chicago. What was your experience working there given the healthcare industry is evolving and booming at an exponential pace?

MATTER was deeply influential in helping me realize that startups are deeply human at their core.  Meeting and watching entrepreneurs work on their ideas in the space every day helped me to realize the job of an entrepreneur in any industry is to rally excitement and define the future of the industry.  Healthcare is the perfect example of an industry prime for entrepreneurship.  Outdated, full of errors, formerly non-digital, and representing a massive chunk of our GDP there is plenty of room for exciting ideas in that space.

What guidance would you offer to prospective candidates interested in contributing their skills in these entities?

If a young person is interested in entrepreneurship and has a chance on the job, they will find how to get involved with startups.  If someone is unable to learn on their own and make all the necessary introductions to enter the industry, they are not cut out for the job.  It isn’t easy and what must be done is often specific to each situation – giving generalized advice to people looking to enter entrepreneurship is doomed to mislead.  You know your situation best.

Recruiting appears to be a significant pillar that allows the Helix Network to expand its headcount among academic and professional communities. What is the Helix Ambassador Program? How many universities are participating in the national program? What steps should interested members take to be considered for this program?

Our ambassador program is a major differentiator, and the application can be found on HelixServ.com.  Students looking to get paid and earn some early experience serve as our eyes, ears, and hands on campuses across the US.

Helix Professional Services was born in February 2020.  What effective branding strategies has your team applied to raise awareness on behalf of the business?

Marketing messaging is directed at two audiences: businesses and students.  For both audiences, our continued challenges serve as the best indicator of our brand and product for both audiences.  Beyond that, we are excited to pursue channel partnerships and some exciting endorsements for the student side. 

Are there any branding lessons you've learned in the past eighteen months while marketing the Helix brand?

I believe that brand is never cookie cutter.  It is the main space where you need to operate to define your story and benefits to a consumer.  Making sure that your brand is aligned with your sales strategy is key.

David, in your opinion, what is one branding mistake that entrepreneurs need to avoid and why?

I think that entrepreneurs need to be careful to make sure to identify all the stakeholders of their product or service.  More often than not now, stakeholders that were previously disregarded are exercising their power.

Strategy entails time and direction among a few ingredients to execute business planning. Strategy also requires a healthy degree of mental and emotional investment to entertain solutions. How do you define strategy?

I think that strategy is the process of connecting the day-to-day of the current business with the opportunities of what you need to be in a week, month, quarter, or year.

How do you nurture your mind to cultivate fresh ideas among the many commitments you honor as an academic, an entrepreneur and an Executive?

I think that staying physically active is the most important thing I do to stay level set.

Competent academics and organizations come together to work on real business cases. What are the top two characteristics of academics that help them succeed when competing in these business case competitions? What are the top two prerequisites for businesses to qualify for their 'challenge' to be entertained as a business case scenario?

We believe that our better marketing makes sure top talent is even aware the competition opportunity is available.  That is often the biggest thing stopping students from participating.  Further, our unmatched workshops, speaker events, resources, and guidance make sure that resulting presentations are competent.

When participating students function in a team setting for these business case competitions, is there a headcount ceiling for how many members are allowed to work on one case? Are there any unique circumstances when team members are traded among other groups, or eliminated, to better align with an organization's needs?

Teams are generally made of two to four participants.  For participants unable to find a full team of their own, they are able to join a free agent list and be paired with one of similar skills.

What type of competition do you believe the present and future generation of business professionals face here on forward? How can they better prepare themselves for navigating the innovative tech driven world over the next five years?

I believe that we are going to face increasing problems with outsourced work as China continues to indicate that they will try to determine how much profit is made in the East.

When you're not working, David, how do you unwind and relax? 

I love to cycle, play video games, Dungeons & Dragons, and read.  It always helps break down ideas.

What is one area within your professional development that you aspire to focus on more over the course of the coming year?

Over the course of this coming year, I am working on learning as much as I can about startup finances.  It is probably the most gatekept part of entrepreneurship, unsurprisingly.

David, who has made a significant difference in your entrepreneurial journey since the launch of Helix?

I would say that I would like to thank my Dad for continued guidance and early help in learning the ropes.  It was deeply influential to my business mind!

Please share with audiences how they can support your work. 

For businesses looking into whether Helix might be good for their firm, please send an email or LinkedIn connection to me to get in touch.  The best email to reach me is David(at)HelixServ.com and if you are interested in reading more you can check out HelixServ.com.

Students -- go make some money on HelixCases.com and tell your friends!

Ramon Martinez on Real Estate Literacy & Training

Ramon Martinez Joins Sasha in Conversation on Moving Mountains!

Credit: Wholesale Sharks | Ramon Martinez

Credit: Ramon Martinez, Future Sharks

Meet Ramon Martinez, Founder of Ramon Wholesale Sharks

Ramon Martinez or Ramon Wholesale Sharks (best known in the social media world) used to work for people, now he teaches people how to work for themselves. Let go from corporate America, Martinez went from breeding English bulldogs just to make ends meet to running a multi-million dollar wholesale real estate company. Now, he’s giving back by helping others achieve the same success he has.

Ramon was born and raised in Hermosillo Sonora Mexico. He graduated from Alhambra High School & dropped out of Phoenix College. He's worked for such companies as Chase Bank, Wells Fargo & Bank of America. Ramon resides in Phoenix and works alongside his Brother Rodrigo Martinez, his cousin Christian Murrieta, & sister Raquel Martinez. Credit: Ramon Martinez

His appearance on Moving Mountains with Sasha focuses on his early days in corporate america prior to life circumstances challenging him to expand upon his existing business acumen to serve clients in the market. Ramon passionately shares his journey as he navigates through a few seasons of change as he discovers his success in the real estate realm. As a successful businessman, he's investing his time in training future entrepreneurs to capitalize upon their skills on their terms.

Founder & Author Sasha Laghonh on Learning

 Founder & Author Sasha Laghonh Discusses Learning & Growth

Full Interview available here.

Credit: Sasha Laghonh; EnterpriseZone.cc

"The Rise of Innovation ..."

 Special Interview Conducted by Sasha Laghonh with Keith Hoffert

Credit: Guest Expert & Entrepreneur Keith Hoffert

The Rise of Innovation in Food Services and Restaurant Industries

Credit: Human Capital Leadership

Meet Chelsea Henderson, Healing Practitioner

Credit: Chelsea Henderson

Welcome Chelsea! As a spiritual entrepreneur, how were you initially introduced to spirituality and what role does it play in your life?

I wouldn’t say I was even “spiritual” when introduced to spirituality. I was  too young to understand the concept. I’ve been an Intuitive and Empath  since I was about 5 years-old, and was very energetically sensitive. I picked  up on the energies of those around me in an almost debilitating way. As a  child I was a mute; wouldn’t speak a word to anyone but my mother and  father. My siblings, extended family, school teachers, etc. couldn’t pay me  to speak. Always picking up on the energy and emotions of others was a lot of stimuli, and just overwhelmed me. Crowded places like grocery stores and shopping malls made for a rough trip. It was before I was able to discern between my own emotions and vibrational frequency to what I was picking up on from others. it’d just come in as one heaping pile of discordant information. Since our energy fields are etheric in nature, I think these experiences were my introduction to spirituality and the higher realms we express ourselves in non physically.

Spirituality now plays an integral role in my life, my work, and how I co-create my human experience. As an intuitive healer, life coach, spiritual teacher, and Channeler, my work can’t be done without this collaborative, co-creative effort between spirit and our 3D physical reality. The higher vibrational frequencies of the realms giving me the information must be tapped into from where I stand physically focused into form. It’s all co-creative. 

How would you describe spirituality to someone who perceives it to be a foreign concept?

**We would ask them what their definition of “foreign” is. If they agreed with the general concept that something “foreign” is of an unfamiliar form, different of one’s own- we would say spirituality can never be a foreign concept. It has never been. The essence of who you are, at the core of your being, after every part of your physical structure is stripped away is spirit. Thought forms don’t need a physical structure to exist, that’s just how they enter our physical brain from a universal conscious network. Thoughts are then spiritual. Pure Unconditional love is not only the strongest unifying force on the planet, it’s the frequency of the creator of all that is. God is literally love, both of which are spiritual in nature. Anything that exists but is non physically focused is considered spirituality. Quantum physics, metaphysics, energy, consciousness- it’s all spirituality. **

** = Spiritually channeled response hence the 'we' pronoun referencing Spirit.

​

Chelsea, your work focuses on Theta Healing. What is theta healing and how does it differ from other healing modalities that encompass energy and distance?

The ThetaHealing® technique is a meditation technique and spiritual philosophy – not specific to one religion but accepting them all – with the purpose of getting closer to the Creator. It is a training method for your mind, body, and spirit that allows you to clear limiting beliefs and live life with positive thoughts, developing virtues in all that we do. Through meditation and prayer, the ThetaHealing® Technique creates a positive lifestyle.

The ThetaHealing® technique is always taught to be used in conjunction with conventional medicine. It teaches how to put to use one’s own natural intuition, relying upon unconditional love of the Creator Of All That Is to do the actual “work.” We believe by changing your brain wave cycle to include the “Theta” state, you can actually watch the Creator Of All That Is create instantaneous physical and emotional well-being. We have learned that through the ThetaHealing® Technique intuitive abilities can be used to bring about spontaneous physical and emotional well-being.

I was attracted to Thetahealing® because the modality combines energy healing, intuitive medicine, and science into one practice. At age 5 I knew I wanted to be a healer and I had to take a lot of wrong paths before finding out what being a healer meant for me. I studied pre-med, but it was too spiritually restricting. I studied psychology which felt better, but still wasn’t the best form of expression for my intuitive abilities. When I found Thetahealing® I felt like I found somewhere I could fit. It was a happy marriage between science and spirituality, which makes for a very effective holistic method of healing. Thus it was the first modality I became certified to practice. Over time it has opened me up to abilities and gifts I never knew I had, and do things I never thought to be humanly possible. 

What forms of healing have been effective in your personal and spiritual growth?

Belief work. Sometimes the only thing holding us back from healing or living the life of our dreams are our negative and limiting beliefs. It’s the old programs we’ve been running, some since childhood, that are no longer serving us to hold onto. If you hold on long enough they will manifest as physical illnesses as well. Clearing limited beliefs, old programs, and patterns was the hardest part for me but the most beneficial. It’s something I practice on myself and my clients in healing sessions. 

If you had a magic wand, what would you like to change (or improve) pertaining the modes of healing that exist within the earth realm?

**If we had a magic wand and could change anything right here right now, we would get rid of old broken systems and create new conscious systems. I.e. educational systems, entertainment and music industries, financial and political systems, institutions etc. We would wave the wand and transform everyone working in these systems into heart centered and conscious beings, serving the highest good of everyone involved in and affected by their actions. 

You didn’t say how many changes, so we would also transform earth and those who inhabit into a symbiotic species and planet. It would be a planet of beings denoting a mutually beneficial relationship between different people, groups, systems and species’ throughout all levels of existence on earth. Thus throughout all levels of existence universally, because as you ascend so does the rest of existence. Ideally everyone would work together to ensure survival, well being, and further evolution on a collective level. There’s no I in team. The more people wake up from the illusion of separation, realizing that we are all connected as one, they will come to realize that this is the key to ensuring their survival, their neighbors, and the world’s.**

** = Spiritually channeled response hence the 'we' pronoun referencing Spirit.

As a healing practitioner and life coach, what have you learned about human beings and their quest for goal actualization? Are there any common themes present among the clients you serve?

Goals…… I’ve never been a fan of them. The common theme present when I’d use systems to track where me or my clients were in relationship to our goals, was that we all left feeling like failures when we didn’t achieve them. I practice the same methods I give my clients so I’ve experienced the repeated feeling of defeat and unworthiness as well. I don’t care how outrageous/unrealistic the goals may have been. Walking away having not achieved them just re-enforced the feeling and re-ran the program that we weren’t good enough. So we stopped working on goals and started working on Alchemy. 

As a Pisces and someone that's studied psychology, metaphysics, mysticism and the like in depth, I’m a combination of a “magician” energy as known by tarot, and a master manifester. I love it, and it’s what I enjoy doing in my own life and teaching to others. I teach (what I think is) a simple method to create something from nothing instead of chasing and reaching from a state of misalignment from where you prefer to be. The first thing I think when I hear “goal” is the fact that I haven’t reached where I’m trying to go. You can’t get there from a state of lack or limitation, which is where you always start when you set a goal. 

Chelsea, you also host workshops where you channel messages. Can you please share how channeling works? Are there any messages you've received that have surprised you during these live experiences?

Channeling kind of works like a radio. My guides will broadcast information on a certain “radio station” and my brain works as the receiver. So when I tune my brainwave state and vibrational frequency to theirs and they tune their frequency to mine- a moment happens where we meet in the middle and link. My brain, the receiver, can then receive the information they’re sending out in the form of downloads. The downloads go through the language center of my brain and convert the information into our human language, in the way that’s best representative of the concepts. That’s how my guides have explained it to me. 

I can choose my active level of involvement in the process. If I want to completely take the back seat and let them drive, I can. I don’t have to actively listen to what they’re saying. My consciousness could be in a far away corner taking a nap, and when I come back the interaction is over. On the other end I could be fully involved, listen, participate and speak on behalf of my guides. I just want everyone to clearly understand my level of free will, because channeling is never forced or imposed upon me. I invoke it. The strangest thing that’s happened when channeling was just in front of a few people, but I received information in a different language and had to Google it. Thankfully it didn’t hurt my credibility because the message made complete sense. It just opened my mind up to a moment of “Okay, so that’s something that can happen. Good to know.” 

As an avid advocate of the arts, you also write and produce music. What genre of music do you enjoy listening to?

No one ever likes my response to this question, but I actually don’t listen to much music. As a highly creative person I have to be careful of what I feed my mind, so as not to recreate it in my music or reality. That’s the bigness of the innate capability we all have. So I try to limit my exposure to external influences that don’t resonate with me on a soul level. By feeding my soul instead of my mind I found that the music I’d write and produce was always unique, and an authentic expression of who I am. I create the music of my soul, and when I find other people that forge their own path in that way I enjoy listening to their music too. 

What genre of music do you produce to support your creative and spiritual calling?

This kind of relates to my previous response. I’ve been writing music since I was 9. In my teen years of writing for other people I would just write lyrics to fit the form they wanted it to fit. A lot of it was rap and hip hop focused. As a teenager I found it cool and fun to express a gritty aspect of myself through the artists. As I evolved spirituality I found it harder and increasingly less satisfying to write things that weren’t in alignment with who I was. The more you live your truth and stand in your own power, the more uncomfortable it gets to wear a mask. I started producing because it gave me complete creative freedom. 

I spent 10 hours a day for 3 days in my friends studio learning how to make music. I played every sound from scratch, no samples, exactly the way I heard it in my mind. I had never played instruments before, but when my hands hit the synthesizer keyboard I knew what to do. I just closed my eyes and played. Being freed from the creative constraints of staying in a certain lane allowed me to channel my music, and tap into my creative abilities as a producer and songwriter.

I’ve made my own meditation music recently that supports both callings. I’ve also written some songs that just felt good to write. I don't know what I’ll do with them right now which is fine. I wrote them simply for the joy it brought me to do so. It supports my creative and spiritual calling by keeping me in alignment with my highest self. I do have an affinity for certain sounds and instruments. I’ve also noticed an etheric quality that’s pretty consistent throughout my music. I’m drawn to the violin, piano, harp, cello, acoustic guitar, and symphonic sounds.

Is there a ritual or process you emulate to write your music? When do you know you've completed writing an entire piece of music?

I’ve changed the way I initiate writing songs. I used to make the decision to start writing the song based on when I felt I had to have it done by. I would find myself unable to find words or establish a flow. It left me to reach for the material and extract the words from my brain, instead of allowing them to flow from my soul. It was very counter intuitive. Now I start with managing the state I’m in. If I’m properly aligned I’ll just start hearing lyrics in my head and have to rush to my phone or grab a pen and paper. Sometimes I’ll get them in a dream and write them when I wake up. The song doesn’t go away until it’s written though. I usually find myself free writing it in one sitting. Then I’ll structure and rewrite it in another. That’s basically the extent of the process. 

What is the secret to writing music that will be entertained by the media, music, TV and healing industry?

The secret is to not. When you write or create something that’s an authentic expression of you and your truth, the right people will find resonance with it. Just don’t lose sight of what you’re doing it for, and let go of attachment to any particular outcome. Don’t pay attention to the 100 people that don’t find resonance, focus on the 5 that do. Those are your people, you woke them up, they’ll wake up others, and what’s entertained by those industries will change. 

Chelsea, you represent a few roles in your life from a spiritual practitioner to an entrepreneur. Which role among many (healing practitioner, entrepreneur, writer, musician; etc.) came first?

Writing definitely came first. I started writing music lyrics and poetry when I was nine years-old. I barely spoke so that’s how I was able to express myself. I wrote my first children’s book in 4th grade (around the same age), my dad illustrated it, and my teacher published it. At that age nothing is really a role though, it’s a skill or hobby.

What is the best advice you've received as a healing practitioner?

I was usually rejected by a lot of the people I would ask for advice. Which was good because it was my journey to experience and my path to pave. The answers to my questions were revealed to me in the form of lessons and life experiences. Life has always been my best teacher. 

What is the most useful advice you'd offer to a spiritual practitioner in training?

Work from the inside out. Align within first, then act in the world. That way you’ll encounter the path of least resistance and your inner guidance will be loud and clear. 

When producing healing music, what are the essential variables which permit the music to have a healing effect on listeners?

There are healing frequencies that when synchronized with your brainwaves, they create a destress response within the body. For example 963 Hz, 852 Hz, or 741 Hz. There’s also sound healing instruments like crystal singing bowls. A soft, rhythmic, soothing tone of voice of any mantras or vocals also helps. 

Chelsea, one of your aspirations including directing a TV series. What type of artistic genre would you like to direct? Do you also have any desire to act in these TV series?

Sci-Fi, Drama, Fiction, Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy- I’m open to creating anything I’m inspired by. I don’t have a desire to act in them, but that’s not to say I’ll always feel that way. Who knows?

If you could have directed a TV series that existed in the past decade, do you have a favorite show where you'd love to see your name in the credits?

I feel like the best is yet to be created. 

As an artist and healer, you are also writing a book. What is one important thing you would like all future readers to know about you through your writings?

It is my passion, pleasure, and purpose to bring through the information that I do. Me and my guides appreciate the opportunity to share our perspective with them.

You are a talented professional representing a wide array of the creative arts. By any chance, do you tell or know any good jokes? :)

Relationships are like toots. If you have to force it, it’s probably poop. :)

Please share with audiences how they can support your work.

Chelsea @ Theta Healing Here
Chelsea Henderson @ Squarespace Here

Sasha's Book Pick: Called to Create

 

Credit: Called to Create
By Author Jordan Raynor

Book Preview

We were created by an infinitely creative God to reflect his love and character to the world. One way we do that is by continuing his creative work. In this energizing book, serial entrepreneur and bestselling author Jordan Raynor helps artists, entrepreneurs, writers, and other creatives reimagine our work as service to God and others, addressing such penetrating questions as

- Is my work as a creative really as God-honoring as that of a pastor or missionary?

- What does it look like to create not to make a name for myself but to glorify God and serve others?

- How can I use my work to fulfill Jesus's command to create disciples?

- Will what I make today matter in eternity?

Author Profile

Jordan Raynor is a serial entrepreneur and national bestselling author who helps Christians do their most exceptional work for the glory of God and the good of others. Through his books, podcast, and weekly devotionals, Jordan has helped millions of Christians in every single country connect the gospel to their work. In addition to producing this content Jordan serves as the Executive Chairman of Threshold 360, a venture-backed tech startup that has built the world's largest library of 360° experiences of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Jordan previously served as CEO of the company, following a string of successful ventures of his own. (Credit: Bio Profile, Amazon)

Meet Danielle Chiel, Entrepreneur and Author

#ComingSoon

Entrepreneur and Author Danielle Chiel Joins Sasha on Moving Mountains.

Learn how the inception of KOCO & The Artisan Nation is driving change in India.

Credit: The Artisan Nation

Credit: KOCO, Knit One (garment) Change One (life)

Credit: The Artisan Nation

Meet Elzie D. Flenard III, Master Storyteller

Credit: Elzie D. Flenard III

Elzie, Welcome! As THE MAYOR of Podcast Town, what events introduced you to the world of podcasting?

I started an internet radio station because I wanted to create a platform for people to learn business 24/7 365. As a part of my research for the station, I ran into a podcast and fell in love with the medium. I then shut down the station and focused on my podcast. 

Have you always been a personality open to entertaining and educating audiences throughout your life?

Pretty much. I have been a singer/songwriter since I was a little boy. Over the years I’ve added speaking and podcasting to my tool box. 

As an entrepreneur wearing several hats, what has life experience taught you about knowing when to delegate certain responsibilities and when to honor these obligations yourself? How do you trust the universe that your ideas will unfold in a smooth manner?

I’ve learned that time-blocking and mapping out tasks strategically helps tremendously when it comes to understanding what tasks can be delegated and which tasks I should perform myself. Writing procedures is important as well. Having something to hand someone that walks them through the process is a huge value add to the business. 

I have learned to concern myself with things I can control and not the things I can’t control. Everything happens for me not to me. 

You serve as a guide to many entrepreneurs wanting to communicate their unique message before audiences. What are the common misconceptions people host about the podcasting space? 

That it’s a quick fix and that it’s easy. It may be simple but it’s definitely not easy. Especially standing out and being strategic about how you podcast whether you’re guesting or hosting. 

What have you learned about the art of communication thus far? Are there any sources in your life that have refined your methods of communicating with the world?

I’ve learned that people tend to complicate something that is actually quite simple. Listen to understand, be authentically interested and be clear in your communication. Admire others but be true to who you are, your voice. 

Elzie, you're a storyteller yourself. What is the first story you recall listening to as a child and what impact did it have on you?

I’ve always appreciated the art of storytelling via music and I remember hearing “Brenda’s Got a Baby” by Tupac and being completely taken in by the story. The issues he covered are often not talked about. Empathy and care for our fellow human beings is critical for the success of the human family. 

If you had to leave the world with one story with a powerful message, what would it be?

You’re born, you live, you die. Live well! 

As a family man, what have you learned from Mr. Elzie Flenard I and Mr. Elzie Flenard II about family and living a wholesome life?

My Mom and Dad divorced when I was about 6 and we moved out of town so I didn’t grow up with either of the Elzie’s. I took pieces of people I admired and created the person I felt would make my children proud and do my best to be a better husband and father each day. I am also a man of faith so I draw from the principles of the Bible as a guide to living. 

Creativity is nurtured in unique ways. Are there any special rituals you entertain to welcome the flow of inspiration in your mind, heart and soul?

Prayer and reflection. Prayer connects me to God and keeps me centered. I’m a thinker. I love to take time to do nothing but think. 

Entrepreneurs grow alongside their businesses through different seasons. What lessons did Enterprise Now teach you about connecting with people and relationship management?

It taught me how to add value and connect people with no expectation of anything in return. Taking the farmer approach vs the hunter mentality has done well for me and my business and podcast. Even though the podcast has retired, people still listen and get value from the conversations.

What is the best entrepreneurial decision that you've made that keeps paying itself forward?

Networking and building relationships. 

What is one painful entrepreneurial lesson you learned early on in your career? How does that lesson play a role in how you work and live your life today?

Failure is a part of the journey. I used to allow failure to affect my confidence and my ability to try new ideas. Understanding the failure principle has allowed me to fail faster and learn from them in order to build success. 

What are the latest projects that you're working on?   

Podcast Town is my new company and brand. We are also launching a new podcast in 2021 as well I host a podcaster community that offers networking to podcasters. 

Please share with audiences how they can support your work.

Website: www.podcasttown.net
Podcast: Click here.
Community: www.podcasttown.net/community
LinkedIn: Click here.

Reference to Tupac's Brenda's Got a Baby

Meet James Aiello, Author of Christina Powers

Welcome James! As the founder of James Aiello Productions, what have you learned about entrepreneurship while also nurturing your successful writing career? Among your few professions which include you working as a registered nurse, how have these various roles groomed you to become the writer you are today?

I have learned that starting your own publishing company is a difficult thing to do, but it can be done.  First you need to create a business plan, then Incorporate the business.  Next it is creating a dynamic web page and then begin an advertising program to promote your new business and website.  Google advertising is a great way to start.  Once you finally have things running smoothly it is extremely exciting.  Creating my own publishing company has also help me to publish my own novels and taken the stress off that comes with trying to find an agent to represent you or finding one of the larger publishing company to take an unknown author on.  Selling novels in today’s market is exceedingly difficult and that is why a good advertising campaign is the key to a successful writing career.  I also have worked as a registered nurse for most of my career and learning to document on medical charts has helped me immensely with my writing skills. (Photo Credit: James Aiello)

Your successful writing career emanates from personal trials which include your beloved Michael's passing as well yourself overcoming thyroid cancer. Please share the inspiring story with audiences that initially empowered you to embrace your passion for writing. Also how have these experiences influenced your perspective on living a wholesome life?

I always dreamed of becoming a published author, but a busy life with a full-time nursing career, raising a child with my partner Michael, caring for family members and being active in the local food bank, never allowed me that opportunity.  All that changed in one year with the deaths of three of my beloved family members including my partner of 24 years Michael.  It was the pain of that loss which I had to escape in order to survive and I hid in my writing.  My writing was also the catalyst which brought me to a higher awareness of my own spirituality, and I believe allowed me to channel the energy needed to write my first novel “Forbidden Child”.   Shortly after the publishing of Forbidden Child I had another hurdle to leap over, I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer which stopped me from going on a national book tour which I had set up. I had to have a thyroidectomy and after a short recover time I was able to begin the book tour.   This was a setback, but I was not fearful.  Death no longer scared me. The awakening to my own spiritual guides has heightened my awareness that we are all connected and that much more needs to be done to save our environment for our children’s futures. 

Being raised near the Hudson Valley in NY, what experiences from your upbringing made you curious to explore the notion of a love child between former President John F. Kennedy and his alleged mistress Marilyn Monroe? As a twelve year old, did you share such curiosities with others around you? If so, what were their reactions and responses to your creative musings?

I was 12 years old when a thought came to me and I wondered what a child of JFK and Marilyn Monroe would be like.  I remember seeing a documentary on JFK and Marilyn Monroe and the way she was dressed when she sang happy birthday to him at his birthday party at Madison Square Garden on May 19th, 1962.  I never told anyone what I was thinking, but that thought stayed with me for years.  And when I begin to write my first novel, “Forbidden Child” that was the question I had to answer.

As the author of the "Forbidden Child" trilogy, what lessons did you learn about writing a fiction story during the first book? Are there any writing techniques and tips that new authors can benefit from? What part of crafting the story did you find to be the most challenging? And the most emotionally satisfying?

While writing my first novel I learned to let my imagination go wild.  I needed to become each character, to feel their love for each other, their passion for life, their desire for revenge and their ultimate awakening to what really matters in life.  Then and only then could I convey that to my readers.   The most challenging to my writing was finding my sweet place to create.  For me I found it many nights driving around at 2 am with a recorder in my hand.  The most emotionally satisfying was the spiritual connection I felt with my higher power as the story unfolded.

When writing the "Forbidden Child" series, were any of the characters in the story inspired by real life personalities? What professional guidance do you have for authors aspiring to write a series versus a stand alone book/story? 

In writing the Forbidden Child series I was very inspired by the real lives of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Tayler. Both women survived and flourished in a time that was considered a man’s world and they used everything they had and every trick up their sleeves to do so.  Marilyn Monroe was a great actress, model, and singer.  Known as the blonde bombshell and became the most popular sex symbol of the 1950s and early 60s and was emblematic of the era’s changing attitudes towards sexuality.  She overcame a difficult childhood and the Hollywood elites who tried to destroy her career to become an American Icon.  Elizabeth Taylor was a child prodigy who became a great actress, businesswoman and humanitarian.  I tried to mold Christina Powers after them both. The reason I wrote Forbidden Child as a series was because I was hoping to create a following and I felt if I released the entire story in one novel it would be over in one reading and I did not want that for my readers until I was ready to complete the entire story in one novel.  If you are aspiring to write a series then please create a plot that continues to climb, reach a cliffhanger like a musical crescendo and then leave them hanging for more.  And in the next novel give them more.

Credit: Christina Powers American Goddess

In the book "Christina Powers", the story celebrates a woman as an independent beauty in a leadership role. Who are the women in your life that have taught you about the graces of women contributing to society in multi-faceted roles? What are the top two virtues of the protagonist Christina Powers? What are her top two vices?

The gift of my protagonist, Christina Powers came from growing up in a household with strong independent women.  My mom ran our Italian family style restaurant, and my two older sisters worked all day beside her and then would train and race our family harness horses in the evenings better than any of the guys in the paddock.  They taught me to love and respect the strengths of women.  This is why Christina’s top virtues are her determination to overcome any obstacle and her ability to fight for unconditional love towards all creation.  I would say her top two vices where her temporary addiction to cocaine and her almost seemly blinding drive for revenge.  But even these become learning experiences which make her a better person in the end.

Christina Powers endures all sorts of emotions, including pain and suffering, during her rise to power. When conceiving Christina's character, did you implement any personal lessons learned of grief and suffering to devise a realistic character in a fiction story?  

All the pain, suffering, loves and losses Christina must learn to survive in this story have come directly from what I have learned in my personal experiences of life’s pain, life’s losses, and life’s loves.  This was the only way I could bring this fictional character to life in a real honest way.

At what point in your writing career, did you comfortably embrace that you've evolved into a seasoned writer? What benchmarks do you aspire to achieve as a writer today compared to when you started out several years ago?

I did not feel I was a seasoned writer until I had completed my second novel in the Forbidden Child series “Forbidden Child Secrets Revealed”.  That is when I truly felt that I had become a seasoned writer.  I am sure it was because I realized the power and passion of the love story woven in that novel was exactly what a character as strong as Christina Powers needed.  It is a love story that one day should be proclaimed a masterpiece in the literary industry.  When I first started writing I just hoped to be recognized as a creative writer and now my goal is to see my work come to life on film.

As a celebrated professional and father, what have you taught your son Tyler about unconditional love? How are you able to weave the concept of respect and love into the characters you create for entertainment purposes?

I pride myself in the knowledge that my son, Tyler has grown into a man who can accept others for who they are without negativity or judgment.  He understands people are different and has learned to express unconditional love for others even in the hardest times.  I feel that the love and respect my characters show through my writing for entertainment purposes is my attempt to enlighten my readers in the possibility that all things are possible when people come together for the common good.

James, are there any books from your childhood that resonate with you to this day? Is there a character or a timeless theme that you hold dear in your heart and why?

As a child the first time I read “The Lion the witch and the wardrobe” by C.J Lewis I became fascinated.  The theme of good vs evil, betrayal and forgiveness, courage and transformation became a seed planted within my soul a long time ago.  The ultimate lesson I took away from that story was Love for all life can overcomes any hateful obstacle that tries to stand in its way.  

If "Forbidden Child" was chosen to be made into an entertainment film, who would you choose to play the main characters? Are there any personalities, from the past and/or present, that you would like to audition for "Christina Powers"?

I would love to see Megan Fox play Christina Powers, so much so that I have started a petition campaign asking her to review Christina Powers American Goddess.  My hope is that she will bring Christina to life on the big screen.  I believe in my heart that if I could only get her to read the novel, she would realize that she is the perfect actress for this part.

​James, when you feel the need for inspiration, what do you do? Do you have a favorite song, quote or activity that elevates your mind and soul to continue creating new chapters of your life?

I find my creative inspiration is the strongest at 2 am when I walk alone in a quite tranquil place just looking up at the stars.  I have learned that the heavens and connecting with my higher power is where my stream of creativity flows from.  

Please share with audiences how they can support your work.

Website: www.forbiddenchild.com

Facebook: @ForbiddenChildBook

Twitter: @ForbiddenChild_

Meet Olivia Friedman, CIO and Author

Credit: Olivia Friedman

Hello Olivia, it's a pleasure to meet you. You presently serve as the CIO of The Institute of Higher Global Studies as well work as a celebrated business woman at True Success Coaching. Please briefly share how True Success Coaching was born. 

Nice to meet you as well, I've heard such wonderful things about you and your talents. You know what, as a futurist, and Woman Leader in Tech., knowing what is likely coming down the pike in business as my business sense is almost like a sixth-sense to me. True Success Coaching was born out of pure necessity just prior to Covid-19, whereas companies and their leaders both large and small, were quite hesitant to go fully-digital.Luckily, I suggested back in November of last year to the bulk of my clients, that they make the transition to digital while the getting was good. I guess it was my sixth-sense kicking in. When Covid-19 hit, many of the businesses I worked with not only remained relevant, they also had already made the transition to digital, just in time too. So they were alright for the most part. Yet in reality, I have always been the technology, military and business go-to person. While on active duty in the US Navy also running exercises with the US Marines with Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman groups, while I was Aviation Medicine. I was also a civil servant within the United States Government, and in both the private and public sectors as well. I was a government contractor with Northrop Grumman, a major defense corporation and learned so much, which allows me to assist countless companies strategically, today.

Yet even before the pandemic, many companies sought out seasoned professionals like myself and others. With us being Chief Information Officers and marketing strategists with a vast network and business expertise, we were positioned quite strategically, to assist them with everything from translating technology to business leaders to finding viable technological solutions to everyday business problems and assisting them with pivots in business, to ensure a likely survival if their previous business model, product, or both are no longer relevant. In fact, I was contacted by Suyati Corporation out of India whereas they also have offices in the United States, Germany, and a few other countries. I groomed the possibility of working with the entity and met with Ashutosh Karandikar and Karthic Ravindranath, since they were considering me, a woman for the position which is a wonderful milestone for a company in India, I was impressed with them reaching out to me. The idea was to have me gain contacts and translate business needs to technological solutions.

As a former US Navy "Doc", you've implemented respectable protocol to ensure cyber and offline emergencies were addressed and resolved in a timely manner. Your leadership as an Information Systems Security Officer directed Navy professionals to engage in emergency drills for natural disasters including viruses. Lessons were learned from the SARS virus. What recommendation would you provide to those (government agencies and civilians) attempting to refine their Coronavirus response in the present? 

You know what? That is a great question and it couldn’t have been any timelier. While on active duty in the US Navy working in the triage and acute care clinic, I was the medical person everyone loved to hate since I believed in drills, and not of the simulated variety. What I mean by that is that I always ensured that any emergency drill team I was assigned to, I made sure our drills were as real as possible, within reason. Our last drill was an Ebola drill. We made the calls as the parties were notified of the date and time of the planned drill. We did well, same as we did for an airplane crash emergency which actually happened a month later, of course we did very well. The Admiral and his wife were quite pleased with both the response and their care. The same went for cyber issues while on active duty. Yet since it was a collateral duty which somehow consumed most of my time after my medical duties were complete for the day, I relied on the Information Systems Security Manager for the big cyber issues. He is the one I learned the tricks and nuances of the trade from. He wanted to know I was competent before sending me on trips to cyber security conferences and such in the DC area predominantly. On that note, my advice is to “Pivot in your business, test and fail quickly to find a new niche or two. It’s best to complete the pivot, while the pivoting is good.” “It’s almost as if the economy, business, and countless industries are encountering another reset. Best to fail and learn quickly, in order to benefit from your pivot(s).”

Small business owners and entrepreneurs are adjusting to their new normal. How do you define innovation?

Innovation technologically or any other way post-Covid-19 may be quite simply described as, “Preventive or deliberate and active adaptation, or implementation of something new or by adjusting something already in place, by way of implementing new, or improved action(s), process(es), or product(s) that is/are vital to the survival of an entity, person, or group; as they may be known or not known for - if the pivot is drastic.” 

A good example of this would be Starbucks. As opposed to going out of business, they might pivot to coffee sales only, or lease out their brand to countless coffee shops around the world to remain relevant in their field, and still make billions of dollars, off of a brand they built ages ago without franchising a single shop. Another way innovation may be defined is; “Improvising and improving in just about any area, by implementing a new method, product, model, or concept as well as or possibly improving upon those already existing, in order to sustain or prepare for in advance, that which may already be or in the foreseeable future may clearly become, obsolete.” 

As a business coach and consultant, how can these business owners rely on innovation to sustain their organizations during these dynamic times when business forecasting can be unpredictable and perhaps even intimidating? 

Excellent question. In a nutshell, since none of us are psychic to the point of predicting all the perfect businesses to thrive during the post-Covid era – all we can do is try, try, try again, fail and learn quickly. Then to do it all again, faster and faster – until ultimately finding new and viable niche(s). I have a funny story to tell you. I did well upon coming to the South in transportation. Yet when I first arrived, I tried seeking businesses that required little to no maintenance. Therefore, I immediately asked about a drive-in theater. I was laughed at and told no, there weren’t any and that the South was no longer a backward one horse and buggy town. I laughed with the gentleman but continued my search and found one in Athens, Alabama that wasn’t bad at all. There then, it was $25K at the time if I’m not mistaken. Imagine its worth now, 10 years later during Covid-19. Easy to maintain, easy to open, work, and close. I’m sure the person who laughed at me back then is thinking right about now, that I was onto something, wouldn’t you agree? 

My point is this, you have to first follow your own gut as a business owner, then realize you need a team, check feasibility and your cake and get a plan to implement so you know your steps before you take them, do your research, speak with those who already know the industry if not your specific niche, yes – find the major hitter and get their advice, get your cake up, and assemble your dream team and a few others as backup including a board as well as a mentor or two if you’re serious, and dive right in. It’s the only way to learn what will work. Right now, some of the most unlikely businesses are thriving right now. Everything from food delivery to restaurants and grocery stores. Now the airline industry is a toss up right now but I’m still hanging in there with them, Tesla as well although I have a friend who knows the leaders of Tesla’s competitor. I’m being groomed to switch over to the other side. Who knows, only the future can tell.

When starting off as an entrepreneur, what were your top two challenges that you needed to overcome? 

The first hurdle was Cake, the fact that I had none, LOL. And when I say cake, of course I mean money. You know, cheddar, cheese, etc. The second was fear. I had to overcome fear and doubt, especially considering the people I allowed myself to be surrounded with back then. 

What did it teach you about yourself? 

I just love your questions. And I hope someone can truly benefit from our dialogue. Let’s just say, I will remain as real as possible, because it’s the only way my responses can really help. We as people doubt a bit more than we’d like to believe we do. I suggest, because I saw this in myself, entrepreneurs might want to be sure they have a good support network before taking on major challenges in life, business, career, education, or otherwise. Quite simply put, fear can be debilitating if you do not have the tools to overcome it. Imagine doubters in your ear 24/7. My secret was to jack into my headphones or earbuds to drown out the voices of doubt. And I don’t mean just the people that were around me back then. Or at least not them alone. I meant to drown out my own voice in my own head telling me I can’t do it, or that I’m wasting my time and should get a ‘real’ job, amplifying what I heard nearly every day, several times a day. All the greats went through that, but they learned how to believe in themselves, to have faith, keep at it, and they eventually achieved it. That brings to mind a book I’m working on called “Divine Gifts Theory”, where I challenge Gladwell’s 1800 Hour Rule. I found it took me sometimes twice that or in some instances, three times the typical 1800 hours of beating on my craft, to see any of the fruit of my labor. Then I learned it wasn’t just me, that it was happening all over the world. Maybe during our next interview, I will share those details, once they have manifested and materialized.

Olivia, you are an advocate of more women joining the ranks of power. Women have made respectable progress over the past three decades. How can more women take advantage of the present reality to embrace power and contribute to a better world? 

You know with my having predicted as far back as March of this year, that Biden would surely choose a woman and has apparently now chosen Kamala Harris as his running mate, now that she’s the nominee - long after Elizabeth Warren having dropped out of the race, a time as recent as March when I was being laughed at, for merely the title of my book with most men asking me if I thought it a bit ambitious to choose such a title, it’s amazing that Pamelya Herndon , CEO of the KWH Law Center in Albuquerque New Mexico, just had this conversation while discussing the 100 Years Celebration - Centennial Online Event Honoring Women’s Right to Vote. We discussed City Councilors Diane Gibson, and others, along with Trudy Jones regarding Social Justice and Change. My book was featured in that its focus is on the Future of Women 2020 and Beyond. We invited community members to tune into the 100 Years Virtual Celebration Honoring Women’s Right to Vote on Wednesday, August 26th, where the event aired live on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on GOV TV – Comcast channel 16, I still have the YouTube and Facebook link for those interested in taking a peek.

Yet to answer your question more directly, women can only take advantage of the present toward embracing power if we stick together! In short, more women supporting women, as opposed to competing for the attention of men and positions we should all occupy, in just as great an abundance as men. AKA’s, and Delta’s have this already figured out. Zeta’s are more my speed although I’m already a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity as a Law Student. I personally prefer co-ed fraternities and am okay with that. However, I do see the importance of sororities. After all, it’s sister supporting sister. 

In my book, Year of the Woman 2020 and Beyond, I reference Elizabeth Warren in her run for President of the United States and the women who failed to support her on her own turf. I also mentioned this on a major nationally syndicated radio station in Boston, in fact it was with Mike Mullaney over at WWBX-FM in Boston MA back in March of this year, 2020. I remember this because it’s when I placed my book out there for pre-order at my website, www.TrueSuccessCoaching.com. 

I guess I sort of called women out there, yet I was simply making my point that women simply do not stick together. Yet in reality, I get it. Many women just weren’t finding Warren very likable and some called her selfish, not seeming as if she would be a woman to back up other women if it came down to that. I reference a study listed in a New York Post article Bias Persists for Women of Science, a Study Finds that 9 out of 10 people are biased against women. Yes, of course that means both men and women. We have to steer clear of this in order to find our center of power.

I remain neutral in that I may not like her, yet I have always believed that a woman that’s liked by too many people in politics, may be attempting to appease every one as opposed to sticking to her guns and making things happen for her constituents and helping other women, as well as those in need, if you know what I mean. Not to be influenced by those in a position to manipulate to support their own agenda, at the expense of the people, at the hands of likable, but manipulable politicians. I enjoyed that interview since they asked if I believed it was time for women to lead. It was also referenced that while Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren had already dropped out of the Presidential race, if I believed we were still beginning to see a shift to women in positions of power? I responded the same way as I did back in February, it is most definitely our time!

You are a priceless source to those seeking counsel, coaching and companionship. Who are the people who uplift you on days when you're seeking clarity with personal and professional matters? 

Outside of my higher power which is on call 24/7/365, I have a muse that helps me with all creative tasks, either in spirit or in person. This is a must in my life in order to get major things done. It’s one of the main staples in my support network for creative or massive endeavors. 

Where does your strength emanate from? 

My strength comes from fostering a strong belief in myself that few may possess if they do not truly believe in a higher power. I realize that where I may drop off as well as others, I can pick back up due to my faith in a higher power. I know that where I may not be able to do something on my own, through my higher power, I am unstoppable! I must also give credit to life experience and the decades I wasted helping others to greatness. From politicians to finances and spouses in their businesses and campaigns to spiritual endeavors, rarely receiving what was promised and in some instances, what was agreed to, in writing. I was used to simply walking away but noticed my life changed drastically toward the better, when I finally began standing up for myself. Of course, this always came with a fight. I may not have always won, yet have won most. I kind of feel like I was temporarily transported to a fight club scene there for a moment considering how bad I have been beaten up in business before lol. I used to say it’s not always about winning, and that for me it’s more so about doing my best and not backing down, depending on the fight, and whether it's winnable or not. Now I say something similar, by adding that I will fight if I believe what I aim to gain is worth the fight!

Credit: Divorce Superpowers for Women

You've also authored Divorce Superpowers for Women, a book for women to learn how to protect themselves through a divorce. What events inspired you to compose a book which serves as a valuable guide for those transitioning out of their relationships? Writing on such a topic can stir all sorts of emotions. How would you describe your writing experience? 

Thanks so much for keeping it real. Yes, it was remembering my divorce of ages ago where I did not do what I should have in being just as fierce as the system that was in place at the time, in realizing just how hard I’ve had to work to get anywhere near the level of wealth I had then. Yet then again, you’re absolutely right - Emotions says it all LOL. However, when I write I do so from a different perspective. I think of women that have either been through a divorce and weren’t prepared for it, or did not fair, as well as their ex-husbands did, after the divorce. You know what I mean? 

Left to raise their kids alone after they both committed to it, while the ex runs off usually with a mistress, wining and dining her while we sit at home doing all the work, with barely a few minutes in the bathroom throughout the day for running a smooth household looking out for the kids at every turn. While we clearly love it, it seems unfair that we cannot take a quick vacation or get wined and dined like the mistress, after all we gave and did for the household as well as the (most ungrateful) previous hubby. So sure, it was tough writing the initial outline for the book. I wanted to find a way to be clear in communicating that the book was not intended to serve as a guide by any means. 

It’s more so a book offering moral support for those going through it, and for those who think they may have to or are not sure, and how they may protect themselves in a practical sense. Simple concepts such as a “separate account he or she does not know about.” (Credit to the originator of that phrase). It’s tough yet now I am as resilient as they come and can understand just about any angle a woman may be coming from. That being said, we have a support group we are growing as well, to offer support for those currently going through it or that are in recovery. There are many pointers and suggestions in the book that can surely help. The kicker is, I also plan to write a book for men in a similar fashion. This is the true essence of equality, in that there are some women out there learning to navigate the game better than men, but that is going overboard. Or rather, those women are reckless, and families are also suffering because of it, and last time I checked, two wrongs still did not make a right.

What would your guidance be for individuals that are hesitant to claim their second chance at nurturing personal relationships? 

For some, it may even be a third, a fourth, a fifth, or even a sixth chance. I say go for it, keeping in mind lessons learned as to not repeat them. We all need companionship to some degree and should always desire to foster personal relationships. It’s a part of life, and if left out can make for an odd stay on this planet.

It takes vulnerability and a pinch of faith to welcome new people into our personal time and space. What is your philosophy on relationships in general? 

I find that personal relationships can have a different dynamic based upon the parties involved as well as the location, outside influences, finances, education, and so many other factors. My philosophy is to keep your relationship to yourself for a spell at the onset, to give it a test-drive on a trial basis in the beginning. Such times shall never come again in any given relationship, so make good use of the time. That way if only a close friend or two know it’s happening, if it doesn’t work out or last, no big deal. In my opinion, it seems that outside influences can dampen the time dedicated to nurturing a new personal relationship, to a degree where it can stand on its own in a crowd, among friends, family, and even co-workers. The boundaries you set should be well adjusted to your comfort level, not theirs. And your boundaries should be clearly communicated, in the beginning. This is a great start, as the people involved get to know one another. As for an overall view of relationships assuming they are established and not brand new, I believe a good relationship is like water or air, we need it! Or it’s akin to the air we breathe, as was said to me in a previous relationship. When you meet that special someone, it can be so beautiful and is something we should all strive for. Yet in reality, it should also be seen as a partnership whereas one has the others’ back, especially when times get tough. Relationships take work and will not always be easy. I have the philosophy that a woman should always seek her equal at best. I believe it will save the couple so much heartache. Anything less that one’s equal would be akin to walking up hill, backward. Find him (or her), and life will surely feel more complete, and can provide an environment filled with support, understanding, freedom, to grow and fly, to soar above the clouds without feeling guilty or overly ambitious.Having one’s equal means to be of kindred spirit, not just finances. Even temperaments are also a great idea. These days, someone you can trust, truly trust - is also key.

What is the toughest decision you've had to make in your professional career and why? 

The toughest decision I’ve had to make in my professional career wasn’t actually related to operations or processes. I had to decide if I wanted to remain on board when a partner demanded sitting in to administer contracts, yet failed to tell me they could not handle it and had lost all of them one by one. I practically stayed up day and night for months to turn the company around while my partner slept overnight. One of us had to be on our toes, and since I was the Chief Technology Officer, Contract Recruiter, HR person, Website Developer given that we could not afford contractors – it was a tough decision to leave after contracts had lapsed due to my partners negligence. 

How did you go about executing that decision? 

I slept on it and knew upon awakening I needed to cut my losses and move on. I simply put things in place and made it happen. The company went down when I left, yet I did what I had to do with my interests in the company and moved on. If you remember my reference to doing so much for others and leaving with a deficit or with the very short end of the stick, it’s themes like these that caused me to write the Divorce Superpowers book. I decided that if I could save other women from what I encountered time and time again, that the book would be worth the labor, albeit, a labor of love, care, and concern for others, left at a grave disadvantage.

Mental wellness is a state of mind. How do you practice mental and emotional wellness in your life? 

That’s a wonderful question, I meditate and pray. I make sure I include tons of visualization. It works for me with action and execution of plans I set in place of course. 

How can others start taking better care of their mind and body? 

In such times as these during the Covid-19 pandemic, with all the uncertainty and chaos even still today, relaxation and keeping on top of important tasks will help tons. Breathing exercises, stretching, and just a bit of quiet time. During an interview on the Tim Ridley Show out of Tennessee featured on SiriusXM Radio Channel 146, I remember Tim asking me about Covid-19 and how it’s affecting me at home and what advice might I have for moms, it was near Mother’s day this year. I responded with a similar response in that sometime, we can only grab a bathroom break during the day. So I suggested nap time for the kids everyday so that mom can get a break too! Also, if having an older child that can watch the younger siblings, a schedule to allow this is also a plus. Yet in general, earbuds were safe, nice relaxing music, and having a point in time throughout the home where the news should be simply turned off altogether for at least an hour or two. It’s great to remain aware of current events and breaking news in such crazy times by way of the news, yet it’s not okay to become inundated – not for any member of the family. Nik Rajkovic, a reporter at KTRH Houston later asked me to share some ideas for Mother’s Day, during the pandemic, a good snapshot of just how chaotic this year has been, with not being able to hug an elder family member, especially mothers on Mother’s day. Yet this too shall pass. Hopefully next Mother’s Day will be a bit closer to normal, as we remember it.

Please share with audiences how they can support your work. 

Gladly, and what a great interview too. Well, many know I’m a business consultant where many connect with me through my success coaching website. Listeners and viewers in general may feel free to support my work by visiting my LinkedIn page and connecting with me, to stay on top of what moves I will be making next that will help the masses, by sharing of my life’s successes, yet also some of my greatest lessons learned in life, business, and relationships.

They may also support my work by visiting https://www.TrueSuccessCoaching.com and signing up for the newsletter to remain informed. Any books I have written will be there as well on the same landing page. We have contests for cool prizes, and offer many perks for signing up. And for those not yet aware, my most recent book after the books featured at http://www.DivorceSuperPowers.com is Year of the Woman 2020 and Beyond and is available on Amazon via pre-order right now. It would help to grab a couple books or to loan it to a friend. Both books are full of tools and resources to make you think in ways that will leave you with the desire for a better future for you and yours.