Issuu

Cheryl POLOTE-WILLIAMSON™

MAGAZINE

LINĒIJ™

FALL 2021

SHE’S GOT AWhyHABIT! actress, author,

producer, and CEO mom

MALINDA WILLIAMS feels her next level includes YOU!

KIPENZI CHIDINMA

making a global impact one handbag at a time

AGING WELL Are you?

Tips for women over 45: how to feel

beautiful forever

Giving Young People of Color a New Dream

SONCERIA ANN BERRY ﬁrst African American

Secretary of the United States Senate

ALLISON JEAN Having my dream life. Doing my own thing.

faith in my darkest hour

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THE NOW AVAILABLE ARTOF INFLUENCE I am excited to announce my newest book The Art of Influence is now available! Order your copy today at cherylpwilliamson.com

- Cheryl

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For tips on how to master #TheArtofInfluence, follow me on Instagram @the_art_of_influence.

FROM THE DESK OF CHERYL POLOTE WILLIAMSON

my mindset

Superpower is my

There is nothing that I’ve obtained or accomplished that did not begin with the power of envisioning it first. Some marvel, others laugh or deny, but the truth is, my remedy is tried and true. 1. SET the goal. 2. ENVISION myself obtaining the goal. 3. BELIEVE I’ve already obtained the goal. 4. SPEAK daily affirmations related to the goal. 5. FOCUS on the goal and my reason for the objective. 6. WORK toward the goal. 7. Maintain my position and the art of influence. 8. WIN! Over and over, I win. I win the same way every time. I never lose sight of who I am, and I keep my mind fixed on where I’m going. I never look to the left or the right, but straight ahead. I never worry about what anyone else is doing. I stay focused on MY purpose, and I stay in MY lane. A sturdy mindset and the ability to ignore distractions and avoid confusion is a superpower that can take you to heights never seen. Your mindset can create in you

the will and ability to do the impossible. Once you tap in, your mindset can make you fall in love with yourself on a deeper level, as well as your purpose and whatever it takes to protect that purpose. It’s a skill set you must master. My mindset is my superpower. The pull of the force of success in all areas of my life and the importance I have placed on it is greater than the force of any distraction or negative impulse sent to pull me down. Are you there? Have you strengthened your mindset and trained it to compel you forward no matter what? What do you want from this life? Don’t be deterred. When pulled in the direction of success, outside forces created to take you off your path must not easily distract you. Trust that there is more in you, get focused, work your lane, and WIN! Love,

Cheryl EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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Williamson Media Group, LLC 6101 Long Prairie Road Box 744 #269 Flower Mound, TX 75028 info@cherylmagazine.com Please include your name, mailing and email addresses, and telephone number with any correspondence. Cheryl Magazine is not responsible for returning unsolicited manuscripts.

Editorial Email

editorials@cherylmagazine.com TO SELL CHERYL MAGAZINE IN YOUR STORE info@cherylmagazine.com ISSN: 2766-6352 (Print) Cheryl Magazine a lifestyle and women’s empowerment publication, is a Cheryl Polote Williamson, LLC (CPW) quarterly produced by Williamson Media Group, LLC (WMG) 6101 Long Prairie Road, Box 744 #269, Flower Mound, TX 75028. Periodicals postage paid at Flower Mound, TX and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send changes of address to Cheryl Magazine 6101 Long Prairie Road, Box 744 #269, Flower Mound, TX 75028. Subscribers, allow 4-6 weeks for change of address to become effective. Subscriptions ordered are non-cancellable and non-refundable unless otherwise promoted. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. All rights in letters sent to Cheryl Magazine will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and to comment editorially. Request for permission to reprint should be sent to the Permissions and Reprints Department by emailing info@cherylmagazine.com and placing “Request for permission to reprint” in the subject line. The title Cheryl Magazine is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Contents copyright © 2021 by Williamson Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Nothing can be reprinted in whole or in part without express written permission from the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. P. 4 | Cheryl MAGAZINE

CHERYL MAGAZINE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Patricia Bailey Tyreese McAllister Russell Williamson

OPERATIONS Creative Director | Shannon Skipper-Green Business and Media | media@cherylmagazine.com Sales | Tammy Woodard sales@cherylmagazine.com Projects | Danette Brown projects@cherylmagazine.com

WILLIAMSON MEDIA GROUP, LLC EXECUTIVE President | Russell Williamson Chief Executive Officer | Cheryl Polote Williamson Advisor to the Editor In Chief | Mikki Taylor

SUBSCRIPTIONS www.cherylmagazine.com 1 Year (4 Quarterly Issues) US $80 Canada $101.58 CAD | International (Digital only) 1 Year (4 Digital Downloads) US $20

Cheryl

CONTENTS FALL 2021 | ISSUE #8

P.12

P.06

Malinda Williams Good Habits

Actress, Author, Producer, and CEO Mom

P.18

Ann Berry 34th Secretary of the United States Senate

Walking Out In Faith, Giving Young People of Color A New Dream

P.24

Allison Jean Mother, Activist

COVER STORY: Being Obedient and Serving From Her Heart

We are all God's Children and Need to Be Treated as Such

Stevie Swain CEO, Swain Consulting, LLC

LIFESTYLE

FEATURED ARTICLES

From Family to Finances, get insight that will help strengthen and empower your life!

Business, Health, and Community

P.30 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW It's In the LINĒIJ™ Kipenzi Chidinma

P.22

Daddy Issues with Tess Alexandria

If You Don’t Love You First Who Will?

P.34

The Gentleman’s Voice The Plan to Get Your Desired Outcome

with Russell Williamson

P.28

Foxxy Wizdom with Charmaine Roots Castillo Destiny's Weeds

P.40 BUSINESS SENSE & SENSIBILITY Why Use a Business Consultant for Your Business

P.44 Take Control of Your Destiny Royleta Foster

P.50 Charting a Path to Artistic Entrepreneurship Toilynn O'Neal Turner

P.48

P.38

P.60

What's Your Relationship with Money

Why You Need a Brand Photo Shoot

Just Leap! The A.R.C.H.Y. Creator Gabriella White

Money Talk with Roni M. Benjamin

THE LIST

Style Matters with Keri Henderson

#GIRLPOWER! with Traci Henderson Smith

P.52 Get Intentional with Your Mental Health Tyreese McAllister

P.54 Aging Well Patricia Bailey

P.42 Our Editor in Chief Cheryl Polote Williamson shares her favorite business resources P. 5 | Cheryl MAGAZINE

COVER STORY COVER STORY

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Being Obedient and Serving From Her Heart

STEVIE SWAIN CEO, Swain Consulting, LLC

by Siobhan Davenport, Contributing Features Editor After a successful 27-year management career working for big corporations, Stevie Swain leaned on her faith to launch her own financial consulting firm, Swain Consulting, LLC, in 2016. Swain shares how her entrepreneurial journey was not a straight path but, instead, consisted of a series of events over many years. To Swain, however, the journey and destination were worth it. “I thought working 9-to-5 was the way to success. I was wrong. By being my own boss, I’ve never been happier, felt more freedom, or had more income. I needed time to assess and evaluate my own gifts.” As a servant-leader, Swain now has the largest African American female-owned Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) processing company in the Midwest. She helps companies reduce their tax liability by millions of dollars annually.

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In August of 2019, I launched an online boutique selling clothing and accessories. My offerings were part of a small, curated collection of items I’d found during my travels. Shortly after launching the online store and enjoying a fair amount of success, I began receiving ideas and visions about expanding the store. The vision was somewhat unclear and fragmented. It would come in pieces, almost like a puzzle. Then I received visions of something more. Women and I were all building something together. It wasn’t the first time I’d received a vision or idea. I get them all the time. This vision, however, was different. There was something about it that felt and looked bigger. More than that, there was a different feel that accompanied the vision. I was intrigued but struggled to understand how the fragmented parts fit together to form a complete picture. Then, I recalled a passage I’d read somewhere that said, “You don’t need to have all of the answers, just get started. The answers will come.” I knew not to concern myself with the outcome or the reason. I was stimulated by the challenge. My part was to pay close attention and listen. The rest of the pieces would reveal themselves in time. I just had to remain focused on the inner guidance system. Many times I’ve gotten a word from God and didn’t follow through, or halfway followed, or got in, and it got too hard, and I backed out. But this time was different— different because it wasn’t about me. It was about the portrayal of characters and the importance of how I portrayed Black Women. I got to work at building the digital platform that would support the new direction: She’s Got A Habit. She’s Got a Habit was launched in January 2019. It is a niche online wellnessfocused, multivendor marketplace and lifestyle platform that empowers women. P. 1 4 | Cheryl MAGAZINE P. 1 4 | Cheryl MAGAZINE

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AGING WELL

with Patricia Bailey, Caregiver Coach

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Youthful Secrets Do people ask you, “What is your secret to aging well? I get it often, but I expect it. At almost 68 years around the sun, I know a little about aging. More importantly, I have lived to learn a lot about aging well. These lessons have given me an aura, contentment, and beauty that prompts the question:

Pearls

“What is your secret to aging well?

So, what is my secret? It is the same secret you hold but may not be self-actualized yet. To age well gracefully, entertain the process of reimagination and apply the following three tips: Renew your mind Enlarge your heart Activate your beliefs My aging well journey began when my mom Mary succumbed to Alzheimer’s in 2004. For seven years, I fought to find some comfort for her against the ravages of this disease. As a result, my life transformed. While being a caregiver, my life was overhauled and impacted in a multitude of ways. I gained over 30 pounds. I lost my executive marketing and sales position. I struggled financially to care for my mom and me. But these were offset by the ultimate reward: I found my purpose. Who would have thought broke, overweight, and unemployed would be a formula to better aging? It was a winning formula that began when I was 45. I began to reimagine myself. As a marketing and sales professional, I helped build brand identities for leading corporations and some of the largest Black hair care brands for men, women, and children. Following Mom’s

homegoing, my marketing transitioned to solutions on caring for other caregivers. I found joy in helping families and their elderly loved ones. I reimagined an entirely new platform, ultimately becoming a caregiver coach. You can reimagine yourself too. Here are the three core tips:

Purpose

Renew Your Mind: The mind has a never-ending appetite. Your mind reflects what you choose Traci Henderson to eat ofby life. Let kindness be a just Smith dessert. Be knowledgeable of your chosen field, intentional with your thoughts, and control your imaginings. Be positive and push back negative energy. Enlarge Your Heart to Serve: Serve with gladness. Be your why. Minimize your agenda and super-size caring and loving others. Matthew 6:21, 'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ Activate Your Beliefs: Trust in your purpose. Have faith in the path chosen. Be confident and unwavering. Let perseverance be your mantra, and let continuous change fuel your growth engine. Let aging well gracefully become your mindset. Incorporating this into your spirit and your being will bring you eternal joy and happiness. Pat Bailey’s ascension to caregiver coach, certified belief therapist, and dementia care practitioner caps a 40+-year career in beauty care. She has managed, marketed, and sold 17 different brands to major retailers. A mother of one son, and grandparent to two, she is a weekend golfer, enjoys yoga, studies biblical history, and enjoys music. Connect with her on LinkedIn at Patricia Bailey - She Ages Well.

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