BWMB - Issue 001

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ISSUE 001

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FALL 2020

AUDRIA RICHMOND

Ditch the Hustle

LEADING A MOVEMENT AND CHALLENGING THE NORMS

WHAT MATTERS NOW WITH APRILLE FRANKS

MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU START AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS

UP CLOSE WITH THE

BUSINESS BULLY!

d e n o UnCl GIC BETTER THAN MA

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ON DEMAND NOW IT’S TIME TO TAKE ACTION

ALL-ACCESS PASS

15 VALUE PACKED ON-DEMAND TRAININGS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS! W W W . I N C O M E A N D I M P A C T . L I V E

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contents

0 6 Ladies First

Focus, alignment and what matters most NOW, with Aprille Franks.

14 2 0The Business Bully of Client 2 4King Attraction So UnCloned™

How Audria Richmond is challenging the norms.

Up close with Dave Anderson, on leaving radio and his legacy.

Gems from Marquel Russell on life and entrepreneurship.

32Life Saver

CPR Wrap empowers people to save lives.

THE SQUAD JASMINE WILLIS - Senior Editor MARIA HARRIS - Senior Editor STACI MOORE - Senior Project Manager STEPHANIE ROSA - Senior Art Director KOBE LIGON - Executive Assistant

THE LEGAL STUFF:

The information contained in this publication is for informational purposes only and is subject to the terms and conditions found on www.elleseandco.com. BWMB, an affiliate of Ellese & Co assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The information contained about each individual, event or organization has been provided by the respective subject or contributor with no verification by us. Further, the opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its contributor and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of BWMB, therefore, we carry no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon.

All rights reserved copyright Ellese & Co 2020

Contact: hello@elleseandco.com www.elleseandco.com Advertising Inquiries partners@elleseandco.com 626.536.1227

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SCROLL-STOPPING GRAPHICS

IDEAS & ACTION S T R AT EGY, D E V E LO P M E N T & D E S I G N

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dco.com/creativeservices

Founder From the desk of the

BWMB magazine showcases the accomplishments of women like us and stimulates us to dream bigger. We understand that it takes more than inspiration to manufacture all that we desire, so we follow-up with practical resources that support your business and life goals! But we do not stop there. If you want to go fast, go alone. Yet if you yearn to go far, then we have created a community that further supports the steps you need to take after reading our magazine.

This issue is extra special because the people who have helped me grow as an entrepreneur are featured. Audria Richmond has been a shining example of what it looks like when you trust yourself and has encouraged me from day one to do the same. Aprille Franks has shown me what is possible when you DECIDE to create the life that you desire and serve your tribe first. And, Dave Anderson for his genius ideas, open-door policy, tough love, and for believing in me more than I believe in myself most days. These heavy hitters will also be a part of our Income to Impact Virtual Summit happening September 12-13, 2020.

IT'S A MOVEMENT! In case you haven't noticed, we are officially BWMB Black Women Mean Business. We are so proud of the movement, and it has taken its rightful place on the magazine's cover.

Why the change? The magazine needed a name that fully embodies our purpose. From the boardroom to our living rooms, Black women are on a mission to change every negative narrative. We are creating jobs within our communities and building empires that will leave lasting legacies.

Before you turn the page, I want you to understand something. Whether you are working on your very first business plan after working your 9-5 or trying to scale your business to meet your revenue goals consistently, the Black Women Mean Business community is here for you!

This is the space that you have been looking for. A space filled with women that understand you, that are making major moves, and are ready to support you.

Welcome to the Movement!

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Ladies First!

Focus, Alignment and what matters most NOW!

UPCLOSE WITH APRILLE FRANKS

The most critical question you can ask yourself as you start and grow your business is, “What kind of life do I absolutely want?”

If you don’t get clear on that fundamental question, you will create a business that is in deep contrast to your true desires. We had the opportunity to catch up with Aprille Franks, a master community builder, and launch strategist. She has a thriving community of over 18,000 engaged, elite, high-result entrepreneurs and works exclusively with women who want to build a brand that supports their most ambitious lifestyle goals.

Aprille graced the cover of our Spring issue and is back for some real talk directed explicitly to women in business who are looking to do less to gain more, to make an impact, and yield income that makes a difference in their lives.

BWMB: What is important in life and business right now?

When I think about what is important for me when it comes to life and business, and I hope that this resonates with you, I had to ask myself what are the things that I want to do with my life? What are the things that feel good to me? What are the hopes and dreams that I have? What I’m saying is, girl, ask yourself what kind of life do you want?

How do you want to feel? Where do you want to live? What do you want your children to experience? Maybe there are some things that you wanted as a child, but you didn’t get to experience. What are those places that you want to travel to? What organizations do you desire to donate to?

What is it that you want to do for a family member or friend, and be clear about what you want your life to look like because it’s the most ambitious and ginormous thing you’ll ever consider. And then, think about how you are going to create a business that’s going to give you that. So, for me, I want time, flexibility. I want to jet set. I want to

travel. I want to do things for my family. I want to become a real estate developer.

How am I creating something in my "now" business that is advantageous to the point where reality becomes a true manifestation of those desires.

BWMB: Since we last spoke, things have evolved, and you have changed your mantra.

Tell us more about that.

The grind culture - don’t stop until you can’t breathe, or sleep is expired and old. I don’t think it serves you. It certainly has not served the innards of me. So, for a period of time, grinding is a way of life, and that’s not how it should be. For me, what shifted is I’ve been doing less and gaining more, and that’s the message I want for women now. There’s a lot to be done in this online digital space, but I don’t need you to kill yourself trying to make it happen, or trying to keep up with the next person. There was a time when I was

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consumed with the business, just really overworking 18 to 20 hours a day continuously going and going and going. While there were periods of that time, it served me, and it may serve you, and serve other women in business, it’s not sustainable.

BWMB: Why is being in alignment so important?

Just imagine that there was an umbilical cord between life and the business, and you wanted to maintain the attachment, right?

Some things will come in that path that will be aligned and will keep you attached, and then some things can come in that path that will detach you, right? You have to have the discernment and the boundary to stay steadfast in the thing. For example, people come to me with all kinds of opportunities.

Trust me, listen, I have been offered every damn thing to sell. The answer is always no.

And, the reason why the answer is always no, it is not that I don’t want to keep my income options open, but because I’m called to do this work, I’m focused on this business.

I’m building this brand. I already have three brands I’m involved in right now, and it would be out of alignment for me to suddenly start selling light bulbs.

Alignment makes me feel like I’m honoring why I am here. That I am honoring my clients. I am honoring my tribe and my community. I am honoring me. It can’t be about what other people want me to do. I have not gone live publicly outside of like a private Facebook group for clients for months. Why and how can I do that? Am I still making money? Yes, yes, yes, and yes! But really, how can I do that? Because I decided this is about building a business. I've done such a great job with that, and my momentum is so firm, and steadfast that I could literally not show up in that way, and make more money.

It’s not about you doing all the things. It’s about all things being done. So, the alignment is super key for me. And, I’m at a place in my life where if it’s not aligned the answer is just no, with love.

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BWMB: What can ladies do to get in alignment?

To be honest with you, forget what everybody else is doing, and embrace all the things that you want to be, all the ways you want to feel, all the things you want to experience. Be honest in every area of your life. I look at life and business in a very holistic way. I want it all. I want to take a nap. I want to work. I want to serve. I want to feel sexy. I want to go to exotic places. I want to play with my granddaughter. I want to hug and squeeze my daughter. I want to have funny conversations with my mom. I want to French kiss my dude like we’re in high school. I want all of it! But to have all of it, we gotta be honest about if we even want all of it, instead of buying into this notion that you can’t have your cake and eat it too, when the cake is meant to be eaten.

BWMB: Where do women need to be focused right now?

We need to be focused on loving each other in solidarity - White women, Black women, Asian women, Hispanic women, all women. I know the majority of women who’s tuning in may be Black women, but in general, all women need to connect better with other women. We need to recognize that there is a revolution right now of women owning their truths, and not the “truth” that you put in your 150 character bio.

We need to recognize that there is a shift on the whole planet, and you have the opportunity to be a part of it in a positive way. We need to understand right now, what your household needs, what your community needs, what your girlfriends need, what the world needs, and more than anything, how you as a woman are imparting your influence, wisdom and transformation into the marketplace.

BWMB: Is there any where else that women should focus on right now?

On herself! The woman who is staring back at you in the mirror and looking dead at your eyeballs. THAT woman. Her happiness, her peace, her desires, things that she’s over, and things that she’s tolerating.

Because if you don’t believe all of that impacts how you show up as a leader, then you are sadly mistaken. You have to know that every single thing about you bleeds through your leadership and what you’re doing with your online communities, offline, clients, all of it. So, the sooner you own that piece, the happier you’ll be. The more successful you will be. The more people will gravitate to you. The more money you will make, the more impact you will have.

And remember this as I go, here’s a beautiful thing about impact. You will make more impact than money all day long, forever. Why? Because the people that are connected to you, your voice, and your message, will always be more than the people that will end up as a client or a customer. You may have a million followers, but not every single one of those followers will buy from you. Every single one of them won’t become a student. It doesn’t mean that you’re not making an impact.

And that’s an important component to remember that the impact has to be made first in order for the income to be a real thing.

IfyouarenotconnectedwithAprilleFranksonline,Iencourageyoutodoso.

Follow @epicaprille on Instagram.

The conversation only gets deeper. To see the full interview, visit: www.blackwomanmeanbusiness.com/bonuses

SO How Audria Richmond is challenging the norms In a world of copycats, Audria Richmond is a refreshing reminder that you can have major success on your own terms. Her UnCloned™ Movement has captured the imagination of many entrepreneurs and reminded us that challenging the norms is necessary! It has become increasingly difficult, and let's keep it real, almost impossible to stand out in a sea of sameness. Her smart, fierce, and wisdom-filled messages inspire people to not only be themselves, but to be unapologetic about it. With her infectious smile and welcoming community, the UnCloned™ Marketing Tribe is the place to be for entrepreneurs who are looking to stay updated with marketing trends, social media insights, and receive mentorship from the genius herself.

We had the incredible pleasure of connecting with Audria, who is a superb launch strategist, bestselling author, all-around marketing genius, and the headliner for our upcoming Income to Impact Virtual Confernce, and we were honored to pick her brain. We are huge fans, so we asked her the questions that we wanted to know and that you, our readers, would find most helpful in your journey to meet your entrepreneurial goals.

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Now is a great time to pause your reading, get your notepad, and get ready to catch these gems!

BWMB: We have your amazing bio, but in your own words, describe Audria.

I would say that I am very innovative, very open to new ideas, and extremely creative.

BWMB: Tell us about the Uncloned™ Movement?

The UnCloned™ Movement came out of frustration of starting a brand. Back in the day, I used to have a company called Building Big Brands. With that company, I realized I was pretty much creating the same kind of products and services that other people in the marketplace were creating. It was because I didn’t know any better, right?

The whole point of all of it was I just really wanted to grow my business online. At the time, I was selling Building Big Brands as a 12-week program for $2,000. I was also being compared to two other people in the industry who also had 12-week programs at the same price point. People could not distinguish me in the marketplace. They would be like, “What’s the difference between you and you and you?” They would compare me

to other people. And the truth was, if I’m honest, they were right. They couldn’t figure out what made me different or what made me unique from others. So, I thought let me go ahead and figure out what makes me ME. That’s pretty much how UnCloned™ came about. In summary, it is about individuality, owning who you are, and showing up in that capacity.

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BWMB: Why is having UnCloned™ marketing so important?

Having UnCloned™ marketing is so important because it’s about being able to challenge the norms and position yourself in the marketplace in a way where people can easily identify that you are the obvious choice. For instance, a lot of people, when they market feel like, “Oh, I’m just going to create my product or service, post it on social media, and it should work.” But the truth is people have a kazillion options. If people cannot see your product or service and immediately say to themselves, “Hey, this is an amazing thing. I want to learn more!”, then you haven’t really captivated your audi-

ence nor garnered their attention.

BWMB: What are the essential steps to Uncloning your business?

The first part of the process is getting to know yourself on an individual level. Once you get to know yourself, what you like, what you don’t like, what boundaries you want to put in place, what boundaries you don’t want to put in place, it really gets you to a place where you can show up and be excited about yourself. We have this process where we teach our clients about creating their Individuality Toolkit. Your Individuality Toolkit is everything that makes you, YOU. We look at what skills you have, whether they’re academic or non-academic, talents and experiences, and then consider how to leverage that in your business. Lizzo is known for playing a flute and twerking, right? When you look at other musicians there aren’t any, that I’m aware of, who twerk and play a flute! So, when you think about it from that perspective, you take yourself, combine it with your skillsets and area of expertise, and then apply it to your business model, personal brand and/or marketing campaign.

BWMB: What is the best actionable advice that you can give to Black women as they grow their businesses?

Black women really should own their identity. When I say that, I mean just be yourself.

It sounds really cliché, but a lot of people have boxed Black women in as women who are always trying to be somebody else or that being ourselves is never good enough. So, you know, as cliche as it sounds, I feel like we need to get to a place where we are loving on ourselves and respecting ourselves.

I believe what was huge for me is putting a value system in place. That would be one of those action items that I would highly recommend. Also, be open to hiring someone to support you in your growing. I hired a life coach and it’s been a total game-changer.

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REFLECTION

BWMB: Tell us of a time when you were pushed to the “I want to quit” point.

I had TWO moments like this! I would say the first moment was when I was dealing with problematic clients, as well as inconsistent service providers. And on top of that, I would definitely say whenever I haven’t felt appreciated while working with a client.

BWMB: What was the turning point for your business?

The huge turning point in my business was learning marketing. I feel like marketing saved me, it saved my business, and allowed me to leverage myself in a way that I hadn’t been able to do before! It allowed me to feel excited every time I had an idea because I knew that I would know how to properly market it.

BWMB: How did this challenge you in your personal growth?

I guess you could say I’m still in the thick of all of this. Because I’m now at a point to where I don’t have to think about money, but now what? Leading up to this point, everything I did was all about, “I don’t want to be broke” and “I want to have enough money to do what I need to do.” Now that I’m beyond that, I’m like what does my legacy look like? What type of impact do I want to have in the world? So, this has definitely helped me with my personal growth. This has allowed me to reflect, get to know myself, and get to a point where I am improving my leadership skills.

BWMB: What did your support system look like in the beginning vs. now (friends/ family, biz besties, and your tribe)?

In the very beginning, I had a lot of friends and we were pretty much on the same level.

We were broke entrepreneurs or just-getting-by entrepreneurs who were wanting something more in life. As I began to be more successful, and then become more successful, my circle got smaller, and smaller, and smaller. The same thing happened with my family. They are supportive, not as supportive as I personally would like for

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them to be, but they are there. I would definitely say that as you grow your support system changes, and it may not always be the people you started with.

BWMB: Let’s dig deeper on relationships.

Many women in business have a “business bestie”. Who is yours and how has that relationship benefited you as a woman and an entrepreneur?

I feel like I have a lot of business besties, but I also call them my friends. Personally, I don’t really like the term business bestie because it kind of implies that we’re limited to business. I try to establish relationships with people where we have a 360° friendship, we can hang out, we can go out to eat, or we can travel. We can talk about business, if we need to, our spouses, family, personal stuff, sensitive and secret stuff (chuckles).

So for me, I don’t necessarily have a business bestie, but I do have a lot of great friends and women that I interact with.

keting, is a best seller. What does that kind of win feel like?

So, you know, having an Amazon best-seller is not new to me. I think having the book is more important to me than the status of the book. It feels good to be able to have a reference point when I’m teaching. One thing I’ve always wanted was a marketing book.

Like, “Oooh, I cannot wait till I get a marketing book!” And, now that I have a marketing book, I feel like I’m able to leverage myself in ways that I haven’t been able to do so before.

BWMB: Your book launch was a masterclass in marketing. What was the mindset around this?

This marketing campaign was absolutely amazing. I would definitely say my mindset

just the world in general. If you want to learn something, where do we go? We go to the libraries. We go and read books. We try to go find any type of written format or content that’s going to allow us to deepen our knowledge around a specific topic. Writing books has been an amazing credibility and authority builder.

BWMB: Do you think that it has been harder to achieve success in the marketing industry as a Black woman?

I personally try not to subscribe to a lot of the common conversations around that.

It seems like every other week I’m seeing a Black woman being promoted into executive positions as it relates to marketing. I also feel like we’re in a time where we don’t necessarily need to be approved and put into these positions for Caucasian companies, or other companies in general, to be validated. Building our own platforms and doing our own things is the ultimate level of success. Black people will thrive in marketing… I’m proof of it!

Anytime someone is successful at anything; it always creates an opportunity for the next person. It allows another person to say, "Hey, that is possible!"

BWMB: Describe your most memorable experience as an entrepreneur?

I was living in Memphis and was creating all of these major events around my magazine called Love New Art. Obviously that magazine is not here anymore, but I had some of the most fun! I do feel like I’m getting back to that place, my more creative self. Back in the day, I would have all of these amazing ideas. And, even though I didn’t know how these things were going to happen, I took a lot more risk. I had no shame in my game and I feel like as I’ve gotten older, I take less risks now. I still take risks, but not as much as I used to. I will say a lot of my more memorable experiences were actually when I wasn’t making any money, because I felt like I had more freedom and could do more creative things.

RIGHT NOW

BWMB: Your latest work, UnCloned™ Mar-

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was forget everything you know, and do what you want. Think about that. Forget EVERYTHING you know, and do what you want. I feel like I’ve been able to do things that are very fun, innovative, and creative without the restrictions.

Tell us why writing books have been such a big part of your brand?

Writing books has been a major part of my brand because if you want to build authority on a topic, it’s always been said to write a book on it. Yes you probably could have done a podcast or you could have done a magazine or any other traditional format. But, I feel like a book just confirms that I know this, you know? It takes a lot of time and energy to put together a book. Books have a lot of holding power especially in America and

BWMB: What strategies have you deployed to overcome obstacles in

your business?

Operating from a place of excellence can help you overcome obstacles. If we focused our attention on building our own thing, as opposed to trying to be approved or validated by others, we would grow a lot faster.

BWMB: Do you believe that your success has paved ways for others?

Absolutely. Anytime someone is successful at anything; it always creates an opportunity for the next person. It allows another person to say, “Hey, that is possible. I could do that!” My husband and I were watching a documentary about the Rubik’s Cube conference and these people they call the Cubers. You’re seeing all of these young kids who are competing for the top rank of professional Cubers who can solve the Rubik’s Cube in seven to eight seconds or less, which

is insane! I think anytime that you are moving up, you’re always setting the tone and paving the way for anyone who wants to do the same thing.

BWMB: You openly talk about your investments in coaching and resources. Why is investing important?

I believe that investing in myself, my business, and my personal development is the reason why I’m successful. It has been proven from the first day that I invested in my first $2,000 course, all the way into the work that I’m doing now with my life coach.

The more I invest the smarter I become, and the more people I get access to which increases my network. The more intelligent I become, the better decisions I make as

an executive of my company. A lot of people say, “I don’t really need that” or “I already invested in something like that”.

The day that you decide to stop learning is the day you decide to stop growing.

Even when you look at somebody like Bill Gates or anyone that’s extremely successful, learning and personal development is a huge part of their daily ritual.

He’s even dedicated a blog to how many books he reads in a week. So, you have to understand that continuously learning is an intricate part of growing and building your business and brand.

PERSONAL

BWMB: Who is Audria away from the spotlight?

The Audria people see in the spotlight is who I am without the spotlight. I’m bubbly, fun, creative. I’m a family person. I love spending time with my husband, and my daughter. I’m just a person who wants to win. I’m somebody who loves creating. I’m someone who wants to make her mark before I leave this earth.

BWMB: Final nuggets, advice, words of wisdom for those who are aiming for your level of success?

I would say aim above and beyond me. Use me as an anchor to know that you can follow your own dreams. You can follow your own ideas, and know that you don’t need to be validated in order to have greatness. Be willing to take the risk, lean in, and tap into your most intimate self from a creative perspective. Be open, and not give a shit what other people think (chuckles). If you’re trying to achieve my level of success, then that needs to be true.

To learn more about Aurdia Richmond and UnCloned™ Marketing: www.unclonedmarketing.com/unclonedtribejoin

AUDRIA RICHMOND is a visionary marketing, and launch strategist who specializes in helping clients unleash groundbreaking marketing campaigns.

She runs a seven-figure company, and is the author of UnCloned Marketing: How to Challenge the Norms with Profitable Marketing Campaigns. www.audriarichmond.com

How to show up and show out

(even when you don’t feel like it) Do you have a great idea you've been wanting to accomplish, but you just can't seem to get started?

You know that course, video, article, or podcast you've been itching to create, but have declared every excuse as to why you haven't?

You're not the only one. Many of us battle to balance our creative desires against the act of actually showing up and doing the work.

I remember the day I shared my idea of my virtual event with a few colleagues. One of them asked, "Are you sure?" That simple question created so much self-doubt around the thing I was so excited about producing.

Sometimes, it's a voice in our head saying you're not good enough or that no one will listen. I have spent a great deal of time studying what causes people like you and me to become unwilling to do the work. I have found that fear, doubt, and the desire for quick results are often the biggest culprits for not following through.

Roadblock: Fear

I've had plenty of fears and doubts throughout my entrepreneurial journey.

In 2016, when I started Becoming Jai, I

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told myself, "No one will ever work with a health and wellness coach that is still overweight." And the truth of the matter is, when I originally shared the idea to a few of my friends, they didn't express strong enough confidence in my plan.

es who have their finger on the pulse of what you're looking to achieve. Surrounding yourself with others who've ventured down unfamiliar paths can serve as inspiration and motivation.

In all honesty, Becoming Jai and Get Fit With Jai almost didn't happen. I thought, "I know nothing about optimal health and wellness because I haven't even obtained it myself." I thought I couldn't compete in an oversaturated market and feared I would look like a fraud.

In truth, these were all lies I told myself.

And unfortunately, I believed some of them for quite some time. Sound familiar?

the small wins Tip #3 Celebrate along with the big.

The reality is that we all have overcome and accomplished much more than we realize. Sometimes, some solid advice and reminders of how resilient we are can help push us toward completion.

HOW YOU VIEW FEAR AND Tip#1 CHANGE MOVE WHEN IT CREEPS IN

Fear is the enemy of success. The primary function of fear is to keep you from taking risks and trying new things. It's your body's biological response to discomfort. It's a survival mechanism. At the same time, fear can be a tool used for good. Fear guides us on what we have to do. The more significant your impact, the more you'll find yourself outside of your comfort zone. The greater the fear we have surrounding something we have been called to do provides a deeper confirmation that we are on the right path.

When you feel doubt, lean into it and dive into its source. It means you're heading in the right direction.

Yourself With Fear Tip#2 Surround Fighters

Taking advice from friends can be both a blessing and a curse. When it comes to making a move on your next big idea, take a note from those who've gone forth and overcame their fears. Look to your peer groups, masterminds, and coach-

Creating a success journal is something your future self will appreciate. When we are challenged by fear, we tend to forget all the things we overcome from the past that once terrified us. Remember when you drove a car for the first time or had your first significant public speaking experience? While they might have seemed impossible or daunting at first, looking back, they were setting the stage for much bigger success. Use the little wins to help push past the fear.

Overcoming fear and doubt isn't the only factor that keeps us from showing up.

There's another major factor in why we fail to create - we desire instant success. To make our ideas come to life, we must not only be willing to deal with our fear and doubt but be willing to do the hard work.

Who doesn't love a good success story? We get encouraged and inspired by what we hear or see. The problem is that most of these "stories" are not as they appear. What lies behind that inspiring success story is usually several years of hard work. Hundreds of setbacks, trials, and failures are the reality of almost every successful entrepreneur.

To show up and show out, we must be willing to do the work. Here are two of my favorite fast action tips to help you move from stuck to showing up:

look action #1intoTaketheafuture

Not being able to see the outcome of the work we are creating is a major block that keeps most from taking action to create.

ask yourself these key questions:  What will be gained if I show up?  What will this empower me to do that I have not had the option to do before?  Who will I have the option to affect with my work?

After visiting the above questions, you should see some favorable outcomes from your idea. Record those outcomes and review them every now and again.

action #2of theBe aware cost

The following stage is to recognize the costs of your idea. Understanding the cost of what it takes to create something impactful is pivotal. Be honest with yourself about the work involved in making your vision come to life.

Don't get caught up in thinking you'll be that one overnight success story.

The predominant factor in the cost of making something noteworthy is time.

Are you prepared to make the sacrifices needed to create an impact? Don't overlook the rewards in the process. Write out the costs and the benefits, and get comfortable with the output required to build the success you're looking to create.

Once you've mastered these exercises, you'll be set up to show up and show out in excellence.

JAI MURPHY is a global leader in the health and fitness industry as the premier Body Positive Health & Wellness Educator. She is using her training as a certified health coach and her degree in health administration, to help women embrace body positivity, and develop a love affair with themselves while achieving their health and wellness goals.

Jai Murphy likes to hang out in Instagram. Follow her @becomingjai

When thinking about your next big idea

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HIGH STYLE The Main ATTRACTION Jaylynn Wallace

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oes your passion require you to speak in front of others? Are you confused about how to show up while on the stage? Do you find yourself being the center of attention, but don't always feel confident in that moment?

Meet your answer - Jaylynn Wallace.

Using her natural charisma and sense of fashion, Jaylynn consistently has the innate ability to captivate any room she enters. She quickly began to gain a national clientele with influential women who trusted her with their image to do the same for them. Rated Pretty Girl Makeup Artistry, aims to empower female leaders to grace the stage with style to build their confidence and expand their reach all the way to the bank.

However, growing up, she didn't always enjoy being the center of attention. In fact, Jaylynn often found herself dumbing down to make others feel comfortable or take the attention away from her. At that time, she didn't understand the blessing, let alone, the value of being an influencer.

After receiving her Master of Arts, Jaylynn made attempts to work in corporate settings, but it never quite worked out.

What God had planned for her required her to be bold. She had to be disruptive without limitations.

Today, you can find her working as a creative director on brand campaigns, hosting online educational training, and providing on-location makeup and wardrobe styling services for award-winning, nationally recognized business leaders.

BONUS: What are three things every influential woman should have in their closet?

One bold print/pattern separate, it can be pants, skirt, blazer, dress. You should also have a pair of black strappy heels and red lipstick!

To learn more about Jaylynn Wallace, visit: www.ratedprettygirl.com

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19

Bully The Business

Y

ou may know Dave as The Mohawkin’, Real Talkin’, Livin’ Fully Business Bully, Snappin’ Necks, and Cashin’ Checks, WOOOO! But, we know Dave as the founder of The Inner Circle, his intensive entrepreneurship coaching program, and BusinessBully.tv. In this emotion-filled interview, Dave reveals the turning point that caused him to leave his successful career in radio, whose his number one coach, the legacy he desires to endow, and more.

Dave had a long and successful career in radio but decided to end it when he grew tired of his contributions being devalued by the corporations he worked for. Many times Dave developed strategic plans, only to have his ideas dismissed to his face, and then later implemented elsewhere in the company where his ideas would be wildly successful. His frustration and disappointment fueled his decision to retire from radio and become an entrepreneur.

BY: AMANDA HARRIS

ial journey, Dave says he surrounded himself with mentors and coaches. He adamantly stated that “every coach needs a coach.”

His journey certainly was not unproblematic, but Dave pressed on with perseverance and a commitment to build his legacy. After all, if his innovative ideas could make so much money for the companies he worked for in the past, he could certainly use that same innovation to propel himself to success!

When asked about the importance of choosing the right spouse, Dave said, without hesitation, “it is of the utmost importance. The decision is not only a political one but a matter of life and death. The person you choose to spend your life with will either inspire you

Like many other entrepreneurs, Dave’s support did not come from his closest friends and family. To assist him in his entrepreneur-

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and drive you to achieve the pinnacle of success, or completely drain you.” He asserts that many entrepreneurs are unsuccessful because they are “sleeping with the enemy.”

As Dave spoke about his wife, Janay, he became overcome with emotion. He expressed his sincerest gratitude for her undying support and encouragement. “Janay is my number one coach.” You can see the two of them in action in their weekly live stream, It’s Not My Business, every Sunday at 7:00 PM EST. Not only is Dave a dedicated family man, he is also passionate about helping Black people become successful. Over the last six years, I have been fortunate enough to witness Dave’s exponential growth in business. He works consistently to improve and always reaches back to bring others with him. Dave is so passionate about helping Black people win that he recently created BullyPAC.com to help further Black people win in the realm of politics.

When I asked Dave what legacy he wants to leave behind, he passionately told me how he envisioned a kid like him, feeling out of place in this world, coming across one of his books that would change the trajectory of that kid’s life. Achieving that

kind of impact, giving someone hope, and helping them accomplish more than they ever thought possible is what Dave aspires to. A noble aspiration, indeed.

To learn more about Dave Anderson visit: www.businessbully.tv AMANDA HARRIS is the founder and CEO of Froliage. A supply chain professional with more than a decade of experience in retail, manufacturing, distribution, and IT. Amanda now brings her logistical prowess to an entrepreneurial venture creatively named Froliage.

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COMMUNICATION + RELATIONSHIPS =

Ca$hflow What turns cash into cash flow? Communication and relationships. Let's start by looking at some definitions.

COMMUNICATION: - the imparting or exchanging of information or news - the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings RELATIONSHIP: - how two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected - how two or more people or groups regard and behave toward each other Communication requires paying full attention, active listening, and being empathetic in conversations. You must be comfortable not saying anything sometimes, providing genuine and honest responses, watching your tone, and body language.

Be specific in your guidelines, instructions, policies, and procedures, and be willing to take a direct hit as an owner. Good communication will give you a better chance of obtaining, maintaining, and retaining a client. It also translates into referrals.

Elements of a good relationship (based on my survey) are trust, commitment, vulnerability, respect, openness, honesty, loyalty, and COMMUNICATION. There is that word, COMMUNICATION. Excellent communication fosters relationships with your clients.

Relationship marketing is a marketing strategy that emphasizes client retention, satisfaction, and the lifetime value of a client. It is designed to foster customer loyalty, interaction, and long-term customer engagement. How do you keep clients super happy and wanting to come back? And how do you get them to tell all their friends about you? Relationship marketing.

HAPPY CUSTOMERS ARE: • Five times as likely to repurchase and create substantial customer lifetime value (CLV).

• Five times as likely to forgive negative experiences.

• Four times as likely to refer friends and family to a business.

• Seven times as likely to try a new offering.

Here are some relationship marketing strategies: • Listen to client requests and implement change (feedback creates innovative opportunities and wins back lost business by addressing concerns).

• Utilize social media, and determine what platform(s) work best.

• Be generous and resourceful to save relationships.

• Implement smart client touchpoints.

• Make tasks easy and convenient.

• Use loyalty rewards and referral programs (affiliate or ambassador).

• Automate your interactions to maximize income.

• Build an incredible client service team.

• • • • •

Gather and use detailed client data to fully leverage how to service them.

Resolve the most common issues and requests quickly and efficiently.

Find more ways to be proactive with your feedback.

Invest in a customer retention management (CRM) system or similar tool.

For coaches, create an exit interview process.

Think about some of the businesses that you love. Most focus not only on delivering stellar products and services but also on creating an experience, which is made possible by their communication and relationship strategies.

STACI "THE OPER8TOR" MOORE is the founder of a A MarketersLounge.

She is the literal plug, connecting speakers, trainers, and authors to the resources they need, giving their audiences an experience they’ll never forget.

By using her extensive background in the service industry, gathered from her various roles in customer service, public relations, customer retention, and sales, as well as her education in behavioral & social sciences, Staci uses meetup’s to help her clients generate meaningful online and offline relationships, increasing their revenue streams. www.theoper8tor.com

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23

KING

OF CLIENT ATTRACTION MARQUEL RUSSELL

Marquel Russell is a lifelong entrepreneur who firmly believes that entrepreneurs rule the world. Not politicians, not anyone nor anything else. He's a client success story junkie, marketing and business nerd, husband, and family man. As the CEO and founder of Client Attraction University and the King of Client Attraction, Marquel is a multimillion-dollar revenue generator! You want a best-selling author, Rapid Business Growth Strategist, and coach who has earned the title, "King of Client Attraction" on your entrepreneurial coaching squad then Marquel is your guy.

The secret? His genius lies in his innate ability to drench clients in a downpour of qualified leads that convert into more clients.

His sharp-shooting approach to lead generation has helped coaches and consultants pull in more than $20 million in revenue, billions of ad impressions via social media, millions of high-quality leads, and tens of thousands of ready-topay clients. When we sat down with Marquel, there was no exchange of boring bios. Even in his responses to the simplest questions, Marquel dropped so many gems. Here's a snippet from the interview our team had with Marquel.

BWMB: When you were starting your entrepreneurship journey, what type of support system did you have in place?

My greatest support system was my wife. She was my girlfriend at the time. I was this crazy entrepreneur, and I came from the streets.

So when she

niceties of being an entrepreneur without the process. So, they WANT to be an entrepreneur. They don’t want to go through all the other stuff that we entrepreneurs have to go through to make it. They want to take the shortcut.

BWMB: Was there ever a time you wanted to quit?

Let me be totally honest with you. I can't recall, and here's why. If you think about it, all the stuff that has happened to me personally is nothing compared to the challenges that we face in entrepreneurship.

And even our ancestors – they were the people who built businesses and had to hustle the hardest to create Black Wall Street.

They were able to engineer without the internet, social media, or any of the stuff that we currently have. We have every advantage now because they didn't quit.

met me, I was running the streets and using my entrepreneurial gifts to sell drugs and so forth. When I transitioned to this other type of entrepreneurship, the legitimate kind, she was there through the whole process. Even when I blew through all my savings trying to figure this internet marketing stuff out, she was still there supporting me.

BWMB: You have coined the term "Wantrepreneur." Tell us what this means?

The definition of an entrepreneur is a person who starts businesses, and they take on a greater-than-normal financial risk.

Wantrepreneurs want the money and notoriety without taking the risk. They only want what they see. They don't want to put in the work. They don't want to make the investments. They want to have all the

BWMB: What do you see people doing in business that you wish they would stop doing?

People focus more on the sale and not servicing the client. People don't realize that customer service and fulfillment are a vital part of marketing functions as well. We call it a "Green Carpet" experience - making sure the client is taken care of once they pay you. Now you have raving fans who want to go out and tell people about you.

Not because you helped them, but because of your service. I had a guy tag me on Instagram in a story, and I don't even know him! He was like, "Marquel Russell and his team have that Chick-Fil-A type customer service!" Like that's a massive, massive compliment. Am I right?

BWMB: Tell us a time where you spoke at an event that changed your life?

Every event has changed my life. The person who is speaking learns twice. To see the lightbulb go off in an individual's mind that I'm conversing toward is worth it. Whether it's a small ten-person deal, a one-person VIP day, or an event with hundreds of attendees, every single time I get the opportunity to serve, it helps me. It changes my life and influences my growth in a big way.

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BWBM: Are there any women in your life who have pushed you towards success?

To keep it 100, my mom, for sure. She was an entrepreneur, and I would watch her work continuously. She never really sat down and taught me about being an entrepreneur, but I watched her dominate the entrepreneurship lifestyle, do her thing, and be a leader. And, let me also add my wife to this list.

BWMB: Does product value change how much profit one can make?

I believe the amount of money you make correlates to the amount of value that you put into your market. Let's say we roll out tons of free content, and we continue to wrap that in freebie blankets. We'll overtake the market so people can gain experiences and say stuff like, "Okay, this free content is good. I can only imagine how good the paid stuff is!" And then you start working with them because of this move.

BWMB: What does success look like for you?

Success is having a big vision for your life or your business, and waking up every single day, and taking the necessary steps to get to that vision. It's about not a certain amount of money for me. I believe success is always an evolving process. Once I have no vision, then I have no more things to work towards.

Want to read more? Then make sure you stay tuned to the blog where we will be sharing more gems from Marquel.

To learn more about Marquel Russell: www.clientattractionuniversity.com

Join the Facebook Group SEARCH: BLACK WOMAN MEAN BUSINESS

BLACK WOMAN MEAN BUSINESS

Portia Wofford Repurposing content is your best kept secret. Not utilizing it is stopping you from increasing engagement, sales, and saving time.

Writer and content strategist at The PW Agency @lipstickandstethoscope

BWMB 30 mins Kayshaun Brooks-Crosby Reevaluate what you are doing in your business after a couple weeks, a month or as needed. Always make sure you are watching your progress and results and adjust as needed. Always be willing to learn and grow.

Drop your best business advice in the comments.

The Owner of Renew You Body Butter, a luxury skincare formulated to repair damaged skin. @renewyoubodybutter

Tee Goldsmith-Irby The best business advice I have is to start one even if it is part time because these jobs ain’t loyal.

The creator of “Stop Corporate Shenanigans” which specializes in workplace empowerment. @tee.irby

You, Madelaine, Angee and others Like

Comment

Share

Madelaine Gordon Marketing strategies should always be revisited. Just because one method worked does not mean it will always produce the desired results. The vein can collapse and you will find yourself unable to get fresh blood. At some point you might have to tap into a new vein to bring life back into your business.

Launch Support Strategist and Founder of Super Sidekick Services. @SuperSidekickServices

Angee Jones It's OK to be authentic to your customers and brand. Customers and employees seek transparency and honesty. Make sure your authenticity doesn't broach your business values or jeopardize your brand. Your name is all you got.

HR Practitioner, Life Coach and the Founder of The HR Chique Consultancy Group. www.hrchiquegroup.com Liquisha Monique Don't be afraid to ask for help, no one is capable of doing everything.

Owner of LaMonique Cosmetics, an affordable line of luxury, toxic free products. @LaMoniquecosmetics WWW.BLACKWOMENMEANBUSINESS.COM

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I

’m going to be 100% honest with you. I’m always looking for the best way to do things because starting a task over is one of my biggest pet peeves! I want things done, but even more important than that, I want the best results. I, like most women who wear many hats, have no time to waste.

You see, I spent the early years of my business focused only on my existing customers. I had a magazine that promoted urban events, and unfortunately, that circle was somewhat small. I had to work hard not only to earn their business but to build a stellar reputation, and keep their business. We depended heavily on referrals to make money. I wasn’t spending a significant amount of time attracting new customers either. When I heard about new promoters, I would make

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cold calls, but increasing my clientele roster was not my primary focus.

I can remember it like it was yesterday. We rushed to complete a magazine for a promoter hosting an event in Mexico. I was feeling uneasy about printing there because I could not get a proof of the work, nor did I have any control over the quality. Then it happened, a publisher’s worst nightmare - we uploaded the wrong files. They were drafts and filled with mistakes. The promoter was furious! From that point on, we began losing clients. This devastating mistake nearly cost me my business. There is so much more to this story, but I’ll save that for another day.

Attract Convert Retain THE COMPLETE CUSTOMER LIFECYCLE

Once I was finally done licking my wounds, I vowed never to put all my eggs in one basket.

The fact that I was not filling my roster with new clients, only made this blow more damaging. Counting only on existing customers was no longer a viable strategy because our reputation had been tarnished. To turn our business around, we began focusing on the complete customer lifecycle.

Now, don’t get me wrong, we will still focused heavily on customer retention. However, you must continue to stop the scroll and attract your dream clients, if you want to remain profitable.

Attract, Convert, Retain (ACR) is a holistic and organic approach that more accurately reflects what your relationship with your prospects and customers should look like. It is about managing your relationships with your customers and focusing on the entire experience someone has with your business from the very first contact to their third referral.

In contrast to the sales funnel, which is all anyone can talk about, ACR addresses your audience’s needs as they evolve and change.

You continuously connect with your customers and engage them at each point in their buying journey, resulting in greater brand loyalty and customer retention. Your customer then turns into an advocate for your brand, helping to increase your profits. You can drastically reduce one of your most significant and highly unpredictable expenses - customer acquisition costs.

I’m not knocking the sales funnel approach as it is an integral part of this process; however, you spend a great deal of effort qualifying leads in that bottom 90%. But with ACR, you can bring more of your ideal customers up into that 10%, or even the 1%, and earn more profit.

Today’s marketing is all about genuine relationships. People love interacting with their favorite brands. The customer lifecycle approach is more in tune with this as it allows you to build stronger relationships. This approach cuts down on the leads you lose out of your funnel, and the buyers who abandon their shopping carts at the last minute. It allows you to stay with them, and provide a wider variety of offerings to meet their needs.

which will have your clients singing your praises while causing others to want to experience the same, thus building your business organically.

ENISHA LIGON-GARRETT is a gifted branding, strategic planning, and publishing expert who has been the goto for branding, visual greatness, and no-nonsense execution. As a 15-year industry veteran, Enisha is a successful publisher of BWMB, a lifestyle magazine for driven black female entrepreneurs.

As a coach and consultant, Enisha brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her clients, and her abilities to evolve their ideas are unparalleled. As savvy as Enisha is in the digital space, she thrives at Guerrilla marketing. Having one of the first all-female street teams, Enisha innovated what is now a standard of marketing excellence for influencers and major event promoters.

Finally, ACR requires stellar customer service,

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killer kontent Stopping the scroll is no easy task. Milton Lawrence has mastered this particular art for his clients as a renowned international lifestyle photographer, content strategist, and founder of the game-changing Milton Lawrence Content Creation Agency - the go-to solution for visual branding and storytelling.

Hailing from Baltimore, MD, Milton grew up in a structured country Caribbean household with his Southern mother and Trinidadian father. While his upbringing was strict, he was afforded the space to be creative.

His desire to beat the odds led him to a life of service, and he joined the United States Marine Core. After leaving the military and returning home to care for his mother, Miton began taking photos at nightclubs and weddings. An avid learner, Milton honed his photography skills. His next-level did not take long, thanks to his uncanny knack for balancing edge, culture, and dynamic visual presentation. His career quickly propelled and his client roster was filled with big brands and organizations, including AT&T, CNN, the National Museum of American History, Ernst & Young, Northrop Grumman, the National Press Club, Inovalon, The Ritz-Carlton, the National Society of Black Engineers, Yahoo! and Visa.

Above it all, he is a dedicated father to three beautiful girls, one of whom we often see online as she runs her thriving lemonade empire. Throughout the video interview, you could hear the pride in his voice as he recants the structure and routines that he has established with his youngest daughter.

Milton, like so many of us, has experienced a pivot in his businesses. Filming movies, and curating content for Fortune 100 companies came to an abrupt halt. This dramatic shift allowed Milton, a master content creator, to take what he has learned over the last 12 years, and educate others. During our chat, Milton shared his content strategies, and gave us a unique perspective on how you can show up, and make a connection with your community.

Milton’s

Thoughts

on

Content

What is content, and how do you define it?

How do you apply what you do right now to attract new business, new leads, new anything? The answer is all over the board. The follow-up question to that is this - is your content strategy working for you? The reality of it is the answer is no! Many entrepreneurs will admit that they are just guessing.

They’re throwing mud up against the wall to see what sticks. Here’s the real secret - when you understand content marketing, then you become a magnet. You don’t chase people. The people come to you!

I created a community called Killer Kontent, and launched a podcast. We started producing content and, sharing in the group before it launched. In addition to that, I’ve produced full-on documentaries for myself. There’s an entire docu-series called “Will You Marry Me,” which literally talks about men’s defining moments leading up to asking “the big question.” The reason why I brought that up

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is that when I produced this series, I didn’t understand what content was. I didn’t understand the community behind it. I went to school (the school of hard knocks), and started understanding what they weren’t telling me, and where the confusion came from.

Milton’s Vision of Content Marketing

Colleges, corporations, and businesses across the board know that they can no longer create a live experience with you physically coming to their buildings. They now have to create more content to be able to justify their prices. They have to be able to nurture the communities they produce, which opens up significant opportunities for all of our experts to pour in. You need the ability to bridge the gap between what you know, what they need, provide the solution, and get you some coins! When you’re creating strong content, you show up as an expert.

Once I realized how wide open things were, I was like I have to get in on it. There aren’t many Black men who look like me that are having a conversation about content creation. I strongly feel in my spirit that you need me to help you get to your goals with what I have in my head. I know you won’t be able to Google what I’m telling you from a contextual standpoint. You can Google how to create content, and everyone’s all saying the same thing. It’s about nuance. That’s where the transaction point happens. You can make as much or as little money as you want.

The Photoshoot Peptalk

I feel like if a woman was offered the opportunity to be on a major magazine cover, 99.9% would figure out a way to make things happen. If you’re in front of my camera, then there are a couple of things we’re going to do to get you to relax and stand in your power. One thing that helps psychologically, is music. I think women have the unique ability to turn into whoever their favorite celebrity is.

We want to create an environment where you are present, and in the moment with me. Taking photos is similar to a dance. It requires chemistry.

It’s nothing inappropriate, but it’s a dance where you’re in your own space, and I’m not even there.

When someone looks at your images, your videos, or looks at you projecting your energy, all they will see is the special secret sauce.

Owning Your Self-image

When we can get to the point where you’re ready, then it doesn’t matter - you show up just the way you are! Own whatever your body type or size is. And when I say just the way you are, I mean if you’re going to put makeup on and fix your hair? Do all of that.

Do whatever is necessary to not make excuses regarding yourself.

Going Live on Social Media

Start with going live without anybody on the line. Did you know that you can go live privately? There are three categories - Private, Friends Only, and Public. You can set your security settings to private, and literally do your livestream by yourself. I equate going live to riding a bike. Eventually, you remove the training wheels, and take off. But when you’re first getting started, you have all of your safety gear on, and you don’t want to make any mistakes. You don’t want anybody to see your mistakes. A lot of this comes from corporate America, and this culture of being perfect, right? It’s because we wear a mask during the day. Most of us do. I’ve worked in corporate America, and we have to put on this cover, or code switch, to make sure everything is perfect. There’s a sense of freedom when you can get to the point where none of that shit matters.

Whew! If you want to learn more about Milton Lawrence, and the strategies to create the content that connects and coverts, join the Killer Kontent group on Facebook and visit: www.miltonlawrencecreativeagency.com

To view our full interview with Milton, visit www.blackwomenmean business.com/bonus

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Life Saver

BY: JASMINE WILLIS

CPR WRAP EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO SAVE LIVES

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B

y now, you may have gotten wind of a life-changing safety kit aimed to help the average person perform CPR on anyone in need. One would think that this came from the mind of a medical professional at some prestigious hospital or university. We want to take the opportunity to introduce you to Felicia Jackson, share a story that changed her life, and caused her to pivot into her purpose. This is a prime example of a Black woman who turned a valuable lesson into a mission driven enterprise.

Imagine spending the day with your husband and young child. All of you had gone to breakfast together, went out to get some shopping done, ran a few more errands, and were making your way home. Then the worst happens – you look back to check on your child, and they are unresponsive to your call. You reach back to shake them awake, thinking that they may have dozed off, and they are still unresponsive. You yell your child's name and touch their chest – they aren't breathing. You are certified and adequately trained in CPR, so you know what you have to do, right? But you can't move.

You are frozen, and unable to get your body to respond. The shock of potential loss hits you like a tsunami and clears all rationale thoughts, and training from your mind's forefront. Luckily, your husband dives into action and saves your child's life. All seems to be well from that point on, or was it?

As wild as it seems just reading it, this was Felicia's story years ago. She almost lost her toddler son. As a mother, that's the worst feeling in the world knowing that you had the power to make a difference, but couldn't when the time came. Instead of wallowing in that sorrow, she made it her mission to take her twenty plus years of inpatient rehab, outpatient, and home health care skills to make sure that no one else would experience what she did with her son. She invented the CPR Wrap.

The CPR Wrap is a portable device that guides you on how to perform CPR on an infant, adult, or child who is suffering from cardiac arrest. It provides you with

To view our full interview with Felicia Jackson, visit www.blackwomenmean business.com/bonus

detailed, step-by-step instructions on transparent, medical-grade material on how to use the device properly, and perform CPR in four steps as recommended by the American Heart Association. The device comes ready-to-use at a moment's notice. A one-way valve is attached, which goes into the patient's mouth and prevents any droplets from transferring from the patient to you, reducing any health risks associated with performing CPR without any protective covering. The CPR Wrap is compatible with defibrillator devices by allowing ample space to place the AED pads under the wrap as instructed.

Felicia has traveled throughout the country, sharing her story via TEDx Talks, radio, and talk shows.

She was able to do what a large handful of other Black female entrepreneurs have done – take an experience that could been tragic and turn it around for good.

She realized then that you have to be prepared to take action, but also feel confident that with the right tools, you too can take the initiative and make a difference.

The CPR Wrap is available online in three different sizes – Adult (eight years and up), Child (1–8 years), and Infant (12 months and under). You can purchase them separately or opt for the CPR Wrap First Aid kit. This kit comes ready with a pill bottle, tweezers, alcohol swabs, scissors, ear swabs, a CPR Wrap in your preferred size, and even a sewing kit complete with needle, thread, and two buttons.

To purchase yours today, visit: www.cprwrap.com JASMINE WILLIS is the CEO/Lead Designer & Consultant of TNC Services.

She aims to provide affordable solutions to new entrepreneurs such as creative brand consults, website development, and web hosting. When she isn’t hard at work, Jasmine enjoys gaming, taking pictures, reading webcomics, and being her own foodie. She currently resides in Texas with her husband and two children.

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and proven is called the “Author’s Formula.”

It consists of six different steps.

1. The first step is audience attraction, which is understanding who your target readers are. By doing so, you will be able to determine the way you communicate and create a bond with your readers.

2. The next step is to uncover your unique story. Sharing your personal story with your audience is one of the best ways to connect with them.

3. Connecting with your readers is only possible if you can prove that you understand them, which is what the test your tribe theory is all about.

4. The next step is help for the hero. In this step, seek help from people who inspire you to become good and improve your professional and personal growth.

The Truth Behind How Storyteller’s Dominate Most entrepreneurs decide to write books because they heard it's the fastest way to become an "authority." I beg to differ.

Are you aspiring to become a successful storyteller? Have no idea how to go about it? Then it’s time you learn the truth behind becoming a great storyteller that creates a lasting legacy that leads to true authority building.

I am the award-winning, bestselling author, public speaker, and founder of Meaningful Manuscripts, an organization for leaders who want to leverage anthologies as a tool to increase their exposure and income. I was

born into an extremely unstable household, so my journey of becoming an award-winning author and a successful entrepreneur was challenging, to say the least. Using my own success model, I want to help women who are struggling to create meaningful stories that impact their readers for a lifetime and beyond.

An essential skillset of a successful storyteller is to be able to connect with the target audience and understand them. To do so, you must create a framework.

The framework that I’ve developed, tested,

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5. In the offers that connect step, you identify what your readers want versus what you desire for them.

6. The last step is how to systematically reach your readers so you can truly dominate.

AUDRA LOWRAY UPCHURCH is an award-winning, 6x Amazon bestselling Author, Speaker, and CEO of Meaningful Manuscripts, a training and development company for leaders who want to utilize anthologies to increase their exposure, influence, and income. Leveraging the lessons of her hard-earned success, Audra is passionate about helping women, with a clear vision and market-ready stories, create and produce high-level author collaborations around topics that most shy away from or hesitate to publish; Audra understands that owning and sharing our individual truths is the most important ingredient if we are to leave a lasting legacy. www.audraupchurch.com

How to

Balance WORKING A DEMANDING FULL-TIME JOB, WHILE BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

Are you dreaming of starting or growing your business, but you're struggling to juggle the DEMANDS of your full-time job?

Never before in history have we experienced such fast growth in the number of full-time workers who've decided to become entrepreneurs while working a demanding, full-time job. Overseeing a business while maintaining a job is no easy feat, but it is doable. Here are some tips to ensure that you can handle both obligations, all while leading a happy and healthy personal life.

Belief in Your Vision - It all starts within the mind and with your belief system.

All it takes is a courageous growth mindset, the desire, will, and commitment to consistently say "YES" to yourself, and "NO" to the things that don't serve you.

Decide and Commit - It's challenging to hit a moving target. Have a serious conversation with yourself, and determine if this is what you unquestionably want. If your answer is YES, decide to lock in 100%

and commit to applying your full effort and energy.

Master Your Time - Set intentions and meaning for your time. Create a weekly, and daily to-do list, and then identify at least one to three goals you desire to accomplish by the end of the week. Prioritize your time, and organize your content, resources, workspace, and become disciplined to do the work!

Duplicate Yourself - It's difficult to achieve business success without hiring a team or leveraging systems and tools.

Consider hiring a virtual assistant that can manage tasks on your behalf.

Be Strategic - A strategy is a plan with goals, intentions, milestones, expectations, and action.

BONUS TIP!

Connect with Community - A network gives you greater access to more resources, people, and opportunities.

KIM IKEMIA ARRINGTON is a Career Empowerment Speaker, Career and Business Strategist to “Parrallel-Prenuers” (career professionals who are building businesses while balancing life and working full-time jobs at the same time). As an 18 year Career Transition Expert, she loves her Mondays, and the work she does!

She’s on a mission to position passion-filled, career professionals to be able to say the same!

Her goal is to help ambitious women and men up-level their lives by helping them to align with work that inspires them, and build profitable businesses they love while working their full-time jobs. www.courageousandunstoppable.com WWW.BLACKWOMENMEANBUSINESS.COM

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The

90 Day Blueprint for Aspiring Coaches

Becoming a coach is one of the most powerful things you can do to gain freedom and fulfillment. The impact that you can have on other’s lives is immeasurable. And the time, money, and freedom you can create for yourself is priceless.

But after having been in this industry for years, I can tell you that many people never reach either of those dreams. Why? Because of the very things we’re going to talk about in this article. I’m going to give you the exact blueprint that I wish someone had given me when I first started and what allowed me to go from spending $50K in coaching to having $50K months.

Here are three concepts that, if you listen, will revolutionize your coaching career.

1. JUMPING: You need to jump! But let’s talk about what jumping DOESN’T mean. It does not mean spending a bunch of money on logos, colors, websites, etc. It also does not mean spending the next year getting a degree in entrepreneurship (aka

learning everything under the sun). It does mean taking calculated, and strategic risks to move you in the direction of your goals.

Risk is required for your success. The number one thing you should be investing in is learning HOW to take the ideas, gifts, talents, and passions and turn them into a lucrative and impactful business (aka how to build an online business).

2. LEARNING.

You need to learn less than you think. Yes, we know you love to learn. And yes, there is LOTS to learn.

Don’t spend months and months JUST learning. Because we live in an information age, people tend to do lots of learning and far less implementing. And the truth is the type of learning you’ll need practically comes from the doing. Being an entrepreneur is not the same as being an employee.

It’s a different mindset. Employees get paid more money when they have degrees and credentials. Entrepreneurs get paid more if they can get people results. Spend three days to three months learning and spend double the amount of time imple-

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menting what you’ve learned. This is how you become the #1 go-to person in your niche.

3. PUSHING. You need someone to push you. Most aspiring coaches are with fear. They fear the unknown, how’ll they leave the job, or if they can really coach.

And this is why most coaches never get to five-figure months, on stages with thousands of people, or whatever their goals are. They let fear decide what actions they’ll take. You need money to manifest the things you REALLY want. And the things that you need to do to be profitable are uncomfortable and challenging. Find someone with the business expertise, not your cousin or business bestie (so you know you’re taking the right action) and the personality to help you get out of your way.

Doing such will accelerate your results immensely.

You now have the tools. Don’t wait to change your life!

LACHELLE has a undergradate degree, a Masters degree and is a year from being called Dr. for the rest of her life. But it is not her degrees alone that make her a force to be reckoned with. The success of her company, The Reset Room, can be attributed to her 6+ years as an entrepreneur running both non profit and for profit organizations. As well as the fact that she is a licenced therapist. Her brilliance has allowed her to move from $500 months, to 5-figure months, to $50K months. She teaches those same strategies to new and aspiring coaches looking to build online coaching businesses. www.blackfemalecoaches.com

WWW.BLACKWOMENMEANBUSINESS.COM

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Lights, Camera

Action

It’s time to get noticed with Video

Meet Tanya Smith. She is on a mission to take the mystery out of the maneuvering of on-camera video to make it practical for service providers to build a social brand. This avid Wonder Woman collector, soccer mom, proud wife of a US veteran, digital marketing geek, content strategist, and self-proclaimed introvert was able to grow her business after overcoming her fear of the camera and live video. She delivers practical weekly strategies on how to level-up video content via Facebook and Youtube. She also coaches and guides entrepreneurs to develop strategies that use video marketing to their advantage.

Her passion is to help more entrepreneurs grow thriving businesses and live a life they love by leveraging the internet.

We can not stress enough the power of including video as part of your strategy. Is your heart set on getting better with videos? Tanya keeps up with the latest digital marketing trends, shares best practices, and helps service providers increase visibility by creating engaging content on a manageable schedule. We are delighted to have Tanya join us for our upcoming Income to Impact Virtual Conference to share her knowledge, wisdom, and nuggets with you!

For more infromation about Tanya Smith visit: www.getnoticedwithvideo.com

To view our full interview with Tanya Smith, visit www.blackwomenmean business.com/bonus If there's ever one thing we've come to understand in the new business landscape, it is that content is truly king. Content marketing is the avenue modern entrepreneurs use to ensure their brands and entrepreneurial voices are heard. Thanks to platforms like Facebook and YouTube,

the mediums in which you can share your stories and training are endless. You are no longer limited by your ability to craft eloquent words on a page; you can turn on the camera and instantly connect with your audience.

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It's OK to NOT Be OK THREE WAYS TO COPE IN DIFFICULT TIMES

For many, 2020 has been an anxiety-producing and challenging year. With that said, I wanted to create space to talk about how to cope with these painful times by sharing three ways to be ok while not being ok.

1. Accept that not everyone will "grow" during this phase.

Yes, some of us will regress, some will stay the same, but all of us will experience grief. Black communities are being devastated by this disease. Millions of people have lost their jobs. Anxiety is at an alltime high. So, feel ZERO shame for doing less. Feelings of guilt over not being productive is toxic hustle culture. See, toxic hustle culture will convince us that there has never been a better time to "grind" and achieve your dreams. If you can do more, then go for it! But acknowledge that most of us aren't in a space to do "all the things" right now.

2. Give yourself permission to grieve.

myself included, who will be here helping you to manage through this difficult time.

If that means spending the day crying, then cry it out. If it means laying in your PJs and binge-watching TV, then laze about. If it means cleaning up your space and throwing yourself into projects, putter away. However grief hits you go with it.

Honor all of the emotions you have inside of you. If you carry sadness in your heart, honor that feeling, and be gentle with yourself. If you are feeling joy and light at this moment, observe that without judging it.

Before you are a businesswoman, know that you are human first. Give yourself grace during this time in our lives. Keeping up with what everyone else has going on is not realistic, but trust yourself to do what's best for both yourself and your business through this difficult time.

3. Have hope - it will get better.

Because there is an AFTER to all of this, I have dedicated myself to helping you get through it. I want to show you how to live in your AFTER as healthy as you possibly can. So remember it's ok to not be ok. Just know that there are many others,

KELLEY BONNER is Licensed therapist, burnout expert, and wellness advocate; proud quirky, creative millennial with 15 years of experience in the field.

She helps high-achieving, big-hearted women prevent and recover from burnout by using self-care and mindfulness skills. www.letsburnbright.com

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J O S E P H W. WA R D

Manifesting Millions Joseph Ward is a Senior National Sales Director with a New York Stock Exchange company, a highly sought after international speaker, a national leadership development trainer, author, husband, and father. Born in the Bronx and raised in Chattanooga, TN, Joseph attended and graduated from Austin Peay State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. There he joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., where he became chapter president.

So how did Joseph end up in financial services?

Shortly after becoming a teacher, Joseph was introduced to Primerica and knew what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He has built up his career by utilizing the tools given to him from Primerica to teach others how to become and remain financially stable, responsible, and debtfree.

What are the milestones that stand out in his career?

Joseph was elected into the illustrious Wall of Fame and became Primerica's 84th Million Dollar Earner. "But it's not what you make; it's what you save," he says.

When asked what was one of the things he was proud of, we uncovered that Joseph is a tremendous leader of leaders at Primerica and in the leadership development arena. He was elected to the AALC (African American Leadership Council) Executive

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Committee. Today, Joseph has over 1,900 agents and leads 30 Regional Vice Presidents nationwide. His accomplishments are never just about him but where he can license, train, and advance others.

What does he look forward to in the future?

He is committed to emerging another 10 Regional Vice Presidents by June of 2021 nationally.

What does he want us to know about him?

Joseph currently lives in Houston, Texas, with his awesome wife and life partner, Malisha, and has four exceptional children, along with the family dogs, Snickers and Twix. When not working on his business or spending time with his family, he is passionate about music, traveling, reading, and movies. He believes the Black woman is the cornerstone of any Black man's success.

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