Flourish Digital Magazine Winter 2021 - Special Edition

WINTER 2021 ISSUE 1

VOLUME 2

Because we are thinking, feeling creatures, we have the breath of life; and the greatest gift given to us is the one that allows us to

Breathe

life into the nostrils of our own

Visions.

—Chloé Taylor Brown

Supporting Women & Children

Supporting Women & Children

' I am especially optimistic today, flourishing friends; and even though life in many areas is still very challenging and uncertain, it is very beautiful in other areas. I know we can get through this, especially together; so make sure to pay attention to your self care daily, think positively—and hold somebody's hand today as well.

Women! We made history when Kamala D. Harris was sworn into office as the first woman Vice-President of the United States of America. Indeed, Madam Vice-President, you are the first; but certainly "not the last"—as you so eloquently and boldly stated yourself. We are encouraged to know that you will, no doubt, hold many smooth and rugged hands in the months and years to come. We thank you in advance.

This issue of Flourish Digital Magazine is overflowing with consciousness, feminine power, agape love and self care—"how-tos" to help us to maintain a positive outlook. Meet Swaady Martin, creator of the Tounché Global Consciousness Summit. Read what Daniel Langer, CEO of Équité has to say about the future of luxury brands, lifestyle brands and consumer brands. Discover your personal excellence and how to use it. Read the twenty attributes of a feminine power player, and see where you are. There are too many amazing articles to mention; but please, do connect with all of our lifestyle writers and contributors. Meet Xara, the 12-year-old Boss Girl, and Victoria, the 20-year-old who is "Blacking Business" while navigating dating on her college campus during the coronavirus pandemic. Learn how to go from employee to entrepreneur. Align your business, perk up your money, soothe your soul, be entertained and uplifted; and be inspired by all the books we've included for you this winter.

Lastly, hold on to your faith. Put it into action with certainty. Keep dreaming big, Darling. Put some PEP into your thoughts, your feelings and your life steps every day. This will activate your faith and help you to thrive, flourish and manifest in 2021.

All the best!

ChloeTaylor Brown

Editor-in-Chief FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 4

chloe@flourishdigitalmagazine.com Instagram: @flourishdigitalmagazine @chloetaylorbrown

CONTENTS

LIFESTYLE

7 LUXURY: IS THERE A FUTURE? 20

interview with luxury brand guru Daniel Langer PERSONAL EXCELLENCE: AMERICA'S GAME CHANGER

22 SWAADY MARTIN: GLOBAL

CONSCIOUSNESS LEADER

30 THE 20 ATTRIBUTES OF A FEMININE POWER PLAYER

32 NEW BEGINNINGS

87

Paula G. Voice LISA WASHINGTON: BRANDING HER LIFE interview with our Food & Lifestyle contributor

FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT

34 THE FREDDIE HENDRICKS EXPERIENCE

Paula G. Voice interviews an acting legend NO TO WAIT: TV 44 SailaTIME Rachelle 53 EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE Lisa Washington 62 BECOMING VEGAN: A WAY OF LIFE Bodybuilder Torre Washington 65 CEDRICE: THE LOVE OF MUSIC Seane Shaw interviews the multitalented Cedrice

FEATURE ARTICLES 37

HEY, MAMAS! WHAT IF...?

Elena Taylor Bager

38 THE ART OF PROTEST

Creating space for emerging artists

43 47 49

LIVING LARGE IN 2021 Ron Hakala NEW LOVE Laurie Marie Renfro CASH VS. CHRIST Laurie Renfro

SHOWCASE

World-Renowned Expert on Luxury Brand Building, DANIEL LANGER 7

BUSINESS & FINANCE TO ENTREPRENEUR 58 EMPLOYEE Kim Scouller BOSS GIRL 68 12-year-old Xara Kemp

40 THE BETTER ANGELS OF BUSINESS

GiveButter: the cutting edge of digital fundraising

BEAUTY

64 QUEEN LILLIE HAIR GROWTH OIL 72 74

Lillie Young TAKING TIME TO SELF SOOTHE Chloé Taylor Brown SIX TIPS TO BOOST YOUR HEALTH & WELL-BEING Lyn Ross

TRANSFORMATIONAL BOOKS 77 I CAN LAUGH AGAIN

by Chloé Taylor Brown

50 THE SECRET SAUCE OF FAITH

78 GIRL-SWAG

by Chloé Taylor Brown

52

COCKTAILS...DURING A PANDEMIC

80 WHITE FRAGILITY

by Robin Diangelo

56

IT'S CHECK-IN AND CHECK-UP TIME Donnella Crawford

81 THE COLOR OF INSPIRATION

by Nevaina Rhodes

61

HOW TO WIN WITH SELF-AWARENESS

Chloé Taylor Brown

CEDRICE

Season 18 Contestant on The Voice 65

LOVE'S EXPRESSION

another fabulous Lisa Washington recipe 53

82 THE ART OF ICONIC LEADERSHIP

by Justina Mutale

83 SEE YOU IN THE SKY

by Jeri Ross Jade Cherell 84 SET THE TABLE WITH LOVE LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD,

by Lisa Washington HEALING NOW Janis Hunt Johnson 85 FIVE SMOOTH STONES FINDING ROMANCE DURING A PANDEMIC

by Janis Hunt Johnson a report from the college scene

63 ATLANTA! A GLORIOUS DOT OF BLUE 70 94

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ADVERTISE WITH US

Madam Vice-President America Did It! Georgia Helped! We're Standing With You.

CONGRATULATIONS, KAMALA DEVI HARRIS! We Celebrate You—the First Woman to be Vice-President of The United States of America.

All of us here at Flourish Digital Magazine continue to be inspired and empowered by you—first as Senator and now as Vice-President. In addition, you were flawless as you took your oath of office: shoulders back, head up and proud. We also thought that your skin and make-up were flawless , your hair was sophisticated and elegant, and your outfit was totally on point—during both the inauguration and the celebrations afterwards. Your look was polished and sophisticated from head to toe. Let's get to work!

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 6

Luxury

IS THERE A FUTURE?

By Chloé Taylor Brown

MEET DANIEL LANGER, ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST RENOWNED EXPERTS ON BRAND BUILDING AND EXTREME VALUE CREATION IN A DIGITALLY DISRUPTED WORLD. DANIEL IS FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE LUXURY BRAND STRATEGY FIRM, ÉQUITÉ.

Chloé: Thank you, Daniel, for an opportunity to do a deep dive into your luxury experiences, your business, Équité, and the future of luxury in a post-pandemic world. I am genuinely fascinated, and I'm sure our readers want to know: What's different now—for you personally, and for luxury markets, compared to pre-pandemic life?

Daniel: To a very large extent, Chloé, my pre-pandemic life consisted of commuting between Europe and Asia. At least once a month I would be in Hong Kong, Shanghai or Tokyo, and at least once a month in Europe. I was always on the go visiting clients, and very often I would fly to Asia, then to Europe, then back to Asia, and back to the U.S. and so on. When I look back to that time now, it seems very strange to be in one day on one side of the Earth and the next day on the other side of the Earth.

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"2020, for me was a very exciting year, in the fact that we had the opportunity to support an unprecedented number of young brands, startups, and disrupters in the luxury industry."

Daniel, continued: Obviously, entering into 2021 has

And so, I think that we will see in the next one or two

been completely different. In 2020 I stayed in one

years a lot of new brands coming in the market that

place for nine months. And during that time we all

will be born through the pandemic, in the

completely changed our workflow to digital life, so

pandemic, also born digitally with a new mindset,

in a sense, it feels like the year passed by faster for

with younger consumers in mind and really

me. And the experience of doing ninety-eight

disrupting the status quo in the luxury space. And I

percent of our work differently, and at home also,

think this is exciting.

became in many ways more efficient.

Chloé: Who is buying luxury during this pandemic? I So, post-pandemic life hopefully will be a bit less

did read that China is the place where many luxury

travel, and more of a mix of physical and digital.

brands are going, and that consumption is strong.

What's your take on that?

Chloé: I've found more harmony in my life. What have you discovered?

Daniel: I think we need to split the questions into a couple of different buckets.

Daniel: I would say this is also an observation for me.

I appreciate traveling, but the pandemic makes you

So, let's start with spending and not traveling—and

simply think about everything that's necessary.

the impact. So actually, what we sometimes see in a lot of customers is almost the opposite, because

The second observation we had at Équité is that the

many people are not traveling or have not been

pandemic forced a lot of companies to rethink their

traveling last year. And they have seen a lot of

approach and scrutinize their go-to market and their

instances where people reinvested the budget that

brand approach. And for us, 2020 has been an

freed up for them what they would otherwise have

unbelievably busy year. We significantly increased

used for travel—in terms of purchasing personal

the number of projects, and another really

luxury goods—jewelry, fashion and so on. A lot of

interesting observation for me was also how

people may have just shifted some of their

innovative last year was.

purchases into different buckets from travel into other things.

I've never seen so many startups, and so many people who had great ideas, who were maybe thinking of holding back but decided to launch in 2020. So actually, 2020 for me was a very exciting year, in the fact that we had the opportunity to support an unprecedented number of young brands, startups, and disrupters in the luxury industry.

And I personally found it very inspiring to see so many people making their dreams come true and launching projects and initiatives that maybe they would not have launched in other years.

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Daniel, continued: And obviously not all the brands are profiting the same way. The stronger brands that have maybe over the last years done much more in terms of creating their brand equity and providing value to consumers—these are the brands that have been profiting from this. And the weaker brands have simply become much weaker. So, there is a kind of shift in terms of spending. This is something that is not going to be there forever, because obviously, if people are going to come back and travel, then they are going to redirect their spending back into travel.

So, some of the brands that are profiting from increased consumer spending—or shifted spending from travel to other categories—may see some

"China, already over the last two decades has been the fastest-growing luxury market worldwide."

difficulties going forward. That's the first thing.

The second part is in terms of China. China has a couple of things that are happening at the same time.

If you take basic fundamentals, even without the pandemic, China already—over at least one decade, if not the last two decades—has been the fastestgrowing luxury market worldwide. And this has to do with more people entering into the middle class. And then within the middle class, also more and more people are accumulating wealth. Cities are growing, more opportunities, more and more wealthy people, as I just said. And this basically has led to a

You know, some brands are reporting 20 percent, 30 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent growth in the Chinese market over 2020. Now the question is, why is this growth coming? First, throughout 2020, China somehow managed the pandemic better than most other regions.

But because the measures were relatively strict, and then later the monitoring and so on was very strict, a lot of the places were not really affected by the coronavirus or didn't have to shut down even—let's

tremendous growth of the luxury sector in China.

say, very dense, densely populated places like Hong

So right now, there are different estimates, but let's

of the pandemic. First of all, I would say China has

say roughly about 400 million people now—out of the 1.4 billion Chinese—are considered to be either wealthy or in the middle class. So, you can say that 400 million is roughly a bit more than the population of the United States, and a bit less than that of the European Union. So basically, now let's fast forward to the next decade. There are a lot of expectations that another 400 million Chinese are going to enter into

Kong, were largely operational and opening in terms been managed better than the rest of the world in terms of the response to the pandemic.

Chloé: Why do you think that China has done better than anyone else with managing coronavirus? And I think this is going to take us to what you were about to say.

the middle class or become wealthier.

Daniel: Yes, I think that there's a couple of different

So instead of 400 million, we would have about 800

better, in my observation, I will even extend it to

million potential luxury customers in China, with or without the pandemic. So, this means we would have a tremendous continuation of the growth in the Chinese market. In my point of view, I would say that China is going to be the absolute driver of growth in the luxury sector.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 9

things. And if I say China has been managing it Asia. As such, most Asian countries overall have been managing it much better than Europe or the United States—including Japan, Southeast Asia, Singapore and Korea.

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ÉQUITÉ CEO DANIEL LANGER IS ONE OF THE GLOBAL "TOP FIVE LUXURY KEY OPINION LEADERS TO WATCH IN 2021,” AS STATED BY NETBASE QUID, ALONGSIDE ALESSANDRO MICHELE (GUCCI) AND BERNARD ARNAULT (LVMH).

Daniel, continued: So, Chloé, what has led to

In fact, I didn't go to the office back then

that? The first thing is, that there is much more

without wearing a mask during wintertime

awareness on the part of the government, but

because of the flu, and just overall, there was

also of the population—of the danger of

more consciousness within Asia of courtesy

pandemics. For example, I lived in Japan for a

towards others. You basically don't put your

couple of years while the first SARS epidemic

co-workers at risk—or your peers, or your family

was there in the beginning of the 2000s. And I

at risk—during a time where you have more

remember that we were unbelievably

colds and flus.

concerned about the SARS outbreak, so there were measures at airports, with temperature

This is something that is much more prevalent

screenings and people using masks and so on.

in Asia than it has ever been in Europe or in the United States. I would say you have

All of this was very widespread already back

already a society that is much more used to

then. And even 15, 20 years ago when I lived in

protective measures than we are in the

Japan, even without SARS, every winter

Western societies.

everyone would always use masks.

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>

Chloé: I'm fascinated that you've said that people in

So maybe someone would go on a vacation, let's say, to

Asian countries are more courteous, thinking more

Paris or to New York or to Milan, and then they would

about how being ill or maybe having a cough may

buy, let's say, a Louis Vuitton bag in Paris or maybe buy

affect one's co-workers or one's family.

a Tiffany ring in New York, or something from Gucci in Milan and then come back to China. And all that has

Daniel: I'll give you an example. When I lived in Tokyo,

several reasons, maybe lower taxation. But also, just the

I often took the train for convenience. And if you have

idea that you're buying something that is maybe built

ever used a train in a city like Tokyo, you know: You

in Europe. You buy this in Europe, or something that is

would be kind of compressed in rush hour into the

made in the USA, you want to buy it in the United

train, basically person next to person, and body next

States.

to body. You have so many people—hundreds of people—within a car of a train. And hundreds of

There are several reasons why this has been done. And

thousands of people are all in the train station all next

it's a significant number of purchases that were done

to each other. You can't really do without the mask

outside of China. So now with the population not able

because of courtesy to the others. And my

to do overseas travel, at least for the majority of them,

observation in Asia, was that we were always wearing

what do you do? You buy the luxury goods within

a mask. And I think that all of these habits that were

China.

there already, plus being more experienced with pandemics over the last 20 years, simply led to a

Around April and May, after the initial lockdowns in

higher awareness of the dangers of covid-19.

parts of China, there was this term "revenge spending," where a lot of people there, who were not able to travel said, "OK, we are not traveling and buying abroad so let's spend here." This is a different mentality from what I have found in Europe or the US, where people are thinking and saying, "We have an economic slowdown. Let's not spend so much."

In China, many people were saying, "Now is the time to fix the economy. Now is the time to spend so that we can get into a better growth situation."

So, this term was established in the mid 2020s —"revenge spending," which we didn't see so much in other regions.

Now, coming back to your question on the luxury

Chloé: Tell me about your company, Équité.

market. In China there are two things, because recently there was such a boom in the luxury sector

Daniel: Équité comes from the word "equity" in French.

over the last eight, nine months. The first is also

It means that everything we do in one way or the other

related to your question on travel. There are many

is centered around the idea that luxury is nothing else

countries—you can't travel much right now out of

than creating extreme value for consumers. So

China. So this means that historically a lot of the

everything we do is about the idea of extreme value

luxury consumption that the Chinese consumers

creation. And I can only build extreme value for a

would do would be consumption outside of China.

consumer if the equity of my brand is intact—if I know what I'm doing, if I have full clarity on my mission, my vision, my brand positioning and the storytelling.

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Daniel, continued: Everything we do from morning to night is to help companies to build their brand equity, to strengthen their brand equity, and to provide their customers and their consumers with

Chloé: Share with us how to add value to knowledge.

better products—better services that their customers

Daniel: The most important point is that we always

really like and appreciate.

start with a very thorough situation analysis. We always have to understand: Where are we? What is

Chloé: In addition to what you do with your company, how do you have time to be a professor at Pepperdine?

Daniel: To me, it's all connected because it's all very

our starting position? For example, what value are we adding as a company, for example, and as a brand? What is our value creation model?

important. I believe that it is the obligation of

And we have to then ask ourselves also as a

business leaders, managers, business owners,

business, are we providing enough value for our

business leaders—I think it's our obligation to give

customers? Can we provide more value? And if so,

back and contribute to helping the next generation

how can we provide more value? A lot of the

to strive and flourish.

I decided that whenever I have something to say to help the next generation to start their careers and

thinking of my work and my research has always been on really trying to understand what is the driver of value.

business, that I'm going to do that. And this was the reason why I decided to always have a bit of a

Why is someone willing to spend two thousand

parallel career, on the one hand building up

dollars, five thousand dollars, ten thousand dollars,

business, and on the other hand teaching. And

on a handbag? Why are some consumers willing to

through the teaching I'm giving back.

spend half a million dollars, or one million dollars, on a car—or half a million dollars on a vacation? To

I would say, you always have to do this in your life:

some people, this may sound crazy, but for my

When you think about who you are, and ask yourself

belief, it's not crazy. There must be a reason. There

which values do you have, and so on, and where do

must be a value proposition behind that. So my

you get your energy from.

entire research since I started my journey into luxury was about finding out what drives the value.

Chloé: Where do you get your energy from, Daniel?

Daniel: You have to find something that you are truly passionate about. To me, it's everything that is around the idea of luxury—of value creation. This is

And I was probably one of the first people in the world who asked themselves this question: What are really the value drivers of luxury? Why are

what I'm passionate about. And in particular, if in the

people paying those price points? Why are people

end, you are standing in front of 20 or 30 students

having such a desire to buy nice things, luxurious

and you share some of your insights and your

things? What really is luxury? So, this has always

knowledge, and afterwards they tell you that you

been my personal fascination and destination. And

made them think differently—you made them see the world maybe a little bit differently—to me, this is the biggest driver of passion that I can imagine.

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honestly, when I started my Ph.D., more than a decade ago, I was almost a bit shocked that there wasn't more research on the topic.

>

"EVERYTHING WE DO IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IS CENTERED AROUND THE IDEA THAT LUXURY IS NOTHING ELSE THAN CREATING EXTREME VALUE FOR CONSUMERS." Daniel, continued: There were very, very few business

mind, because it doesn't really matter whether we speak

schools that were looking into what luxury is or

about maybe a coffee, or we speak about a shampoo, or

teaching luxury. And most of those programs back

whether we speak about skin care, a cream, or whatever

then, a decade ago, were very theoretical. So there

it is.

was very little practical application of what was done and applicability for companies. Once I

Once I understood how I could create extreme value for

understood this, I decided to change that, and to

consumers, then I could infuse this understanding in

create and pursue a career of lifelong research on

basically any product category and make brands more

what luxury is really about and how do we manage

successful.

luxury in a better way so that we can create value for consumers.

Chloé: Does this have to be a tangible?

Chloé: When you started your research ten years ago,

Daniel: It can be both tangible and intangible. The

is that when you started your business, Équité?

challenge is as big for tangible products as it is for intangibles. Let's take an intangible product—a service

Daniel: No, I was still in my original career in the

that you buy—any service, whether you buy a vacation,

beauty care industry. In the beginning it was more of

an airline ticket, you go to a movie, or a movie theater—

a personal journey where I wanted to understand

any kind of service you can imagine. What do you want

what luxury really is. And then I understood one

from this service?

thing very fast. And that was a driver of what I was doing.

You want something that ideally provides a memory for you. It's always a feeling, and there's always an emotion.

Any brand can profit from the insides of luxury—

Luxury always has an emotional component. But what

whether they are luxury or not.

we really want to create and what we're really looking for, even as humans, is that we want memories. We want

So, every brand can profit from this. In other words,

things that we can look back to with a lot of heart and

you can manage very successfully a value brand or

with a lot of pleasure.

an everyday brand, a fast-moving consumer, good brand—you can manage very successfully using

Think about this! How many of the things that you do

insights from luxury. You can never manage a luxury

every day are really creating a memory for you? It's very

brand using insights from fast-moving consumer

few.

goods. And this I found super fascinating. In many brands that I managed over my life, I was able to

Most of the restaurants you will visit will be OK in terms

infuse ideas and lessons from the luxury research,

of service. Probably the food would taste great or would

and make even everyday products and more fast-

taste good, but they will usually not create a lasting

moving consumer goods and products dramatically

memory. Most hotels you may go in your life, you will

more profitable, dramatically more successful—big

probably have a very clean room, maybe a beautiful

brands that became unbelievably successful and all

room. The service would be very nice. But will it create a

always taking this idea of extreme value creation in

lasting memory? Probably not. When you travel by

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BE CULTURALLY RESPECTFUL & CULTURALLY RELEVANT Daniel, continued: airline, ask yourself: Was this flight

But the first and foremost to me, luxury is never

now creating a lasting memory, where you really look

about the price. Luxury is always about the desire we

back and you will never forget it in a positive way? Or,

are creating. It's always about the emotion we are

if you think about something tangible—you purchase a

creating, and it's almost always about the memory

bag or you purchase a car—you think of the service

we are creating.

components you get, and you remember how you were treated by the person.

Chloé: I am fascinated by all of this. You mentioned France earlier. Did you grow up in France?

Was it really something that you feel was luxurious?

Where you are really the center of attention? Probably

Daniel: I'm half German and half Portuguese. So, I

not. Because we have so many experiences in our life

already have a bit of international mixture in my

that are exchangeable, interchangeable experiences.

blood. I originally grew up in Nigeria in Africa. My

Most brands actually give you what I call just the

father was an expat there for a German company.

category experience. Most car purchases would be

My formative years were in Africa. We moved back to

very similar. Most fashion purchases would be very

Europe, to Germany, when I was six years old and I

similar. Most airline flights would be very simple. Most

continued growing up in Germany. But over my life

hotel spaces will be very similar. Because each product

I've lived in Europe in several places. I studied in

category typically does something that you would

Germany and also in Madrid, Spain for about a year. I

expect as a customer. But if we get only something

lived in London, I lived in Tokyo for several years, and

that is expected, if we don't go further, we will never

for the last 10 years, the USA has been my home. I

remember it.

am living in Scottsdale, Arizona now.

So, luxury always has something to do with creating a

If I look back on what I'm doing right now—I have the

memory—a beautiful memory, an emotional memory.

ability to understand the different parts of the world,

So, in luxury, we have to go much further. If we only

and understand different cultures. I speak, for

give a good service or great service but we are not

example, seven languages—which comes in very

creating a memory, then we are not going far enough.

handy when you do business all around the world.

And then it is not luxury.

This really helps to get a very fundamental understanding of differences in culture.

The quintessence of luxury is that we are creating a very emotional, very beautiful, very positive, very

I think one of the key things that brands need to do

personal memory. Something that in a sense is an idea

is, we need to become culturally much more

that we want to talk about forever. We want to share it

sensitive and much more inclusive. Because if we

with our friends. We want this experience never to

want to sell brands all over the world, then we need

end. How many experiences do we have in life like

to kind of respect the different cultures and we need

this?

to be culturally relevant for people. And in some places, you want to be more expressive. So maybe

This is why I am personally so fascinated about luxury.

we show more local. And in other places you may

Because if we do luxury right, it's never about the price.

want to be a little bit less expressive. So maybe your

It's always about giving people something really

choice of products would be a little bit more muted

exceptional. Then the best companies in the world can

and maybe more stealth, but there would be still

obviously price for that, because if you get something

luxuries.

really exceptional, you would also be able to find people that want to pay a premium for it.

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Luxury: It's a feeling.

Daniel, continued: So, the concept of luxury, the concept of extreme value creation, is a global concept. Always existed, always will exist.

We did a lot of research all over the world. There is no difference in the concept of luxury anywhere in the world. However, this is very important: There is a huge difference in the expression of luxury, because every culture is different. Even within the United States, if you take, for example, Los Angeles, the way people dress in Los Angeles is different from how people dress in New York—even just because of the weather or the climate, but also because of the culture. Think about the Silicon Valley startup culture. they were the first coming in Tshirts and jeans to work. And it's perfectly normal there. I can go to San Francisco and Silicon Valley to a business meeting in sneakers and jeans. Maybe it's even expected. And if I would go in a suit, it would not be appropriate. But if I go to the same kind of meeting in Milan or in Shanghai, I'd better I have a suit on, and maybe even a tie. These are small things, but we need to understand them. These are things that are important in business, but they are also important in the way we express brands worldwide.

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Daniel, continued: So maybe the same brand may have slightly different expressions in different countries, if we do it right. However, the fundamentals of the brand, in my point of view, always should be the same universally.

So, we look at the why. Why do I buy this brand?

Who am I as a brand? That should be the same everywhere. Apple should always be Apple. Gucci should always be Gucci. And Louis Vuitton should always be Louis Vuitton—independent of where they are. The products they are offering can be different in the different countries. Maybe in some countries it's more summery things, where the temperatures are warmer; and maybe in other countries it would be more wintery when the temperatures are cooler.

In some countries maybe it's more expensive, as I said, and in other countries more muted. But the

of how they dressed. But then, when you look again at the watches and some accessories, there was luxury. So, again, in coming back to your question, where is luxury?

fundamentals of the brands have to be the same.

Luxury is everywhere in the world.

Chloé: Where is luxury?

Luxury is all around us. People want to have things

Daniel: Here's a random observation from a pre-

special value. How they express it is very different in

pandemic flight. I traveled to several Asian countries for several meetings, and while flying back to the United States I was in Tokyo, and from Tokyo I flew to Hong Kong, and to Seoul, and from Seoul to Shanghai, and from Shanghai to Seattle, and on to

that make their life more beautiful and give them different places around the world and different countries.

Chloé: What advice do you have for a new startup company that desires to position their business as a

Phoenix.

luxury brand?

At each of those airports, I had to go through

Daniel: Luxury always starts with the story. We must

security. I was just observing the people around me boarding the plane and sitting next to me. People are just different in terms of the expression of luxury.

For example, when you're in Hong Kong, people wear two- and three-hundred-thousand-dollar watches. In Seoul, people wear expensive watches, but not that expensive. Also, in Korea, I realized that the people, for example, at the airports wore very wonderful and beautiful clothes, and very refined, but with very few logos. In Shanghai you see people wearing very expensive things that have a lot of logos and very luxurious.

Then I flew to Seattle with the Americans. Everyone was in sweatpants and Lululemon kind of gear. And there was nothing luxurious about them—in the sense

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 16

have a good story. I'm not interested in fake marketing stories because as consumers, we want to know the why. We want to know why our brands are doing what they're doing. We are fascinated with people who are passionate about what they're doing. So storytelling is unbelievably important.

Chloé: How do you tell a good story?

Daniel: You have to have full clarity on who you are as a brand. So we always advise all of our clients—as the very first, most important, most fundamental thing that they need to do—is to audit their brand and find out whether their brand positioning, their brand storytelling, is strong enough, is clear enough, is powerful enough, and whether they really have a strong, powerful brand story.

>

£5.00

The Expression of Luxury is Unique to Every Culture

Daniel, continued: And surprisingly, I can tell you the

then I will get what I earlier called the category story. I

answer very often is no. So, in more than 90 percent

would basically get the same as I what I get from

of brand audits that we do—more than 90 percent—

everyone else. So the second task is to make sure that

we find in part significant shortcomings in terms of

we have what we call "the translation"—that what we

clarity of the brand positioning.

have as a brand story is now translated into an experience. So, this is the second part of the equation,

The first thing I have to have is full clarity on who I

Chloé.

am as a brand. It sounds very easy, but it's a very challenging task.

The third part of the equation is now that I have the experience, I now have to make sure that many people

So, the second is, once I have clarity on the brand

know about me. Then I have to kind of see how I

storytelling, then I have to ask myself, how do I now

connect my brand—and mainly digitally, because we

create this memorable moment for my customers?

are living in a digital world. How can I connect my

So, I have to have a full understanding and an audit

brand digitally with my customers?

of what we call "the customer journey."

And this is also a very important point .

I have to make sure that every touchpoint that a customer has with the brand is a representation of

We are living now in a completely different reality from

the brand positioning, because if that's not the case,

even three or four or five years ago. And why is it different?

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 17

>

Generation Z: Part of the answer.

Daniel, continued: And this has zero to do with the

the brand is, if they feel it's not sustainable, or if the

pandemic. We have very different consumers. So, a couple

brand doesn't have as much to convince them on that,

of years ago, the majority of luxury consumers were what

they will not buy it. With my 15-year-old daughter, my 17-

we call Gen X. So, these are people who today are 40 plus.

year-old daughter, I have huge discussions often. When

However, the number-one consumer group for luxury now

we speak about brands, they tell me, "Daddy, this brand

are Millennials—those between 20 and 40 years old. They

is not inclusive." They want inclusivity. They want

are the number-one consumer group.

And the most influential consumer group is Gen Z—those

diversity. If they feel the brands are not inclusive and diverse, they will not buy them.

below 20. This may be surprising. And many times men

We have to be in line with their values. If the values are

just say to me, "Why should I even pay attention to Gen Z's?

sustainability, diversity and inclusion as brands, we

They are not buying my brand." Or "Only elder people buy

better be diverse—and we better walk the talk. So,

my brand." I hear this all the time. And I say, "Guys, if you

sustainability will play a huge role in luxury going

are not relevant to Gen Z's today, you will never be relevant

forward. The luxury industry is nowhere there. This is the

to them!"

They are not going to wake up when they are 40 and suddenly fall in love with your brand. They will not. Our habits, our preferences are built early. This is a huge wakeup call for brands. My number-one pledge for brands right now is take Gen Z seriously. Take digital seriously. You need as a brand to be unbelievably relevant to those below 20. If you are not relevant for them, no one else is ever going to buy your product or service.

The simplest logic is: The daughters never do what the mothers tell them to do, but the mothers do what the daughters are doing. In a sense, the 20-year-olds will do the opposite of their mom, but the mom will observe the 20year-old or the 18-year-old, and she wants to do the same because she also wants to feel young.

The brand that is not relevant for 16- to 20-year-olds has no future. In black and white. It has no future. So, we have to, as brands, be radically more focused on younger consumers and become relevant for younger consumers.

So now the question is: How can we become relevant to

number-one thing where there's a lot of ambition and there's a lot of fantastic projects, and I'm super happy that a lot of the big luxury companies have made sustainability their core kind of focus now. But still where we are is nowhere where we need to be as an industry. And so I can only urge luxury brands to take this seriously. The consumers who don't believe in the brand now will not come to the brand ever later, and so we need to be relevant for them.

And finally, Gen Z's are unbelievably digital. We all are, but the youngest consumers are digital natives. They grew up with smartphones. They grew up with social media. They are unbelievably savvy, and they will not go on the homepage as the first entry point to a brand. They will go on Instagram. Or if they are in China they will go on WeChat. If the Instagram is not convincing, they will never go on the homepage. I call it the digital battle. We need to be convincing to consumers while they are on the digital journey, because if we don't catch them throughout their digital journey, we will never catch them. They will not come to our website ever, if our

younger consumers?

social media is not enticing them to want to know more.

So, one of the big things—and it's also a huge passion of

convinced them on the digital journey. And interestingly,

mine—is sustainability. Young consumers nowadays really want things that are authentic. They don't want fake. If they are looking. I have a 17-year-old daughter and a 15year-old daughter. Both of them, when they buy products, they look for sustainability. They will not buy anything that they think is not sustainable. It doesn't matter how fancy

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 18

They will never even enter our store if we have not I still get so many questions from managers who ask me, "I'm a luxury brand; do I really need to be digital?"

When I hear this, I just want to shake my head. It is absolutely necessary now for a brand—not just to be digital, but as a brand, to think about digital in a new way, to acquire your competitive advantage.

<

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FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 20

purpose or life goals, feeling as if it’s “survival of the fittest” because we don’t see a big picture. And since we don’t know what the big picture is for us, or what it looks or feels like, we don’t have the energy, power, or strength to sustain much above average, at best. We simply go through life in a routine, run-of-the-mill, mediocre way, not living up to who we are and to our true potential as a nation.

>

ANALYSIS

THE SOLUTION & GAME CHANGER

We don’t value ourselves as much as we did in previous

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PHOTOGRAPHY: ANANDA SOUL

SWAADY MARTIN'S

DECLARATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS, FEARLESSNESS & LOVE I sincerely enjoy connecting with and celebrating kind, inspiring, empowering women, and Swaady Martin is certainly one of them. She is recognized as a consciousness activist and one of Africa’s most recognized young leaders, influencers and tastemakers. Not only that, she is a serial entrepreneur, published author, certified Yoga & Mindfulness teacher and Pranic Healer, and former corporate executive at General Electric Company, where she held leadership positions in several divisions across the world, including acting-CEO for GE South Africa Technologies and Managing Director for GE Transportation for Sub- Saharan Africa. My interview with her was lively and inspirational.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 22

>

THE WOMAN WHO CREATED TOUNCHÉ, A GLOBAL CONSCIOUSNESS SUMMIT

PHOTOGRAPHY: ALET PRETORIOUS

CHLOÉ: Hello Swaady! Where are you, in the world

I spent most of my formative years in Côte d'Ivoire. I

today?

finished High school in London and went to University in Switzerland and France.

SWAADY: I'm in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa now.

My mom is partly from here. She is French, Ivorian,

CHLOÉ: Those experiences may seem destabilizing

Guinean. Before coming here, I was in Paris and Dubai.

to some people. What did you learn from that time

Before that I spent most of the year in Asia (India and

in your life?

Indonesia). I partly live in Bali.

SWAADY: The outer instability of the macro

CHLOÉ: Where did you grow up, Swaady?

environment in which I grew up prompted life skills that I am forever grateful for. The first of them being:

SWAADY: I grew up in West Africa: Liberia, Senegal and

embracing impermanence.

Côte d'Ivoire The backdrop of my childhood was political and societal transformation of post-colonial

It's interesting because when you experience such

Africa. That came with political instability, civil wars

traumatic changes, there are two ways you can

and coups. And eventually the emergence of multi-

react. One is, ”I never want to experience that again

party democracy and an African Renaissance.

so, I'm going to try to impose as much control in my life as possible.” >

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 23

"I WAS BORN INTO ACTIVISM, AWARENESS, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE." SWAADY, CONTINUED: That is really a fear-based

Instead of living with that fear, I lived with the

approach. Or, “I am going to embrace the fact that

gratitude of everyday knowing he was alive. That is

the only constant in life is change.” I was blessed to

part of embracing impermanence: being grateful for

choose this path which I see as a love-based

the now, every now.

approach. To grow up with that mindset of not fearing change is so empowering. It gives you a peace of mind and a freedom that is priceless.

CHLOÉ: How old were you when you acquired this concept about life?

SWAADY: We left Liberia because of the civil war when I was three, so I believe the seeds of embracing impermanence where planted from then. And over time, I refined it within me until I could actually articulate it. It became a way of life.

CHLOÉ: This seems to be an innate quality that you possess.

SWAADY: It seems like that. But I also want to give credit to my parents. I believe they are very old souls who incarnated with a lot of wisdom and consciousness. I'm really blessed in a way that I was raised in a very loving and conscious environment. I wouldn’t trade my parents for anything in the world.

My late father was an influential member of the Black Panther Party, so he had to leave the United States with some of the other leaders and found himself in exile in Africa. He lived undercover all of his life until he passed away in 2014. I was born into a really uncommon setting, with a father who was a fugitive and had basically sacrificed his life for a cause that he believed in. There was always the underlying fear that my father would be found, arrested or killed.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 24

CHLOÉ: Are you still unable to say who your father is publicly?

SWAADY: I can share now that he has passed away otherwise, I wouldn’t even tell you this story. So for forty-six years of his life, he lived undercover. His story is part of my story—in the sense that there is a certain awareness and maturity that came very quickly because I had to be educated very early on with an understanding of who the Black Panthers were and what they were fighting for. My mother as well was and is to this day very passionate about social justice and politics. Her father was an opponent to the regime in Guinea and that shaped a big part of her own life. My brother who is five years older than me has also been passionate about these issues from a very young age. Most of his childhood drawings were about the African Union meetings, political leaders and revolutionaries.

So, I was born and bred into activism, awareness of political and societal dynamics, and social justice.

From a very young age, I started having these questions and these conversations that not all children would have. So, my concerns were not only about Barbie dolls—I loved Barbie dolls and playing, of course, but—there was another part which was very mature in understanding the world we're living in. I was questioning: How come someone who was fighting for the liberation and equal rights for Black people would be considered as an enemy of state, and would never be able to live a normal life? My father never saw his siblings again, never went to the U.S again. He lived the rest of his life in exile. >

PHOTOGRAPHY: BRIAN HAM

"EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE. BE MINDFUL. BE PLAYFUL. DO NOT BE AFRAID."

SWAADY, CONTINUED: My father’s journey and my mother’s challenging my brother and I to question the world has taught me about freedom of thought and personal freedom. I'm definitely a free thinker and a free person. Freedom is foundational to who I am. I don’t buy into narratives. I've been brought up to think for myself and find my own answers. This has led me to look for answers within myself.

CHLOÉ: What have you taken from your childhood, teen years, and your young adult life to help you navigate your journey? And where you are now?

SWAADY: My journey is being very aware and mindful of what is happening. Partly as a result I developed my own spirituality, and I've had a spiritual calling it seems forever.

CHLOÉ: Did you feel yourself to be a spiritual young person, child, teenager? There are many parts of our life and we play different roles. How have your experiences helped you to navigate your roles?

SWAADY: Some people say, "You've changed, Swaady." But I haven't changed. There are just different seasons in life, and we're multifaceted as people. Sometimes people just see one facet of you and another person sees another. It depends what the times are calling for. Each of us embodies different people, depending on what the task is being asked. You can be a mom, you can be a businesswoman, you can be a sister, a counsellor, a pastor and all of that. Each one of us. So there's no "I am a different person." I've just always been me.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 25

>

PHOTOGRAPHY: ANANDA SOUL

CHLOÉ: Do you have a traditional religion that you practice?

SWAADY: I love God and I try to avoid dogma of any sort. I like to think that my beloved is God, the all encompassing love consciousness. My beloved is like a diamond with an infinity of facets. Various spiritualities, philosophies and religions are facets of that diamond. And because I love my beloved “the diamond”, well, I want to learn about all facets. I absolutely love discovering religions and spiritualities. It is so enriching.

CHLOÉ: That's a beautiful view and perspective, Swaady.

SWAADY: Thank you. You learn from everything: monotheistic religions, ancient spiritual philosophies, esoteric and pagan traditions, New Age ideas, etc. All of them are facets of the diamond.

CHLOÉ: Yes, God is all. Everything. Not just one thing and certainly not a masculine being. I'm a little bit rebellious in this area, Swaady, because I know there's no way that God is masculine. God is All! SWAADY: I believe that too, that God is beyond gender or genderless. What I love the most in this exploration is that every religion or spirituality has helped me deepened my union with the divine all around and within because each of them has mastered specific aspects of the divine.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 26

"I WAS BROUGHT UP TO CHOOSE MY LIFE." SWAADY, CONTINUED: For example, in Christian

Right now I live in three countries but I spend a lot of

teachings, there is a big emphasis on love/agape,

time in other places as well. I'm a nomad at heart and

humility, hope and faith. Also, on learning to be in

soul. I don’t live in a suitcase though. I have physical

the world but not of the world. Buddhist teachings

grounding but in multiple geographies.

have mastered the exploration of compassion, lovingkindness and presence, for example there are much more teachings on compassion in Buddhism than in Christianity, for example, although it is a concept that you also find in Christianity and in Islam, and all spiritualities.

As I just came from the Middle-East and I am currently exploring teachings from Islam from various traditions including the mystics.

If you think of Hinduism and all their deities and

CHLOÉ: Did you know what you wanted to do in life?

SWAADY: I've always been very strong minded. Both my mom and my dad are strong minded. I don’t take any credit, I inherited it from them, but I then nurtured it. I always had an idea of who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. And that was “being me” and “making change in the world”. I was very purposeful from age three. My parents tell me that, "I was born purposeful." They could see it from when I was a toddler.

avatars—there is a big relationship with nature, with animals, with the cosmos—which you don't really

I am fortunate that I was brought up to choose my

find necessarily in the monotheistic religions. I also

life. My parents were very clear. Everyone has their

love all the celebrations.

own life. Your life is your life. It's not our life. They said, we do ours. You do yours. That has been very freeing

Living in different countries allows me to practice

as a child to be able to be who you want to be.

the dominant spirituality of each of the communities I live in. We do daily Hindu ceremonies

My experience is that mostly I can't really explain the

at my house in Bali. In Paris, I go to mass or

inclination my heart has. I've always had a very strong

adoration almost daily. I celebrate Muslim key

attraction for a spiritual life. I couldn’t put words on it

holidays and I partake in some New Age ceremonies.

for a long time. Now, I say that I probably was a monk

I just love every opportunity to infuse spirituality in

in so many lives and so it's just an imprint within me,

my daily life.

a remembrance of my past lives.

CHLOÉ: The becoming process is really fascinating to

I believe we are spiritual beings having a physical

me. Tell me more about all the places you've lived.

experience. So I always tried to reconcile the two. It’s a work in progress. But mostly, I am still navigating

SWAADY: It’s more an un-becoming process,

this in a dual way and have not yet managed to

shedding layers of all that doesn’t serve me and

integrate fully the two. So, it manifests as a regular

that’s essentially lovelessness and conditioning.

questioning of where I should put all my focus.

Moving geographically and living in various

whether I should be in a monastery or in the world.

communities has been instrumental to this process.

I've lived in eleven countries and counting.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 27

"MY GO-TO QUESTION IS: 'DOES IT REALLY MATTER?'" CHLOÉ: Swaady, I can be found talking to myself,

Two, that I was always where I am meant to be. And

asking myself questions, and even answering. Do you

three, that even though I was inside of General

have a "go-to" question or command for yourself— that

Electric I was not working for GE. I was inside GE

gets you back in alignment whenever you slip just a

developing myself, which is my own work, and I was

bit? My own question is, "What's my heart’s desire?"

feeling privileged that GE gave me these opportunities. So, I never worked for anyone in that

SWAADY: My question is: "Does it really matter?" Any

sense, I would always look for more opportunities to

time there is anything in my life for 30 years, I've been

learn, and volunteer for stuff. If I had a lot of work, I

asking myself, "Does it really matter?" If you were to die

didn't complain because I was driven by my thirst

now, does it really matter?

for learning.

And so that question always gives me perspective on

I was very fortunate that my career progressed

life. Not taking life too seriously. Not attaching too

super-fast. I ended up being promoted almost every

much importance to events or people. Not that I don’t

18 months. I loved GE. I loved the people I was

value them, but I try to love without unhealthy

working with and I saw it as an incredible

attachment. Attachment is fear. If I recognize that all is

opportunity to grow and share my gifts.

me, then there is no fear. And also, to be honest, I think a combination of that, of my own spiritual

One of my mottos was: You create your own job.

journey, my faith in God—for me, life is not that serious, really. I see life like a video game. In that game, you

I always went to work with an attitude of gratitude

experience joy, grief, health, sickness and the whole

because I acknowledged that the company was

range of human experiences. So if you're in a game,

investing in me. And I was fearless, because I knew

yes, sometimes you get challenged, but I discipline

that God had my back so I need not worry. My only

myself to think, "Swaady, this is just a game. Why are

job was to grow love and in love wherever I was

you taking it so seriously now?"

planted.

I love this quote from A Course in Miracles: “Nothing

CHLOÉ: I love that mentality, Swaady. Tell me how

real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein

you got the opportunity to return to Africa, and how

lies the peace of God."

you eventually created Tounché, your global consciousness summit.

CHLOÉ: Tell me about your corporate life.

SWAADY: I've always been passionate about Africa, SWAADY: I loved every minute of my corporate life. I

just as I shared with my upbringing, and I'm

had the best time and those were some of the best

passionate about making a difference in Africa and

years of my life. Although every year I feel is the best

the world. So, I was always on the lookout for the

year of my life. Best doesn’t exclude challenges. I think

opportunity that would bring me back to Africa.

I enjoyed every minute of my Corporate career even

One day, at the GE African American Association

the tough times because my mindset was: One, never

forum, the CEO of GE introduced to the company,

to take things so seriously.

Yibrah Tesfazghi, the newly appointed CEO of GE for

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 28

Africa. >

SWAADY, CONTINUED: That day, it was like I saw

CHLOÉ: From your experience, what can you share

The Messiah and I was determined to

with young women entering and those currently in

join his team. I was like, "God, you're so good!"

corporate America?

This was what I'd been dreaming of. So, I wrote an email to Yibrah. By that time, I had been working for GE for two and a half years out of school. I wrote to him, "I am so happy GE has appointed someone for Africa. I'm passionate about Africa. I want you to succeed in what you do. I have a full time position at GE Equipment Services but outside of my work hours, I can do whatever you need: Research, help, whatever you need, I'm going to do it." I told him that I just wanted to help him.

He responded and said, "OK, so what would you do?" I had ideas, I organized, and I told him what I thought, and so I just said, "Well, this is what I think. This is what you could do. This is what I could organize. This is what I would do." And so, he said, "OK, go on, do it!"

I organized a trade mission for him, in the Congo.

It was a success. And then I organized another one in Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal. After several months of contributing to his vision, he offered me a full-time job with GE Corporate Africa. It was a big promotion. I relocated to Nairobi, Kenya to work in his team. The years working for Yibrah remain some of the best memories of my life and my career. He was an outstanding leader and I owe so much of my growth as a business leader to him.

CHLOÉ: Is that when you left Connecticut to go back to Africa?

SWAADY: Yes; and that move jumped my career 15 years ahead in just one year.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 29

SWAADY: Well, I think it's really working on yourself to let go of your fears. Fear is crippling. The moment you work on your fearlessness, then everything is going to work out. I'm not talking about fearlessness in an aggressive way. I'm talking about serene fearlessness. Be serene and know, "I'm being taken care of. Everything is going to be fine.” Or this Scripture from Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. “When you adopt this habit of positive thinking, then indeed everything really is going to work out.

CHLOÉ: As a young woman, your boss—your mentor— was kind of like an extension of how your parents raised you, with respect, encouraging you to “go and be,” to figure it out for yourself. That message says, “I believe in you.” And you, with your own "Big Boss" (God), and also your own unwavering faith within yourself, you've been able to pull all of this off for all of your life, Swaady Martin. What would you like to leave with our Flourish Digital Magazine readers?

SWAADY: Move in aligned stillness. Indwell.

<

PHOTOGRAPHER: ISABELLE MOON

20ATTRIBUTES OF A

Feminine

POWER PLAYER

Q U A L I T I E S O F W O M E N W H O C O M P A S S I O N , G R A C E , S T Y L E

C H L O É W I T H

T A Y L O R K Y S H A

L E A D W I T H & C E R T A I N T Y

B R O W N

C A M E R O N

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 30

SHE IS BEAUTIFUL, KNOWLEDGABLE & SAGACIOUS— AN INSPIRING WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE WHO GLADLY EMPOWERS OTHERS TO RISE UP AND FLOURISH WITH HER: 1. She values herself and displays Ivy-

11. She shows up and delivers what she

League confidence with grace and style;

2. She has keen perception;

promises;

12. She duplicates, appreciates and acknowledges others' dreams, viewpoints, skills, visions, plans, and desires;

4. She applies her knowledge;

13. She trusts and respects herself and

3. She is decisive;

5. She pursues worthy, big dreams;

creates trust and respect in others;

6. She has the knowledge and discipline to maintain and expand her dreams and others' dreams, too;

7. She energizes her mind, body, spirit and soul, and thrives;

8. She has the ability to take action, to

occupy and maintain a position, and take charge;

9. She communicates masterfully and

uses her communication abilities to speak truthfully, specifically and clearly to direct energy in a positive manner;

10. communication channels, contacts She has abundant, upscale

14. She is honest;

15. She is a big developer and producer;

16. Those connected to her, to her game of excellence and to her area(s) expand spiritually;

17. She has bigger dreams, visions, plans, skills, and actions;

18. She knows the value of creating her

unique brand and projecting a trustworthy appearance that meets the requirements of any occasion;

19. She laughs freely, and sincerely enjoys herself, others and life; and

20. She loves operating in a win/win/win manner.

and connections;

Intuitive, strong, bold, prosperous, successful, healthy, and happy

—a

breath of fresh air.

Copyright © 2020 by Chloé Taylor Brown, All rights reserved. www.chloetaylorbrown.com

Paula G. Voice We all have the opportunity and ability, no matter how bleak our current circumstances, to embrace a fresh start, a new beginning.

PHOTOGRAPHER: MARIE THOMAS FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 32

New Beginnings We always say hindsight is 20/20 and we sometimes allow ourselves to be consumed by the “shoulda, woulda, coulda,” or the “if I knew then what I know now.” Unless you stayed in bed for the last ten months and did absolutely nothing, please give yourself credit for getting through it in whatever manner you managed to do so. You are here!

We all have that opportunity and ability, no matter how bleak our current circumstances, to embrace a fresh start.

So, what is a new beginning? And how can we embrace it in this season? A new beginning is a release of past failures, difficult circumstances, disappointments, and abandoned dreams. A new beginning is an opportunity to establish a new perspective and to look forward to new possibilities.

Here are 6 tangible suggestions: 1. Recognize where you are right now as a result of this past year’s experiences. Evaluate the experiences that have impacted you and see which ones you can acknowledge and release. If there are circumstances that remain, determine how you will move forward given the fact that you may still have to co-exist with those aspects.

2. Allow yourself the space to process through whatever emotional impact those experiences may have had. Many of us found ourselves frustrated beyond measure. Many of us had to process a different way of grieving our losses.

Give yourself space to let those emotions out in a healthy way.

3. Give yourself the opportunity to refresh. I don’t think any of us can say that this past year has not changed us in some way. Some of us are stronger as a result of what we have come through. Some of us are drained as a result of what we have experienced. Take some time to see how this past year has changed you—especially if you are feeling drained or burned out. Consider taking some time, during this new season, to unplug and refresh. When everything has been drained out of us, we need time to replenish our mind, body, soul and spirit. Give yourself permission to do so, unapologetically!

It is never too late to embrace your journey and live your dream! Flourish!

Visit Paula’s blog at www.paulagvoice.com for additional soliloquies of the journey

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 33

4. Start to develop a vision and a plan for how you will embrace the opportunities that lie ahead in 2021. Granted, you may still have to co-exist with remnants of 2020, but you have more knowledge, wisdom, and options now— that you didn’t have last spring. If you must still co-exist with certain circumstances, develop a game plan that will not compromise your goals, dreams and sanity. We now have to do things a bit differently, and we have somewhat adjusted to some of those differences. Keep that in mind as you begin to write your vision moving forward.

5. Implement the changes that will help you navigate this season. My faith is a vital factor in my well-being. I have attended virtual services each Sunday since the start of the pandemic. I had to implement a new routine of getting up and getting myself centered to receive the word of God in a new format.

I have to admit it was exceedingly difficult at first, but a mindset change helped me to make the transition. This experience was a vivid reminder that the early Christians did not have a building to go to for worship. They worshipped and prayed in their homes, on the streets, wherever they were located. I was reminded of the book of Psalms. Those poetic chapters were not written in a sanctuary somewhere. They were written while tending sheep. This was also a vivid reminder that it is not the religion but the relationship that matters most. We have now reached a point where some of us have the option to attend services in the sanctuary as well as virtually. Yet another shift.

Members, who wish to attend in person, must register prior to each service, undergo a temperature check upon arrival and wear a mask throughout the service. It is what it is—another mindset adjustment, if I want to attend services in person. We have to learn to embrace adjustments! Adjustments may not be comfortable, so we have to make a choice. We must choose to make the best of adjustments. Or, if we choose to defy adjustments we will continue to struggle through the process.

6. Set short- and long-term goals for yourself. The shortterm goals are so encouraging, as they are the small victories along the way. Set reasonable short-term goals, so that, when they're achieved, you will feel a sense of accomplishment. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to complete those goals. Be realistic. This is not a race. It’s a process.

Embrace the journey, and welcome to 2021!

<

THE

FREDDIE

HENDRICKS EXPERIENCE

He’s a creator, a critically acclaimed director, an actor. Most importantly, he is a teacher. An encounter with Freddie Hendricks is an experience. He loves the craft! Teaching garners satisfaction as he sees the growth of artistry in his students—watching his students flourish, and seeing their growth, as a result of something that he has instilled in them.

Freddie is able to accomplish this because of the love that he has for himself. Freddie is a firm believer that we cannot love others until we love ourselves. I asked Freddie how he handles students who come into his class if he realizes that those particular students do not love themselves. How does he draw that out of them?

"God just uses me as a vessel," he told me. "My technique and method are different with each and every person. Because, for some reason the gift that God has given me, I can read the person. To be totally honest, 95 percent of the time, I’m kind FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 34

A PAULA G. VOICE INTERVIEW of right! It all begins with letting them know they are worthy.

Letting the person know that they are OK, and to not be afraid —because fear is not their friend. I believe, when they understand this, they begin to open up a bit more. But it is different with each and every person. It’s like a mound of clay or block of cement. You are chiseling away to see what it could really be. It enables them to see something, and see that they are OK and that they are worthy.”

Freddie sees the transformation. His students have shared their experience. They have shared how his teaching has helped to transform them. It’s the joy of being the kind of artist that he is, the creator, the vessel. I thought this was a great answer because it was confirmation of the fact that he has this Godgiven gift, where he is able to have deep discernment, and read people. Freddie believes that all his students will inadvertently tell him what he is supposed to get from them. They may not be aware of it. Their body language speaks to him to let him know how to reach them. >

Paula: So, share with our readers, who you are, who is Freddie Hendricks. You have quite a career!

Freddie: You know, I really think this started with me at a really young age because I used to stay with my grandparents. We used to sit down and watch Lucille Ball. I would be sitting in the middle and I would say, “Grandmama, Granddaddy, I want to do that, I want to be on TV like that!" They would say—they were as serious as a heartache—they would say with all the passion they could muster, “You know what? When you grow up and get out on your own, go to Hollywood and knock on Lucy’s door and talk to her. She’ll help you.” You know what that did for me as a kid? It gave me something to look forward to. As I got older, I knew that wasn’t going to happen, but it taught me about possibilities and how you can motivate somebody with just a few words. Just them telling me that.

Paula: The words that they speak. What you said is so huge. It speaks to what the adults around us, pour into us as children.

Their words can really change the trajectory of our lives and the decisions that we make and the direction that we go in.

Freddie: That’s why, as an artist, I always wanted to change the face of theater, and to change the lives of the artists. When I do workshops now, I’ve been doing it for so long, I don’t have to prepare very much. I just walk in and feel the room. But let me get back to your question as to where it started for me. I know I did my first play when I was in the first grade. I think I was a detective. I don’t remember, but I was so ready for that!

I had on these gray clothes and I walked out on the stage and I saw the audience, and people started calling my name and clapping. I froze! I didn’t do anything, I just froze. A teacher had to save the day. She came and got me and took me off. What that taught me was to never do that again. And I never have.

As a military family, Freddie moved around, finally settling in Columbus, Georgia where he went to high school. Freddie used to sing and reflected on the groups that were popular in the 70’s. He took me back as we remembered the groups we loved.

Freddie: I loved the popular groups in the 70s—The Temptations, The Moments, The Temprees.

I was having flashbacks to my high school days at this point! Oh, the house parties! But I digress.

Freddie: The Vanguards, all of those people. The Chi-Lites.

Paula: And Black Ivory!

Freddie: I know Black Ivory! I love Black Ivory! We used to sing in talent shows and win. They had this big talent show every year, 50 to 60 people. We used to say we might as well listen to these people to see who won, because we didn’t think we would win. And we won!

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 35

And let me tell you what happened after we won! We got money! I don’t remember how much. Maybe 75 dollars apiece, or 150 dollars apiece. Something like that.

Paula: But that was a lot back then.

Freddie: Yeah! And we blew all of our money! Kids! Youth! My mother told me, "You earned this, you make wise choices." I didn’t make wise choices. From there I went to a school called Lincoln Memorial University where I saw my first play, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. And I fell in love with theatre. And I said to myself, "I’ve got to be on that stage!" I changed my major to Speech and Theatre Arts and minored in Voice. From that moment on, I did every single play and won every single award. By my senior year, I was giving out the awards—because I could no longer win.

Freddie was breaking barriers at the time because the school was a predominantly White school. The theatre department became more diverse. Friends would ask him what he was doing, and he would tell them he was going to rehearsal, and invite them to come along.

Paula: “Did you realize you were breaking barriers at the time, or were you so focused on the art and immersed in the art that you didn’t realize you were breaking barriers?”

Freddie: I didn’t realize. You know, when you are young, you don’t realize. I was just following what I wanted and doing what I do. When I graduated from college, I moved to Atlanta and started auditioning. I used to take a theatre workshop with Walter Dallas, who became a mentor of mine. Walter just passed this year.

Paula: You had a lot of students that have gone on to do some great things.

Freddie: Yes, and all of that came from a vision that God gave me—about children reaching out to me, asking me for help. It was a vision, so I gave up my acting career and started working with youth because of that vision.

I was making a living working as an actor in Atlanta. I gave up my career to work with these kids. I got people like Kenan Thompson, from Saturday Night Live. I had been working with him since he was a kid. Kandi Burruss from Housewives of Atlanta. Duane Martin. Tony Award–winner Sahr Ngaujah—he is also up for a Tony this year for Mulan Rouge! Also, Saycon Sengbloh—I call him the Princess of Broadway!

Paula: So your work is really seen through the performances of your students, and of those you've mentored.

Freddie: Yes, absolutely! You know what’s so crazy? I love acting, and yet I left everything because my mom got sick and I went on to take care of her for about nine years, so I didn’t do anything but take care of her— >

Paula: Because life happens on the road to doing what it is you have been called to do. So sometimes it’s a detour.

Freddie: Yes. But that whole experience made me a better man, a better artist. Everything is for a purpose. I took off to take care of my mom, but my name was still out there because of "my kids"!

People were still calling me for work, because my kids tell me that when they would go to an audition and they were in the waiting room, they would see and hear reactions. People would say, “Ohhhh, here comes one of Freddie’s kids. We’re not going to get the part!” So for those nine years, my kids kept my brand and my name relevant.

Paula: That is huge! You took nine years off to take care of your mother but because of what you poured into all of those young people—the seeds that were sown—they continued to flourish and blossom during those nine years, to the point that people were still calling you! This speaks volumes to what it is that you have to offer to anyone who wants to be in this industry and be on the stage.

Freddie: I have kids in South Africa. I started a theatre company there, The Youth Ensemble of Soweto. Also, in Holland—I worked over there with young people. One of my kids over there won the equivalent of the Oscars, in Dutch, in Holland. He’s like a superstar now. And some of those kids in Holland are the top recording artist, rap artist—all of that.

Same thing, here in Atlanta, I’ve touched a lot of people. I really don’t teach people to become actors. I teach them to become great human beings. And to be the best they can be at whatever they decide to do. And be the best they can be at that, and never judge themselves against anybody else. Just try to do the best and greatest they can do as an individual, and be happy that they are the best they can be. That brings me joy and happiness. You have to talk to the students, you have to tell the students who you are, and you have to find out who they are. Because all students have different needs. It’s about how they learn and how fast they learn.

Paula: I think that is key, because it reminds me of a quote I heard from a teacher. I may not be phrasing it completely accurately but the quote was something like, “If they can’t learn the way you teach, then teach the way they learn.”

Paula: What’s down the road?

Freddie: I’m working on a brand-new show that I’m creating, and I really want to take it as far as it can go because I feel that’s my mission, my calling. We are always trying to do what society is telling us what is right, instead of what we feel is right. You know what I’m saying? I want people to know that you have your own rules for yourself. We all have to answer for ourselves. I’m also teaching classes and workshops at the Good Acting Studio in Marietta, Georgia. It’s called The Freddie Hendricks Experience.

Paula: So, be accountable” Freddie: Yes. Be accountable to ourselves. But most importantly, be true to ourselves.

Paula: I think that is a great phrase to leave with our readers.

How can our readers stay connected with Freddie Hendricks?

Freddie: They can catch me on Facebook at Freddie Hendricks, or on Instagram @FreddieHendricks1111.

Freddie: I want to leave everybody with my definition for greatness, because I think it’s very powerful—because I think it works. Greatness is inevitable when focus marries passion and when the desire is just as strong as the need.

What do we need? We need water, we need food, we need to be touched, we need love, we need acceptance. Those things, we need. But when we desire our art just like we need that, then it’s inevitable. In life I wouldn’t want to be anything else.

It’s not easy. It’s not an easy life for anyone. But it’s all about that passion, married to my focus—and that makes me happy, living in my greatness. So then I can allow everyone else to live in their greatness, because I am living in mine!

Paula: Thank you for sharing your greatness with us and for inspiring all of us—to be great! We wish you well! <

Freddie: Yes, absolutely. I always try to teach my kids greatness.

You know what I mean. I’ve had some people ask me why I do that. I tell them, let me break it down to you like this: We are all born great. We've just got to find our passion and what we want to do. Greatness is always knocking inside of us. We've got to find our passion. We opened that door and answered our greatness call. And that just means that from there, we have to be greater.

Every time you do something, be greater!

I AM PAULA G. VOICE! Flourish Digital Magazine Contributor and Lifestyle Influencer PAULAGVOICE.COM FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 36

What If...? amas!

Hey, Ma

What if I told you that you were OK? What if that friend, that commercial, that show, was all just an illusion, and you will never be like them? And even if you were, then you still may not be happy. What if you wanted to lose weight because of your health, or because you wanted to look great—not because you saw "her," and now you feel as if you don't measure up? What if I told you that life was not about looking at everyone else and trying to be the very best version of them that you can be?

What if it's OK that your friend decided not to talk to you, because you were being you and not the version she wanted?

What if I told you that being you—just you in whatever form it comes in—that you are who you were meant to be? What if I told you that you are beautiful? What if I told you that that shirt you're wearing looks great on you? What if I told you that in spite of your imperfections, you are a great person? What if I told you that no one's perfect, and that you are a great mom? What if I told you that you have incredible potential to be whoever you dream to be?

“You alone are enough.

You have nothing to prove to anybody.”

What if I told you that you don't have to become someone else to be you? What if I told you that you could impact the whole world, just by being your authentic self?

—MAYA ANGELOU

What if I told you that freedom is being you?

I'd be remiss if I said that every day of our lives from the moment we say, "I'm OK with me" will be all unicorns and rainbows. But what I am saying is that being true (whatever your truth may be) is OK.

Would You Believe Me? As we embark on a new year, be mindful of who you are, and who you are to become. My dad once said, "If you have to be by yourself to be yourself, then that's what you do." This was in reference to peer pressure at school. However, I found its usefulness in life even as an adult. I'm not saying you should become a hermit and pull away from the world, never to aspire for anything greater. What I am saying is that it's OK to pull back sometimes to get you together. Listen to your inner voice and decide what's important to you. What are your desires, hopes and dreams?

As moms, we take on a lot—not just our family, but friends, and others, and even strangers at the grocery store. And we give advice, we love hard, we support and we encourage, and we give even harder. But we must take time to evaluate ourselves in the process, so that we can become the person we were meant to be.

Let’s take this year by storm—restoring who we are, and getting rid of the notion that we aren’t quite good enough. As moms, we’ve birthed nations, so give yourself a pat on the back for your part in this! Get to know you, what you love, what makes you feel.

Explore this world—learn new things; teach yourself; be adventurous; plan for your financial present and future; restore your mind, body and spirit; get involved in humanity; and you’ll quickly see that you have ample room in your overflow for everyone else.

I.M. ME!

Elena Taylor Bager CEO/Founder, The Innovative Mom LLC FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 37

THEINNOVATIVEMOM.COM

OUTSIDE THE BOX: HOW COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE CREATING SPACE FOR EMERGING ARTISTS DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF 2020, INNOVATIVE BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE FOUND WAYS TO CREATE COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS INDUSTRIES DURING A DARK TIME IN OUR HISTORY. THROUGH THOUGHTFUL COLLABORATION, WE CAN CREATE SPACES FOR COMMERCE, GROWTH AND VISIBILITY. >

BY KAREN GAMBA & FRANK FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 38

CARLISI, CO-FOUNDERS OF THE EXV AGENCY WWW.EXV-AGENCY.COM

@EXV-AGENCY

There has been great interest in approaching business in a different way. With the support of communities and leadership, individuals and small businesses have a much better chance of survival during difficult economic times.

In late 2020, Kimberly Lee Minor, CEO of Bumbershoot—a boutique consulting firm that provides cultural and market insights for brand, content, product, and customer experience—reached out to us here at the ExV Agency about an idea that was brewing.

“I’d like to create opportunities for emerging artists who are using their talent to protest against what is happening in our country,” said Minor. And so, “The Art of Protest”— better known as TAP—was born.

TAP is a digital art experience that tells the stories of a collection of influential, yet often, unsung artists who have defined protest in their own terms and with their own expression. Following the political misrepresentation of understandable social discontent, Minor saw the importance of creating a platform for artists’ social expression and a marketplace to make their works available around the world. To grow the initiative, the hashtag #TAPSOMEBODY is being used by the selected artists, as they are encouraged to “tap” new artists to participate in the program as it scales.

The inaugural digital experience will launch during Black History Month in February 2021. Participating artists for the inaugural event may be viewed on Instagram: @iamkevinblack, @bigyizyogi, @lizab.couture, @jditt0, and @fusegreen.

It is encouraging to see our business leaders stepping up to support their communities during these tough times and being open to cross-industry collaborations and crossselling. We know, that by standing together and being open to sharing ideas, we can weather any storm.

For more information on the program, check out www.theartofprotest.net, or visit TAP on Instagram @TAPsomebody.

—Karen Gamba of the ExV Agency

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 39

We’ve all experienced unique loss and shared sacrifice this year, so be kind to one another, and be particularly kind to yourself.

Tori Meglio DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SUCCESS, GIVEBUTTER

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 42

EXV AGENCY CONTINUES OUR “BETTER ANGELS OF BUSINESS” SERIES FOR FLOURISH DIGITAL MAGAZINE: RECENTLY WE SAT DOWN WITH TORI MEGLIO OF GIVEBUTTER TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE DIGITAL FUNDRAISING SPACE. EXV: You are the Director of Customer Success at

That's more than we processed per month at the beginning

Givebutter, one of the fastest-growing new fundraising

of this year, and nearly half of all last year, combined in one

platforms for groups, teams, companies, and nonprofits to

day! The outpouring of generosity was incredible to witness.

collect online donations, set up fundraising pages, and sell

It's an honor to support these organizations, and I'm so

tickets to events. How did covid-19 affect how you do

proud of the entire Givebutter team and fam for rising to

business, and how did you and your team find positive

the occasion.

ways to pivot or remain client-focused, motivated and productive?

EXV: What advice do you have for companies that would like to grow their businesses with purpose through social

TORI: Most people probably don't think of nonprofits,

impact?

which comprise over 70 percent of Givebutter's accounts, as small businesses. Many have been equally devastated

TORI: Social impact organizations prioritize doing work that

by the pandemic we're living through and need affordable,

consciously, systemically, and sustainably serves or

useful fundraising technology now more than ever.

attempts to solve a local or global community need. Make sure the entire company knows what you're aiming for, and

In March 2020, the Givebutter team answered with a

why. Additionally, leading in a caring, empathetic manner

resounding “yes” to two critical questions: Do we have a

during these difficult times can create real connections that

product that the world needs right now? And can we

will outlive the pandemic’s social and economic impacts.

rapidly adapt our product offerings to provide a service that is urgently needed? In response, we designed and

EXV: What innovative strategies have you used to grow

launched a new solution, Livestream—within just two

your network and make new connections during the time of

weeks —to deal with covid-19 charity event cancellations.

covid-19?

Livestream is now freely available to all nonprofits, small

TORI: Operating from a caring and empathetic place,

businesses, and individuals in need of a fundraising page

assuming positive intent, and exercising the ABCD principle

for virtual events. Givebutter's Livestream product arrived

has accelerated new relationships cultivated [in 2020] and

just in time for #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5, 2020, with

strengthened existing partnerships. These practices have

features such as e-tickets, livestreaming, text-to-donate,

also helped Givebutter scale our Customer Success team

peer-to-peer pages, and a Venmo integration—all in one

from one to four team members. >

place, all in real-time.

Fast forward to December 1, 2020. Nonprofits on Givebutter raised over $1.5 million for #GivingTuesday.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 43

TORI, CONTINUED: Maria Popova, the creative genius

TORI: Yes, everyone needs to find ways to give back.

behind BrainPickings.org, says that creativity is the ability

Mentoring can help you break out of your comfort zone

to connect the unconnected. It is the melding of existing

because, as an executive, you’ll benefit from a learning

knowledge into new insight about the world around us. The

environment that is not possible under other circumstances.

ABCD principle—Always Be Connecting Dots—is the ability

Volunteering allows executives to work with different

to connect the dots between unrelated ideas.

people on new challenges, allowing you to gain a fresh perspective. There is always something you can do to help

We selected the right team member and the tools to

others. And by helping others, you will also help yourself.

distribute expertise with assignments to compensate for what we lacked previously. These four new employees are

EXV: What message of encouragement would you like to

some of the deepest connections I’ve established in some

share with the Flourish Digital Magazine readers out there

time.

as they tackle the new year?

EXV: What did 2020 teach you?

TORI: We’ve all experienced unique loss and shared sacrifice this year, so be kind to one another, and be

TORI: 2020 has taught me: Resilience is about recharging, not enduring.

The pandemic is scary and life-changing, more significant than any social shift in recent history—tragic in nature and displacing our work, income, health, and the availability of essential products. Disruptors this big create the opportunity for new thinking. If the crisis' size is associated with the amount of new learning it can generate, then I will be changed for the better when we emerge in the new normal.

EXV: Do you believe it's important for executives across industries to find ways to give back—especially during challenging times (e.g., through mentorship, volunteering, career counseling, etc.)?

THE BETTER ANGELS OF BUSINESS: ADAPTING TO THE “NEW NORMAL”

By Karen Gamba and Frank Carlisi, Co-Founders of the ExV Agency www.exv-agency.com | @exv-agency

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 44

particularly kind to yourself.

<

Each of you will become another year older in 2021. Make it one of the best years of your life!

In our crazy divided country, while dealing with the covid-19 virus, now more than ever we need to live life to its fullest! Live Large!

There is a saying that goes: “Focus on the journey and the destination will take care of itself.” This is so true! For example, you cannot declare that your goals or ambitions will be achieved at the end of the year by simply saying them aloud. You must focus and work on the process. Focus on how you show up and how you behave. This will determine your results after all you do to make things happen along the way. Words lose their meaning if there is no behavior to back them up.

People can say things, but the real message is delivered in a person’s behavior. One's behavior is the proof of what a person genuinely believes. Do you want to lose ten pounds? Then say so while working out at the gym—not declaring this while enjoying dinner at a fast-food establishment!

Actions speak louder than words!

Can you give others Living Large moments? Of course, you can. One way to do so is by sharing a Living Large thought. Most everything around you exists because someone created it. Someone thought of the idea and then made it a reality.

Everything begins with a thought. By sharing a Living Large thought—or better yet, by demonstrating a Living Large moment—others will learn and want to emulate or create a moment for themselves. These new thoughts create a new opportunity for a new experience.

I rented a limo party bus and loaded it with my three sisters (who flew into town), my ex-wife, my daughter, my two nieces, and my new girlfriend. Ha! Quite the collection! When the bus drove up the driveway where my mother and I live, Mom thought it was the Amazon delivery van dropping off a package.

I walked Mom outside and opened the bus door to eight gals singing Happy Birthday. Mom and the girls rode to a North Carolina winery with live music, and everyone (who can remember the evening) had a Living Large time—an experience Mom and eight others will never forget. Living Large times nine! Ooops! That is, plus one: me. Giving is Living Large, too.

Live Large yourself, and "give Living Large" to others!

Happy New Year! <

Another way to give a Living Large moment is to gift it. Last month was my mom’s birthday. Instead of giving her the typical gift card, I created and gave her a Living Large experience. Mom had never ridden in a limo before, and she had never been to a winery. Mom loves wine! She loves live music also, so I created a memorable Living Large moment for her.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 40

By Ron Hakala #livinglarge Connect with Ron here.

THE TELEVISION SHOW TO WATCH Airing Networks: Amazon PRIME (Fire TV) & ROKU

NO TIME TO WAIT CHARACTERS

Dr. Jenn: Rev. Dr. Jennifer Eichelberger—State of Georgia NCNW Chaplain

Azi Fletcher: Saila Rachelle

Dr. Victoria Mercy

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 46

SuA Maxwell

Pij Maxwell

Management: Saila Rachelle IG: @saila.rachelle | 323-205-6094 NOTIMETOWAIT

Our greatest most luxurious asset is our

Mind.

Our greatest most vital task is aligning it back to our

Heart.

—Chloé Taylor Brown Discerner of Hearts, Educer of Excellence

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 45

Self Care For Men Men: Did you know that taking time to care about yourself is healthy and sexy? You start by loving your body, relaxing more, stepping back from your daily life routine and spending quality time getting to know yourself—mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This is vitally important—not just for women, guys. So go ahead, man!

Start with taking more time doing the things you already do—such as shaving; grooming your hair and nails; and one of our favorites for you is this:

Breathe.

NEW LOVE

By Laurie Marie Renfro

Most of us have had the amazing experience of new love.

Whether you can attest to the thrill of a grade-school crush, a dizzying wave when you met “the one,” or the slave-like devotion that settled in when you first gazed into your newborn’s eyes, you know what I’m talking about. New love is big. It changes everything.

The first new love that I can recall was with my adoptive mother. With only four years into this thing called life, I had already lost the bond with my biological mother and gone through multiple foster homes. When I finally met the woman from Georgia who would become my mom, time seemed to stand still. I immediately filed the image of her beautiful Fashion Fair pink smile in the deepest intimate space of my mind. I was struck. I was stunned. And while I probably looked like a deer in headlights, I was aglow with a fresh infatuation that, with time, transformed into real and lasting love.

As in meditation, we can choose to breathe in the potential of 2021, the breath being the first step toward manifestation. I don’t know about you but I am entirely infatuated with 2021. It is the year of Biden–Harris and the beginning of the end of the current covid-19 threat. In 2021, I’m saying goodbye to rumination and hello to reflection. I’m going to get my spent airline dollars out of hock and start dreaming again. I can feel joy rising right now. I am ecstatic, and I’m ready for new love.

If I were forced to drag a forlorn feeling from 2020, it could only be regret that there was no way to plant a big wet goodbye kiss on that millstone of a year. For the good things that came with 2020, though, I’m grateful–and I know you are, too. In a posture of gratitude and on the firm foundation of worthiness, grab hold of the great new love that the new year has for you. Do as suggested by Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott in Love After Love: “Take down the love letters from the bookshelf, the photographs, the desperate notes, peel your own image from the mirror. Sit. Feast on your life.”

After the challenge and tumult of 2020, the new year offers a rich possibility of something tantalizingly close to new love.

Like the bracelet you found under the Christmas tree or the vehicle with a giant bow that mysteriously found its way into your garage, 2021 is glittering with newness. It is wide open with possibility that is akin to a blank slate of new love, where perfect love stories are written without regard for snoring partners or morning breath. And, speaking of breath, instead of making New Year's resolutions, we might simply try taking a few New Year inhalations.

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Laurie Marie Renfro is a writer and spiritual seeker. She earned a Master's of Spiritual Psychology from Sofia University in Palo Alto, California (formerly the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology).

She is Feminine, Fierce, Marvelous & Flourishing

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NEVER BE ASHAMED OR INTIMIDATED ABOUT USING YOUR FEMININE POWERS TO THRIVE, FLOURISH AND PROSPER. Call COACH CHLOÉ +1 770 653 7883 Visit CHLOETAYLORBROWN.COM I AM A STRONG AND POWERFUL WOMAN. I AM PROUD TO BE A WOMAN AND I CELEBRATE THE QUALITIES THAT I HAVE AS A WOMAN. ―Idowu Koyenikan, Wealth for All: Living a Life of Success at the Edge of Your Ability

Laurie Marie Renfro is a writer and spiritual seeker, with a Masters of Spiritual Psychology form Sofia University in Palo Alto, California (formerly the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology).

CASH VS. CHRIST For a nation that likes to call itself a Christian one, America’s drive

Equal to or greater than our ability for language, this is what sets

for financial success seems to present a behemoth contradiction.

humans apart from other animals. I see our great faith texts

Matthew 19:24 is among the most familiar scriptures that speak to

warning that coveting or accumulating any type of thing can divert

this dichotomy. “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go

our focus from that of personal development and transformation

through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter

away to the increase, maintenance and protection of those things.

the kingdom of God" (NIV). And then there is, “So the last shall be first, and the first last....” from Matthew 20:16. I’m no biblical

For the edification and relief of my fellow flourishers, being “rich,”

scholar, but having done my share of time in Baptist pews, I easily

as I believe it is intended in most religious writings, is an equal

recall stories of Jesus’ preference for the poor, and regular

opportunity spoiler. A poor person can just as easily cling to things

admonitions regarding the spiritual costs of wealth. This is the

—and with the same vehemence—as can someone who is asset-

literal position found in the Bible. So where does that leave those of

rich. Of course, by definition, a rich person would likely have a

us who desire to flourish?

greater quantity of any particular thing, and, as corollary, would have a greater potential for clinging distraction. Despite these

First, allow me to confess that I take a freakish bit of delight in

odds, wealth, like poverty, can also give rise to empathy,

spreading the indictment around. This is not just about Christianity

compassion and generosity. So, let’s call it even.

and Christians. In fact, all great faith documents and tomes give similar warnings like those found in the book of Matthew. The most

Before I was old enough to even consider spiritual concepts, my

cursory reading makes it clear that being rich is a non-favored

father told me the story of his younger brother, who, despite their

status—in literal translations of the world’s most beloved spiritual

family poverty, was a clothes hound. Apparently, my Uncle JC got

writings. Now, fellow flourishers and aspirants, allow me to let us all

a rare new pair of shoes and was so afraid my father might try

off the hook.

them on that he decided to sleep in the shoes. My father reported that poor Uncle JC woke up exhausted but smugly satisfied that he,

I believe that what our faith texts are talking about is clinging.

and he alone, had donned the natty new shoes.

Clinging to things—possessions, wealth, power, and the like—that hold the potential to cloud our vision and growth. That’s why we are

You see, neither our wardrobe nor our financial wealth is at issue.

here, if you didn’t know. Beyond simple biological survival, our

Instead, our souls are.

primary human imperative is to grow in mind and spirit.

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HOPE, BELIEF, FAITH & WORKS

By Chloé Taylor Brown, Discerner of Hearts, Educer of Excellence Over the last year or so, many of us—in the whole wide world—have experienced some stress, anxiety, grief, food insecurity, and even worse. Others have faith that things will soon get better, and they're holding on, day by day, doing their best to "keep hope alive." Then again, others have found a real sustainable way to stay positive, optimistic, and productive; and they are learning to thrive and flourish in spite of these life crises.

What's Their Secret Sauce?

These people are just like most of us. The only difference that I see is this: They don't sit up so high, believing that their faith apart from works will produce amazing new opportunities, wonderful experiences and beautiful things in their lives—because they know that faith alone will not suffice. They know that they will be justified by what they produce, and they will see that their faith works together—and in harmony with—the work they do. They know that by working and producing authentically—individually on the self, and collectively with their family and work teams—their faith is perfected and made real in their everyday life, in their lifestyle and in how they work and live. >

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MY INTERPRETATION OF JAMES 2:26

BELIEVE WHAT YOU HEARD FROM YOUR HIGHER SELF! Yes, indeed, believe what God whispered to you, and it will be accounted to you as righteousness. Because by the work that you do, and by what you produce, you will be justified— and not only by faith alone.

Yes, do all you can to hold on to your faith. You must believe, and you must have faith; in addition, you must know that it is what you do to activate your faith that will make the difference in your life—now more than ever before. It is very challenging to activate your faith when you don’t believe in yourself—for many reasons, such as depression, lack of purpose, no goals or direction, drifting, out of alignment with the real you, out of work, and so much more.

Just as your body without the breath of life is dead, believing what God has told you, having faith—that it will happen without working on your personal excellence, and without working toward the vision—is dead also.

When you don’t know who you are—the real you—you don't know your purpose; and therefore, you don’t know how to use your innate talents and gifts in a faithful, dependable way that’s vital to activating your faith.

Just as your body without the breath of life is dead, believing what God has told you, having faith—that it will happen without working on your personal excellence, and without working toward the vision—is dead also.

And because of this, it seems that the trifecta to manifesting dreams and hearts' desires is believing in yourself and in a Higher Power.

It's having faith and working on your authentic self-excellence, your vision and the goals born out of those whispered words spoken to our spirit.

If you would like to know the level of excellence you are currently producing in your life based on twelve Vital Life Abilities (including your ability to produce), and what you can do about it, then try taking the Personal Excellence Profile Assessment questionnaire (go to page 21).

Stay amazing.

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HOW MANY HAVE YOU THROWN BACK SINCE

COCKTAILS...

T H E

P A N D E M I C ?

Enjoying a cocktail or two per week seems to be no problem for most healthy people. But now, since coronavirus retail alcohol sales have increased during the pandemic, and emergency room physicians have been observing the effects of greater alcohol consumption in patients seeking emergency care, In the long run, this will affect our long-term health and well-being.

During the months of covid-19 quarantining, virtual happy hours have boomed in popularity. While this has been a wonderful way to stay connected with our friends and family, there are consequences. As a people we have shifted to doing almost everything at home, including drinking more. Many people are imbibing more than usual, potentially impairing their health and suppressing their immune system, which makes it easier for them to become infected.

LET'S GET PHYSICAL

DRINK DOWN, RISE UP.

Let's rise up and get moving! Getting some physical exercise, and finding other energetic activities to reduce and relieve anxiety, stress and situational depression is the healthier way to cope with the disruptions to our lives caused by the pandemic.

Read more about alcohol consumption during covid-19 here.

Love can be expressed in so many ways.

by Lisa Washington

One of the great things about cooking for people you love is to see the smiles on their faces, especially when they bite into something you took time out to prepare just for them.

My way of expressing love is through food. I understand that not everyone enjoys cooking, but my chocolate chip heart-shaped scones just may make you want to be in the kitchen a little bit more. This is a wonderful recipe to make together with the loved ones in your life.

And when you are done baking, maybe pick a few things on the list below to enjoy a romantic afternoon or evening. Here’s to all the hopeless romantics.

As always, remember to set the table with love.

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>

Here's A Way To Express Your Love: With Dark Chocolate-Chip Heart-Shaped Scones This Recipe Yields 24 Scones Ingredients: 3¼ cups organic flour ½ cup organic cane sugar 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder (no aluminum) ¼ teaspoon salt 2 cups (12 oz.) package dark chocolate chips 2 cups vanilla almond milk or regular milk 2 Tablespoons butter, melted Additional sugar for garnish

Directions: 1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease two baking sheets.

2. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.

Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Pour the milk into the flour mixture, stirring just until ingredients are moistened.

4. Turn mixture out onto lightly floured surface. Knead gently until soft dough forms (about 2 minutes). Divide dough into three equal balls. One ball at a time, flatten into 7-inch circle; cut with a heartshaped cookie cutter. Transfer hearts to prepared baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing 2 inches apart. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle sugar, if you like.

5. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm. > FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 55

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Donnella Cranford IT'S CHECK-IN & CHECK-UP TIME: A CHECK-UP FROM THE HEART UP! Many of us feel in need of renewal and inspiration. This time of year, many individuals are focusing their intentions or making resolutions for the new year. And there’s nothing wrong with doing that. But I challenge you this day: Stop and self-check your divine awareness, acceptance and action plan for taking care of yourself. Consider self-care as part of your resolve for 2021.

Without a doubt, the unprecedented year we just experienced calls for a check-in and a check-up. It’s called self-care. I cannot express enough the importance of self-care and why it is vitally important to our spiritual, mental and physical well-being.

Too often, we are so busy being concerned about others that we lose sight of our own needs. Right now, as you sit and read the remainder of this article, take the time to do a check-up from the heart up. Stop at each of the three stations, answer the question (awareness) and identify which prescription will benefit you the most (acceptance) and then take action.

Check-up Station 1: How’s your heart?

We know the heart is the ruling center of our being, both physically and spiritually. It works with the brain to ultimately seat our emotions. Sometimes our heart becomes cluttered and heavy and with all that has transpired in the world (awareness). It is important to purge all the clutter that’s built up over the past year (acceptance). >

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Everything starts with a thought.

If you’ve experienced spiritual, mental or physical heartburn lately, here are the prescriptions for relief. Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest"; and Proverbs 3:5–6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight" (take action).

Check-Up Station 2: How’s your sight and hearing?

Two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different. Those same two can listen to the same message and hear something totally different. Two men can share a hospital room with a clear window view. Each morning one can look out and say to the other, “What a beautiful view,” while the other gentleman looks out and states, “What a gruesome and ugly sight.” Both are looking directly at a red brick building with a mural of a bright sunshine but each had a different perception. Be careful what you watch and listen to each day; choose wisely what you let into your spirit.

If you need assistance with your seeing and hearing, here are the daily prescriptions just for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "in the midst of everything be always giving thanks," and Romans 10:17: "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Make a conscious effort daily to identify things that you’re grateful for.

Check-up Station 3: How’s your thinking and speaking?

Everything begins with a thought. What we think becomes what we believe. What we believe determines how we behave. How we behave determines what we experience. And all of this determines what we say.

So, for stinking thinking and speaking, I am prescribing Philippians 4:8: "Whatever is honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise, think on these things." Think and speak this!

We are the gatekeeper of our thoughts and words. Many thoughts come and go in the course of a day. Be mindful of the ones that you allow to rule you. When unwanted thoughts enter, pause to acknowledge the thoughts surrounding the feeling. Ask yourself: Are they true and worthy of my attention? Only powerful, true, life-affirming thoughts deserve our attention. Release those that do not produce good.

Do a check-up from the heart up. And as you become more and more aware of your heartfelt emotions—what you’re viewing, hearing, thinking and speaking—take the necessary action. Internalize these prescriptions daily with intentionality and consistency, and you will find yourself spiritually, mentally and physically charged throughout 2021.

Let this year be your time to renew and inspire yourself. Expect the best and let God do the rest! <

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Donnella Cranford is the author of Encouraging Your Heart and Founder of Women After God's Own Heart.

WAGOH.ORG

EMPLOYEE TO

By Kim Scouller The covid-19 crisis has changed the world in so many ways. The challenges have been more difficult for working mothers and women of color. Before the pandemic, mothers were working double shifts: a full day of work, then taking care of children and the household.

Without childcare, the line between work and home has become blurred—leaving many women struggling with burnout.

Since women are overrepresented in the restaurant, hospitality, and retail industries, women have been more vulnerable to job loss than men. Women, especially women of color, are more likely to have been laid off or furloughed, stalling their careers and jeopardizing their financial security. Is it any wonder that one out of four women are seriously thinking about downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce all together?

If you are burned out from working two fulltime jobs, frustrated with unequal treatment in the workplace, or just looking for a change, now is exactly the time to consider starting your own business.

What have you always wanted to do?

What are your talents and abilities?

What new business opportunities do these times present?

Running your own business gives you control over your time and your priorities. If you decide to make the leap from employee to entrepreneur, here are some tips on what to do next.

My previous articles in Flourish Digital Magazine addressed topics based on my experience as a financial professional. For this article, I’m drawing on my experience as an attorney. > FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 58

Determine the Right Entity for You The first step is to decide on the type of entity for your business. Choosing an entity is important because it will protect your personal assets from liabilities arising from your business. The main types of entities are: Limited Liability Company (LLC) Corporation Partnership Sole Proprietorship While corporations and LLCs will protect your personal assets, sole proprietorships and partnerships in which you play an active role in the business will not. The right entity for you depends on your situation, but most women choose to form an LLC. Corporations require more formality, like having a board of directors and annual meetings. LLCs are less formal and do not have these rigid requirements.

In most states, it's easy to set up your new company on your state's Secretary of State website.

Once your entity is formed, you or your attorney should prepare an operating agreement for an LLC, bylaws for a corporation, or a partnership agreement for a partnership. You should also obtain a Tax ID number from the IRS, which can be done easily on the IRS website.

Discuss with your accountant whether you want your entity to be taxed as a partnership, S-corporation or Ccorporation. Partnerships and Scorporations are taxed as pass-through entities and C-corporations are taxed separately from the owner, resulting in “double taxation.” Please note that by default LLCs are taxed as partnerships, but in some cases, the owner can elect to be taxed as an S-corporation.

Next, open a bank account for your business, get your local business license, and put the right business insurance in place.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 59

Protect Your Name, Reputation and Intellectual Property Your company's name and reputation are incredibly important. It's your brand— what you stand for. When you select a name, conduct an extensive internet and social media search to see whether any other business is using the name and whether it is associated with any other business or product.

To protect the name you've chosen, you should apply for trademark registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The process is a little complicated, but it can all be done online. Purchase your website domain name and reserve the name on all social media outlets.

Create a Business Plan Be sure to have a plan for your business.

We spend more time planning a party or a vacation than we do for our business. Your business plan will describe the why, what, how and goals of your business.

Why does your business exist? This is essentially your Mission Statement. What are you building, and what do you plan to achieve? This is essentially your Vision Statement. How do you plan to get there?

These are your action steps, which should outline your funding sources and your marketing, operating and distribution strategies. Do your research: Look at your competition or other similar businesses to figure out what they do right, what they do wrong, and what you can do better.

And finally, your plan must identify your goals, which should be specific and measurable.

Examples include reaching benchmarks for sales, market penetration, revenues and profits. There are several free business plan templates available online. >

Support Other Join local networking groups to connect with other business owners, share ideas and tips for success, problem-solve struggles, and identify referral sources.

Support other small business owners. My best referrals come from other women and business owners. < statistics from McKinsey & Company, “ W o m e n i n t h e W o r k p l a c e 2 0 2 0 .”

For a complimentary copy of the book, “How Money Works: Stop Being a Sucker”

by Steve Siebold and Tom Mathews, please send me an email at kim.scouller@wealthwave.com You can also visit my website at wealthwave.com

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 60

WIN WITH SELF-AWARENESS IDENTITY

Learn how to develop a keen awareness of your true self, as you create and start connecting with your own uniqueness.

TRY THIS: 1. BE ATTENTIVE: DECIDE WHAT YOU TRULY WANT NOW. 2. ALIGN YOUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS TO WHAT YOU WANT NOW. 3. EVALUATE YOUR CURRENT BEHAVIOR, IN COMPARISON TO YOUR INTERNAL STANDARDS AND VALUES, BASED ON WHAT YOU WANT NOW. 4. YOU WILL BECOME MORE SELFCONSCIOUS, PERCEPTIVE, AND SAGACIOUS, WITH THE ABILITY TO ACT ACCORDINGLY. 5. AS YOU BECOME MORE SELF-AWARE AND PRESENT, YOU WILL BECOME AN OBJECTIVE OBSERVER—A MASTER EVALUATOR OF YOURSELF, WITH THE CAPACITY TO SELF-ADJUST, SELF-DIRECT AND SELF-ACTUALIZE. FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 61

INDEED The year 2020 was challenging—at home and globally; but now, we've got 2021. Here is our opportunity to sincerely focus on our inner essence and on our outer self.

Get into the center of yourself and your life.

Then hold your position powerfully in the spirit of play. <

TRULY, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! A healthy way of life.

Recommended daily allowance based on a 2,000 calorie intake; I would reduce my caloric count to alter my body. After studying the theoretical science of the body, in order to build muscle, I increased my protein intake.

By watching my carb intake and increasing my protein, I was able to see a difference. It wasn't anything drastic but it certainly makes a difference.

The Journey I started bodybuilding as a result of being bullied as a child; I wanted to become my own superhero. I looked up to the greats like Arnold Schwarzenegger and really started studying the craft. I entered my first competition back in 2008.

I've enjoyed it ever since. It's really become a way of life.

Who knows how long I'll be doing this—but it has really become a part of who I am. I often meet people who doubt my all natural approach to the sport. They've even tried to influence me to take it to another level by taking body-enhancement drugs. That's something that I'll never do.

BECOMING VEGAN: A WAY OF LIFE

By Seane Shaw Torre Washington has been fascinated with how things are created and how they worked from a very young age. He would take things apart as a result of this fascination to see if he could reassemble them to their original working state. As you can imagine, this was the beginning of his journey to studying

The Road Ahead I've been approached for a movie role that's slated to come out this year. I'm excited about it and very open to continue down that path.

There is more to come on this, so be on the lookout for me!

I've even gotten the opportunty to work with Chris (AKA Thor) Hemswork from the Avengers franchise. He's developed a mobile app called Center. I'm one of the expert trainers on the platform. It's great to be close to that franchise. Although this is an awesome opportunity, my big goal is to walk on the Mr. Olympia stage. It would be an amazing feat! Even though I have the IFBB Pro Card, I will continue on the men's physique division, and take it as far as I can go.

engineering at Tuskegee University. He took this analytical passion and leveraged it to sculpt a champion's physique. Determined to build his ideal body, it started with a dumbbell and a bench. An admirer of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the likes of comic book characters such as Wolverine and Superman, Torre set his goal high and was determined to take his dream to the stage. His desire to compete was sparked back in 2009 when he witnessed a friend compete in Atlanta, Georgia. That elevated his passion to discover and learn more about the sport of bodybuilding. He decided to take a leap of faith to become one of the greatest fitness athletes and share his gift with the world.

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18

Atlanta!

A Glorious Dot Of Blue.

We all know that Atlanta, Georgia has been a bright shining beacon of awesomeness in the South for many a decade. We have the best music, the latest trends, the most delicious food, and a spark that is unmatched.

So, although it was shocking that Georgia flipped blue—not once but twice—it kind of makes sense.

Atlanta is a giant glorious dot of blue in a sea of red that is Georgia, really the entire South. We did it! We flipped this mf’er blue!

Stacey Abrams blazed a red-hot trail and we followed it! We showed up and showed out like one of our hometown teams won the championship. (We're struggling in the sports world down here by the way, y'all.) Being born and raised in the great city of Atlanta, I haven't felt this much joy since the Braves won the pennant in 1995! Then there's the Olympics in '96, ChickFil-A, and Coca-Cola. The Migos, Monica, TLC—iconic musicians, period. We have amazing culture, fashion, traditions, food, Martin Luther King, Jr., and of course the most glorious song—Georgia by Ray Charles.

Atlanta is Georgia!

Atlanta defines Georgia. Atlanta is where we cultivate and practice and edit what the rest of the country does. You're welcome, America! #FILA #PeaceUpAtownDown #ATL #peachstate

By Jade Cherell Flourish Digital Magazine Staff Writer FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 63

n e e u Q Lillie Young Innovative Brand Creator, Actor, Author, Business Woman & Inventor of QUEEN LILLIE Hair Growth Oil

Lillie says, "My new beauty book, The Red Lipstick Hustler, is an aesthetic guide for women that includes taking control of your hair."

Get the Beauty Guide and the Hair Growth Oil.

IAMLILLIEYOUNG.COM

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 64

UNLEASHING YOUR INNER GEM

A SEANE SHAW INTERVIEW THE VOICE OF A GODDESS FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 65

Photo by Blue Wesley

THE

LO VE

PHOTO BY @MOJOFOTOCO via Instagram

.

of MUSIC

Cedrice burst onto the scene with her debut on the hit show The Voice. She slayed her performance of Fever, a Peggy Lee smash. When she showed up on stage I can remember the feeling I got. It was sheer magic.

The way she effortlessly delivered the song and caressed the crowd was like a touch to someone who had been love-starved. As I sat down to speak with this great talent, I couldn't help but realize her passion and love for her recently revealed craft.

Seane: What have you been up to since your time on The Voice?

Cedrice: I've released a duet with Mark Pelli called Room to Grow. It's based on my time in New York where I was acting off Broadway. I was a little lonely and missing home (San Diego).

As a result of my conversations with God, this song was birthed.

In discovering unconditional love, it's providing me room to grow. >

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 66

"My songs are reflective of the things that are going on and what has happened in my life."

"I want to exhaust all my talents and leave nothing on the table."

Seane: When John Legend turned his chair on The Voice during your third try, how did that feel?

Cedrice: Firstly, I decided to perform the song Fever after seeing Beyoncé sing it at Wembley. Ever since then, I've wanted to perform that song. This was the perfect time to do so. When John turned around, I had to focus and not freak out. But as soon as I was done, I started jumping around, and let it go.

Seane: What else would you like to do, outside of singing?

Cedrice: I've actually been acting longer than I've been singing. I've done quite a bit of theater, so I wouldn't mind doing more of that, and even film.

Seane: That's awesome. Is there anyone you would love to work with?

Cedrice: I would love to work with Pharrell Williams, Childish Gambino, and Kendrick Lamar, just to name a few. Those are my top three for sure.

I love the way they all think about life and music.

Seane: With all that's going on in the country with civil unrest and other things, does that inspire you to write songs that are reflective of the time?

Cedrice: Yes it does. It does influence me musically.

But it also inspires me to get involved off the stage.

I work with certain organizations to make an impact that way. I give TEDx talks and do volunteer work.

Photo by @ced_web via Instagram Seane: What have you learned during this time of covid-19?

Cedrice: I've learned that I'm more disciplined than I thought. I used to give myself excuses not to do something or to procrastinate. I've been on it during this time. I have gotten a lot of things done. <

Seane: If you weren't singing, what would you be doing?

Cedrice: I think I would like to do something in production. I have a degree in Communications so I wouldn't mind doing some writing and acting as well. I think the sky is the limit.

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a 501c(3) ed Boss Girl is nization bas a g r o t i f o r p on ages charitable n rving girls e s a i g r o e G , ta out of Atlan r-old "Boss a e y 2 1 a s i D. Kemp 10–17. Xara > s founder.

Girl" and it FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 68

Xara founded Boss Girl at age eleven with a vision motivated by learning about the imbalance of wealth between men and women. After sharing her concerns and vision with her mother, Boss Girl became part of the change she wanted to make.

At such a young age, Xara believes that giving girls such as herself the opportunity to learn from the best mentors and coaches, to travel the world, and to give back to the community are the key ingredients to building new feminine power players.

At Flourish Digital Magazine we love that Xara is a straight-A student, a member of the Jr. National Honors Society and Jr. Beta Club, and a fervent learner of the investment and trade markets. In addition, she is the author of her new book, Young People Trade Too which will be available in Summer of 2021.

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ABOUT BOSS GIRL Xara says, "At Boss Girl, we learn from our own experiences, from each other, and from our power mentors and coaches who teach us to know and enjoy our authentic self. We also work on building confidence and leadership skills, foreign languages, business etiquette, decision-making skills, and how to slam our image and brand. And we are not too young to learn about the politics of business, financial literacy, and time management."

YES, WE ARE YOUNG...AND WE TEACH. We may be young girls, but we are Boss Girls. And as we become stronger, more knowledgeable in our skills, and confident in who we're becoming, we are empowered to teach other girls what it means to be a Boss Girl. As young leaders, we help create new leaders.

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LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD, HEALING NOW

BY JANIS HUNT JOHNSON

At the start of a new year, we ponder the past and wonder how to carve out a better future. Set a goal, and go! But it’s easy to get distracted, even stuck. Longing to go back to what we had, we might not even want to make the effort to forge ahead.

It’s no surprise, then, that our month of January is named after the ancient Roman god Janus, patron of beginnings and endings. Janus had two faces—one looking forward and one looking back. Janus was believed to guard every doorway and to preside over life’s transitions.

This metaphor has proved helpful to me as I attempt to find the best way to let go of what’s no longer needed, to hold onto what’s good, and to explore new horizons.

But this process isn’t always comfortable.

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>

SECOND CHANCES.

In her memoir Retrospection and Introspection, 19thcentury mind-body-spirit pioneer Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “The human history needs to be revised, and the material record expunged.” That’s not to say that we should forget all about what’s happened, but rather that we can look back with a spiritual perspective, rather than taking a material view.

In my experience, this radical approach transforms the situation and brings healing. Once, a few days after the passing of both a close friend and a beloved cat all in the same week, I felt a twinge in my belly that grew steadily worse—until it became a sharp, persistent pain. Because I always turn to God as a first resort when I’m in trouble, I prayed mightily. I soon realized that because I was overcome by grief and fatigue, I had taken on these two great losses—right in the pit of my stomach. Not only that, I was holding on to all my life’s past woes in that same spot.

I pleaded in prayer to be free, and gave it all back to God— that is, I turned everything over to the care of Good Itself, to the arms of Infinite Love. I prayed aloud, repeating that I was letting it all go. . .and after awhile, the pain disappeared. Soon, I was finally able to breathe deeply—in and out.

When we get stressed, we need to straighten out that twisted and tangled mess. We need to unwind.

No matter what you’ve been through, there’s a solution that’s better than just swallowing the pain, or putting on a brave face. If there’s something about your past that you’ve never dealt with fully—no matter how much it hurt— healing is possible.

One prayer I use a lot is the Hebrew Ana B’Koakh prayer.

The first line roughly translates to: “Please, God, with the power of Your great right hand, untie the tangles.”

Whatever prayer you choose, every time an old wound resurfaces, address it with prayer: Take that wound and unwind it. Replace it with the spiritual fact—with the sustaining wind, the breath, the Infinite Spirit that is God— and be healed.

As Eddy muses in her memoir, “Man’s harmony is no more to be invaded than the rhythm of the universe.” And Jesus’ words (from Luke 17:20–21) ring true here, too: “The kingdom of God is within you.” <

Nowadays, I can remember my friend and my cat without recurring pain. I can focus on the joys rather than on the sorrows.

Once we make significant progress like that, guess what: There’s still more to learn, and more to be done!

UNWIND.

Sometimes we allow incidents from our past to spoil the present. For me, even though I’ve been pretty good about leaving a traumatic event from decades ago far behind me, some new aspect of it may come up for me— that is, when I’m ready to deal with it. The word trauma, from the Greek, means “a wound, a hurt, a defeat”; its derivatives refer to “twisting” and “tangling,” which then cause us stress.

Thinking about this in prayer, I suddenly saw that I could pronounce the word wound differently, as in “getting wound up.” I pictured a ball of yarn getting all tangled, which quickly brought me to those twisted knots in my stomach. It all became clear: For me, a wound, a loss, or a defeat has often turned into a knot in my stomach.

The solution? I decided then and there to replace every physical reaction I have with a spiritual statement.

Another word for God is Spirit. In Hebrew, the word is Ruakh, which simultaneously means “breath” and “wind”! Again, I was excited to get the message when I pronounced wind two ways—both as air, and as a winding up.

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Janis Hunt Johnson is a lover of words and the power behind them. An author, editor, spiritual healer, interfaith advocate, and spiritual activist, she seeks to teach, preach and heal through her writing. Learn more from her awardwinning book, Five Smooth Stones: Our Power to Heal Without Medicine Through the Science of Prayer.

Connect with her on Goodreads, Twitter @CSRenewal, and Facebook & Medium (CS Renewal Ministries).

WHAT IS SELF SOOTHING? When we get hurt—physically or mentally—or if we feel anxious, or depressed, we all hope to feel better. We seek to feel better by learning how to make ourselves heal and relieve anxieties—in both immediate and long-term ways. In other words, we self soothe. Self soothing is a way in which we treat ourselves to feelings of betterment, so that we can move forward, and move past any negativity or pain. We actually learn how to self soothe from the moment we enter this world. Some of our first acknowledgements of our mental feelings and our physical bodies occurs as young as a newborn. Infants learn how to self soothe through means of thumb-sucking. It is even from this early age that we begin to learn and understand that we are capable of healing ourselves. This is something that we should acknowledge and remember as we move through our lives. > FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 72

Learning how to develop ways to relieve stress and anxiety throughout life is an important skill to have—especially learning how to create positive-seeking and healthy self-care habits. Good techniques for coping with stress are ones that appeal to the five senses:

SELF CARE & MINDFULNESS: PART OF GOD'S PLAN FOR US.

1. Touch: Take a warm bubble bath filled with Epsom salts to help relax any muscular tension. Get a massage.

2. Taste: Drink a cup of hot herbal tea to help yourself relax. Chew gum or suck on a piece of hard candy.

3. Smell: Indulge in aromatherapy and the use of essential oils.

Light some candles.

4. Sight: Distract yourself with your favorite comedy movie or television show. Lie down in a field and watch the clouds pass by.

5. Sound: Listen to your favorite music. Use a sound machine during periods of rest and sleep. <

Adapted from Clarity Clinic Blog.

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By Lyn Ross, Flourish Digital Magazine's Beauty Editor, Master Esthetician & Founder of Institut' DERMed™. www.idermed.com

MAKE 2021 YOUR HEALTHIEST YEAR YET!

SIX TIPS TO BOOST YOUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ALL YEAR LONG. Eat a Healthy Diet.

Tip 1 – Make healthy food choices like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products to help to maintain or reduce your weight for a healthier body.

Move More, Sit Less.

Tip 2 – Get at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic activity every week, plus muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week to strengthen your body and have more energy.

Rethink Your Drink.

Tip 3 – Substitute water for sugary or alcoholic drinks. Appropriate hydration of the body is a requirement for health, and is essential for life itself. Water sustains the body’s many vital chemical reactions and maintains correct body functions. To determine how much water to drink daily, multiply your body weight by 2/3 (that is, 67 percent). For example, if you weigh 175 pounds, multiply that by .67 and you'll see that you should be drinking about 117 ounces of water every day.

More Moisturizer.

Tip 4 – The hydration of the skin surface is in direct relationship to the climactic air. In the winter months the air is less humid, and the skin becomes dehydrated. Apply a skin treatment serum that contains hyaluronic acid and peptides under your nightly moisturizer, to give your skin a hydrating boost to quench your complexion.

Get Enough Sleep.

Tip 5 – Adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night. Maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise and drinking water will help you sleep better, and feel rested and more energized.

Protect Your Skin.

Tip 6 – Did you know that even in cold weather, the sun can damage your skin? Just because the air feels cool doesn’t mean that the sun’s rays don’t damage the skin. Of course, you will be wearing layered clothing to protect you from the cold, but you must also continue to wear your broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15 to protect exposed skin—especially your face and the backs of your hands. <

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Lifestyle is a choice.

COVID-19 FORCED US TO QUARANTINE AND RETREAT TO OUR HOMES TO SAVE THE WORLD. HOWEVER, NOW, WOMEN WITH CHILDREN SEEM TO HAVE BEEN PUSHED BACK YEARS IN OUR CAREERS— WITH NO JOBS TO RETURN TO AND NO PLACE TO RETREAT TO PRACTICE MINDFULNESS.

WORKING FROM HOME HOW'S IT WORKING OUT FOR YOU?

YOU DESERVE A GOLD STAR!

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SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH US HERE AT FLOURISH DIGITAL MAGAZINE FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR STORY FEATURED IN OUR SPRING 2021 ISSUE.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.

—Charles William Eliot

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t A leon b ila az a Av Am

Amazon Reviews: "Absolutely encouraging, and truly showed the grace of God" —Jean Jamison

"I was completely drawn in from the start. She tells her story as if you are in her mind hearing her thoughts."

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I Can Laugh Again by Chloé Taylor Brown [is] a must-read" —Patricia Brady "It was deeply a great experience of a mentally strong woman...[who] has undeniably beat the odds!"

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Girl-Swag will revolutionize the lives of girls and young ladies globally. It will educe greatness and excellence. It provides stepby-step processes and exercises that will transform each and every person who reads this book and does the work!

Girl-Swag is a fun, action-oriented workbook that gets girls and young ladies to value themselves more, accomplish their goals faster, and contribute greatly to their families, communities, and the world.

Girl Swag offers transformation—a training concept that's filled with strategies that will help you get into action to: uncover your authentic self and gain CONFIDENCE; transform your thoughts, dreams and goals to MAKE IT HAPPEN and turn your ideas into reality; make better decisions, COMMUNICATE with others, build rapport, and use your resources more effectively; allow others to get to know the REAL YOU; create your life's vision statement, leading you to your IDEAL LIFE and dreams; make a difference in your life and the lives of others by allowing others to see all that you have to CONTRIBUTE to the world!

Girl-Swag is a resource guide with platinum appeal.

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Hold My hand.

Give someone comfort, guidance, and moral support during difficult situations and these challenging times.

We need each other.

FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 86

One of our favorite people at Flourish Digital Magazine is Lisa Washington, our own Food & Lifestyle contributor. Lisa is also CEO of B'Tyli Wellness and Beauty Co., and author of Set The Table With Love.

Chloé: Lisa, you have contributed to each issue of Flourish Digital Magazine since its inception. Today, it is your inspiring personal story that is worthy to be shared. There are many facets to the whole sparkly you called Lisa Washington. Let's start with your skincare company.

Lisa: I've always loved skincare, and I started working at Estée Lauder as a beauty counter representative. And the great thing about Estée Lauder is they would send you to school to learn about skin—not just about their products, but about skin and how skin works. I was so intrigued by that.

I was educated in communicating with customers about products that worked best for them, because I understood their skin. And that got me really into skin and skincare, and into make-up as well. I became a FLOURISHDIGITALMAGAZINE.COM | WINTER 2021 | 87

Branding Her Life by Living makeup artist—and even worked with a few musicians in Atlanta as their make-up artist. After I had my son, Tyler, and in my thirties, I just didn't have the time but then I started doing make-up for commercials, weddings, video shoots and other big productions, which was really fun and exciting.

Chloé: At what point did you start to think, "I'm going to learn about all of this and make it my thing"?

Lisa: It actually happened when I got sick. I was born with kidney disease, and so my health started deteriorating. I wanted to provide a product for my family and myself that did not have any chemicals in it. >

Lisa, continued: Eventually I went back to school, and I

buy it. So I started making it up in my kitchen. Soon women

studied holistic nutrition and medicine at Clayton College of

would come back to me and say, "Oh my God, my skin feels

Natural Health. And I did that for a couple of reasons. One, I

amazing and my stretch marks are gone." They put it in their

was really sick; and two, I had a new baby who had terrible

hair and it helped their hair growth. It just blew me away. And

eczema. I was trying to figure out how to heal my baby and

more and more women wanted it. I learned about holistic

use products that are healthier while doing it.

nutrition and medicine while in school, and that taught me how to create my skincare products and my company, and in

This is when I went back to school and studied all these

doing so, how to prolong my life as well.

different things about vitamins and minerals that you can use —on the body and in the body—to help heal yourself. It was

My doctors at Emory University told me, "Because of your

at this point that I started making a "body soufflé": I made a

background and because you put what you know into your

"body butter," and put it on my son, and it healed his eczema.

life—that's the reason why you're still here." They said, "You

He has no marks on his body or any signs that he ever had

knew how to take food to keep your body going until your

eczema. So, my product healed my son. And soon my whole

kidneys couldn't go any longer." My knowledge of food and

family started using it. I didn't sell it at that time.

nutrition kept me alive fifteen years longer than what I should have been without functional kidneys .

I was at a women's retreat, and everyone kept telling me, "You smell so good," and "Your skin is so smooth. What are you using?" I was like, "Oh, I made this body soufflé. They encouraged me to make more, and said they would

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Every time I tell this story it's always brand new to me and fills me with so much gratitude for my husband. When he dated me, I was sick. Some of our dates were at the

>

. e m d e i r r a m e H Lisa, continued: hospital, because I would get sick and he would have to take me to the hospital. He would sit with me for hours until I was better and well enough to go home. He married me. He knew he married someone who was very ill. I remember after I was pregnant with Tyler, we were surprised it even happened because we had lost a baby before due to my health, my kidney disease. After we had Tyler, my doctor said, "Lisa, within seven years, you will probably need a kidney transplant because this pregnancy was too much on your kidneys."

When Tyler was almost seven years old, I ended up having to have a kidney transplant. We had lost two babies before that seventh year and I ended up going into a coma. The doctors told Joseph, my husband, "You probably need to start preparing yourself." He started preparing himself to be a single father.

Of course, I came out of that coma, and going home my husband said he was going to find out what his blood type is. Joseph went to Emory University, got tested, and he found out that he had markers on my mother's side of the family and on my father's side of the family. It is very rare for a spouse to have DNA markers.

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Chloé: Now we're both crying....

So here you are, alive, vibrant and beautiful, and very successful. How did you go from making products in your kitchen to where you are now?

Lisa: I think everything is a divine connection. One of my best friends, Dr. Julie Lord, was using my skincare, and she was on the board at one of the Whole Foods Markets.

Julie said to the board, "You have no representation of African American women's skincare products at all. My best friend has an incredible skincare product that I use.

You guys need to get her skincare in here."

Nothing happened. But then I got with another person who was also a friend, who said to me, "Lisa, I love your skincare. It needs to be at Whole Foods." She went directly to the decision-makers there, and said, "You need to set up a meeting with Lisa Washington."

And I got in that place! It is all these different avenues you have to go through to get to Whole Foods. But God was so with me, Chloé. I told them my story, and they were captivated and said, "We're going to cut through all the red tape because we want you in the store." And it was history. >

Lisa, continued: That's what catapulted my skincare line— being in Whole Foods, and other places as well. I was soon mentioned and featured in New Beauty magazine, which is one of the leading magazines in the world on skincare. I wrote a letter to the editor—just a short letter, the day before Thanksgiving, and I sent it out. I got a call back.

They were so impressed by my story that they put me in their magazine five times. That's right. Five times.

I love that my skincare company is grassroots and small. It's very customized and personalized. I make it the same way I made it on that first day.

I have a company that bases my product out in Oregon.

When it comes back in to me I take it to another level by making it how I want it to be, and I personally do that myself in a commercial kitchen. My company is a smallbatch company, and I like to keep it that way because of the fact that there are so many other things, a lot more important things in my life, other than skincare. And I like that.

Chloé: Lisa, we've talked about your skincare company, B'Tyli, and I also want to talk about your love of food. But before we dive into food, in addition to you being our Food & Lifestyle contributor, I want to know, how do you do all these things in your life?

food so I could remember the pictures and the recipes, because I knew I would write a cookbook one day.

One of my best friends since the second grade was working at CNN in Washington. She emailed me and said, "Lisa, I've been looking at your food. Your food is way too good to be on Facebook alone. I want you to apply for this contest." And I did it! It was on the Food Network, and within two months of auditioning, the executive producers called me. I had been chosen for the show.

Chloé: What are some of your goals and intentions for yourself now, in 2021?

Lisa: I definitely want to write another cookbook, which I'm working on now. The great thing about this cookbook is that I was asked by an agent to write it. It will be introduced to a lot of publishing houses. So my goal for 2021 is to finish this particular "lifestyle" cookbook. And I want to do more television. I love my partnership with Good Day Atlanta—although it's been kind of hard with covid-19. But I've been able to film some stuff here at home. So I'll be living my life, doing more television and radio appearances, and contributing to more magazines like Flourish Digital Magazine. I want to be sharing more about holistic living, mindful living, and just a living balanced life. This is what's coming up for me in 2021.

Lisa: I'm going to tell you how I do this, Chloé. My life is my brand. It's who I am and it's what I do. I'm just branding my living. That's all I'm doing. When many people are creating their brand, they make it a separate thing from who they are—and that's a challenge to maintain. If I didn't enjoy what I do, Chloé, it would be overwhelming.

And it wouldn't work.

Take a look at your magazine. Look at what you write down, say and put out. How are you doing all of that in addition to all the things you do? It's because you love it and you are branding your living.

Chloé: That's such a cool viewpoint, Lisa. Five years ago you were on a cooking reality show and you had just written your cookbook, Set the Table With Love, which is amazing. Is that how you got the opportunity to be part of the Food Network?

Lisa: The thing I'm passionate about is cooking. My dad was a famous chef here in Atlanta back in the 50s. He was the first African American man to run the kitchen as a chef in one of the top restaurants; and at the time it only served White people.

My dad taught me about technique and cooking skills. I really got into cooking and would post photos of my

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Chloé: I love it, Lisa Washington!

Lisa: Thank you, Chloé. I really am in love with this magazine.

Thank you guys for allowing me to contribute. <

Lisa M. Washington Flourish Digital Magazine Food & Lifestyle contributor, CEO of B'Tyli Wellness and Beauty Co., and author of Set The Table With Love.

IG: @lifewithlisawashington SETTHETABLEWITHLOVE.COM

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We passionately believe that everyone should have thoughtfully designed deliverables that are reflective of their brand and marketing strategy. We do this by working across disciplines to manifest a vision that helps bring your narrative to life.

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Black Entrepreneurs

"BLACKING BUSINESS"

I Attended The Black Ivy League Business Conference Hosted by Wharton at UPenn for Black Ivy League Business Students

VICTORIA MOORE-MCMILLER I Am a Generation Z Businesswoman and a Junior at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration

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On campus, during covid-19:

CAN YOU STILL FIND A COLLEGE ROMANCE DURING A PANDEMIC?

As the covid-19 pandemic worsens in America, I have found it increasingly more complicated to navigate my dating life as a 20-year-old junior in college, but that makes it all the more rewarding. The dorm hookup, once a very popularized form of college dating, has become a thing of the past; now masked first dates and Zoom crushes have replaced staring at people from across the room at a party—and thinking they’re much hotter than they actually are as a result of the misleading low lighting! Although technology has proved time and time again over the course of the pandemic to be very resourceful in terms of maintaining connections, it still isn’t the most romantic way to find your future husband. >

By Victoria Moore-McMiller

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The way that I have navigated this predicament is by fluctuating between strengthening my casual relationships and using dating apps. During these unprecedented times, more than ever it is important to keep in contact with all your relationships, no matter how big or small, because that can lead to two things that are key for maintaining your dating life.

MAINTAINING YOUR DATING LIFE: 1) making those casual relationships more intense and romantically promising, and 2) networking through said casual relationships to further enrich your dating pool.

Step two also provides a good basis for discovering more new friendships as well. Networking through these casual relationships is good because you can use the judgement of your friends to determine if a person could be a romantic interest for you, without having to put your health at risk.

The desire for physical intimacy is in part why dating apps have become more popular on campus, and they can be great tension builders as well.

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What with masks covering the majority of our faces, I have time and time again attempted to send telepathic messages of my interest to guys I have found attractive in my inperson classes by lingering eye contact, but the facial coverings always leave much to be desired without a smile to secure the message.

However, if I swipe right on him on Tinder, I feel good knowing that my message will be received (so long as he swipes right, too). I also think it’s important to remove any shame we feel in navigating our dating lives during this time. I remember last semester, I had a talk with one of my girlfriends about how she felt bad after navigating the course roster on Canvas to find a student’s name to later follow him on Instagram and DM him.

Maybe it might sound a bit psychotic on paper (maybe it is), but as long as the intentions are good, is it really harming anybody? The point is, navigating dating life in college has never been easy— sometimes it’s more like a shitshow than anything else—but it’s important to put your best self out there and not get too intimidated by the new climate. After all, it’s not that different, the same people who look better in party lighting also look better with a mask on. <

" Not Necessarily Flowers"

SEANE SHAW ARTIST

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FROM AGE 17 TO 90, WE ALL NEED ENCOURAGEMENT AND REAL-LIFE PROCESSES TO DRAW OUT OUR BEST, SO WE CAN THRIVE AND FLOURISH! EXPERT LIFE COACHING FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS TO RISE UP SINCE 2001

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FEBRUARY 2021

Today is a new day and the season of change is in the air. As we continue to move forward in this year of uncertainty; one thing is certain. We are here with purpose and power to make a difference!

2020 was such a challenging year. With the spread of both covid-19 and racial tension, it has required much from us—mentally and emotionally. However, we still have an opportunity to thrive in our own way. Hopefully, the pages of this magazine have inspired you and provided you with the confidence to keep your head up and your heart open.

We are in this together, and collectively we will not only survive but rise!

Until next issue— Best, Seane Shaw Chief Creative Officer Flourish Digital Magazine

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