SAVVY The Business Magazine (cover: Sharrarne Morton SiriusXM Radio/Channel 141)

March 2021 Issue

Timeline of Women & Gap in Positions Not Afraid to Pound The Pavement Sharrarne Morton

Women Overlooked In The Boardroom Being In Total Control of Herself

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How often have you been told that you need to dream and DREAM BIG in life? I completely agree. You should also be told that it is going to be hard.

That's right, Liz the Lifter is letting you know right now that as soon as you let yourself dream big you will run into roadblocks, self-doubt, and naysayers. That doesn't sound very encouraging, does it? But it's the truth.

You want to know what else is the truth?

That you should still DREAM

BIG.

You, my friend, can do hard things.

You can overcome roadblocks, quiet your inner mean girl, and ignore the naysayers. It isn't easy, but completely doable. In fact, learning to overcome obstacles is an essential part of the process of achieving your massive dreams. The sooner you realize this and accept it, the sooner you will be able to achieve what you once thought was impossible.

Remember, there is a difference between changing your plans because of facts, and giving up on your dreams because it was too hard.

You can do hard things!

Written by Elizabeth Baker

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Regarding our daily agendas, we start the day with the best goals and inspiration to complete things. However, so regularly, we end the day feeling disappointed when we perceive the number of undertakings hasn't scratched off that steadily developing rundown.

Need a little direction on the best way to begin taking advantage of consistently? These efficiency tips will help you boost your time, complete tasks, and leave you with a sense of accomplishment.

1. Track how you invest your energy "It's difficult to sort out some way to invest your energy better if you don't have a clue where it's going currently," says Vanderkam. For preferably seven days (yet at any rate a couple of days), screen what assignments you're dealing with every day and how long you give to everyone. You might be astounded to see precisely how long you're daydreaming about things that are not important. When you perceive which assignments are getting much consideration, you can redistribute that time for more significant tasks.

2. Keep a "digression log."

It continually happens: You're sincerely busy working, and you unexpectedly recall you neglected to message your sister back. Goodness, and you need to make a regular checkup. Besides, you have a virtuoso thought for an alternate task you're chipping away at. Rather than following up on these considerations immediately and conceivably preventing your advancement, keep a notepad next to you, and at whatever point an assignment or thought flies into your head, record it, suggests Marshall. "Recording it tells your mind, all right, it's protected, I don't need to pause and pursue that other undertaking at present. I can return to it later," she says.

3. Mood killer telephone notices Gadgets make our lives simpler from various perspectives, but at the same time, they're 10 of 24

unfathomably diverting. At the point when you truly need to focus, tailor your notices, so you get the fundamental pings (like writings from your children) and incidentally quiet warnings for approaching messages, online media movement, and whatever else that may make you check your telephone. "When you get over that time of pondering, What am I going to pass up? you'll get into a profound plunge working mode and find that you produce better work at a faster rate," says Marshall. "At that point, when you're back on the web, you'll see that the world has continued without you, and all is well."

4. Limit your plan for the day It's smarter to pick 3 to 5 significant undertakings to do each day and verify them the entirety of your rundown than to focus on 20 and confirm some of them at arbitrary, as per Vanderkam. "The issue with widespread errand records is that you may not genuinely need or need to do the tasks.

It's merely something that happens.

5. Recall the advantages of finishing a venture If beginning on a major project for work feels overwhelming, consider what you'll acquire from it.

Is it the opportunity to flaunt your creative side to the higher-ups? Is this introduction a venturing stone to dealing with more practical tasks for the organization? When you distinguish the positive result, it'll be simpler to begin.

6. Discover little approaches to add fun Play energetic music while you are working. It's almost as if you have to change the entire mood.

Now that you have danced and sung your favorite song, you can get back to work. It never fails.

Just some good music for 4-5 minutes can give you a significant boost.

7. Take breaks Take a couple of breathers can prompt burnout, while too many can disturb your flow. In case you're stressed and the nature of your work is not quite what you expected, it may be time to take a break or stop for the day. The key is to assess and change appropriately.

8. Give yourself a sleep time Simple as that! If you feel tired, take a nap or give yourself a bedtime.

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Sharrarne Morton, CEO of Morton Media has been in the media industry for over 20 years. She began her career in high school as the school newspaper editor and then went to college and hosted her school's radio show while majoring in broadcast journalism. She always knew that she wanted to be a journalist and in the media business. As a little girl, she used to hold a hairbrush in her hand and sit behind a desk pretending to be a news anchor. Or, she would take that hairbrush and pretend it was a microphone and interview her little brother.

After graduating college, Sharrarne worked in politics and then ran for office. Although she didn’t win, she scored BIG by being invited to speak on television. What was meant to be a one-time shot as a TV show guest, turned into a 14-year stint where Sharrarne was a popular and regular commentator on an ABC television station affiliate in Washington, DC. “It was so exciting, and I was just so blessed to have been offered such a wonderful opportunity. It knocked on my door, and I answered,” said Sharrarne.

As a television commentator, Sharrarne was presented with numerous opportunities to speak to corporate leaders, associations and non-profit organizations about the media, the power of television, and how its messaging can influence generations. While commentating on TV, she launched Morton Media (mortonmediatv.com) where she began to produce and host local TV shows as well as produce dozens of commercials for businesses. Sharrarne had those commercials aired on networks such as Lifetime, HGTV, MSNBC, OWN, FOX, CNN, MTV, BET, the Food Network, TV One and many more.

Sharrarne’s company, Morton Media (www.mortonmediatv.com) produces two national shows on SiriusXM Radio with millions of listeners. On one of her shows, Sharrarne coaches small businesses all over the U.S. on how to get to that next level of success. On the other show, Sharrarne talks about the importance of good health and wellness in communities of color. “Like the saying goes, ‘It’s who you know.’

“Getting a chance to produce and host a show on SiriusXM/HUR Voices radio was another opportunity that came from who I knew. My mentor and friend Carl Brown, Executive Director of the Small Business Development Center in Washington, DC asked me to join him on the show and we’ve been on the air for five years now. I’ve learned as a business owner that people do business with people who they like and trust. I was asked to help produce and host the show because I was known for my work ethic and trusted to get the job done. It’s absolutely imperative that business owners maintain good reputations. It’s like 12 of 24

your fingerprint. Wherever you go, your reputation goes with you and leaves a huge impression,” she said.

After being on the air for a couple of years, Sharrarne pitched another show to SiriusXM/HUR Voices and her second show was greenlit. “I’m blessed and highly favored. I also work very hard to prove that I can do what it takes to get the job done. My business, Morton Media, was producing content for a national radio station and I understood the blessing of it all.”

Sharrarne understands the power of media (TV, radio, social) and how it can make or break a business. When she speaks to audiences, she explains the importance of promoting a business in the media – no matter what kind of business you own. After all, if you don’t advertise and market your business, no one will know about your business. “It’s imperative that small businesses have an advertising and marketing budget. You can’t make money if you don’t advertise and market your product or service.

Even if you set aside just a few hundred dollars a month for social media marketing, it’s better than doing nothing at all. Being in business is tough, and being in business without promoting it, is even tougher.”

Sharrarne also believes that joining forces with a celebrity or other high-profile individual to help promote your business is an attractive choice for small business owners looking to break into new markets or dig deeper into their existing niches. Sharrarne partners with other businesses all of the time, and celebrity is, in fact, a very powerful currency. Being famous for fame’s sake has value in today’s society. Even if a small business owner teams up with a local celebrity such as a news anchor, that association can still have local star power. But like anything, fame can be fleeting, and business owners need to do their homework before collaborating with outside parties. Business owners should ask themselves if the celebrity will add value to the product and to the business itself. Also, consider why you’re choosing this person over anyone else and look at the person’s reputation in his or her own industry.

Additionally, Sharrarne says that business owners should consider payment arrangements with the celebrity and whether those arrangements are amenable to their business. Many celebrities will want equity arrangements. This means the celebrity will get equity in your company in exchange for using their name or likeness. And don’t look for the celebrity to help you make payroll or pore over financials.

Unfortunately, that is not included in the arrangement. However, small business owners should seek collaborators who share their passion and vision and who are approachable and open to working with them. Star power can go a long way in bringing the business owner’s vision to fruition.

Your business can benefit from Sharrarne's media training. Go to mortonmediatv.com and take advantage of all of the tips that Sharrarne gives on how to use the media to your advantage. Her training cuts right to the chase and reveals exactly how you can start or grow your business rapidly through the power of TV and Radio by reaching tons of viewers and listeners who want to buy your product or service.

Sharrarne also gives you an opportunity to work directly with her in one-on-one sessions. And as an added bonus, when you take her online media course, she gives you a listing of contact information for dozens of media outlets around the country so that you will know who you can reach out to that can help promote your business in the media – many times for free.

Sharrarne wants you to start or grow your own profitable business, even if you don't have any existing experience in Television and Radio. Go to mortonmediatv.com or email her at mortonmediatv1@gmail.com and reach out to Sharrarne directly. You’ll be glad you did.

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Embracing the

Chaos

If there is one thing that we all can agree with, it is that entrepreneurial life and mom life are not always symbiotic. In fact, when we combine these two lifestyles, chaos often ensues, and we are left trying to navigate life being completely overwhelmed. As an inspiring entrepreneur and a mom of 5 kids my life is in constant motion, kind of like the teacup ride at Disneyland. You know, the ride that gets you sick in the first 10 seconds. What if I told you that it was possible to live both lifestyles, at the same time, and not throw-up 10 seconds into it? I am here to let you know that you can. The first step is to just embrace it.

I have learned over the last few years that trying to control everything that is going on around you is far more exhausting than just embracing the chaos. When I get to a point where I am feeling overwhelmed and like I am drowning in life, I just take a moment and say to myself, 'It's okay that I feel like this, they are feelings and are not something that I need to feel guilty over." I encourage you to memorize this sentence and say it to yourself every single day if you have to. In future articles I will go into more detail about what you can do to manage these feelings of chaos, but for now I want to focus on just acknowledging that you are overwhelmed and that is OKAY. Nothing is wrong with you. The sooner you recognize that your life is more like the teacup ride, rather than the 'It's a Small World' boat ride at Disneyland, the sooner you will be able to create habits, processes, and coping strategies to make sure you don't throw up before your ride is done.

Something that I recently learned, which has been so empowering for me, is that stress is something that comes from within you and not something given to you... Wait, what? It is true. Too often we think we must change the external factors of our life to get the stress to stop, but in all actuality, we just have to change how we are reacting to those factors. Sometimes, it does mean walking away, but it doesn’t always have to be the case. Especially if what is causing you stress is something or someone that is important to you.

Stress is a feeling your body naturally produces in reaction to any type of opposition that you will face in life. It is just the way the body works. Biologically, we are wired to take the path of least resistance and our brains will tell us that we must avoid anything that causes us stress. What if you could train your body to react differently to opposition? We can't spend our lives always avoiding hard things. Life is full of them. Instead, you have teach yourself how to handle them and use them to your advantage.

Take our muscles for example, in order to grow they have to undergo what is called, muscle hypertrophy. Medical News Today says that, muscle size increases when a person continually challenges the muscles to deal with higher levels of resistance or weight. This process is known as muscle hypertrophy. It occurs when the fibers of the muscles sustain damage or injury. The body repairs damaged fibers by fusing them, which increases the mass and size of the muscles.

I am not saying that you should put up with crap in your life, or never say no to anything. Actually, setting boundaries is a large part of being able to manage mom life and entrepreneurial life at the same time. What I am saying is, that you do not need to give up on your life ambitions just because it gets hard trying to manage a career and a family at the same time. The sooner you realize that chaos is just part of the ride, the sooner you will be able to take steps necessary to enjoy it rather than let it make you sick.

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Written by: Elizabeth Baker

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Women Overlooked In The Boardroom Being In Total Control of Herself

As a country, America had progressed significantly since the early 1900s when ladies started to enter the workforce. Today, ladies are addressed in each industry and keep on standing firm on prominent positions in medication, law, and schooling. However, even as more ladies go into the board room and take on authority roles, others are in effect abandoned. Ladies the nation over are being disregarded for advancements on account of their sexual orientation. They may not realize that this is illicit or where to go to get the acknowledgment they merit.

We'll discuss your privileges as a worker and how to raise a case for sex segregation. On the chance that you trust you are being disregarded for advancement due to your sexual orientation, what do you do?. In most cases, there is nothing to do. Especially if you live in an "At will state", meaning you can be fired for anything or no reason at all. It's a shame that we live in 2021, and women still have to face these issues. If a woman took the time to educate herself for the position, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? Nope, no one can not answer it. Now I do not want to say every Corporation or business fall in this category, but the number is factually greater than not.

Is It Segregation If a Business Doesn't Advance a Worker As a result of Her Sex? Title VII of the 1964 Social equality Act, and New York State and City Common liberties Laws shield ladies from sexual orientation separation in the work environment. For the most part, these laws make it illicit for a business anyplace in the US to treat a representative distinctively grinding away in light of an 18 of 24

ensured quality, similar to sex or sex. These laws apply at whatever point there is an unfavorable work activity against the casualty of segregation dependent on an ensured trademark. Specifically, a business isn't allowed to base choices about work tasks or advancements dependent on a representative's sex, including sex character, sexual direction, or pregnancy. This is a topic that can go on & on with stories of what women have experienced.

I can personally say over the years that I have worked at a variety of companies; I was always the go-to person to get things done. It did not matter if I built a database to save time and money. I still was not respected or given credit. Of course, I live in a state that is an at-will state and it does not matter what documentation I have unless it was breaking the law. For no reason, at all, I can be told, "you are no longer needed". A basis does not have to be given at all. Add that on top of being treated like shit.

Regardless of education, skills, efficiency, create processes to save the company money, it does not matter.

Many will say, "That's not true". If this is you, go ask the women you work with and see how many stories she has on trying to get through the red tape that was put there just because she was a woman. Oh, wait, if she is a black woman, she will have more tape after tape after tape. This is why women are so strong and can push through. You can become numb to the bullshit and walk right through it.

Because of this, most women have developed a scalp of toughness. Now we are told we are so emotional. Well, hell, what do you expect?

Now we are called a "Bitch”. I am a fan of Iyanla Fix My Life. On one of her episodes, she talked about how women are called a bitch and she broke it down to say a BITCH is Being In Total Control of Herself. I LOVE IT!! I know some may be surprised that I said this. I am in control of my destiny and what happens on my journey. I am in the driver's seat, I put gas in this car, and you are not on the insurance card. You are just a passenger. I decide what energy I am going to give you. I do not have to be upset at everything or because you call me mean all the time. How about you look at yourself first.

Just because I do not run with the masses does not mean I have to be in the wrong place.

Ladies I wanted to be sure that I put this in here because we have to stop getting mad because someone called you out of your name. First, you want to analyze why you are in that space. You may not need to be there in the first place, but on the other hand, if it is a place where you are traveling, handle it like a lady. They must understand that they will respect you. Don't ever give that power. There are also some times where it's not worth the conversation. After you have indeed done what you are supposed to do, then you have done your job. Remember you are in the driver's seat and they are the passenger. Never give up control of your destiny.

At the end of the day, it feels like companies are saying "SO WHAT". Just hush and get the work done. Ladies, it's time to step out and strut in the board rooms and stand tall in your stilettos.

Written by: Dr. Melissa Ambers

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