King Richard

 #MovieReview King Richard is the inspirational and captivating story of the legendary father and coach of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. Richard Williams walks unapologetically in the compelling 78 page vision (he wrote before the sisters were born) and conviction of knowing that his two youngest daughters would change the entire trajectory of tennis sports for a lifetime. It was so powerful to see the faith he had come alive with their works. No matter how many times they were rejected, their father rerouted their greatness. Richard Williams unapologetically laid the foundation of Black Girl Magic decades before it became a hashtag through ensuring each of his girls had a relationship with God and were academically strong-all of the sisters were at the top of their class and Venus and Serena spoke 4 languages. I loved how the movie showed the silent strength of their mother and how she played a major role in their athleticism and training in tennis. I absolutely loved how the family navigated as a unit and they didn’t rush any decision or contract-they consistently chose mission over money. At age 14, Venus was offered $3 million by Nike the night before playing in her first professional game and she turned it down. As an avid tennis watcher, it was great to see how Venus was the sister who was molded to be #1 and how Serena developed behind the scenes of her shadow. Their parents and siblings organically ensured that both sisters felt and understood their greatness. There is a powerful scene in the movie where Richard affirms Serena’s greatness privately. He told her that Venus would be #1, but she would be the greatest of all time. Ultimately, almost every word he spoke over their lives became flesh. Overall, the movie is a grand slam and every actor aced their role. Go watch and let me know what you think! ♥️👏🏽🎾

Mid-Year Checkup ✅

              Remainder of the Year Checklist ✅

We are at the halfway mark of 2020! Many of us named and claimed 2020 as the year of clarity. Here are a few nuggets to consider as you continue on your pathway to clarity for the remainder of the year. 

1. Clear out your emails and organize the ones you need to keep into folders on your account. 
2. Take inventory of your financial health and create a 6 month goal for savings and to pay off your debt goals. There are 13 pay periods left in the year. Finish financially fortified.  
3. Clear out clutter in your home. A clear head is the byproduct of a cleaned home. 
4. Determine your holiday spending budget and create a sinking fund to finance it. 
5. Check with your creditors to see if they are offering any new incentives or discounts towards your insurance, credit cards, utilities, etc..
6. Contact your children’s schools to ensure their paperwork/registration is current for the Fall. Whether they physically return or not-updates have to be updated. 
7. If you haven’t had your annual/physical, dental, and eye exams for the year schedule them and if you have make sure you’ve scheduled for the next 6 months or year. 
8. Assess the quality of your relationships, friendships and marriage and navigate from the reality of where you stand in them.
9. Maintain your mental health-worship, counseling, life coaching, staying in consistent communication with loved ones and family. 
10. Start planning for 2021. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

#Juneteenth

#BlackWealthMatters

As we celebrate freedom on today, let us be intentional about not being enslaved financially. My late grandmother was a housekeeper who made low wages, but she created a sustainable life for her family. Her financial principal that I keep at the forefront of my generational decision-making...

👉🏽It’s not what you make, it’s how you manage what you have.

A few financial gems to remember moving forward:

1. First seek the Kingdom of God -sow into a ministry where you are being spiritually fed.
2. Always live deeply below your means. Everyone should be on a fixed income.
3. Get clarity on what’s coming in financially so you can navigate what goes out.
4. A rainy day should always be considered in your financial forecast. 
5. Invest in life insurance for you and your household. Life insurance is your last love letter to your family. 
6. Establish an emergency fund (3 months minimum based on your basic billing and essentials).
7. Create sinking funds for your goals (vehicle, vacation, holiday shopping).
8. Support Black owned businesses.
9. Pray about every financial decision you make. Give yourself 48 hours before making a purchase. 
10. Pay yourself first, not last. 
    
    
    

Chapter 35

Proverbs 4:7, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Hello there!  It has been a while since I've blogged, but I'm back and I'm building. I turned 35 this month (May 10) and as the day neared I asked friends for sage advice on reaching this milestone. I also googled wisdom for 35-year-olds and nothing truly resonated with me. I've learned along my journey that often times our INstinct is the INformation that we are seeking. Perspective wise, 35 is the halfway mark to 70, and others define it as 5 years from 40. Either way, it's movement and milestone.

Here are a few lessons I've gleaned from my 35-year journey around the sun...

1. People will only respect you at the level in which you require.
(Frustration is the byproduct of lack of communication. People will only operate at the level of expectation that you have set for them to operate within. Nothing more.)

2. Your success is in Your surrender.
(God will allow your gift to make room for you once you become present.)

3. There is good in the good-bye.
(Unequally yoked goes beyond marriage-it extends to family and friends as well. You will never become better until you receive clarity on who doesn't want you to be your best.)

4. Navigate from a Kingdom mindset with your finances.
(The Bible says that the poor will be with us always, but Jesus didn't say we had to be in poverty always. Operate from the mindset of biblical stewardship (God is a supplier of NEED) and delegate every dollar in decision and discipline. Restore your financial dignity in your early years to ensure no lack in your latter times.)

5. Forgive Fast
(Forgiveness is truly the gift you gift yourself. Operate from the intention of people can't give you what they don't have and never assume the depth of anyone at any time.)

6. Let peace be your bottom line.
(Peace is only valuable to those who operate in it and desire it. Let peace be the bottom line in every decision you make.)

7. Trust your intuition.
(The Holy Spirit is Holy and is the internal GPS that will always navigate you back to God. The Bible declares in Ecclesiastes 3:11, that God has placed eternity in our hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from the beginning to the end. Find solace in knowing that no matter how far you get away from God, He is always there.)

                   "The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a Woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows."-Audrey Heburn

Spring Cleaning

Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you. 

2 Timothy 1:6

Welcome to the second quarter of 2019! I pray this new shift and season finds you in great health and wealth as your soul continues to prosper. Spring is not only a time of physical cleansing but also fiscal cleanup. I encourage you to take inventory of your life- spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially and the people who are connected and vested in your life. Springtime is a great focal point to rid yourself of anything that is not conducive to your growth and overall well-being. In the realm of your spiritual well being, consult with God concerning His plans and assignments for your life. I've learned from my personal pursuits that our calling is consistent while our assignments can be seasonal. What worked for you spiritually at the beginning of this year may not align with what you feel led to do in this season and that is absolutely okay. Don't stay uncomfortable because it was once comfortable. Fasting may have been what you felt led to do in the first quarter, but studying the Word and increasing your prayer life could be what is necessary for this quarter.

Emotionally, invest in self-care and activities that bring your soul solitude. Find mechanisms and paths that give you space to navigate your thoughts in a peaceful, productive and professional manner-whether it is counseling, small groups through a local church or simply journaling. From experience, I personally would admonish that you unplug from technology periodically to reconnect to what needs your connection. 

Physically, spring is the perfect time to visit your doctor for wellness checks and to become intuned with nature after enduring the winter season. Particularly, African-Americans should take full advantage of getting some much needed sunlight because of the wide-spread Vitamin D deficiencies that the bulk of us unfortunately genetically endure.

Lastly, do a fiscal checkup of your financial health. Get clear on where you are and where you desire to be at the end of this quarter. What areas of your financial life require management and maintenance? Always remember, every dollar you earn and possess should have a job and it should be protected under the spiritual covering of the Kingdom. Lastly, it's not what you make, it's how well you manage what you make. 

#2019

3 John 1:2, "Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."

Happy 2019!! I pray this message finds you in great health and wealth as your soul continues to flourish throughout this new year! We entered 2019 under unforeseen circumstances-including a governmental shutdown that was the longest noted in our American history. Although we are facing unparalleled levels of uncertainty economically and it seems as if the foundation of our country has failed its inspection, continue to trust God, stay focused and keep your mind on God. Isaiah 26:3, is a constant reminder of the benefits that come with keeping our focus on God. He keeps those in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast on Him because they trust in Him. As you navigate through the many chapters of 2019, stay committed to each page of your process. We will experience ebbs and flows, but we have a solid assurance of knowing WHO controls the waves. As always, below I will provide tips on how to make the most of your new year. 

1. Create Strategies and Set Systems to ensure the order and organization of your days.

2. Write down daily, weekly, and monthly goals and review them daily to hold yourself accountable.

3. Get clear on what is coming in and going out financially. It's not what you make, it's how you manage what you make.

4. Don't dismiss discernment. Dismissing the Voice of God will cost you in every area of your life.

5. Always remember your WHY and stay focused on it no matter WHAT. 

#BlackPanther

Show them who you are...this affirmation is such a powerful spoken word and sets the tone of Black greatness, unity and devotion to family that was so definitively portrayed in the movie "Black Panther." There were so many hidden gems in this movie that I unearthed, but the ones that stood out to me among the many were the homage to our ancestors, the deep devotion and consistent commitment to family and culture, the flow of order with the man being the headship and the journey of two men whose fathers had deeply impacted their future. 

    Black Panther's homage to our ancestors was intertwined throughout the movie from the beginning to the very end. It powerfully sent the resonating message that we are who we are because of who they were. In reference to commitment to family and culture, the movie did an amazing job of conveying the need and power of a man leading his kingdom in order and the success that comes as a byproduct of male leadership and structure. T' Challa's father said it best, "A man who has not prepared his children for his death has failed as a father." I also loved how Black Panther showed the navigational journey of two men and how the presence of a father laid the foundation for one son and the absence of the other's father led to his inevitable failure.

    The timing of Black Panther's release was impeccable and rejuvenated a fire in me concerning where I come from and gave me an eternal hope concerning the direction I am going. I absolutely loved the theme of #BlackLove and how the movie so powerfully conveyed the love, adoration and honor that Black women have for men who sincerely love them and respect them. What spoke to the depths of my heart was how the movie allowed its audience to see a Black woman speaking life into the darkness of her soulmate's heart. One of the most touching scenes was Nakia telling T'Challa "You define the King you will become." It is my hope that through these healthy depictions of authentic love, as a culture we start to redefine who we are to each other and what we can become to the next generation. In the words of Nakia, "Wakanda is strong enough to protect itself and help others."