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How Tragedy Propels Triumph

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BY: KEISHA JOHNSON

Natalie Hope-Selkin was comfortable in her career as an in-house counsel with one of Canada’s largest insurance firms until she found herself walking in the shoes of the claimants she was commissioned to often settle with at the lowest possible payout.

Driving home from work on December 8th, 2009 she was rear-ended by two vehicles, one reportedly tunneling down the QEW at over 100kph.

“That day changed my life. One day I was walking, functioning, independent and the next day, I was in severe pain. I could not walk. My husband had to bathe me,” the young attorney recalls from the impact of the tragedy.

Resigned to two years of rehabilitation away from work due to chronic low back and neck pain, the Barbadian national said she had lots of time for introspection, to reflect on her purpose and weigh the value of life.

Typical of her resilient spirit that fuelled the academic excellence she enjoyed in law school, she tried to gradually reintegrate into work as an insurance defense litigator but soon found the physical demands of the job overwhelming for her now frail frame.

“I was on so many pain medications, it was difficult to concentrate,” shared Hope-Selkin who by then walked with the aid of a cane.

It didn’t take long after returning to work before chronic low back pains forced her off work a second time. Another stressor she didn’t experience before also began to surface.

In her primary role as an insurance defense litigator, she reviewed the legality of claims on behalf of the insurance company. “The notion among most insurance companies is that a lot of people defraud the system and there may be some who do,” Hope-Selkin reasoned. “But I began to think that a large majority of people probably had really had their life impacted like mine had been.”

This shift in perspective became a very challenging dichotomy. “On one hand I was representing the insurance company and on the other, I could empathize with the injured people and the real pain they experienced; how their life may have been upset and the strains in their relationships from the physical to the psychological impact of the accident,” Natalie explained.

“The litigation end of it was so stressful, I concluded I could not continue to do this anymore. I had to change the way I worked. I had to change the areas I practiced as well. So I thought to focus on ways to represent clients with a sense of humanity and what they are going through. That was a real catharsis!” disclosed Natalie who was confident she had now found her niche.

In 2015 she officially opened her own practice, Hope-Selkin Law, Professional Corporation and since serves as a barrister, solicitor, and notary.

“I now specialize in real estate law, wills and estate, employment law, and some litigation,” the sole practitioner shared of her intentionally client-centric practice.

The narrative of her branding material promises, “Rest assured, you will not be regarded as just a case. She [Natalie] will passionately and aggressively represent and/or defend the interests of her clients and will do so with the utmost integrity.”

Making herself accessible to clients became another signature priority of her practice. “Because of my journey, I am able to support my clients and encourage them in difficult times, assuring them that whatever the challenge ‘this too shall pass’.”

The tragedy that at face value disrupted her life and career became the catalyst to clarify her purpose and to define her niche within the legal field without compromise to her values.

She openly admits the transition from corporate to entrepreneurship was a huge leap of faith. Assuming full responsibility for the operation has accelerated the development of her business acumen. “It is the most daunting part of my job now” she shared, “but I absolutely enjoy representing my clients.” The greatest triumph in this tragedy is that “I didn’t know the experience would lead to so much growth.”

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Professional Development

As a community we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street?

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Photo Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com

BY DAVID ANDERSON

Do you know what the problem is? We can never stand up as one and unite for change. I am getting really sick and tired of this crab in a bucket mentality. As a community, we have not done enough. We have not built enough. Instead of correcting history, we have chosen the path of repeating it. I mean it is true we cannot hide from who we are but grow and learn from who we were. We cannot be afraid to let our brothers and sisters continue to separate.

As a community, we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street? How come it has never been remade since the tragic Tulsa race massacre that took place May 31st and June 1st 1921? City officials, to attack Black business owners, and residents gave the people weapons. They destroyed homes in Tulsa Oklahoma. What was once a flourishing community in Tulsa Oklahoma was reduced to nothing but campfire stories. This left a negative impact on the Black community.

Have you ever heard the phrase crabs in a bucket? This is a metaphor for people who either live in the same environment or are after specific goals. What we all get confused about is that there is enough for everyone.

I used to hate the saying “Let’s get this bag,” because it puts one trophy at the top of the pedestal. Humans are so competitive that they would rather sabotage their future as long as they beat you or finish first. This is how you burn bridges that you will have to cross again in life.

Working towards one goal usually is beneficial to each individual or as a collective (team). Every sports team makes it clear what their goals are in the pre-season. This allows coaches and players to develop a relationship that is based on trust and personal development. Each time they step out on the field or court they have their teammates’ best interest at hand. This will create chemistry, which only strengthens relationships and performance. We have to be able to depend on and trust one another. We need to learn from our mistakes and be proactive in correcting them.

As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to build strong relationships and communities. This might not be easy, but it is beneficial for you, family, business and community. As a leader you must have the ability to rally people in your community towards a cause. You have the ability to start a community organization. You possess the skills to make a change in your life, for your family and community. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. We need to learn more about our history, or it will repeat itself. We need to learn from other great cities, villages, and kingdoms.

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Professional Development

How to Boost Your Marketing Agency’s Growth in 2022

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Want to boost your marketing agency’s growth over the course of the next calendar year? If so, you’ve found the right article. Below, you will find insightful information regarding the current scalability of the advertising sector, as well as comprehensive advice on what you can do to play an active role in this ongoing development.

Here are three things you can do to boost your marketing agency’s growth in 2022:

Home in your niche market
You aren’t going to grow your marketing agency until you showcase your skill, credibility, and reliability. In order to cultivate this type of reputation for yourself, you need to offer a specific service incredibly well. Distracting yourself with unnecessary service ranges will detract from your ability to build this authority, which is why you are advised to home in on a niche market segment. This will entail you providing a narrow yet effecting promotional service until you are capable of taking your agency to the next level.

There are plenty of niche marketing markets for you to tap into, eight of which include:

  1. Digital marketing
  2. Outbound or inbound marketing
  3. Content marketing
  4. Social media marketing
  5. Voice marketing
  6. Email marketing
  7. Influencer marketing
  8. Word-of-mouth marketing

Embrace white label SEO
If you choose to go down the digital marketing route in your expansion endeavor, you should seriously consider embracing white label SEO. This will allow you to expand your web-based advertising initiative without draining your time, effort, money, or resources.

To ensure that you receive a substantial ROI from white label SEO, it’s recommended that you partner up with a reputable reseller such as Click Intelligence Canada. This industry authority will help you to generate a new source of revenue, they will offer SEO solutions tailored around your specific expertise, and they will provide a cost-effective platform for your agency’s growth. Ultimately, this level of assistance will allow you to focus on what truly matters — your company’s ongoing scalability.

Simplify your project management
The way in which you manage your projects will have a profound effect on your marketing agency’s success going forward. In this instance, it’s important that you avoid overcomplicating things at all costs. This will only make life ten times harder for yourself, s it will eat away at both your time and effort. Ultimately, this will decrease the likelihood of you meeting your crucial advertising campaign deadlines.

When attempting to simplify your project management process, your first port of call should be to prioritize your daily tasks by level of importance. This will help you to screen out unimportant tasks and subsequently aid you in your attempt to focus on critical marketing matters.

Are you determined to take your marketing agency to the next level in 2022? If so, be sure to heed the growth and development advice laid out above. Home in on a niche market, embrace white label SEO, and simplify your project management — do all of that, and you’ll be scaling the lofty heights of your niche industry sooner rather than later.

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Professional Development

Ergonomic Home Office- Choosing The Best Furniture Pieces

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BY ELLA BRAUN

The COVID crisis has brought a sudden transition for the world, particularly in the form of the work from the home switch. The biggest challenge, however, is that most of us are not equipped with a proper working area at home. Like everyone else, you would also want to have a dedicated office space that makes you feel productive. When it comes to creating such a home office, comfort is important. After all, you cannot expect to do your best in the workspace if you are not comfortable enough. If you are planning to create an ergonomic home office, choosing the right furniture pieces matters the most. Here are some tips to pick the best ones.

Assess the available space
Even before you start preparing a wishlist of furniture pieces, assess the available area. Not everyone has a spare room for creating a dedicated office, so space struggles are more real than you think. Measure the area and consider the essential pieces you would want to fit in. You may have to differentiate between needs and wants and skip some things if there isn’t enough room.

Consider the work hours
From the ergonomic perspective, it is important to consider the number of hours you would be working every day. For example, you can give precedence to style if you plan to use the home office for only a few hours in a day. However, comfort is absolutely essential if you have long working hours. You may even consider having a standing work desk apart from the sitting arrangement to prevent the ill-effects of prolonged sitting.

Have a budget to start with
Right now, you may be pressed for cash but a proper workspace is something that you can’t do without. Having a budget before you start shopping is a good idea. You may even look for deals like an IKEA flyer or coupon online to fit the best-branded furniture in your budget. Quality is vital when it comes to ergonomics because good brands go the extra mile to create designs that are easy on the body.

Choose pieces that fit you
If comfort is your top priority while picking furniture for your work area, you need to go the extra mile to find pieces that actually fit your body. Consider proportioned height for your chair and table if you are too tall or too short. Exploring and trying before buying is a great idea. Of course, your office furniture should look great but ease is something that you cannot ignore.

Don’t forget your personal style
Even as you look for pieces that are comfortable, don’t forget your personal style. Also, make sure that it blends with your home decor, particularly when you are creating a workspace in your living room or bedroom. Consider the aesthetic elements such as colour and design. At the same time, invest in durability and quality as well.

Although creating a home office can be easy, you need to be extra sure about ergonomics. After all, an easy space makes you feel more productive and keeps you healthy as well.

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